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There are four categories that are covered in the Exam. Federal Mortgage Related Laws, Mortgage Loan Originator Activities, General Mortgage Knowledge and Ethics.  All are covered in the 20 hour prelicensing and 8 hour Continued Education Courses through Loan Officer School.

For more information you can call 866 623 1250 or email operations@loanofficerschool.com

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Celebrating the holiday of the new year dates all the way back to Julius Caesar. The Romans would often exchange gifts commemorating the passing of an old year and the beginning of a new one. With more modern traditions involving champagne and the drop of a giant disco ball, resolving to make improvements in the coming year is nothing new.

However, in a generation of smart phones and a world wide web, keeping a new year’s resolution is now easier and more foolproof than ever. No matter if you’re looking to lose a few pounds, earn a few dollars, or gain a new perspective, New Year’s resolutions are often called upon to do so. To keep you in the loop of your own desires and from a broken promise by Martin Luther King Day, we have gathered 15 foolproof ways to actually keep your New Year’s resolution.

Foolproof General Ways to Actually Keep Your New Year’s Resolution

Use the below to help derive and keep a New Year’s resolution.

1. Pebbles and Pundits
The experts at The Marist Poll also do one for New Year’s resolutions. According to them, almost half of all Americans (48%) plan to make a New Year’s resolution. Of these, 65% say they keep the resolution throughout the year, while the rest do not. The most popular resolution? Weight loss remains the top spot with 19% planning to shed the pounds in the New Year.

 2. 43 Things This site is a popular choice for people who are trying new things. People from across the world come here to learn something new, get encouragement, and even see if it is worth doing. With a special section for New Year’s resolutions, you can simply type in yours to get connected to others who are doing the same. You can also search for things by category or by typing it in the search engine.

3. Expert Advice on Maintaining Resolutions
Experts from the University of Maryland weigh in on time tested tips to help prepare for success. This involves choosing and setting realistic goals and outlining steps. Other useful tips include avoiding perfectionism, preparing for setbacks, and giving resolutions meaning. There are also other guides to New Year’s resolutions on the site.
 

4. Remember the Milk
Because a New Year’s resolution doesn’t just happen, it must be scheduled, there is this site. Use this online and foolproof way to schedule and keep up with whatever your resolution is. You can send reminders as text messages, emails, or IM reminders. Other bonus features include a mobile app and the ability to sync with Google Calendar.

5. Tada Lists
If the above is too complex, you can also utilize this simple online task manager. One of “USA Today’s” hot sites, over 4 million lists have been created. You can also create several lists, share them, and even on use it on your iPhone.

6. Zen Habits
No matter what your goals are, accomplish them the Zen way with the help of this blog. Leo Babauta and others are about finding the simplicity in the daily chaos of life. Clearing out clutter, motivation, health, spirituality, and more are all shared as well as practical tips. They recently posted their top blog entries for the year and include “A Guide to Barefoot Running,” “Simplified Morning Routine,” and “Procrastination Remedies.”

7. Healthy Children
If looking to involve your kids as part of your New Year’s resolutions, visit here. The site is run by the American Academy of Pediatrics. They have tips for nutrition and fitness for just about every stage of childhood. You can also read items on healthy living, safety, family life, and other health issues.

8. Stepcase Lifehack
The popular blog has become a staple of those looking for easier ways to get things done. With a special section for productivity, they have entries for everything from getting promoted at work to keeping a New Year’s resolution. Other options include communication, lifestyle, money, technology, and management.

Foolproof Specific Ways to Actually Keep Your New Year’s Resolution

Below are some of the most common and top choices for New Year’s resolutions as well as foolproof ways for keeping them.

9. Spark People
Whether looking to lose weight or get in shape, this site is where people from across the globe visit. With over 15 billion calories burned and counted, there are many reasons to sign up for a free membership. Recipes, workouts, blogs, and even a Healthy Living Challenge are all available with a simple visit. You can even use their special savings for members, as well as memberships just for teens or expecting moms.

 10. Healthy Eating
Because diet is an important part of getting fit or losing weight, click here. The Food Network literally has millions of recipes to choose from and offers this special section on healthy eating. Current popular entries include guilt free cocktail party and 50 lighter comfort foods. You can also use the Quick Recipe Finder to find a meal by time, ingredients, prep time, and from your favorite chef.

11. Quit Smoking
If your New Year’s resolution is to quit smoking, chances are this isn’t your first time making it. With this free resource from Smokefree.gov, you can use the step by step guide to help you quit. There are also experts and tools that can aid in your quest. There is even the option to find a research study in your area.

12. Get Organized
If you have a messy desk or a garage that’s full but the cars are on the driveway, this may be your New Year’s resolution. A foolproof way to keep it is to visit a blog like Organized Home. Posts are categorized into cleaning, cutting clutter, loads of stuff for the kitchen, and much more. They even recently wrote about how to organize for the holidays.

13. Get Rich Slowly
Those looking to get out of debt or grow their wealth also make the list of New Year’s resolutions. This blog specializes in finances for the everyday person. Their post on getting out of debt alone has been read and utilized by many readers. There are also tips for savings accounts, CD rates, credit cards, and even insurance. They even have a Bank Rates Center with the latest in interest rates and more.

14. Volunteer
If looking to give to charity as a New Year’s resolution but light on the checkbook, why not volunteer your time? This site has a search engine that can help you match by local, skill level, and even interest. You can also read the stories of others who have used the site to volunteer. Twenty five percent of people who use the site are first time volunteers.

15. Pray
No matter what your faith is, there are loads for you at Belief.net. With every faith from Buddhism to Taoism, there are many prayers to be found. The site also offers a community with blogs and videos to help even more. Other sections include inspiration, health, holistic living, family, and even a daily deal.

No matter what your goal is, there are loads of help in the above 15 foolproof ways to actually keep your New Year’s resolution. With everything from shedding pounds to growing wealth at stake, they are a must read. To get inspired for a New Year’s resolution like never before, try checking out the Wishing Wall in New York City. Many visitors have come by to place their wish in the form of a Post-it and you can view pictures of items such as travel, graduate, and even in foreign languages.

To find out more about this subject or many others, go to  http://www.healthcaretechnicians.org/15-foolproof-ways-to-actually-keep-your-new-years-resolution/

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It’s an important part of your life, one that you must think of and plan for before you finish high school. College paves the way for your future, it provides you with four years of experience and learning that forms the launching pad for the rest of your life. So it’s imperative that you find the school and course that’s right for you. To do this, you must first know:

• What you want to major in – some courses require intensive study and you can secure admission only if your grades are good and you’re an exceptional student. So base your choice on your GPA and your general aptitude. If you’re not decided on a major, 

• How much time you want to spend in college – some people choose to earn an associate’s degree in two years, work for a while, and then go back to college to earn their bachelor’s degree. Others opt for a bachelor’s degree, and yet others know that the profession of their choice depends on a master’s or higher degree.

• How much the whole experience is going to cost – college is expensive, and your best option would be to try and secure a scholarship. If this is not possible, then you need to have money put aside for college, in the form of your parents’ savings towards your college education or an equivalent. Your last choice should be a student loan, and you must choose your college so as to minimize the loan because it’s not a nice feeling to start your life with debt hanging over your head and it will take you a long time to repay the loan. Community college and studying online are options to explore if money is an issue.

• How far away you’re willing to move – your expenses are going to increase based on the location of your college; the further away it is, the more it’s going to cost you to come back home during vacation. Also, some people prefer staying closer to home while others want to move far away.

Once you’ve decided what you want to do, how much time you can afford, and how much money you have, prepare a shortlist of the colleges that meet all these criteria – you must satisfy the admission requirements, they should offer the course you want and the degree you prefer, they must be affordable, and they should be in a location you like and find convenient.

• Research the colleges on your list by visiting their websites and finding out all that they have to offer.

• Call the college’s career center and ask about internship options and job prospects; you must know how many students found jobs through the center and how much they’re getting paid.

• If possible, talk to other students and ask them about campus life in general.

• Visit campuses if possible and see if you would like living on them for the next two or four years – you must be comfortable in your surroundings to be able to concentrate on your lessons.

• Talk to the admissions office and ensure that you qualify for their admission process.

• Fill out your application form, include all the necessary documentation and essays, and send it in before the last date.

• Once you hear from the colleges you’ve applied to, choose the one you like best and which is a good fit based on your research.

Remember, it’s not the name of the college or its popularity that matters; rather, it’s what the college can offer you and how it can better your life that you should focus on when choosing a school. 

By-line:
This guest post is contributed by April Davis, she writes on the topic of Accredited Degrees Online . She welcomes your questions and comments at her email id: april.davis83@gmail.com.

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San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) February 13, 2011

Sharmen Lane, motivational speaker and author of Giving You The Wow and The How warns college student audiences about emulating celebrity behavior.

“For instance, Lindsay Lohan, recently out of rehab, and now under investigation for theft may, at some point, begin to understand that poor choices can have dire consequences, but being treated like celebrity royalty does not help our kids to make good and safe choices,” explains Lane, who teaches accountability in her motivational seminars.

“As long as celebrities are treated differently than others, it is common for these select few to have a sense of entitlement, which is how Tiger Woods, upon reflection, described his justification for living a double life—cheating on his wife,” Lane adds. “It is our responsibility to stop enabling celebrity behavior by reinforcing it with attention. It confuses kids when celebrities get away with behavior the rest of society is punished for.”

Historically many celebrities, professional athletes, and leaders have held themselves to a lower moral standard than is expected from the average citizen. “We have a responsibility to our culture, our children, and celebrity figures to make everyone consistently accountable, regardless of their social, prestige, or financial status,” explains Lane, a life coach.

Studies have shown that reinforcing positive behavior is a more powerful teaching tool than punishing poor behavior (http://allpsych.com/psychology101/reinforcement.html and http://www.nationalyouth.com/behaviormodification.html). “However, we must stop confusing our kids by adulating, following and spotlighting morally wrong and/or illegal behavior by celebrity figures,” Lane adds.

Lane recently spoke to college students at Northeastern University teaching the principles and connections between choices and consequences. “The students responded favorably and thanked me for helping them learn how to make better choices in their future,” relays Lane, who is an advocate for schools incorporating programs for kids in all age groups to teach the benefits of positive behavior and the consequences of choosing poor actions—in part as an antidote to extensive media coverage of decadent celebrity conduct.

“If Lindsay Lohan, Charlie Sheen, or any other celebrity who acts out is consistently rewarded for their poor behavior with the attention they crave, we are doing them, and our impressionable children a moral injustice,” Lane warns.

Sharmen Lane is available for speaking on motivation, goals, choices and consequences to all age groups. Lane is most passionate about teaching high school to college- aged groups.

Sharmen Lane, author of Giving you The Wow and The How, is a motivational speaker, life coach, and a radio show host.

Shar has been interviewed on Lifetime TV, NPR, New York Daily News, BusinessWeek, and many others. She has written articles for National Magazines and has spoken for several large companies, corporations, high schools, colleges, charities and non-profit organizations throughout the world.

As a motivational speaker, Sharmen Lane has trained, managed, and coached thousands of individuals on what it takes to get what they want. For information visit http://www.sharspeaks.com

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San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) December 22, 2010

Sharmen Lane, author of Giving You the Wow and the How reprimands celebrities who blame others or their past for their poor behavior. From the antics of Charlie Sheen and Mel Gibson, Lane observes: “Blaming bad decisions on others doesn’t solve problems. While some people seek help to overcome issues that get in the way of jobs and relationships, others blame their current job or relationship. This is victim thinking. We all have choices.” Lane knows how to survive tough circumstances. It took thirteen years to work her way through college, she was a child of multiple divorces, and worked her way up from a career as a manicurist to become a millionaire. The skills used to create wealth from poverty are life skills Lane teaches others through her coaching practice and her book.

“So many people are stuck, and don’t understand the steps needed to reach their goals. As we begin a new year, there will be many people writing new years resolutions. Most will fail. Here is a tip I call ‘verbal vomit’: Make a list of things that cause unhappiness. Match that list with favorable replacements. Most people list their grievances, but don’t visualize a solution.

“I know we are often told to make a gratitude list when we are feeling lack in our lives. But, there is an essential step missing when people shift from complaining about problems, to making a happy list. They need to stick with their place of unhappiness and look for doable solutions using skills I teach through the formula I developed from my own experiences.”

Sharmen Lane is a motivational speaker, author of Giving You the Wow and the How, and a coach helping others meet their goals through her proven strategies. Sharmen offers seminars, keynote speeches and workshops that create change by providing the process tools, and action plans to achieve success. Sharmen has been featured in Businessweek, New York Daily News, Fox News Channel, Lifetime TV, Hollywood Confidential with Leeza Gibbons, Women’s Day, Glamour, and Self magazine. Visit Sharmen at http://www.sharspeaks.com

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I recently returned from a Holland America Cruise to the Mexican Riviera.  To be honest, the last thing I was thinking about was doing any fundraising or charity work on the only vacation I’ve had in years.  However, the MS Oosterdam and the Holland  America cruiseline changed my perspective on that. 

There I was sitting on a deck chair, enjoying the sun and the relaxation, when I heard an announcement over the PA system,  On Deck for the Cure a 5k walk around the deck to raise money for Susan G Komen and help find a cure for breast cancer. This program was started in 2006 and Holland America had hoped to raise $500,000 in the first two years.  Well, Holland America far exceeded those expectations and in the first 3 years raised over 2 million dollars. Who would have thought that you could help a great cause even while on vacation? Apparently, HAL did!

Finding the cure for breast cancer has a special meaning for me.  My mother, grandmother, paternal great grandmother and my significant other’s mother all had breast cancer.  Three out of four were survivors, one was not.  So, as you can imagine, this cause is close and dear to my heart.

On the last day of the cruise we were heading back to San Diego from our final Mexican port of Cabo San Lucas.  Me, my boyfriend and about 25 others gathered on deck after paying a small fee of $15 to enter the walk.  Nine laps later we were finishing the 5k and feeling great because we had done our part to make a difference for a very important cause. This event made this cruise even better and more memorable than it already had been.

Holland America does this walk on every ship, every cruise. I’d like to thank Holland America for doing their part in finding a cure for this dreadful disease that affects so many. If you are thinking of going on vacation, and would like to experience a fantastic cruise that helps support a fantastic cause, please consider choosing the Holland America Line.  You’ll have a blast and make a difference. That’s a pretty good combination I think.

If you’d like to find out more you can visit www.hollandamerica.com or On Deck For the Cure.

Thank you for doing your part to give back. Find a charity you believe in and donate time or money. Both are absolutely necessary for every non-profit organization.

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By Sharmen Lane

A long time ago I heard someone describe integrity as “what you do when no one else watching.”  Ever since that day, that has been my interpretation of what integrity is.  Are you who you say you are?  Do you do as you say and say as you do?  Is who you are in public, who you are behind closed doors?

I read an article recently written by Holly Hill the Australian Sugarbabe, who wrote and is sharing her theory of Negotiated Infidelity.  It’s basically where a couple has an agreement to not be monogamous. It allows people to have a relationship with each other but have sex outside the relationship.  I found this concept to be fascinating because isn’t the purpose of being in a relationship to not be intimate with other people?  If you want to have sex with other people then why not just be single?

To me, negotiated infidelity would be out of integrity.  A romantic relationship is a romantic relationship because it’s monogamous.  However, other people clearly don’t feel the same.  But I do ask you, what’s in your integrity? What does the word mean to you and do you live by it?

Today we are living in a world where public figures like Tiger Woods, and Jesse James, cheat on their wives and blame it on sex addiction. Is it sex addiction or just poor judgment backed up by little personal integrity?  We live in a world where a Bernie Madoff pulls off a $50 billion ponzi scheme and multi-billion dollar companies go under because of fraud or misrepresentation. Entire industries are wiped out because of unscrupulous activities, and those activities are often carried out by the leaders themselves. Where is the integrity? If we raised our own personal level of integrity would these things still happen?

Where does integrity begin? Does it start with our government, our role models, our school system, our family, our spouse, or does it start with ourselves? To what standard do we hold ourselves? If each and every one of us has integrity and live by it and require it from those around us would those things still be happening in our world?

Let me leave you with this… what does integrity mean to you, and are you living up to it?

For more information please visit www.SharSpeaks.com and www.wowandthehow.com

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Lindsay Lohan, Tiger Woods, Jesse James. Famous people, doing infamous things.  These are role models to our youth, that are not setting a very good example. However, they get ridiculous amounts of attention for behaving badly.  Is that the standard we want to set?  Is that example we are setting for young people today? Thank goodness for Judge Marsha Revel, who sentenced the 24 year old actress to 90 days in jail.  It’s about time that we make rich and famous people be responsible for their actions so all the young kids today don’t continue to grow up thinking that there are no consequences for bad choices and actions. 

It’s time to raise the standard. We need to stop giving attention to bad behaving role models.  When someone becomes a public figure they should be held to yet an even higher standard, not a lower one where they get even more attention for setting a negative example.  And when they do things that do not set a good example for young people who have made them their idols, they should get less or no attention, not more. What does it say to our youth when a rich and famous actress gets arrested for drunk driving and violates her parole and continues to get away with it?  What does it say to young men in the world when Tiger Woods is a superstar golfer, the very best at what he does, exercises extremely poor judgment and gets more media attention for the bad thing he did?  Doesn’t that send the message that bad behavior gets you a press conference, on the cover of newspapers and magazines and on the first page of every internet site known to man? Is that what we want our future leaders of the world to think?

It’s time to raise the standard. If we want to see a positive change in the world, we have to be that change. That change starts with the man in the mirror, as Michael Jackson sang it. The question is, are you setting a high standard for yourself and for those around you?  Are you being the change you want to see in the world? Are we holding those that are role models and those who have a lot of influence on our kids, teens and tweens to a higher standard… and when they don’t live up to that standard are there consequences? 

Let’s raise the standard.  Let’s join together to hold public people to a higher standard so we can raise the bar and create a world we all can be proud of.

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