Text To Speech - Its Simple

Looking for a natural voice speech engine? Curious about what software can read your e-mails. Here is the latest TTS (text-to-speach) news.

AT&T Natural Voices

AT&T Natural Voices are available in 16khz or 8khz Versions. The 16khz versions have a richer, fuller sound and are more natural sounding. The 8khz version is slightly less expensive and takes up less disk space, but generally doesn't sound quite as good. A good analogy might be that 16khz voices sound like voices over FM Radio, while 8khz voices sound much more like voices over the telephone.

NeoSpeech

Kate and Paul are US English voices, available in 16khz or 8khz versions, supporting SAPI5 Speech applications including all NextUp.com Products, most newer TTS programs from other companies, as well as TTS functions built into Windows XP. Each voice requires slightly under 300mb of disk space, and is available on CD or via download. They support speed and pitch adjustments, and require a minimum of Pentium II, 400mhz with 128mb RAM.

TextAloud 2.0

TextAloud converts any text into spoken words. Instead of the valuable time you spend reading on your computer, imagine being free to relax, get up and stretch, or work on other things while the information you need is read to you in a pleasant, natural sounding human voice. Better still, leave your computer behind. TextAloud's unique Text to MP3 conversion can save your daily reading to MP3 audio files to download to your portable MP3 player. Listen to email, online news, or important documents while you exercise, work or commute.

NewsAloud
http://www.deprice.com/newsaloud.htm

NewsAloud personal news agent finds the stories you want, then reads them aloud in a natural, human sounding voice. Stop plowing through email or spending hours surfing the net for the news that interests you. Instead let NewsAloud do it so you can listen while you work on something else, or get your news to go and listen while you excercise, commute, or get outside for a change.

In depth information on these TTS solutions is available at:

AT&T Natural Voices
http://www.deprice.com/attnaturalvoices.htm

NeoSpeech
http://www.deprice.com/neospeechsapi5voices.htm

TextAloud 2.0
http://www.deprice.com/textaloud.htm

NewsAloud
http://www.deprice.com/newsaloud.htm

More reviews for TTS software can be found at http://www.deprice.com

There is Light at the End of the Tunnel - Just Get Out of Your Way !

There is light at the end of the tunnel, but some days it seems like it is miles away. You have done everything you can think of to do, physically or mentally and don't even get me started on the list of emotions that have been involved in the whole process of creating the dream that you have held within your mind's eye. The delays keep coming. You stop and tell yourself several times a day.. there is light at the end of the tunnel... don't give up now. The list keeps coming and we have heard them all... "Plant a seed and watch it grow" and "Rome wasn't built in a day" and still you wait.

This is the time that I just lay it down and ask God to take over. He was always in charge anyway and it was only my ego thinking it was in charge. I then ask the Angels to shore me up with strength and faith again. I am only human and I may have to do this several times a day until I feel balanced and centered once again, but if I do this and quit fighting the divine flow and timing of things everything starts falling into place again. People brought to me out of the blue that just happen to be interested or already involved in something pertaining to my dream that will benefit me tremendously in getting a little further down the tunnel or a thought pops into my head that I had not considered before. Turning it over completely unlocks the gears.

When you really stop and think of all that it takes to set things up in divine timing and quit looking only from our perspective it really is quite like a miracle. Everything has to be synchronized to line up exactly at the correct moment. One second or minute off and you have missed the connection and left standing on the tracks again with no place to go.

So the next time this happens to you take a few minutes and take a deep breath and turn it over to God. Getting our ego out of the way can open doors and create many opportunities. The end result more grand than we could ever have imagined.

? 2005 Sharae Taylor

Feel free to copy and reprint leaving all text and links

Sharae Taylor is a well known Intuitive Angel Artist whose paintings are in world wide collections and her works have been exhibited with other well known Angel Artists Andy Lakey ,Donna Terody Sheratan,Gary Markowitz, past art editor of "Angel Times" magazine and K. Martin Kuri, Angel Artist and Author. Sharae has also participated in many Angel Expos and Angel Conferences with other well known Angel Authors like Alma Daniels author of "Ask Your Angels" . Her Angel paintings are featured in the newly released "Angels" DVD by Llewellyn and New World Music and was featured in the February 2005 issue of Planetlightworker.com. Sharae is a published author in magazines and ezines. To view Sharae's Angelic art and for further information visit her website at:http://www.angelsbysharae.com

The ?Write? Way to More Sales

The sales letter you can't put down?the advertising copy that makes you want the product?the resume that prompts you to call the job candidate this second?all these are examples of exceptional business writing. While you certainly know good writing when you see it, can you write with the same pizzazz the professionals use to hold your attention for pages on end?

In today's selling arena, writing skills have taken a backseat to other seemingly more important professional development activities. Most sales people would rather attend a seminar on negotiation strategies or marketing tactics rather than learn the proper usage of "that" or "which" in a sentence. What they fail to realize, however, is that good writing skills are just as important to their future success as is their ability to locate prospects and close deals. Without good writing skills, your printed documents may very well undermine the professional image you work so hard to achieve.

The fact is that your prospects, your customers, and even the community judge you and your dealership based on the written documents you put out to the world. Sales letters riddled with errors, advertising copy that is boring, and media announcements that ramble on for pages send the message that you're careless, uncreative, and possibly incapable of delivering quality service. People want to buy cars from those individuals they perceive as knowledgeable and competent. Your writing is the perfect opportunity to showcase your professionalism and close the sale.

Fortunately, you don't have to be a professional editor or journalist to write effectively. In fact, there are a number of self-editing techniques professional writers use to catch embarrassing errors that could cost them the sale. Use these guidelines as a way to proofread your own writing so you can make all your printed materials reflect the professionalism you display in every other business activity.

1. Reread your work out loud.

After they write a document, most people reread it to themselves to scan for errors. While this is certainly a good start, it should not be your sole means of proofreading. After scanning the document silently, read it out loud and really listen to the words you're saying. Does your tongue stumble over a block of words? Do certain phrases sound funny or out of place? Is a sentence so long that you're gasping for breath by the time you reach the period? Do your own words put you to sleep? All these are signs that a section of your document needs some tweaking.

When you read a document to yourself, you're relying on only your eyes to catch writing errors. However, when you read a document out loud, you're activating your sense of hearing and forcing your brain to concentrate on each individual word rather than visual cluster. Now you not only see missing commas, incorrect words, or subject-verb disagreements, but you can also hear when something sounds out of place. When you hear as well as see what you're writing, you can catch more errors and produce a written document that holds the reader's attention.

2. Rely on yourself, not your spell check.

The spell check feature on your computer is both a blessing and a hindrance to writing success. While spell check can locate and correct blatantly misspelled words, it can't catch those words that are spelled correctly but used incorrectly. You know the words: right/write, meet/meat, you're/your, there/their/they're, no/know, plus a host of others. Such words, called homonyms, are often immune to computerized spell check features and can single-handedly undermine your writing skills.

As you reread your document, both silently and out loud, pay special attention to known homonyms and read out your contractions. So if your text reads, "Please know which word *you're* supposed to use," proofread it as "Please know which word *you are* supposed to use." This way you'll be able to catch those instances when you write, "You're writing skills are impeccable," but really mean "Your writing skills are impeccable."

3. Start from the end.

The more you read something, the more your brain begins to memorize it. If you reread a document over and over, you eventually get to the point where your brain knows what's coming next, so your eyes go into scan mode. While you think you're really reading the document closely, your brain is only picking up key words and drawing on memory to fill in the blanks. So even though your 50th read-through confirms that your document is error-free, your reader (who has never seen the document before) will quickly spot careless errors you scanned right over.

When you feel that you've read your document too many times and can't get past scan mode, mix things up for your brain. Read the last sentence of your document first just to check for things like sentence structure, grammar, spelling, etc. Then read the sentence above the last and do the same. Pull sentences out of the text at random and check for errors. By treating each sentence as a stand alone unit rather than as part of a flowing document, your brain will perk up and not be anticipating the next memorized line. You'll catch more errors when you look at the individual elements of your document instead of focusing on the overall content.

4. Go to the experts.

You may have a dictionary on your office bookshelf and perhaps even a thesaurus. But do you have a good grammar guide? Anyone who produces written documents can quickly improve his or her writing simply by referring to a grammar guide for writing tips.

Your local bookstore has many grammar guides available. Browse through a few to determine which one adequately addresses your particular writing challenges. Some guides focus specifically on grammar issues, while others pay particular attention to matters of writing tone and style. Some target news writing, angle their topics to business writing. Choose a guide you're comfortable with, refer to it often, and watch your writing improve.

Better Writing Now

Competition in business is fierce these days. Don't let a misspelled word or incorrect sentence kill the deal. Practice the tricks of self-editing so every written document you produce showcases your knowledge, competence, and professionalism. Before you know it, your customers will be unable to resist your written messages, and your sales figures will soar.

Dawn Josephson, the Master Writing Coach?, is President and founder of Cameo Publications, LLC, an editorial and publishing services firm located in Hilton Head Island, SC. Dawn empowers leaders to master the printed word for enhanced credibility, positioning, and profits. She is also the author of the book Putting It On Paper: The Ground Rules for Creating Promotional Pieces that Sell Books and the co-author (with Lauren Hidden) of the new book Write It Right: The Ground Rules for Self-Editing Like the Pros. Contact her at dawn@cameopublications.com or at 1-866-372-2636.

How To Write A Press Release

A well structured press release in an excellent way of receiving free publicity for very little effort and cost. It is simply the process of writing a newsworthy story about your company, products or services in a reasonably standard format, and then distributing it in the correct way to relevant media contacts.

This document contains only a brief overview of the basic structure of a release. For a more in-depth walkthrough of the Do's and Dont's, together with a step-by-step guide with examples, refer to Chapter 2.1 within the 'Marketing your Business' book, available at www.marketingyour.biz.

Start by ensuring you actually have a story that is newsworthy - nothing annoys editors more than continually getting items that are of little or no interest to their target audience. A news story might relate to:

A new product launch

New appointment of staff

Forthcoming event

Customer case study

Company performance

The title of your press release is very important and should be short, snappy and to the point. It has to make the editor interested enough to read the first paragraph, but also tell them precisely what the release is about, so there is no room for abiguity here.

The first paragraph must follow the title in summing up the rest of the release's content, but delving a little more into the depth of the story. It needs to contain the 'who, what, where, how and why' to your story.

The main body of the release is where you go into more detail. You need to substantiate the claims you made in the previous paragraphs as to why this story is of interest to the person reading it.

The closing content is to direct the reader as to where they can go to find out more. This might direct them to a sales line, a website, or where a product is available for demonstration/purpose.

Finally, you need to tell editorial staff about your company. Not all of them have photographic memories, so include a short paragraph with an overview of your business.

Chapter 2.1 within the practical sections of 'Marketing your Business' also includes a full sample press release, together with examples of releases from blue-chip companies. It also discloses some of the glaring mistakes made by many companies and highlights what you can do to help ensure your press release gets read and published. The following chapter also recommends several ways to distribute press releases correctly.

About The Author

Since 1992 Martin Bailey has been involved with the marketing activities of small and medium sized companies, either through working directly for the organisation or by assisting friends and colleagues in their own business ventures. Based in the UK he regularly assists companies around the world in creating product and brand awareness for their chosen marketplaces. He has also written a number of IT and technical articles for niche market trade magazines.

What the Matter Is

When my oldest boy was really young, he tickled my mother with that phrase. I would ask him, "What's the matter?" and he would answer me, "Well, what the matter is..." followed by whatever it was that he needed to discuss with me. He would say it with that very serious face that children get when they are expecting to be taken very seriously. We all loved the cute way he prefaced his concerns.

I overheard my daughter talking to my two year old the other day and it caused me to remember those days long ago when her older brother used to talk about 'what the matter is.' At thirteen, Sissy is a natural healer and nurturer. She hovers over her baby brother kissing all of his owies and making sure that life is gentle and kind to him. We have many debates over just how much mothering is smothering, but that's another topic for another day. What caught my attention that day was that while our little Buddha Napoleon was whining and grumbling in his two year old lingo, she was continually asking him, "What's wrong?" She repeatedly asked it in the most loving and dear voice. "What's wrong?" You could definitely tell that she was genuinely concerned and wanted to know what was bothering him and how could she help. "What's wrong?" Over and over she asked him, "What's wrong?" as he babbled incoherently at her about something that was obviously 'wrong' in his world.

I found myself getting really annoyed. But why? I began thinking about why that question repeated in such a sugar coated voice was bothering me so deeply. Then it hit me. This is the core of where we learn to think that something is wrong with our lives. It's that question asked of us since the cradle. "What's wrong?" That gets us thinking that something is actually wrong.

I told her to shift her question to "What's the matter?" I told her that it means the same as "What's the topic?" She could also say, "Tell me why you are upset." Or ask him "Why are you crying?" She could also ask him, "How can I help?" Make the conversation about the topic or event without actually assuming that something in life must be 'wrong'. Just because we are upset or frustrated doesn't mean that life is wrong.

Asking someone, "What's wrong?" immediately puts them into the mind frame of describing what is wrong with their circumstances. They focus only on the negative and not on problem solving or solutions. They aren't focused on their own role in creating the situation. By asking someone, "What's wrong?" we are doing them a disservice. We are sending them down the wrong path. The goal should be to guide them towards finding peace within the moment, towards finding solutions, towards self esteem and other things that help them move through the difficult times in their life.

Funny thing words, such power can come from a small shift in vocabulary. My personal favorite is to ask, "So tell me, what do you need?" Another favorite is, "So, what do you want to do about it?" This immediately puts them into a place of looking at a future where the negative circumstances is no longer perceived as such. What skills and tools would help them to overcome their problem? These types of questions also open up the door so that I can also propose that they might need to make a shift in attitude towards the problem or person bothering them. From that point, we can begin to take inventory of what skills and tools they already posses. We can begin looking at how to implement the changes they want to see. We can also begin brainstorming for ways to manifest whatever skills or tools they might need to acquire. It's a very solution oriented question. Quite often, I don't end up doing much of anything to actually fix their problem. Mostly, I just pose the right questions to get their minds moving in a different direction other than being angry or hurt by their experiences. If they really need my help, then naturally I roll up my sleeves and pitch in, but rarely do they need anything more than a different attitude and approach to life's ups and downs.

This change in how we can show our care and compassion towards others applies to everyone regardless of age. Try it the next time a coworker is grumbling about the boss. Ask them, "Well, what do you think we should do to start making changes around here?" The next time your teenager starts sniveling about how unfair life is, ask them, "How do you propose we make it more fair for everyone involved and not just you?" When you find your spouse looking like they're close to tears, ask "How can I help you to feel better?" These types of questions get the person looking forward towards a time when they might not be miserable anymore.

With little kids especially, it would really help to use these kinds of questions to mold their original understandings about problem solving. It's better to get them used to looking towards creating a life they find joyful rather than towards finding fault with the world. We cannot just fix everything for them, and we cannot teach them to whine and complain. We have to teach them that it is possible to turn adversity into opportunity. We really owe it to our children to teach them how to open up and ask for help when they are overwhelmed. At the same time, we have to make sure they know they will be solving their own problems. It's never too soon to teach our children how to take responsibility for what kind of experiences they are having. Help them when the really need it, but most of the time they just need to be reminded that they're perfectly capable of fixing it themselves.

Copyright 2004, Skye Thomas, Tomorrow's Edge

About The Author

Skye Thomas is the CEO of Tomorrow's Edge, an Internet leader in inspiring leaps of faith. She became a writer in 1999 after twenty years of studying spirituality, metaphysics, astrology, personal growth, motivation, and parenting. Her books and articles have inspired people of all ages and faiths to recommit themselves to the pursuit of happiness. After years of high heels and business clothes, she is currently enjoying working from home in her pajamas. To read more of her articles, sign up to receive her free weekly newsletter, and get free previews of her books go to www.TomorrowsEdge.net.

Skye@TomorrowsEdge.net

Cell Phone Reviews - Reaping the Benefits Of Online Wireless Reviews

There are a lot of benefits that are offered by the major cell phone carriers today that many people don't take advantage of ? simply because they're unaware of them. Among these is the opportunity to write online cell phone reviews, with the promise of some type of compensation, such as a free phone or specific accessory. While it may seem that these carriers are taking a financial loss in order to provide free equipment, it's actually a rather clever way to sell their service plans. Once the participants have received their "free prize," they're then faced with having to acquire the necessary service plan in order to use the phone.

Cell phone carriers such as Cingular wireless, Motorola wireless, Samsung, T-Mobile wireless, Nokia, Verizon wireless, Sony Ericcson, Siemens, Sprint, AT&T and Nextel often utilize such a program in order to draw more consumers into their customer base using this common "carrot-on-a-stick" marketing tactic. For those who were looking for a new cell phone, anyway, this is an extra perk that saves them the trouble of scoping out their own cell phone deal.

On the positive side, those who participate in online cell phone reviews have the advantage of reading reviews that have been written by others, and can compare specific carriers and their service plans, as well as the phones that are being introduced by the various write-ups. Since research is a critical element in the process of determining the best type of cell phone service that you'll need, these reviews can save a vast amount of time and offer a wealth of information that you might, otherwise, have had to spend hours ? or days ? unearthing.

Online Cell Phone Review Websites

• www.epinions.com ? Opportunities to both read and write cell phone reviews are available on this website, in addition to similar surveys that can be inspected or taken by eligible participants. A form is provided in order to write a review, and a specific number of characters is given in order to accomplish the task. By writing a brief, concise report, your comments will be added to the database, and a star value will be assigned to the particular cell phone carrier that you've reviewed.
• www.mpedia.com ? This site is actually a public forum that allows you to read and write cell phone reviews once you've joined the group. There's no fee attached, but you must choose a login name and password in order to become a member of the community and enjoy the benefits that it has to offer. Of the many chat rooms that are contained within this particular forum, the one for cell phone reviews is clearly marked, so it's quite "user friendly".
• www.cellphone-reviews.net ? Although there may be a bit more navigating to do in order to write and submit a review on this site, the pathway is clearly marked, and you can choose to write your assessment of a particular phone by simply clicking on the header for the specific model. This site offers the extra perk of providing clearly written instructions on how to write a review, in case you have any questions before you begin. Once you access their web address, simply click on the "Cell Phone Reviews" tab, then click on the particular model of phone that you'd like to review and click on the "Write an Online Review" link in the middle of the page. You'll be able to post your own comments, in addition to reading those which have already been submitted by others.
• www.discusswireless.com ? This, too, is set up as a public forum, but the difference is that each chat room offers reviews for a specific brand of cell phone. By choosing a user name and password, you can click into any of the rooms and read or write reviews for any of the models that are intrinsic to that brand of cell phone. There's no cost to register, and you'll have the additional benefit of joining rooms that also deal with other cell phone related services, features and issues.

Brand-Specific Sites for Posting Reviews

In addition to the more generic websites that offer the chance to read or post reviews, specific carriers often afford the same opportunity. In many cases, by simply visiting a carrier's website, links will be given that guide you to an area that allows you to post your review or read those that have been posted by other users.

How to Write Cell Phone Reviews

Once you've established where to go in order to submit a review, you'll need to know the best way to present your opinion so that other readers will have a clear picture of what it is that you're trying to impart. Here are a few things that you'll need to keep in mind before committing your words to that cyber-page:

• Be specific about the make and model of the cell phone that's being referenced in your review. Don't simply use the manufacturer's or carrier's name ? include the name and model of the particular phone that you wish to discuss.
• Don't try to fill your review with a lot of technical jargon. Most people who read reviews are looking for straightforward information that they don't have to use a dictionary in order to decipher.
• Only offer necessary information; don't get into the habit of trying to fill up a particular amount of space with words in order to meet the required amount of characters. Most sites don't require a minimum amount of characters, but many do have a maximum ceiling. Be brief without sacrificing critical information.
• Focus on features or services that will impact most cell phone users. In other words, if you're discussing a cheap long distance plan, that's fine. If, on the other hand, you're talking about the fact that you don't happen to like the particular color of the phone strap that you have, that's not going to be of much help.
• Try to stick to the facts without adding a lot of emotion-based attitudes. Objectivity is really the goal, even though you're speaking from personal experience. After all, there are all kinds of reviews, but that doesn't mean that they're all helpful.

Whether you're writing from personal experience or from information that you've gathered from others, be sure to present only the facts when you decide to write a review, and please remember that professionalism is always appreciated ? and, in most cases, required.

About the Author

Samantha Goode is a freelance technology writer who loves to provide tips to consumers shopping for cheap cellular phones, cell phone ratings and cell phone reviews.

About Personal Loans

What are personal loans? They are unsecured loans that a borrower obtains for various purposes. This type of loan is often used to consolidate outstanding debt into one monthly payment, but it can be used for other things such as paying for a wedding, a vacation, or something similar. It is an unsecured loan because the borrower doesn't put any assets up as collateral.

What Are The Advantages?

Loans for personal purposes are useful for borrowers who don't have assets to offer as collateral (such as a house) but have a need to borrow money. When this type of loan is used to consolidate debt, for example, the typical result is a reduction in interest being paid plus the convenience of making a single payment to one lender.

What Are The Disadvantages?

Because it is unsecured, this type of loan usually comes with a higher interest rate than other types of borrowing. The lender is taking a greater risk by lending without the security of collateral, so they charge the borrower more to help offset the risk.

Additionally, it often comes with restrictions on how you can spend the money you receive, and the amount you can borrow is usually less than with a secured loan. Again, the bank is taking more of a risk by underwriting an unsecured loan so they want to make sure the money is used for the purpose stated in the loan application.

What If I Have A Poor Credit Rating?

Your credit rating will be a consideration for the lender. The combination of a poor credit history and an unsecured loan is unattractive to many lenders, so if you're in this situation you will likely have to work a little harder to get a loan.

If your purpose for taking out a loan is debt consolidation, though, some lenders are more willing to consider your application because your intent is to reduce debt and get your finances back in order. When in doubt, talk to a loan representative over the phone or in person to discuss your options.

Where Can I Find A Lender?

There is no shortage of lenders who make unsecured loans so you have many resources available to you. If you already have a lending relationship established with your bank or another institution, this is a good place to start. Many lenders are more willing to underwrite such a loan for a customer who has already demonstrated a responsible and timely payment history.

The internet is also a rich source of prospective lenders. Whatever your personal situation, there is probably a lender somewhere out there who specializes in borrowers such as yourself. Make sure you fully understand the "fine print" of their loan policies and expect to pay a higher interest rate if the lender regards you as a higher risk borrower.

For many borrowers, an unsecured loan is a good choice for their specific circumstances. Whether it's debt consolidation, paying for a wedding or some other purpose, if you're considering personal loans it's important to check out multiple lenders and look for a lending program that meets your needs.

This article may be freely distributed providing no alterations are made to the text and the link remains intact.

Copyright ? http://www.4a-loan.co.uk - All rights reserved.

For Personal Loans | Secured Loans Please visit us at http://www.4a-loan.co.uk

Take Action and Make a Better World

Albert Einstein is quoted as having said, "the world is a dangerous place to live, not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it".

These days, everybody is aware of the social, environmental, emotional and spiritual destruction that penetrates every aspect of our life.

Although we all 'know' this reality, we have funny ways of dealing with this knowledge.

Some look the other direction, "If I don't see this homeless person laying in the gutter, then he isn't really there."

Some pretend it doesn't exist, "It's not possible that they kill women and children, so it cannot be so."

Others convince themselves it's not really their problem, "Let the people in the Middle-East kill each other, it doesn't affect me."

Some say, it's not their responsibility; "I pay my taxes, so the government should take care of that."

Still others like to complain about the situation, "In the old days it was better, today everyone is corrupted, they should have..."

The common thread in all these reactions is - inactivity.

The result is a terminal disease called apathy.

The only cure is taking action.

Someone has to start and lead the way, creating a better world.

What about you?

YES, YOU!

You know what is wrong.

Take a moment and make a list of all the things that are presently wrong in the world.

From extinction of rainforests, warfare, poverty, violence in schools to favoring your work over your family.

Make this list as complete as possible.

Then take a look at it and get horrified for a moment.

OK, STOP!

You know what can be done differently.

Take another moment and change your energy.

Think of all the possible solutions to any of the problems you have just raised.

Don't censor yourself. Just write down anything that comes to mind.

Immediately your energy increases once more.

OK, STOP!

Now ask the vital question, "What is it that I can do?"

What can be your first step?

Any action will do.

Write it down.

Commit yourself to do it. Starting now.

How does it feel inside?

If it looks like fear, name it excitement.

How does it feel now?

OK, stop analyzing, brainstorming, planning.

Go out there and do it!

NOW!

I can hear you think, "I can't change this world alone?"

Do you really believe it?

Take action and people will follow.

Most people are afraid to take initiative. Even when they

realize that there is a problem, and even when they have a possible solution.

People are afraid to take the risk and be visible.

People are afraid to make a mistake or look foolish.

Most people prefer to sit in the familiar shit, than to risk the unknown...

But something different is happening as soon as you are willing to become visible.

Suggest a possible course of action, and start doing it.

Immediately the people around you will become confronted with their indifference.

Some will support you, some will object. But the apathy dissipates.

Those that support you, take them on board.

Make them partners in your vision, let them choose their level of participation, and let them do it their way. All you have to do is keeping their eyes on the purpose and direction and from time to time whisper softly in their ears: "you can, you can, you can."

Those that object to your movements, can be handled in two ways:

You can either let them be, and go your way.

Create as large a distance as possible from them as you can, otherwise they will drain your energy with their constant criticism, complaining, inactivity...

Or you can try and move them. Confront them with their resistance, the prices they pay for the choices in their life, the possibilities they miss. It is hard work usually - ensure that it's not taking you away from your task at hand.

For now, let's focus on those who do come aboard.

So you're the captain now.

Here are the basics of leadership from the heart:

• You can only take people as far as you are.

  
  If you wish people to go further, you have to go further.

• As a leader, people look up to you - you become a role model.

  
  All you need is to be authentic. Nothing else.

• Develop patience, compassion and sense of humor for others, as you've been there before.

• Your highest goal should be continuous growth - yours as well as others.

• Dealing with challenges is your bottom line.

  
  Perceive each difficulty as a new challenge and express your creativity and wisdom in handling it.

• Get in contact with the bigger picture.

  
  Meditate, contemplate, and create your own life vision.

• Leadership from the heart is about doing it together.

  
  Everyone should be partner to the vision.

• Take responsibility for your situation.

  
  Stop the futile practices of hoping, excusing, blaming and shaming.

• Empower people for a better world.

  
  Ask more questions; give fewer answers.

• Operate from personal power, cooperation and friendship.

  
  Drop the use of force, authority and status.

To make this world a better place you can start with simply taking care of one thing and nurturing it. Let it grow. Let others see you care.

And ultimately, if it is not enough or if it is too late, then we go down - but at least we go down trying. We go down knowing we did not waste our love and our life.

If you don't want to waste your life and your love - what are you going to do?

About The Author

Article by Nisandeh Neta - trainer and success coach.

Start living each day at a higher level of success, passion and fulfillment. No Hocus Pocus! Just awareness and open mind.

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Fly Fishing the Tide Rips for Coho Salmon off the Northwest Tip of Washington State

Tide rips are one of the most common areas to fly fish for salmon at Neah Bay. I'm addicted to fly fishing tide rips for coho salmon in the saltwater. The stronger the current and the rougher the water, the more I love it.

Tide rips are a general term used by many people but not always meaning the same thing. Many people define tide rips as where two opposing currents meet. Others define rips as any ripple caused by current on a glassy sea. Both are correct, but I think of tide rips as where huge amounts of water are moving causing the ocean to resemble a river. This can be caused by current crossing a shallow bar or reef (the northern tip of Waadah Island is an example of this) or where a large volume of water is constricted and/or crosses a shallow (or not so shallow) reef. A prime example of the latter is where the Strait of Juan de Fuca meets the Pacific Ocean north of Cape Flattery. The water in these areas can go from glass calm to rough in a very short time.

The rough water is where I spend most of my time fly fishing the rips. The movement of water is also moving large amounts of feed (mostly baitfish like herring and anchovies) into the tide rips. The fast, turbulent water disorients the bait, making them easy prey for aggressively feeding coho salmon. The salmon use the current as a massive marine conveyer belt that brings them an easy supply of food. The chop on the water also seems to make the salmon less spooky and they will hold in the upper part of the water column, which puts them well within the fly fisherman's reach. All of these factors combined make fly fishing tide rips one of the best experiences in northwest saltwater fly fishing.

We've found the conditions that concentrate salmon within reach of our flies. Now we have to enter the prime water. This is where things become interesting. I mentioned the rough water previously, and I must add even more caution to those attempting this type of fishing for the first or even the one hundredth time. Many times, the top end of the tide rip will contain breaking waves, much like rapids in a river. In the beginning start fishing rips that are not as strong. Look for days with less tidal movement to get used to the way your boat drifts and how to cast flies while being tossed around before casting flies in stronger tide rips. A sound boat is necessary. You need a boat that's a minimum of 18' long to deal with the strongest rips. Make sure you have all the safety equipment required and more. Life jackets, VHF radio, and a GPS are absolutely required. Make sure your engine is tuned up and operating properly. This is no place to have a breakdown.

Okay, you are now in the rip holding the cork of a fly rod with a baitfish fly pattern in your other hand. What now? It depends a bit on how your boat drifts through the current. My boat drifts straight with the current, but others drift sideways. For me, I cast straight across to up-current a bit. Usually the boat is drifting slower than the current underneath, so casting a fly up current will give the fly more time to sink and still allow you to strip the fly back to the boat across the current. I usually strip the fly back at varying speeds. Often, I'll start the retrieve very fast and then slow it down as the fly gets closer to the boat. I think the initial fast burst gets the coho salmon's attention and the slower strips with pauses is what triggers the coho salmon to strike the fly.

The tide rips can also be a great place to try casting poppers for saltwater salmon. Bringing salmon to the surface is a thrill.

Of course, an article can only get you so far. Time on the water is the key to being confident fly fishing the saltwater for salmon in Washington State. I hope you will give the Olympic Peninsula a shot for your saltwater fly fishing adventures.

Chris Bellows, owner of Topwater Charters, Inc, which runs fly fishing charters off the Washington Coast. His websites offer more information about Saltwater Fly Fishing and Neah Bay Halibut

Avoiding College Credit Card Traps

Congratulations college freshman! You're about to embark on one of the most exciting times of your life. By now your parents, siblings, and friends have offered you all kinds of advice on how to make your transition to college smoother - how to get along with your roommate, what classes to take and which ones to avoid, where to find the best off-campus food, and how to stay safe on campus.

One thing they may have not warned you about is how quickly you'll be bombarded with credit card offers. You'll find them in your textbooks, in your mailbox, and on every campus bulletin board. You'll be offered free DVD's, t-shirts, music downloads, and more in return for completing an application for credit.

Why all this fuss over you for a stupid piece of plastic? Because they love to recruit new borrowers, especially in your age bracket. They know, from numerous studies, that college students tend to be impulse buyers. And even though your impulse purchases tend to be small - pizza, coffee, beer, CD's, cigarettes, books, etc. - those small purchases can add up quickly.

Fifty-four percent of freshman students and 92 percent of sophomores have at least one credit card. A recent study shows the average college student graduates with between $1,500 - $3,000 in credit card debt.

Here are 7 tips to help you manage your college credit card needs:

1) Look for a card with the lowest fixed percentage rate and a low or no annual fee. Read the fine print carefully - many low or 0% introductory rate offers expire in 6-12 months.

2) NEVER use your credit card for a cash advance. The fees and repayment structure associated with a cash advance are outrageous.

3) Have a budget! Your credit card is not free money. Budget your money so that you can pay off your balance at the end of each month. If you can't pay off the balance, always make more than just the minimum payment.

4) Pay your bills on time, otherwise you'll pay a late fee between $25-40 every time your late with a payment. Late payments will also increase your chances of having your percentage rate raised on ALL your credit accounts.

5) Request a low credit limit somewhere between $700-$1,500. The object is to have credit available to meet some of your expenses and in case of an emergency.

6) Less is better. You don't need more than one or two cards at the most. The more you have the more tempted you'll be to use them or to "max" them out.

7) Consider using a debit card instead. A debit card is linked to your checking account and purchases are automatically deducted from your account balance. Of course, make sure you have money in your account to cover any purchases you make.

Using a credit card is a big responsibility whether you're a college student or an adult. Managing your credit wisely establishes a positive credit history which will serve you now and well into the future.

? 2005, http://www.yourfreecreditreportnow.com

Author: James H. Dimmitt
James is editor of "TO YOUR CREDIT", a free weekly newsletter with tips to help you manage your personal finances. Subscribe today and receive his e-book "IDENTITY THEFT- How To Avoid Becoming the Next Victim!" and other bonuses by visiting http://www.yourfreecreditreportnow.com

Your Small Business Name -- Important?

You bet a name is important. Many small business owners try to come up with a clever name for their business rather than one that explains what they do. And, nine times out of ten, that is a mistake. Your business name should give your prospects some idea of what your business is about.

One of the most useful processes you can use to come up with a good name is to turn it around. Rather than looking at the name from your perspective, approach it from your prospect's perspective.

1. Identify your target market. Be specific. What are their wants and needs? Specific gender? How big are they? Do they make a certain amount of revenue? What do they look like? Draw a picture of your prospect.

2. Why should they do business with you? What are the benefits? What makes you different from all the other businesses in your industry?

Based on your answers to 1 and 2 above, brainstorm a list of words that could potentially turn into a company name. Now try putting them together. Experiment with all sorts of combinations. Eliminate those that just don't appeal to you at all.

Now narrow down that list to 10 possible names and walk away. Let the list sit for at least a day. Then come back and take a second look. See anything else that should be removed? If not, you have a potential list of names. Access your state directory of business names to make sure yours are not taken. Check the Library of Congress for patent and trademark names too.

Narrow your list again, this time whittling it down to three names. If at all possible, run those names by people who are your target market to make sure they "get it."

Okay, you're almost done. Take that list of three names and rank them in terms of how you feel about them. Say them out loud just like you would if you were introducing yourself to someone or answering the phone.

That's it. Select the name that works the best for you and get your business going.

About the Author

Denise O'Berry frequently speaks to professional organizations, is the author of three booklets, and several "how-to" manuals. She writes a weekly small business column, hosts an online small business owners forum and is called upon regularly by publications such as Entrepreneur, Bank Rate Small Business, Florida Trend, Inc., various newspapers, radio and television to provide expert comments on small business issues.

http://www.whatspossible.com
http://www.justforsmallbusiness.com
http://www.deniseoberry.com

Affiliate Marketing What Is It And Why Use It?

Affiliate Marketing is having Affiliates do your Marketing for you. What I mean by Affiliate is someone who tells people about your product/service and you pay them for a desired response, such as a purchase.

Affiliate Marketing is one of the best ways to get the word out about your product/service.

The best way to pay Affiliates is pay per sale. This means that you only have to pay your Affiliates when they actually make a sale. This reduces your advertising costs dramatically. your Affiliates take on all the risks so you don't have to worry about wasting your money on advertising which may not produce any results.

Using Affiliate is a very cheap way to advertise, however it is very effective. The software required to start up your own Affiliate program can cost only about $50 per month.

Then after that just wait for people to start promoting your product/service for you.

Please remember that 5% of your Affiliates will do 95% of the selling. What I mean by this is that most of your Affiliates will just sit there and do nothing. This can be countered if you teach them what to do, exactly how to do it and providing everything for them so they have to do as little work as possible.

To find out about teaching your Affiliates please see the "How To Super Charge Your Affiliates" article

You don't have to use this form of advertising just to sell your product or service. You can also use it to grow your opt-in mailing list. This is discussed in another article.

How Much Should You Pay Your Affiliates

How much you pay your Affiliates really depends on how much your product/service costs, its profit margin, how much you're willing to give up and what action you want to take place.

Lets say that your product is priced at $100. Lets also assume that it cost you $10 to make it. This leaves you with $90 profit.

How much of this do you want to give away to the person that made this sale possible?

Personally, I believe that you should give a rather high percentage of the profits back to the affiliate (Depending on how many sales they regularly generate), because without them, you wouldn't have made that particular sale at all, so reward them for it.

A fairly decent reward is about 50% of the revenue generated. Your product is priced at $100 so a $50 commission is quite generous. It really depends on your other costs (such as a mortgage) you have, which would help decide on a fair commission to both you and the Affiliate.

Another factor which plays a part is how much additional advertising you do, such as pay per click. For example, if you rely solely on your Affiliates to Market for you, then you may want to reduce the commission you pay to them to help you survive. However, you may want to pay them more, to encourage them to send more sales you way. It really is a judgment call.

On the other hand, if you advertise in other ways effectively, then you can afford to pay higher commissions, because you're not putting all your eggs in one basket.

In the end it's all down to how greedy or generous you are. The best advice I can give you is to pay the affiliate what you think he/she deserves. Hopefully that way everyone is happy and earning their fair share.

That is the key to a successful affiliate program.

By Stephen Warren, the creator of http://www.marketershandbook.com, the completely FREE guide to marketing online, with useful articles and links.