Buying and Selling Tickets Through Online Classifieds
When it comes to buying and selling concert, sports, or even theater tickets online, most people turn to turn to Stubhub, Ebay, or Craigslist.org. While all three of these sites have their advantages, a new classfied site dedicated to event tickets may offer the best and easiest way to buy and sell you tickets, Free Ticket Classifieds.
The internet has changed a lot about the way we carry out our normal business. Just 5 or 10 years ago the most popular way to get rid of your used junk was to have a garage sale, donate it to AmVets or Goodwill, or run a classifed ad in your local newspaper. While these may still be an effective solution to your problem, the internet has increased our pool of potential customers by reaching out across the world. So if you were trying to sell your can of ‘Billy Beer’ at a garage sale you’d be lucky to get $1. Now if you market that can to customers around the world, it is surely possible to get $5, $10, maybe even $50 for that same can. More potential customers means more demand. More demand and the more you can charge for your item. This basic principal is why the popular sell-your-stuff online sites listed above have become so popular. However, it is also the reason why these services have limited use, especially when it comes to buying and selling event tickets.
Let’s start off by examing Craigslist. Craigslist is one of the most popular websites in the world with millions of visitors a day. Generally, the more exposure you can get for your tickets the better. However, with so many users and so many sellers the items you list can be burried within minutes in some of the more popular cities. In addition, with such large volumes of traffic Craigslist can’t possibly keep up with all the spam. The main problem with Craigslist for event tickets is their use of the generic ‘Ticket’ category and cities. For example, if I were selling tickets to the Bears vs. Packers game, I would need to post maybe 15 ads in order to reach all my potential customers- 1 for each city that might reasonably consider going to the game (Chicago, Rockford, Madison, Janesville, Green Bay, Milwaukee, Kensoha, etc.). Factor in the fact that these posts will likely get flagged and deleted by others trying to sell the same tickets at a higher price and that they will also be burried by all the Craiglist spam and Craigslist is not quite as desireable as once thought.
At Ebay, you won’t have to deal with many of the problems associated with Craigslist. The main problem with Ebay is that in an auction style format you have very little control over the price of the tickets. Although you can modify the ‘reserve’ to set a minimum level you will sell the tickets for, this will not do you much good if your auction ends close to the actual event you are selling. Perhaps the biggest inconvience of using Ebay is that you are required to complete the transaction several days before the event. While that can be an advantage, often times ticket prices increase as you get closer to the event and there are less tickets on the market. In addition, Ebay will offer nothing to those looking to make a last minute sale. Lastly, Stubhub offers up a boatload of problems to people looking to buy and sell tickets.
Much like Ebay, Stubhub requires that you sell tickets well in advance of the event. So if you decide to sell late in the game, Stubhub will be of no use to you. Perhaps the most troubleing part of Stubhub ticket fraud is a big problem. While Stubhub does have their so-called ‘Fan-Protect Gaurantee’, you moneyback after you already missed the event is not an appropriate consolation.
So what is one supposed to do to sell your concert, sports, or theater tickets? Well a new site where you can post free ticket classified ads has recently opened its doors – FreeTicketClassifieds.com. What is unique about Free Ticket Classifieds is that classified ads are sorted by the event or team, and not the city where the tickets are being sold. This makes finding tickets to that Bears – Packers game much easier than looking in the tickets section of every mid-western city. Perhaps what is the nicest about this new site is the fact that it is entirely dedicated to event tickets and each ad is reviewed to ensure the site is kept spam free. By focusing just on the event ticket niche Free Ticket Classifieds is able to control the quality and content of the site to ensure a rewarding experience for all.
By: Ticket Guy
About the Author:
Gary Glow is the author of The Ticket lodge. Gary is based out of Chicago.
How Guerrilla Advertising Can Build Business Without Breaking the Bank
If you’re like most small businesses, there’s never enough time or money. Especially when it comes to advertising. You know you have to advertise to build business, but it’s hard to advertise when money is tight.
That’s where guerrilla advertising comes in. Guerrilla advertising (sometimes known as “guerrilla marketing”) is about using the resources you have at your disposal to build business. These are things that may be a little off the beaten path of mainstream advertising, but they still prove highly effective if done properly.
Flyers
Whether you want tell customers about a sale or special event, or just want to let people know about you, flyers are easy and relatively effective if you’re trying to advertise on the cheap. If you have a computer and access to clip art or photos, then you can probably put together a professional looking flyer. Some do’s: 1) Try to come up with a good offer, if possible. 2) Use a catchy headline and visual. 3) Keep your copy short and to-the-point. 4) Remember your address and phone number!
Some places you might think about putting your flyers include
- Cars in parking lots
- Coffee shops
- Windows of local businesses (like grocery stores)
- College bulletin boards
- Library bulletin boards
- Apartment buildings
- Non-competing office buildings
- Fold, tape, and send to your mailing list
Think about paying a college or high school student to pass out your flyers at busy gatherings like Farmers’ Markets, sporting events, etc., or to take them door-to-door. Be sure to check the legalities in your area regarding the above, and always ask permission before you post or pass out flyers.
Vehicle Advertising
Go to your local sign shop and have your logo, phone number and/or website made into a decal and place it in your car window. Viola! Marketing on the move! In fact, have several printed up and ask family and friends to consider putting them on their vehicles as well.
Social Media
I’ve been monitoring this trend for months now, and in that time, it has spread like wildfire. And from everything I’ve seen and everything I’ve read, the trend will continue. There are many of these sites out there, but my favorites are Facebook, LinkedIn, and MySpace. These social communities let you set up “house,” invite your friends over, and meet lots of new people who may have the same interests as you, or may be potential customers. Don’t be shy about touting your services and products!
Website
Everyone is on the Internet. Seriously, everyone. (Okay, maybe not your grandma.) So these days, it’s almost a given that you need to have a web presence. Your potential customers want to be able to take a closer look at your company at their convenience. And it’s a perfect opportunity for you to let your customers see you at your best. It’s a win/win. And surprisingly, it’s relatively cheap and easy to put a simple website up. There are many wonderful hosting companies (I use SiteSell.com) that not only provide web hosting services, but templates that you can use. Homestead.com, NetSolutions.com are just a couple of good ones. Depending on your company, you can put up a simple info web site, or one where your customers can buy from you directly.
Sports Team Sponsorships
Does your child play in a sport, or do you know a child who does? Or are you simply interested in getting your name in front of hundreds of proud parents every week? Sports team sponsorships are fairly cheap and most of the time you get to put your logo on all the jerseys.
Online Video Marketing
YouTube, TubeMogul, et al
Did you know that YouTube now represents over 12 percent of web traffic? In fact, many marketing experts are recommending their clients add this type of tool in their marketing mix because of all the free traffic you can generate. What should you post? Consider doing a 3-5 minute informational video about your product or service, or a video testimonial from satisfied customers. “How-to” videos can also be incredibly successful. Does your service or product lend itself to an instructional how-to? If you’re an accountant, how about “how to” maximize your tax deductions? A florist…”how to” make your flowers last longer. The possibilities are endless! You video doesn’t have to be Oscar-caliber, but make sure it looks professional. And, the more creative, the better.
Dedicated Press Release Campaign
Honestly, just about anyone can write a press release. (I’m currently putting a section on my website for this, so you’ll have a template there soon.) It costs next to nothing to create and send out press releases, and the benefits can be huge.
First thing to do is to make a list of media contacts and addresses. These are the people you’ll send the releases to. If you don’t know where to start on this, call your local media (newspapers, publications, magazines, radio and television stations) as well as the trade publications in your industry and ask who receives press releases. Update this list regularly. Next, determine that you will send X number of press releases out per month and stick to it! Don’t just wait for the big stuff…create happenings if you need to. Some of the things you should send press releases out for include:
- Awards
- Grand openings, sales, events, etc.
- Conference attendance
- Seminars
- New equipment
- New employees
The list can go on and on! The idea here is to keep your company up front as much as possible.
T-shirts
Put your logo on t-shirts and wear them everywhere you can. Encourage employees, friends and family to do the same.
Banners
Banners are fairly inexpensive. Next time you have a sale or special event, have a banner made and display it proudly and prominently on your building, or in front close to the street.
Referral
Offer your current customers a “referral” bonus (a discount on your product or service perhaps) when they refer someone to you. One of the most effective ways is to have some cards (business card size) printed up with your logo, address and phone number, plus a blank line for your current customer to print his/her name. Give your best customers several of these and ask them to hand them out to friends and family. Whenever you get one returned, send your customer a postcard (or an email) telling them about the referral and reminding them to come in to claim their discount (or free whatever).
Guerilla advertising takes a little more effort and work on your part, but the results can be well worth it. Instead of the scatter-shot that many of the traditional media outlets give you, going guerilla forces you to be more creative in targeting those customers that you can reach with the budget you have.
(c) Copyright 2008, BusinessBurrito.com. All rights reserved.
By: Donna Williams
About the Author:
Donna Williams is the founder and creator of BusinessBurrito.com – a website dedicated to helping small businesses grow to their maximum potential. She is also a 25-year advertising / marketing executive, creative director, writer, and producer. Together, Donna and her husband currently own and co-own five small businesses. To learn more about Donna and read more of her articles, visit her website at www.businessburrito.com
Twitterpated for Business Success: How To Use Twitter for Business
Teajai Kimsey asked:
From a business perspective, social sites provide an opportunity to get in front of potential customers and influence buying decisions because online social networkers are three times more likely to trust their online community of peers over advertising when making purchase decisions.* And, according to a Nielsen survey, consumer recommendations are the most credible form of advertising with 78% of the respondents.*
So how do you use Twitter, the most celebrated social networking tool of the moment, and generate more business? Here is the formula I use for the clients that are using twitter. These same principles will work for every business because it’s not about the product or service you have, it’s about the people and creating a social buzz that will lead business to you.
Social marketing has grown exponentially especially over the last couple of years. From the beginnings of blogs, MySpace & FaceBook to networking sites like linked in and the newest star: Twitter.
What makes social marketing so popular? Simply put, human nature. We all want to feel like we are a part of a community whether it’s in the local community, like churches, teams etc. or in the online community like Twitter. Thanks to the internet, our sense of community can include people from across the United States and beyond our borders bringing us into the global community.
From a business perspective, social sites provide an opportunity to get in front of potential customers and influence buying decisions because online social networkers are three times more likely to trust their online community of peers over advertising when making purchase decisions.* And, according to a Nielsen survey, consumer recommendations are the most credible form of advertising with 78% of the respondents.*
In other words, if someone is recommended to your business by a co-worker, neighbor, friend or online network member, that person is 78% more likely to buy from your company. Because of this fact, 81% of people in marketing who were surveyed said they would be spending as much, if not more, on social media than they do (or did) on traditional advertising.*
So how do you use Twitter, the most celebrated social networking tool of the moment, and generate more business? Here is the formula I use for the clients that are using twitter. These same principles will work for every business because it’s not about the product or service you have, it’s about the people and creating a social buzz that will lead business to you.
First, of course, you need to set up an account in twitter, if you don’t already have one. When setting up your account be sure to add a photo of yourself or something representative of your business. Since the key to networking on twitter is to have followers, the photo will make people more likely to follow you. Also, add your location (for local searches), a link to your website (http://ideasthatwork.net) and brief information about your business. For a more professional look it’s best to have a custom background created for your twitter site.
Side Note: TweetDeck.com is an awesome tool to help you manage the twitter universe.
Here are some basics you’ll need to know before you start tweeting:
* a follower is someone who is watching your updates.
* following refers to the act of you following other people.
* the @ symbol is placed before a users name within the tweet to reply to another user, and this will show up in the main twitter stream
* the # (hashtag) is used to help you sort by topic. For example you can use #survivor to tweet with other Survivor fans.
* direct messages go only to the user you are messaging
Once you’ve got your account set up start by posting at least 1 tweet so people who see your profile will know what you’re about.
Next you’ll need to look for people to follow. If you are really in this to gain business referrals, I strongly suggest you don’t follow every person on twitter. Instead, do a search for key terms that describe your business. If you want to concentrate on the local market, use the city and state to for search terms. If you are a wedding planner, look for the search term “wedding.” This search can easily be done within twitter by using the search box at the top of your home page.
There are also well respected members of the twitter community that you’ll want to follow based upon your business. For example business owners may want to follow Business Week (@bizweek). If you’re a coffee lover you may want to follow Starbucks (@starbucks). MrTweet.com can help you find people you may want to follow, just remember you don’t have to (nor should you) follow everyone.
Once you are now following people, you’ll see that people will begin to follow you back and you’ll even see people following you that you didn’t follow first. (All these follows can get confusing, hang in there it gets easier with practice) Remember, you want to follow people who are prospective customers or can lead you to prospective customers. You should also follow people in similar businesses as long as they won’t directly compete with you (unless, of course, you want to see what the competition is doing!) And when people follow you, check their profile before following back. There are hundreds of thousands of people on twitter and not everyone is going to be in your target market.
Now that you’re building your list of followers, you need to start tweeting on a regular basis. You can give tips related to your business, some people put out famous quotes or jokes, others are focusing on the day to day events that they are focused on. I trade off between tweeting about optimization tweets, projects I’m working on, this day in history info etc. I also tweet about everyday stuff like having the forces of technology working against me – argh! The more real and transparent you are, the more people will like you and engage you in conversation.
Twitter is also very good for self promotion – to a point. Nothing is worse than following someone who only talks about their products, services or only passes on their own blog material or articles. It’s a good idea to “retweet” or pass along the good information that others post. Within the 140 characters you can post links to specific information located anywhere on the web, including your website. All you need to do is copy the “URL” or web address of the specific page you want to link and paste it into twitter. Many times you’ll find that the web address for the link is too long for twitter, takes up too much space. In that case you’ll need to use a site like tinyurl.com to make the link shorter.
One big part of twitter is getting involved, participating. You can sit there and read the twitter stream but when you start to reply to people you’ll begin engage others and bring them into your world. The next thing you know, people will be checking out your website and referring you (via twitter) to others. When you are truly involved you’ll really reap the benefits. And, if you are running web analytics on your website, you’ll be able to see the traffic that is referred to you from twitter, and how much of that traffic converts into business.
Once you’ve got the hang of “tweeting” you’ll want to use twitter in more ways like integrating twitter with FaceBook and adding the twitter stream to your website.
There is no doubt that the internet has forever changed word-of-mouth. The power of the people is now greater than ever and is a part of everyone’s daily life. By using twitter as a part of your online marketing campaign you’ll be able to influence the buzz about you and your company.
PS… you can follow me on twitter: @tkimsey
*”Social Networking Sites: Defining Advertising Opportunities in a Competitive Landscape,” JupiterResearch, March 2007
*Nielsen, “Word of Mouth the Most Powerful Selling Tool”
*TWI Surveys/Society for New Communications Research, (November 2007)
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This article written by Teajai Kimsey, Interenet Marketing Strategist, Ideas That Work It may be reproduced and reprinted provided the author’s information including web link is kept intact.
Bitch*
Getting fired last month was the best thing that had happened to me all year. I mean don’t get me wrong. For the first two hours after that *****? terminated me I sobbed with my whole body. Heaving up and down, I could barely utter a word. My dad, my boyfriend and my assistant bore the brunt of my hysteria. They reassured me that this was for the best; they reminded me how miserable I had been for the last year and a half. This was a good thing – a great thing. But still – they were the ones rejecting me. This was quite a beating for my ego to withstand. I was hurt.
Everyone knew the firing was bullshit; corporate rules they themselves created to a game they invented. So why had I lost the game? I knew I didn’t deserve this. Those that mattered to me knew it. So why did I give a ****? I was so disappointed that they were the ones that ultimately kicked me out; I always wanted to be the one to leave. Gone were all the imagined scenarios of how I would go in and tell the ***** I was quitting. But it didn’t matter if I quit – or if anyone quit … there was no trumping her.
Beyond the hours, I gave work my passion, my creative ideas, my motivation. I wanted to believe in what I was doing so I came in everyday and gave it my all. As a practice I don’t do things half-assed and if it has my name on it, I want it to be outstanding – not just mediocre. Life is too short for mediocrity and while I’m not entirely black and white on the issue, one of my biggest struggles at work was that an environment surrounded me where mediocrity was the norm. Why do extra if good enough was good enough?
I always thought I’d l leave on good terms. No matter where I went, I imagined the lines of communication would be left open – bridges solid. I would have given them the expected two weeks notice. I would have backed up all my work, explained and transitioned everything to the next person, and documented completely. They always knew how well I documented!
They, however, did not give me two weeks notice. The ***** called me in during lunchtime on a Wednesday. By the time I got back to my office 10 minutes later, my phone was disconnected and my computer logged off. My security badge was deactivated. I gave them 4 ½ years and they gave me 15 minutes. I needed to leave immediately.
I wonder if the ***** feared her life or something. Did she think I would go loco and pull a Falling Down reenactment, smashing everything in sight? I had no such urge. I just wanted to get out of there very fast. So I packed up my office into the 6 shopping bags and multi-colored recycling bags I had stuffed in my bottom drawer. As I was leaving, the ***** had one last comment. “Will I hear from you again?” she had the audacity to ask. “I doubt it,” I managed to utter out and then waked down that gray, depressing hallway one last time.
No matter how much unfairness I felt at the time, I never felt vindictive or angry. I believe in the greater reason behind things and more importantly I believe in karma. I knew that it would come back around.
Never did I imagine karma would deliver so quickly. A month after the firing, I had arrived at a very good place. I was very happy. I felt like I was walking between the raindrops, the sun shone everywhere I went – I was euphoric. I was taking the summer to be with my son, to write, to travel, to figure out a better path.
I was sitting in Union Square when my old assistant called me from her cell phone. She was whispering so I could barely hear her. I wasn’t going to believe what happened she was saying. The ***** was fired.
The ***** was the Vice President of the branch of the company I worked for. She had been running this group for the last 20 years since the larger company acquired her smaller company. She commanded the group like it was still her own company, rather than a division of the larger company. Her better-than-them, apathetic attitude finally had some repercussions.
The ***** was trumped.
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? I think that ultimately using the term “bitch” to describe my boss is rather cliché. However, it really fits. Calling her my boss would imply she provided any guidance, encouragement, mentorship or inspiration. Her name didn’t even appear on my paychecks. She was a self-centered, delusional, bitter woman who earns no other title than ***** in this account.
By: Galina Nemirovsky
About the Author:
Micro-Blogging on Twitter
Penny Sansevieri asked:
There’s a hot new trend going on right now and it’s called micro-blogging. So what’s a micro-blog? And moreover, what’s Twitter? Twitter is a micro-blogger platform that allows users to create entries that are only 140 characters in length. These entries are referred to as “tweets.”
Originally designed to keep friends and family up to date on what you’re doing, Twitter can also be a great place to share your latest book project, promotional ideas as well as interacting with fellow tweets (folks who twitter) and writers. And yes, you can have a blog and a Twitter page. I have both but I feed my blog into my Twitter site so that my Twitter page gets updated each time I add new content to my blog. There’s an easy application to add your blog feed to Twitter, it takes just minutes to do. Head on over to: Twitterfeed.
To sign up for a Twitter account just complete their short sign up form. Remember to brand yourself! This is important. Once you create a Twitter account you can’t go back and change your name so find something that works for you. Maybe it’s fictionwriter or businesswriter or whatever you want. My Twitter page is bookgal which is fun play on words for what I do (and what I love). Once you have a Twitter account you can immediately start tweeting. The service is completely free and you can also keep up with other people’s tweets by “following” them. Their micro-blog entries will show up on your Twitter home page so you can easily keep track of them. You can also be notified by phone when they add a tweet. You can twitter from anywhere, even your phone. I’ve been known to twitter from my blackberry.
Why on Earth Would you Want to Twitter?
When Twitter first started, people were a little perplexed. I mean why on earth would you want to blog in 140 characters? Well since the site emerged in 2006, it’s grown enormously in popularity. With Twitter pages from sites like CNN and every one of the political candidates, the site’s popularity can’t be overstated. Nor can its applications for the future. Also, even if you don’t have a ton of people following your tweets, keep in mind that Twitter search sites are popping up everywhere. This means that if you tweet using keywords that matter to your reader/market, you could be found and followed! For one such search site check out: summarize. Also, if you’re trying to gauge the popularity of a certain word or phrase and how often it’s being used or referred to, you can head on over to Tweet Volume and find out. Just plug in your search term or terms and up will pop a list of results!
Most Well-Known Twitter Users
Many organizations (such as the Los Angeles Fire Department) have embraced the technology and put it to use in situations such as the October 2007 California wildfires.
Higher education is also using the technology to relay important information to students in a more timely manner. The University of Texas at San Antonio College of Engineering is one such example.
Several U.S. presidential campaigns use Twitter as a publicity mechanism, Ron Paul, John Edwards, Barack Obama, and Hillary Clinton all have Twitter pages.
Media outlets such as CNN have also started using Twitter to break news.
How to Use Twitter Effectively
If you’ve pondered using Twitter but aren’t sure how to use it effectively, here are some quick tips to give you some great twittering-ideas:
Teach stuff – teach a little mini-lesson on Twitter. Delve into your area of expertise or just talk about book publishing and how to get published.
Showcase your book – don’t do this in a “my book is so fabulous” kind of way but offer to give advice (like I mention in Teach Stuff) or share with your Twitter followers how the promotion of the book is going.
Use Twitter as a news source: you can easily announce news both from your world (as long as it relates to your topic) and from the world of your expertise. So for example I’ve done tweets on book industry stuff, breaking news, etc.
Widen your network – follow other Twitter folk, this will not only give you some ideas for your own “tweets” but it’s a great way to network with other writers or professionals.
Keep the buzz going when you’re on the move – it’s hard to keep blogging when you’re on the road (trust me, I know this first hand) – so when I travel, I tweet. I share what I’m doing, what’s happening in my world and try to offer insight and advice.
Market yourself – remember that while Twitter may seem like a fun little tool, it’s also a great way to market yourself. Just like the ideas we mention above, there are a hundred+ more things you can do.
Golden Rules of Twitter:
Here are a few rules to live by when tweeting:
Be Original, useful and helpful.
Every Tweet counts (don’t tell people you’re washing your cat) don’t just tweet on useless stuff or you’ll lose followers.
Ask questions: you’ve got a network (or you want one) now use it! Ask questions, take surveys, get your followers involved in your message and marketing!
It’s not all about you (again, back to the cat) people want to know useful stuff, I know, it’s getting repetitive but there’s a reason: it’s important.
Promote your Twitter account in your email signature line and on your blog.
Network: don’t expect your followers to grow if you’re not following other people. Network, search for others in your area and follow them.
Personal is ok. Even though I said not to post useless information it’s still not a bad idea to (from time to time) post a personal Tweet or two. Provide value and twitter-followers will beat a path to your door.
Keep Twittering, followers will come if you keep updating your Twitter account.
Home Decorating – Leading the Simple Life
Are you thinking of living the simple life? Are you ready to get rid of all of your excess clutter and to have a clean, austere living space? Here are some interior decorating tips to have you well on your way to getting that simple living space that you are looking for.
Let us start with the kitchen…
You cannot go wrong with stainless steel. Go for a stainless steel fridge and other appliances. Pick out a stainless steel countertop or backsplash. You can even go with stainless steel cabinets. Of course, you do not want everything to be made of stainless steel – that would be a bit of overkill. Choose just a few components, and try to keep everything else simple. Pick out clean, white cabinets with no extra detailing, for instance.
Color scheme…
Just because you have decided to have a modern, clean-cut home, it does not mean that you cannot have any color. You can use a little color – “little” being the key word. Keep your walls a solid color of light grays, light beiges, whites, or maybe even a grayish blue or grayish yellow. Try to keep these colors muted. You can, however, pick out one bold painting to hang on your wall — maybe a painting of giant, bright orange poppies, for example, with no other paintings or pictures nearby. There is no reason to overcrowd your walls. Choose a painting that you love, because it is really going to stand out!
The floors…
Stick to tiles, hardwood, bamboo, or even concrete if possible. A light colored carpet is also fine, but it does not give the cold, clean look that these other floors do.
The storage…
Storage is key when you are living the simple life of decorating. There must be a place for everything and everything in its place. It must be possible to fully hide your TV and all wires and gadgets that go along with it. The same is true of stereos and other such equipment. Nothing will ruin the look that you are going for, quite like items that have strayed from their proper places. All clothes must be in the closet, toothbrushes in the cabinet, books in the book cases, pots in the cabinet, etc.
The removal…
Get rid of any extra, unnecessary items that you have. You will be amazed at how great it feels to finally get rid of your college philosophy notes, old letters, old clothing, old presents, and other items that you no longer need (nor did you ever really need them…) The less “stuff” you have, the easier it will be for you to keep your stuff tidy and put away in your storage spaces.
The decorations…
Keep the number of decorations that you have very limited. You only need one or two paintings on a wall, one item on a fireplace mantle, no items on the coffee table, etc.
The furniture…
Pick out furniture with straight, clean lines. No fluffy couches, no floral patterns, no extra and unnecessary pillows. Few round tables. Leather couches are a great choice. Have as few pieces of furniture as possible.
You will love leading the clean and simple life. When you wipe your home free of clutter, it is like wiping your entire mind – your entire life – free of clutter, as well. Nothing can open up your room (or your life) and make it seem bigger, quite like following the aforementioned tips can.
Stress Management – Attack Your Mid-Day Slump in 5 Easy Steps
Every morning I’m raring to go – my hair is bouncy, make up perfect, clothes crisp and comfortable. I’m energetic and pulled together, ready for whatever comes. By mid-afternoon, however, I often seem to run out of energy. I’ve become a shadow of my bright and peppy morning self. My hair is limp (or sticking straight up), and my makeup has faded into dark smears around my eyes. I feel like my clothes are sagging and wrinkled and my shoes are pinching. I’ve got caffeine withdrawal or jitters, depending on how much diet soda I’ve had that day, and if I ate a low calorie lunch I’m famished; if I ate a high calorie lunch I’m stuffed and sluggish.
I call this state The Slump. While it often hits me mid-afternoon it can also hit under other conditions, like when I haven’t gotten enough sleep or I’m under stress. One of the most dangerous aspects of The Slump is that it often results in a lack of focus resulting in accidents or mistakes. In addition, The Slump can bring about overly emotional reactions or a burst of unwarranted temper.
When I worked for a big company there was no recovery time built into my schedule – I usually just powered through my 3:00 Slump until the end of the day. When I arrived home I was exhausted, famished, cranky and in a totally disconnected state that typically lasted throughout the evening.
Now that I’m in the world of coaching, I’m learning how to take better care of myself and one of the most powerful things I’ve learned is the value of countering The Slump with The Check-In. A Check-In is just that – it’s checking in with your body, emotions and stress level to identify what’s needed to bring you back to full power and energy.
Here’s how to do a Check-In:
- Start a Check-In when you notice that your energy or attention is fading. The first step is to stop what you’re doing, close your eyes, relax and take a few deep breaths.
- Take a mental inventory of your body – how do you feel? Are you tired? Hungry? Thirsty? Does anything hurt? Is anything uncomfortable?
- Take an inventory of your emotional state – are you angry? Upset? Overwhelmed? What are your emotions telling you?
- Next ask yourself the question “What do I need?” While I love this question, I’ve noticed that it makes some people uncomfortable. I’m asking you to suspend any feelings of discomfort that come up and take the question seriously. Really seriously. And don’t limit your noticing to your physical self, sometimes actions that address how we feel emotionally are what we really need for renewal.
- Next, do what you can do to address your needs. What we need tends to fall into two categories:
Quick Fixes – Quick fixes, such as taking a walk, touching base with a loved one, or getting drink of water, are often all we need to restore our energy. And don’t stop at one, we often need a couple of Quick Fixes when The Slump hits.
“Red Flag” Items – Red Flag items show up when the answer to “What do I need?” is something major like needing a new job or resolving issues in a relationship. While a response like this feels like a joke (“What do I need? A new Job!”) it’s actually a signal that there is an area of your life that could use some work. Stop and figure out if there’s a first step that you can take now, or look into hiring a coach to help you get into action.
The result of doing Check In’s and addressing my Slumps is nothing short of miraculous. My energy and focus return to productive levels (I’m writing this at 5:00 pm!) and I still have the energy to enjoy my evenings. While it may feel silly at first, taking the time to check-in and ensure you have what you need is a wonderful gift to yourself.
Below is a list of possibilities for what you may need ot cure your Slump.
Possible Needs:
- Food – keep snacks light and healthy.
- Something to drink.
- Sleep – while most of us can’t take a nap in the middle of the day, sometimes a short rest with your eyes closed will give you the break you need. If you can take a nap and need one – take one!
- Connection with loved ones – call your spouse, friend, kids, etc. for a short chat.
- Sunshine/Nature – take a short walk outside.
- Calm-down time – sit with your eyes closed and focus on your breathing to calm down when you’re upset.
- Connection with a passion – look at a picture of your airplane, touch your hand knit sweater, draw a little picture – connect with something you love in a small way.
- Music – listen to it, sing, dance, write some!
- Grooming – wash your face, refresh your makeup, comb your hair, straighten your clothes, do whatever it takes to be comfortable.
- Escape – take some time to read or, if you can, watch some fun TV.
- Exercise – take a short walk, do some stretching or tai chi -whatever will get your blood moving again.
- What can you add to the list?
Home Decorating – Leading the Simple Life
Are you thinking of living the simple life? Are you ready to get rid of all of your excess clutter and to have a clean, austere living space? Here are some interior decorating tips to have you well on your way to getting that simple living space that you are looking for.
Let us start with the kitchen…
You cannot go wrong with stainless steel. Go for a stainless steel fridge and other appliances. Pick out a stainless steel countertop or backsplash. You can even go with stainless steel cabinets. Of course, you do not want everything to be made of stainless steel – that would be a bit of overkill. Choose just a few components, and try to keep everything else simple. Pick out clean, white cabinets with no extra detailing, for instance.
Color scheme…
Just because you have decided to have a modern, clean-cut home, it does not mean that you cannot have any color. You can use a little color – “little” being the key word. Keep your walls a solid color of light grays, light beiges, whites, or maybe even a grayish blue or grayish yellow. Try to keep these colors muted. You can, however, pick out one bold painting to hang on your wall — maybe a painting of giant, bright orange poppies, for example, with no other paintings or pictures nearby. There is no reason to overcrowd your walls. Choose a painting that you love, because it is really going to stand out!
The floors…
Stick to tiles, hardwood, bamboo, or even concrete if possible. A light colored carpet is also fine, but it does not give the cold, clean look that these other floors do.
The storage…
Storage is key when you are living the simple life of decorating. There must be a place for everything and everything in its place. It must be possible to fully hide your TV and all wires and gadgets that go along with it. The same is true of stereos and other such equipment. Nothing will ruin the look that you are going for, quite like items that have strayed from their proper places. All clothes must be in the closet, toothbrushes in the cabinet, books in the book cases, pots in the cabinet, etc.
The removal…
Get rid of any extra, unnecessary items that you have. You will be amazed at how great it feels to finally get rid of your college philosophy notes, old letters, old clothing, old presents, and other items that you no longer need (nor did you ever really need them…) The less “stuff” you have, the easier it will be for you to keep your stuff tidy and put away in your storage spaces.
The decorations…
Keep the number of decorations that you have very limited. You only need one or two paintings on a wall, one item on a fireplace mantle, no items on the coffee table, etc.
The furniture…
Pick out furniture with straight, clean lines. No fluffy couches, no floral patterns, no extra and unnecessary pillows. Few round tables. Leather couches are a great choice. Have as few pieces of furniture as possible.
You will love leading the clean and simple life. When you wipe your home free of clutter, it is like wiping your entire mind – your entire life – free of clutter, as well. Nothing can open up your room (or your life) and make it seem bigger, quite like following the aforementioned tips can.
Menopause Anxiety: Tips
Lorraine Roach asked:
Menopause is a natural transition all women experience, as natural as adolescence. However, as I have experienced menopause anxiety, I know that there are many factors that can aid or hinder this transitional time in life. For your grandmother and great-grandmother, life expectancy was shorter. Reaching menopause often meant that their life was nearing an end. But this is no longer true. Today women are living longer—on average, until age 78. How you experience menopause is determined by many factors: attitude, diet, overall health, genetics, and your cultural group. Medical science views menopause as the state of your body after you had completed one full year without having a period. It is most definitely not a disease! By making wise decisions about your menopause and healthy lifestyle, you can make the most of the 20, 30, or more years afterwards!
Attitude
This one factor is the most important part of any change or motivational aspect to a change that we can do for ourselves. If menopause anxiety has appeared in your life, do not fear it but face it head on. You can learn about anxiety and ways to eliminate it by using a method I have had success with. The Regain Your Freedom Technique has been my choice to use with other types of anxiety. Many forms of anxiety stem from the same root cause and can set up a home inside us when we worry, get stressed out for a period of time and develop fear and frustration about our feelings.
Learning to recognize the worries, fears, stress and emotional triggers is one of the stepping stones of The Regain Your Freedom Technique.
http://www.anxietyended.com
Many women report that they are glad to no longer have their monthly periods and all of the hormonal or just physical issues that accompanied their periods. They feel a freedom from having to be concerned about pregnancy and birth control. There is a sense of more energy, and a sense of freedom that comes without the biological drive to be mother, helper, and nurturer. Many women turn their attention to those things in life they have put aside. Some start new careers or businesses. Others take up creative pursuits like photography or painting, while others travel to places they have wanted to see. These women have a positive attitude.
Those women who dread menopause, see it as unnatural, or a sign of old age (and we all get old don’t we!), have more problems enjoying the transition during perimenopause. They report more symptom issues. Negative attitudes result in negative experiences.
Wake-up Call
Everything is magnified, starting in your perimenopause, then continuing on as you make the transition into menopause. Issues you have not reconciled as a woman will surface for you to deal with. Perhaps long overdue lifestyle changes need to be made. Your body is very smart and it will start to purge any “stuffed” emotions. This means the body does not want to carry these negative thought patterns or habits inside anymore. If you have experienced trauma or hurtful experiences—the ones unresolved–they will come up. You will remember incidents you ignored or just could not deal with at the time.These could be reasons for some women to experience menopause anxiety. Maybe you did not have a safe space to work on them. This is the opportunity to let them go. If you understand this purge and welcome it, you will experience an easier transition.
Health issues that have been neglected will also wake-up. Be sure you get thorough check-ups and tests during this time, including dental, vision, heart health, as well as hormones. Health issues are serious to me. I have walked the path of being unhealthy and the path of health. I very definitely choose being healthy. We can implement preventative health. Diet, exercise, clean water, stress management, healthy environment, and no synthetic drugs go a long way in creating and keeping a healthy body.
Spiritual Awakening
You may find that the changes you are making lead you to an awakening spiritually. This happens to many women who welcome this growth. Seek out your local church, take classes in meditation, discover new spiritual thought, or a renewed connection with God. You are a spirit with a body. Approaching your spiritual wellness includes making choices that take care of yourself physically and emotionally.
Proactive Steps
Although menopause is one of the important physical milestones in a woman’s life, many women lack concrete information about what is taking place, and what are the options. It is your right to know your body and be informed. With a proper attitude, diet, nutritional supplements, exercise, and simple lifestyle changes, most of the unpleasant side effects of menopause can be minimized to a great extent. With this knowledge and preparation you can step forward with grace and embrace it!
Get help from menopause anxiety and end the suffering . Pick up your own copy of our informative book, which includes easy programs and simple tips. There is a solution for anxiety.
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To make menopause fun and pleasant:
Make choices to eliminate/reduce stress.
Create a sanctuary space for yourself where you can meditate, write, draw, or anything that expresses your thoughts and emotions.
Find an exercise you like and stick with it.
Evaluate diet and reduce weight, if you have gained pounds over the years.
Become selfish with your time for yourself. Do more things for you and evaluate care-giving roles.
Get enough rest and sleep.
Develop an outside interest or hobby.
Have joy and fun in your life. If this means making new friends, go do it.
Your comments are always welcome. We learn from the comments you send. Remember that helping yourself is the greatest way to give yourself the attention ,love and respect that you deserve.
Find our book Anxiety Ended: Regain Your Freedom And Overcome Your Fears at:
http://www.anxietyended.com
Easy Dieting Tips – 6 Easy to Use Dieting Tips
Starting a diet can seem like an impossible task. But you don’t need to jump in head first. A few quick and easy dieting tips can get results. Sometimes small steps are better so that you don’t get overwhelmed. Changing you daily routine can difficult but with a little work you will start to look and feel better. It’s very common to get excited and begin a program, but when results aren’t quick enough many people lose interest. Dieting isn’t always easy but with a little effort you’ll start to see results. I’ve got six easy dieting tips that can help and are simple to use.
1. If you eat slower this will give your body time to “catch up” to the amount of food you’ve eaten, then you can better judge when you’re full. Eating too quickly will result in that bloated, stuffed feeling, and no one likes that.
2. Eating smaller meals with a healthy snack in between is much better than skipping a meal. Many people think skipping meal will lead to weight loss but this isn’t the case. Smaller more frequent meals will help to keep your metabolism going, meaning you will be digesting your food at a quicker rate. This will prevent overeating at dinner or late at night.
3. Not everyone has the time or money for a gym membership, but try to work some simple exercise into your routine. Take the stairs instead of the elevator, take a walk in the morning or evening, or ride a bike. I bike frequently for enjoyment and because it beats paying for gas.
4. Eliminating fat from the diet is not the way to lose weight. While reducing your fat intake is a healthy start, fat is still necessary in any diet. In order to you need to know how different types of fat affect your body. It is more important to stay away from bad fats that are in a lot of processed foods, such as saturated fats and trans fats. Deep frying or cooking foods with a lot of oil or butter can really add to the fat and calorie content.
5. Whole grains, fruits, and vegetables should be a daily part of any diet. Try these as a replacement to snacks that contain empty calories and high fat content. These natural foods are generally high in fiber, vitamins and low on calories.
6. Before eating a meal try this easy dieting tip, drink a glass of water five to ten minutes before you eat. Doing this will help fill you up and at the same time will prevent overeating at your next meal.
With these six easy dieting tips you will start to feel better and look better. Eating slower and eating smaller meals, working in simple exercise, reducing you fat intake, eating healthy snack, and drinking water before a meal are all great ways to start losing weight. Simple steps are a great way to begin on a path to a healthier life.
By: Michael Marquette
About the Author:
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