Monday, September 28, 2009

Persistence Doesn't Always Payoff

Has anyone ever wondered why some people succeed and others fail? Is it because one is smarter, more educated, prettier, luckier, etc..? If you look at many who have succeeded it is simply due to one thing – they never quit. Now I say that with caution, as if your 5’4” and trying to make it to the NBA, the odds are very much against you ever succeeding. If you look like Hilary Clinton and want to be a Playboy Centerfold, you are probably going to have a very tough go as well.

You see life is full of surprises, but it doesn’t have to be difficult getting to the top; as long as you choose a pathway that isn’t full of roadblocks. Many succeed simply because they walk down the correct alley way. It’s probably no accident that Tom Cruise is a movie star, Drew Carey a comedian, and Kobe Bryant an outstanding basketball player. They have all found the secret of success.

Many don’t quit, because they know they at least have a fighting chance, once they make their entrance to the career of their choice. If you pursue something like singing and all you ever hear from everyone is that you cannot sing, your tone deaf, or you clear out a bar, you might want to find another path, or take singing lessons. The above applies to most anything, as we have to be careful what we do, as time will defeat us always no matter what.

You might fall into a career by accident. I didn’t actually choose my career in sales and marketing, it chose me. Even when I didn’t try, I still was able to make sales. When I did actually work, I always found myself competing with the best of them. I personally would love to just play music and sing. I have actually made several thousand dollars over the years playing music, but after 10 years and a couple of albums, I know that my calling is probably sales and marketing, otherwise more than likely I would have made a better living at music than sales.

You see no matter how badly you want something, you still have to make enough money to pay your bills. You can pursue endeavors that don’t pay you upfront, but no matter what you are after, you are going to have to find a way to make a living interim.

How do you know if sales is a good career for you? I would simply ask the following – is it fairly easy for you to make deals? If it’s not and you find yourself always working hard and getting frustrated - it may be time to move onto something else. Most people who are successful in sales, will tell you that it isn’t hard for them to make deals. I believe sales is either going to be a great career choice for some, or a complete roadway to insanity for many. I would state that you will probably work harder than a ditch digger on death row in sales if you don’t have the persistence, attitude, work ethic and the personality required to succeed.

The reason I bring up sales versus being an artist, nurse, or doctor, is that I have been able to sustain a steady income in sales for over 10 years now. I have hardly ever put in more than 40 hours in a week and have gone from living in a one bedroom apartment, bankrupt, and destitute, to living in a decent home near the beach in a desirable neighborhood about 40 miles North of San Diego, I drive a Mercedes, and have made 6 trips to Australia, since my slow climb upwards.

Now I don’t want to sound like an ego maniac, because things are just things. And the only reason I bring up my materialistic accomplishments; is that no matter how successful you get in life you always have to remember where you come from. To some people I haven’t gone very far, and to others they might say - I’ve done very well. I come from a poor family that couldn’t even afford to send me to college, everything I have obtained over the years I have had to work for on my own. I like you, am still moving forward, and will never quit until the day that God decides my time is up.

The simple goal for writing this letter is that there is nothing wrong with wanting to become successful, just make sure that whatever it is that you pursue, that you follow something that you either already have a talent for, or something that is obtainable. I met a Pro Race Car Driver many years ago, who gave me some advice about becoming a race car driver. When I asked him how I would obtain the same success, he simply asked me, “Do you have a rich daddy?” I got the point, I hope you do too.

John Lowery is a home based entrepreneur. He lives in Carlsbad, CA with his wife and son. John has been involved in sales and marketing for over 10 years, and is also a published songwriter, and member of The Screen Actor's Guild.


Get free Nurse Jokes by americas favorite Nurse Comedian Karyn Buxman

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Hiring a Quality Home Movers

Moving from one dwelling place to another is a normal scene in Singapore. A number of occupants are not home owners. They are just tenants. The reason is that owning a house is not easy especially for non Singaporean citizens who obviously make up the lion's share of Singapore's manpower. Thus housing service is mostly on a yearly contract basis.

Given this real scenario and considering the volatile behavior of the real estate market, the demand for home movers is high in Singapore. While there are many service providers, it pays to do your job in screening out the most dependable home movers particularly if you are short of cash. And the necessity to make a good choice is paramount if you would like proper care on the manner your stuff are transported.

The rate of home movers in Singapore can be quite expensive. It may turn out to be much more costly later if you happen to hire unskilled home movers who can only mess up with your priceless stuffs. Other companies engaged in this service because it is good money and those duly registered and professionaly trained to give moving service. You definitely opt to engage home movers who can offer the best rate and the best service possible.

If there is one good venue to locate these movers in Singapore, it is through the internet. Check on ebay Singapore. Search using the keyword "Singapore home movers" and you can most likely generate a good search list. What makes ebay a good source of info is that you can refer to testimonials of previous clients. Yes, while these feedbacks are not 100% reliable you can have at the minimum an idea on the kind of service.

Also, online forums which are Singapore based in nature can give you some guide on home movers. Just concentrate on heavy traffic blogs and forums. Of course, not missing out the classifieds. Home movers tend to post ads on online classifieds because ad posting here for free, if not at a very minimal rate.

With your filtered list, you expect to tap the most reliable home movers in town which will give lesser hassle house moving service for you.


Visit us for more information on Singapore Home Movers

Saturday, September 12, 2009

Credit Card Features

Do you know anyone who doesn't have a mailbox overflowing with credit card offers? Open any of them up and you'll find in large print just what makes this card perfect for you. At first glance, this all looks good on paper, but it's the small print that you don't pay attention to that will come back and bite you in the end. All credit cards offer a variety of features. Knowing and understanding these features will help you to decide which card is right for you.

Fees

Most credit cards charge fees for various things, and it is important to know what these fees are and how to avoid them.

The annual fee

Some credit card companies charge you an annual fee just for using their card. Because of stiff competition, you can often negotiate this fee away if you call and speak to a customer service representative.

Cash Advance Fee

Most credit card companies will charge you a fee for cash advances. These fees can vary but are usually somewhat hefty. Not only will they charge you a one-time fee, but the interest rate for this money will be at a considerably higher rate. Plus, unlike a regular purchase, where interest begins accruing after some grace period passes, cash advances accrue interest charges from day one.

Many card companies are competing for your business and are now offering an introductory cash advance and balance transfer rates for a specific amount of time. This lower rate can be applied to any balances you may wish to transfer from another card. Although it sounds good, some companies will charge you a fee for the transfer. Know what the fee is before you transfer any balances.

Miscellaneous Fees

Things like late-payment fees, over-the-credit-limit fees, set-up fees, and return-item fees are all quite common these days and can represent a serious amount of money out of your pocket if you get whacked for any of these fees.

Incentives

Since there are so many credit card companies, competition is stiff. Adding incentives to their offers is one of the more popular ways to tip the scales in their favor. Incentives like rebates on purchases, frequent flyer miles on certain airlines, and extended warranties on purchases are just a few of the bonuses that card companies will now offer.

For those of you who collect and use your frequent flyer miles, they also have added incentives like travel insurance and car rental insurance for your convenience. Of course, they are hoping that with all this traveling, you are using their card to foot at least some of the bill.

Rewards

Many card companies are looking to keep your business and are therefore making it worth your while to use their card. Just simply by using their card you can accumulate points that will in turn earn you rewards. What kind of reward depends solely on the amount of points you accumulate. Since you can't accumulate these points without charging things on your card, this is a classic case of 'you have to spend money to save money'.

Bottom line is this: Know what you need and what you don't. No sense in paying for any features that you won't use.




About the author:


Keith Baxter made it his mission after college to educate as many people as possible to the advantages and disadvantages of credit through a widespread re-education initiative. You can find out more about Keith and what he's up to at http://www.bankcreditcardlist.com

no credit check

citizens auto finance

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Currency Trading Strategies For Success

There are many strategies you can use for your currency trading. Explanations for some can be found free online, while others form part of complex systems sold for substantial fees. Good currency trading strategies are certainly worth what they cost.

But right now I want to talk about currency trading strategies in a similar way to any other business strategy.

In business, when you plan your strategy you follow a process of answering questions about your business, where it is now, where you want it to go and how you'll take it there. It's the same with setting strategies for your currency trading business. Consider these three questions and answer them fully and honestly.

What currency pairs will you trade?

This is a decision you make only after careful study of the various currencies traded. Some pairs are so volatile that their exchange rates vary many times in one day (called intra-day), while others remain fairly steady. As in any investment, volatile markets are risky, but their returns can be very high.

A common term in forex trading is "pip", which stands for percentage in points. A pip is the smallest price increment in forex trading. In the forex market, you'll see prices quoted to the fourth decimal point (except for the Japanese Yen, which is quoted to the second decimal point). As an example, Europs to U.S. Dollars (EUR/USD) could be bid at 1.1915 and offered at 1.1918. In such a case, the "spread" (or difference) is 3 pips (1.1918 less 1.1915).

Forex experts all have their own opinions about which currency pairs are most volatile. But here's a guideline. Economic indicators in their own and other countries often affect currency prices. Any pair of currencies is affected 50% by each half of the pair. So in EUR/USD, for example, you'll be affected 50% by the Euro and 50% by the U.S. Dollar. EUR/USD is often considered one of the most volatile pairs, largely because the Euro is influenced by the economies of all European Union countries.

Do you plan a long stay in this position, or will it be a quick in-and-out?

Of course this will partly depend on your choice of currency pairs to trade. In highly volatile pairs, you may want to be in and out of a trade in minutes! This type of trading pattern requires constant vigilance, of course. You can do this by being in front of your computer full-time and watching the market yourself, or you can make use of forex robot trading.

If you don't want to use robots yet (but you should at some point) and you can't devote yourself full time to forex trading, you might want to look for less volatile pairs to trade for now.

Under what conditions will you exit the position?

Deciding on your exit strategy is an important part of your overall trading strategy. There are two kinds of exit strategy: take-profit and stop-loss, sometimes known as T/P and S/L.

If you place a stop-loss order with your broker, you will set the prices at which you no longer wish to be in the trade because of the possibility of loss. Your position will automatically be converted to a market order to sell if the pair reaches that stop-loss point.

The take-profit strategy depends on what is called a limit order, or simply limit. When your designated profit point has been reached, you are automatically switched to a market order to sell. You would do this to ensure that you take a profit on a position in case it suddenly reverses itself and starts to be a loser.

This is a basic overview of currency trading strategies.

For more practical information, simply explained, about forex trading, visit Martin Miller's site at http://www.forexinfoplace.com


Emini Trading Strategies

30 Minute Emini Day Trading System

Friday, September 4, 2009

Types of Baby Cribs - Finding the Right Crib For Your Baby

For new parents, a crib is a necessary investment to provide a comfortable and safe place for the baby to sleep in. But with so many choices out there today, what is the best type of crib for your baby?

The answer would very much depend on your budget, needs and space availability. Let us look at the different types of baby cribs in the market today and see how they can fit your needs:

Canopy Cribs

Canopy cribs are very much a fashion statement more for decor purposes. From simple to elaborate designs, the cost of a canopy crib can range from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand. Simply put, it is a luxury that new parents may want to splurge on their baby. For instance, you can have a round canopy crib with a dome design at the top or a square crib with beautiful carvings on the four posters and canopy cross bars. Because you can have all the features that come with a standard crib plus the elegance, buy a canopy crib if you want a feel of luxury and romance.

Round Cribs

Although this crib is gaining popularity, it is rather expensive and most of the designs are of the high-end. They also tend to come with a canopy which can give your nursery a very stylish look. Just like canopy cribs, they are about style and elegance. But there is one other reason why you would want a round crib and that is it can be a focal point of the room. Because it is round, you do not have to put it in a corner but at the center of your nursery. If your nursery is small, a round crib may be the answer to optimize space.

Standard Cribs

This is the most common crib available in the market and you can probably get a no-frills one for about $100. Some parents are not so willing to spend too much on a crib because you would need to move your baby out of the crib and onto a toddler bed roughly at 18 months of age. Some delay the transition until their baby is past two but it all depends on the safety aspect once your child reaches a certain height. For standard cribs, you have a wide variety of choices in terms of brands, features and price range which means you are bound to find one that suits your needs and budget.

Portable Cribs

Portable cribs are foldable and make great alternatives in a caretaker's home or for travel. You can also consider this type of crib if your room has a lack of space. It is smaller than a full-sized crib but it makes it up in terms of convenience. For instance, most assembled portable cribs would be able to fit through standard doorways. This means you can easily push a portable crib from one room to another without much hassle. If this convenience is what you are looking for, then you might like a portable crib. However, the disadvantage is your baby might quickly outgrow it and you would need to look at a new sleeping arrangement sooner.

Convertible Cribs

A convertible crib is relatively more expensive than a standard crib although many are still largely affordable. This type of crib enables you to convert it to a toddler bed and subsequently, a full-sized bed, which makes it more economical in the long-run. If you do not want the hassle of shopping for a toddler bed two years down the road, then a convertible crib may be the right choice.

No Drop Side Cribs

This type of crib is not too popular because not many parents are tall enough to reach deep down into a crib to pick up their little one. However, they are about safety and security. You don't have to worry about your baby fiddling with the latches or normal wear-and-tear causing the drop sides to be improperly secured. So, if you are paranoid about safety, look for a no drop side crib.

Conclusion

Finding the right crib for your baby needs a little work. What is right for one parent may not be suitable for another. The avoid regret after purchase, list down your needs and the features that you want for your crib. Then, narrow down your crib choices through the list to arrive at your purchase.

Visit http://babycrib-toddlerbed.com for transition tips as well as baby crib and toddler bed buying guide. Also read about my nightmare of sleepness nights with my baby, which is a very common experience among parents and how I solved my baby's sleeping problems.


travel cot - baby travel crib

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Best Gifts for Baby Boys

So, you’re scouting for a suitable gift for a cuddly baby boy and you don’t know where or how to start especially if you can just spare a limited time of your busy world. There’s no need to panic because shopping for a baby boy gift is easy as long as you know what to look for. Below are a few gift ideas to make your shopping a trouble-free one:

1. Educational Baby Toys: If your objective is to keep the baby entertained while he learns; then, these toys are a great option. There’s a wide variety of educational toys available. There are learning activity and puzzle toys available for you to choose from that helps stimulate the child’s mental ability and growth development. Surely, the parents and the child will have a wonderful time bonding with each other through these toys.

2. Baby Booties: With the emerging fashion trend in shoes today, baby booties are of no exception. Baby booties are designed to keep the baby toes warm no matter what the temperature is. Look for designs that match with the personality of the baby or his aura.

3. Baby Hats: Baby hats that have attractive designs are hard to resist especially those that resemble like that of a baby animal. With ear flaps, eyes, and nose attached on the hat, it sure is very appealing to the child’s tastes.

4. Baby Hooded Towels: Cute hooded towels are fitting for an after bath or dip in the pool time. Made with quick-drying fabrics, these towels are safe for the baby’s sensitive skin and are very cuddly to use. The baby will surely enjoy these.

5. Baby Animal Slippers: These funky animal slippers are must-haves for cute baby boys. They are perfect in keeping the baby’s feet warm inside the house. You’ll be sure the baby will have fun wearing these adorable slippers.

6. Bodysuit: A baby bodysuit is the basis for nearly every baby outfit. It offers an easy way to give your baby an extra layer of warmth during cold weathers. There are wide selections of bodysuits available in the market today. Basic, solid colors are perfect for the baby boy.

7. Mini-Playground: If you’re that extravagant, you can purchase a mini-playground or a mini-gym. Although they can be pricey, baby boys will surely love this one. As we all know, boys are very active and they love to run and play around. Mini-playgrounds and mini-gyms provide a lot of activities for small boys. These minis are complete with stairs, slide and sometimes, a steering wheel. They also have small doors that the baby could open and close as frequent as he wants for his enjoyment.

8. Ride-on Toys: Ride-on toys are very popular for baby boys even at a very young age. Baby boys love being behind the wheel while parents love the durability. Riding toys include wagons, rocking toys, pedal toys and a lot more variety. Baby boys and their parents will certainly enjoy playing with these wonderful toys.

For the best baby gifts, visit Simply Unique Baby Gifts where you will find a large selection of baby gift baskets for boy, girls, unisex and twins.