Is VoIP the ?Next Big Thing? in Telecommunications?

VoIP or Voice Over Internet Protocol has been simmering for the past few years. This year the market has heated up. Many large businesses have jumped on the VoIP bandwagon and have realized savings of 50-percent or more off their phone bills. VoIP providers are competing to add to or replace large PBX systems for the corporations and add web conferencing capabilities plus wireless VoIP (wVoIP) over LAN's as well.

Hospitals and other large, fragmented workforces are discovering the value of using wireless VoIP phones to converse with one another quickly and efficiently while in different wings, floors or buildings of a large facility. This kind of wireless VoIP setup can have huge cost savings over cell phones and is more efficient that using pagers.

While business VoIP has caught on in the corporate landscape, residential VoIP is still trying to take hold. This is largely because of a couple of current disadvantages of VoIP. First, not all current VoIP systems have power backups. When the power goes out in a residence, the landline is still operational. Since VoIP works over a high-speed Internet connection, which requires power, if the power goes down, so does the VoIP connection. This will be of concern to many concerned about emergency situations. The good news is that many VoIP hardware providers are starting to deliver systems with power backup to address just this issue.

The second drawback of residential VoIP is that not all current VoIP service providers offer full, 24-7 emergency 911 service. After hour calls in Florida, may be mistakenly rerouted to Idaho for instance. This is also about to change. The Federal Communications Commission has mandated that all phone service providers offer e911 service as standard. According to the FCC, "All interconnected VoIP providers must automatically provide E9-1-1 services to all customers as a standard, mandatory feature without customers having to specifically request this service. VoIP providers may not allow their customers the option to "opt-out" of E9-1-1 service."

Clearly, though, residential VoIP is heading towards direct competition with the local phone companies' coveted landlines. A couple of years ago at a meeting in SBC's Publishing division, one of the executive managers cried, "Landlines, we need to stop losing landlines!" This was in response to cell phone companies taking away market share from the local Baby Bells. Now that VoIP is on the radar, the executive management teams for the local and long-distance phone companies must be huddling in their back offices, trying to figure out how they will stop the bleeding in the years to come.

With VoIP costing far less that traditional local and long-distance phone service and overcoming the last of the residential hurdles, one can be sure that consumers will soon be taking notice. Many will also start wearing t-shirt like "VoIP VIP" and "Got VoIP?" to herald in the new era in telecommunications.

Copyright ? 2005 VoIP Service Providers3

VoIP Service Providers - Marvin Bellnick writes for VoIP Service Providers, a company dedicated to publishing the latest happenings in the Voice Over IP industry.

Trust in God

Ecclesiasts 5:18 Then I realized that it is good and proper for a man to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in his toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given him-for this is his lot. 19 Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work-this is a gift of God. 20 He seldom reflects on the days of his life, because God keeps him occupied with gladness of heart.

Finding your life's purpose is a gift from God. Imagine being HAPPY on your job. Imagine jumping up each morning before the alarm clock rings because you are excited about your day--excited about your work.

That's exactly how you will feel once you discover God's purpose for your life.

Do you realize that 90% of the people who get up each morning to go to work, HATE the work that they do? Imagine that. You spend more time on your job than you do with your family. Wouldn't it only make sense that you spend the majority of your time doing something that you love to do?

The only thing that is stopping you from a life of happiness and prosperity is your unwillingness TO ACCEPT YOUR LOT IN LIFE.

You are here for a reason.

You have talents and abilities that were given to you as gifts from God. Your lack of willingness to accept these gifts and to use them in the way God intended you to use them, is causing you pain, heartache and hatred in your life.

Why aren't you using those gifts?

Don't you hate it when you take time, go shopping, and pick out what you believe is the perfect gift for your friend, spouse or loved one, and then they just take the gift and throw it on the side? Doesn't that make you angry?

Well, that is how you are making God feel when you take His gifts to you--your talents and abilities--and simply toss them on the side while you work on a job that brings you no satisfaction.

If you ask a person who hates their job, why they continue to work there, the answers are always the same:

I need the money. Bills got to be paid. I'm afraid to leave, the economy is bad. I'm just lucky to have a job.

Do you realize that the mere fact that you have those beliefs is what is holding in on that job?

You are allowing fear to keep you from accepting and using the gifts that God has given to you.

Fear, that without that job, you will be without money. Fear, that without that job, you won't be able to pay your bills. Fear, that if you left that job, you won't be able to find any means to support yourself. Fear, that if you quit your job, you will be homeless, without food and in debt.

Fear is causing you to live an unhappy life.

Here's my question to you. I know you are a Christian and that you believe in God, so "wad up with all dat fear?" (For those who are unfamiliar with Ebonics (smile) wad up means "what's up" and dat = "that".)

Fear doesn't come from God. The bible tells us that God hasn't given us the spirit of fear. And if you truly, I mean TRULY, believe in God, you know that He will provide all of your needs and that there is never anything to fear.

Ok, Ok, I hear what you are thinking (did I tell you that I can read minds he he he). You are saying to yourself, "that sounds good on paper, but fear is real."

I know it's real. It's one of the strongest emotions that we possess.

But the key to conquering your fears is to put ALL of your trust in God.

And the key to putting all of your trust in God is developing a strong relationship with Him.

That's all He generally wants from us--for us to acknowledge Him in everything that we do. He wants us to know that our talents and gifts come from Him. He wants us to use our talents and abilities, our gifts, to serve His people in some capacity.

The thing that you must understand is that once you start living your life with purpose, using the talents and gifts that you possess in the way they were designed to be used--to serve others-- you will not have to worry about money ever again. Once you learn how to develop a relationship with God where you lean on Him and depend on Him to meet all of your needs--He will.

Once you accept this and apply it to your life, you will find out that life is easy and quite effortless. Just by living a more spiritual life, things will become easy for you. Where you once struggled to make ends meet, ends will be meeting like a (oh, forgive me for that one). People will come into your life who are willing to help you get to the next level. You will start attracting all kinds of so called miracles into your life. Brillant ideas will come to you when you least expect it. You will see and feel God's hands orchestrating your life. You will be able to sit back and let him take the driver's seat because you have been doing it wrong for so long. Now, you understand that He is in charge--not you. And once He is in charge you feel safe and secure with no worries or fears.

I just want to tell you this story real quick. I moved out of my parents house my senior year in college and lived by myself from the age of 21 to 32. I lived alone and each night, I would lay in bed tossing and turning for hours until I feel asleep. Every sound I heard would cause me to jump up. I was fearful, at night, of being alone. I did it because I had to do it but I rarely got a good nights sleep.

After I met my husband, who is a rather big guy, falling to sleep at night was easy and simple. I just laid down and within a minute or two I would be asleep. Why? Because I felt safe. The fear that I had experienced for so many years, was simply gone. Because I didn't have to worry about the sounds that I heard at night--that's what he is here for. If something went "bump" in the night, I didn't hear it, he did, and he would take care of it.

That's how you should put your trust in God.

Discover your passions and your talents. Think of a way that you can use your talents to serve God's people. And trust that you can do it and that by doing it God will take care of the rest. He will bring you prosperity and happiness because you are living the life He intended for you to live.

Fear FREE!

Dawn Fields is a Motivational Speaker, Author and Life Coach who teaches how to discover God's purpose for your life and incorporate it into a lucrative career. Visit her web site at http://www.dawnfields.com and sign up for Your Life's Purpose newsletter by sending a blank email to dawn@dawnfields.com with SUBSCRIBE in the subject line. Tune in Thursdays at 9 p.m. EST to Your Life's Purpose Interactive Internet Radio Show at http://www.dawnfields.com/radioshow.htm

Business is Great; I?m Just Not Selling Anything!

Awhile back you had a great idea. An idea that you thought could make you a decent income, with very little effort. Then, you had another great idea-to sell your first great idea on the Internet! What better way is there to market and sell your idea to the world, you thought. So, you bought a domain name, found a web host, and hired a high-priced web designer. Before you knew it, your new business was up and running on the web. With the help of a search engine optimization firm, your site shot to the top results of Google and Yahoo. Plus, you added an affiliate program, along with some other marketing ventures. Soon, tons of targeted traffic started flowing to your site?

A couple of weeks went by and the euphoria of owning your own business on the web began to wear off. Sure, your site looked great, your product/service was the best, and you had tons of traffic hitting your site, but where was the income you expected? You'd made a few sales, but really you were expecting more-weren't you?

Unfortunately, you're business isn't starting off as the stunning success you had hoped for. But, there's good news! You probably aren't that far off. This article will tell you the one aspect of your online business that can help you convert more sales than any other!

One advantage that most business owners like about the Internet is the opportunity it provides for them to take a hands-off approach. Get a website up-and-running, come up with a marketing program, and you can make money even while you're sleeping-especially if you offer a service or software product. Internet businesses are great part-time or side businesses, because they can take as much, or as little, time as you want to devote to them.

The problem is that while spending a very small amount of time on your Internet business is great for you as the business owner; it can be not-so-great for your customers and potential customers, thus limiting your sales potential. Think about your product or service. Now, picture setting up a brick-and-mortar location to run your business from. Would you buy or build this building, set it up for business, and then leave it sitting there with the door locked all of the time? Would you leave the door unlocked so customers could come in and look around, but not have any staff available to assist them? Would you leave the door unlocked so customers could come in and look around, setup a self-checkout aisle so they can make purchases, install a security camera for safety, but still not have a single staff member on hand to assist customers. Hopefully, you answered 'no' to all of these questions, and you probably found the ideas ridiculous. Yet, is this how your run your online business? Most websites let visitors look at products, and make secure purchases, but they don't offer assistance to the visitors. That is why providing customer service is the key to making an online business successful. Buying and selling on the Internet can be different than in brick-and-mortar locations, but in some ways it is not that different. Customer Service is one of those ways. Customers want to be treated a certain way before most will buy your products and services, regardless of whether or not you are selling them from a building or a website.

If you provide top-notch customer service on your website, the same way you would if you had setup a brick-and-mortar location, you will take your business profits to the next level. Will it take a little more of your time and attention? Yes. Is it worth it? Yes.

You see, visitors come to your site because they are interested in what you have to offer. But, they also have questions and concerns before they buy. Will this product meet my needs? How do I checkout? Is there a return policy? Is this business even credible (a particularly challenging issue on the web)? If you aren't there to answer these questions, the Internet most likely will offer this consumer several other sites that they can buy the same products from. Just like that, they're gone-and probably forever.

At this point, you're probably wondering what is top-notch customer service? The answer may surprise you. Many sites offer phone and email support. However, this is not the most effective support online. Phone support can be expensive, either for you or the customer. If you have an 800#, you're paying for all the calls. Plus, you (or your staff), can only handle one call at a time. If you don't have an 800#, your potential customer has to pay. Plus, the customer may only have a dial-up connection. So, they actually have to leave your website to contact you (or use up their cell phone minutes). Your #1 goal is to NOT have customers leave your website-even to call you!

Providing email support is equally ineffective. The reason is because the customer never really knows if and when you're going to get back to him/her. They may need a product sent today for next day arrival. If so, they'll probably be hesitant to email you simply because they don't know if you'll get back to them in an hour, a couple hours, a day, a week, or ever at all. They'll go somewhere else where they can be assured that the product will meet there needs and can be shipped for arrival next day. Email can be effective at times, but it can cause concerns for the customer, and it is ineffective when time is critical.

So, what is the best way to provide online customer support? The answer is live chat. I know you're probably thinking that live chat is time-consuming for you as the business owner. You don't want to sit in front of your computer all day, or hire someone else to, just waiting for customers to chat with. That is understandable. However, with most live chat software, your customers can leave a message if you're offline, and it at least gives the impression to them that you care, and that customer service is important to you. So, even if you can only cover live chat a couple hours a day, it is still worth it! And, the more that you can cover live chat, the more successful you will be.

Live chat provides an opportunity for your customers to have their questions and concerns handled immediately. Plus, talking to you someone directly will ease their concerns about the credibility of your business. You get to know your customers and they get to know you. The chances of them buying increase dramatically. The chances of them making repeat purchases from you also increase, because you've developed a relationship with them. Plus it is affordable for you. Several live chat systems are very affordable, and most allow reps to handle multiple chats at once, which is quicker and more effective than phone support. All in all, live chat is a great customer service solution for both the business owner and the consumer.

By making customer service a priority on your website, and utilizing live chat software, that great idea you had awhile back will really reach its potential.

Please feel free to reprint this article so long as you include the resource box listed with the article.

Dan Cavanaugh is the Senior Marketing Director for the Customer Support Network, an organization committed to the improvement of online customer service. The Customer Support Network has developed a powerful and affordable live chat product called CSLive SB 2005. To learn more about this live chat software and the benefits of online customer service, click here: http://www.CSLiveChat.com

Are You Newsworthy?

Non-news professionals often have a hard time understanding why their ENORMOUS news announcement, creates barely a ripple in the media.

That's not to say a news release shouldn't be done about it. There are audiences besides the media - like employees, customers and trade allies - to whom news releases may be sent. But the media is interested in things that are different from the norm. So, generally, bad news gets more play. Let's examine these six categories to help us better understand what the media wants.

MONEY TALKS - In an age where cash is king, financial matters concerning your company can be big news. Mergers, acquisitions, good or bad earnings reports, new technology that will save or make money, all are good copy. Coverage increases the more you mention amounts and values.

TAKE THE GLOVES OFF - This category has a couple of dimensions. First, is in the arena of controversy.

Whether it's DOS against LINUX, Cable TV against DISH, or Dial-Up against Broadband, the media loves an argument about which standard is better. If an argument is good, an all out war is better. Ford vs. GM, or Apple vs. IBM - those are the kinds of battles that get an editor's attention. Don't be afraid to take sides.

GIVE ME A HUG - Editors even like a good love story. It could be a strategic alliance or an outright merger between two companies. No matter, the media are interested, particularly if there are questions about the cooperative effort's chance of success.

LEADING EDGE - The rarified air where technological history is made intrigues the media. Show them tangible evidence of how the technology will improve things in the here and now, and they'll cover the story.

CARRY A BIG STICK - If your name is not GM, Microsoft, or IBM, don't worry. You can take advantage of a big brand name. Leverage a new agreement, alliance or partnership between you and one of the big boys for your benefit.

CHANGES - Established companies with proprietary methods like the status quo. Shake it up a little with a new system that changes the paradigm and you have the beginnings of a story.

The best stories will include something from each category, and then they will have major media staying power. Rarely does a release get covered if it centers on only one category.

For the business media, focus your efforts on MONEY TALKS and TAKE THE GLOVES OFF categories. Getting trade media coverage typically is a little easier. Although the first two categories will ensure coverage, LEADING EDGE, CARRY A BIG STICK AND CHANGES are good enough for some ink.

Harry Hoover is managing principal of Hoover ink PR, http://www.hoover-ink.com. He has 26 years of experience in crafting and delivering bottom line messages that ensure success for serious businesses like Brent Dees Financial Planning, Bray Law Firm, Levolor, New World Mortgage, North Carolina Tourism, Ty Boyd Executive Learning Systems, VELUX and Verbatim.

Twin and Multiple Births are on the Rise

Did you know that the number of twin births have more than doubled since the early 1970s? Today, about one of every 35 births in the United States are twins. Even more significant is the number of triplet and higher multiple births which have increased 200 percent over the last three decades.

Why the huge jump in the number of multiple births?

The most obvious reason for the growing birth rates of twins and multiples is the use of fertility drugs and treatments. These medical interventions are most often the reason for births of four or more multiples. Recent studies from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) show that approximately 43 percent of live births resulting from assisted reproductive techniques were multiples.

But fertility drugs don't tell the whole story.

Where you live could make a difference. If you reside in Massachusetts or Connecticut, a study by the National Center for Health Statistics found that the rates for twin deliveries was as much as 25 percent higher than the overall national rate. If you want to give birth to triplets, move to Nebraska or New Jersey. Both states boast a percentage of triplets that is twice the national average.

On the other hand, if you reside in tropical Hawaii your chances of having a multiple will decrease to about 30 percent below the overall U.S. rate.

The time of year and the number of daylight hours also has an impact on multiple births. More fraternal twins are conceived in July than in any other month, while January has the fewest twin conceptions. Scientists speculate that this is probably due to the longer length of daylight in July, which allows for a higher secretion of the Follicle Stimulating Hormone in women.

Enhanced medical care and good nutrition may play a role in skyrocketing multiple birth rates, although experts caution that it is difficult to directly link these influences. In fact, if access to state-of-the-art medicine were a deciding factor, then why does the Yoruba tribe of Nigeria have the highest twinning incidence in the entire world? These Nigerian people attribute it to their population's consumption of a specific type of yam. Yams? That's right, scientists have discovered that these colorful vegetables that are grown only in Africa contain a high level of a substance that is similar to the hormone estrogen -- which could bring on multiple ovulation.

Surprisingly, age can work in a woman's favor when it comes to conceiving twins. Older mothers traditionally have a higher chance of delivering fraternal twins, with the odds increasing to one in 27 when the mother is 35 years or older.

While identical twins have no familial connection, it is true that fraternal twins can run in the family. Female fraternal twins score an impressive one in 17 chance of giving birth to their own set of fraternal twins, probably because many carry a gene for hyperovulation, which means they sometimes release more than one egg during ovulation. And, if a woman has already given birth to fraternal twins, the chance of another set increases fourfold.

Want to learn more about babies and multiples? Visit the All About Baby website at http://www.allbaby.com for extensive child-related content, including tips on how to pick the best name for your newborn, interesting birth statistics, a list of the most popular given names for children and much more.

**All statistics were taken from the Center for Disease Control (CDC), the National Center for Health Statistics and from the National Organization of Mothers of Twins Club (NOMOTC).

About The Author

Nancy Wurtzel founded her ecommerce business, All About Baby, in 1995. All About Baby located online at http://www.allbaby.com specializes in personalized and memorable gifts for children as well as interesting and helpful child-related site content. Ms. Wurtzel consults with small businesses seeking to expand.

nancy@allbaby.com

Cell Phones Accessories - Get More...

Accessories can complete an outfit, dress up something like a purse, a coat or shoes. Accessories can also add to the performance of something like a cell phone. Cell phones have almost as many accessories as Barbie does. Some accessories are practical, some are ornamental and some are just available.

In the world of cell phones, there are accessories that are practical, they aid in the safe operation of the phone or allow you to carry the phone safely. Some are there if you want them like downloadable ring tones. I have broken the accessories down into groups to make it easier to describe them.

There are operational accessories. These accessories include battery chargers. Bear in mind these chargers are often phone and model specific so that they are not interchangeable. There are hands free kits that are easily installed in your vehicle. These enable you to talk on the phone and keep both hands on the wheel. There are antenna boosters that help to strengthen the signal between your phone and its cell tower. These are particularly good in areas where cell phone signals are not strong. Batteries are available for your cell phone but they are made specifically for your model and manufacturer of cell phones. An attachment is available to attach to your phone that will add some time on your battery when its low until you can get it charged again. There are speaker phone kits. These are attachments for your cell phone that allow you to talk on the phone without holding your handset in one hand and trying to control your vehicle with the other. There are a variety of dashboard mountable holders that can be placed within arms reach.

Cases and holders are available in various styles. There is the horizontal case that looks very much like an eyeglass cases. Vertical cases look like pocket eyeglass cases. Cell phone holsters are available for your belt or to be worn across you shoulder like you see policemen wear on television.

Multi-use cases can be worn on the arm, on your thigh or on your wrist. These cases not only hold your cell but they can hold your license and maybe a few dollars. These cases are usually fastened with Velcro(tm).

There is a variety of other cell phone accessories that are somewhat technical in nature. Internal cell phone accessories include downloadable games to help you pass the time when you are waiting for someone and downloadable ring tones these can be anything from the traditional ring to the William Tell Overture and traditional holiday songs. Cell phones are not just phones, they are mini computers with internet capability, organizers, calendars, note recorders, and to do lists. They also have number directories and record the numbers of callers and names and numbers of calls that you missed so you can return calls later. Text keypads might be available for your phone. Antenna boosters increase signals and there are radiation shields that are supposed to reduce your exposure to radiation.

Other accessories that exist for cell phones are phone covers and face plates. Phone covers have two pieces one to cover the front and one for the back. Face plates just go over the keypad and front of the phone to add some decoration such as patriotic designs, animal prints.

One of the cutest accessories is plush animal covers for cell phones. Not only are they cute but they actually are functional the cell is placed in the back of the animal. The body of the animal acts as a cushion in the event the phone is dropped.

Cellular phones and the accessories that go with them can vary in price. They are all optional but some might be just plain fun. The thing to remember with cell phone accessories they are not necessarily interchangeable. Do your home work, learn all about your cell phone and learn how to operate it.

About the Author
Martin Smith is a successful freelance writer providing advice for consumers on purchasing a variety of products which includes Cell phones Plans His numerous articles provide a wonderfully researched resource of interesting and relevant information.

A Guide to Common Loan Terms

Many people may wonder about common loan terms? words and phrases that are often tossed about when describing different types of loans that are assumed to be common knowledge.

These common loan terms represent very important parts of the lending process, but to the person who isn't entirely sure what the terms mean they can be quite intimidating and cause the person to feel very uneasy about getting a loan.

They might delay applying for a loan that they need because of a failure to understand common loan terms, and in doing so can miss out on better rates and the potential to save a lot of money in the long run.

Interest, Capital, and Interest Rates

Interest and interest rates are common loan terms that are a key part of the lending process, but many people might not know exactly how interest and interest rates work.

At its most simple, interest is the additional amount that you pay over the loan amount in order for the lender to make a profit off of you doing business with them. In other words, the interest that you pay is the amount that you pay for the service of lending, while capital is the amount that you repay because it is what you borrowed in the first place.

Interest rates are the percentage of the capital that you'll pay in interest? for instance, if you have an interest rate of 5% on a loan then you'll pay an additional 5% to the loan amount in interest.

Annual Percentage Rate (APR)

The annual percentage rate (also known as APR) is one of the common loan terms that some people have the hardest time understanding.

The annual percentage rate is most often seen on credit cards, and is an indication of how much interest you will be charged on your credit card balance over the course of the year.

The lower the APR is on a credit card, then the less you'll have to pay in interest as the year goes by? you should keep in mind, though, that the annual percentage rate can change over the course of the year due to fluctuations in the cost of living, inflation, and a change of interest rates that are set on the national level.

Collateral, Secured Loans, and Unsecured Loans

These common loan terms can cause quite a bit of confusion, especially to someone who is shopping for their first loan.

Collateral is an object of value that is used to guarantee repayment of a loan, and is the difference between secured and unsecured loans.

Secured loans are loans that have collateral backing the loan, and usually have lower interest rates? they charge lower rates for secured loans because if you fail to repay the loan then the lender can take possession of the collateral and sell it to regain their money.

Unsecured loans don't have collateral, but charge higher interest rates in exchange.

Equity

One of the common loan terms that seems harder to understand, equity is a major factor in secured loans that use real estate and the borrower's home as collateral.

Equity refers to the percentage of the home or real estate's total value in comparison to the amount still owed on the original loan used to purchase it which is known as a mortgage.

It's often referred to as the amount of the home or property that the owner actually "owns", as opposed to the portion of the value that's still held under mortgage.

The more money a person pays toward their mortgage, the more equity they have in their home.

You may freely reprint this article provided the following author's biography (including the live URL link) remains intact:

About The Author

John Mussi is the founder of Direct Online Loans who help homeowners find the best available loans via the http://www.directonlineloans.co.uk website.

Your James Bond Fantasies Become Real

The problem with this is that fantasies usually don't come by chance. You have to plan them yourself. This seems to kill the very idea of a natural fantasy because you have to deal with the mundane realities of the arrangements.

Arrangements like the expenditure of 'hard earned' money and finding a willing Bond girl to go wading at the Dr. No waterfall with you. Much easier to pull out your 'Dr. No' video and let 007 have that fun AGAIN, instead of you.

However, if you're a special kind of man who will 'pick up the tab for that kind of living,' you will turn off the video and hit the internet to find where that waterfall is. You'll start making a budget. You'll call up the appropriate girl, or set out to find one, and set a date.

'Oh, this is so mundane,' you might think, 'I don't want to manipulate this fantasy into being. I want it to happen naturally. Like I'm naturally there in Jamaica and I naturally meet a charming woman, and she naturally is free. But that's a lot of 'naturallys' to hope for, isn't it?

But, maybe you're the type that might get excited about planning a Bond fantasy like this. Get excited about the challenge of it all. And once you get there, the fantasy will descend on you. You will look around with unbelievable fascination and think, 'Wow, this is really happening. I'm in the middle of the 'Dr. No' movie.'

When you create a wonderful fantasy like that, you should just enjoy it without destructive thoughts of, 'But does this woman really like me, or is she only here for the free trip? And hell, this will be over in a couple of days and I'll be back at work with a big credit card debt. And my friends will laugh at me when they hear how much I paid to pull this off.'

Hey man, Mr. Field Agent man. I won't laugh at you. And your friends that are following their dreams won't laugh at you. And the ones that aren't taking action? Well, don't even bother to tell those guys, 'cause they wouldn't understand anyway. Besides, you'll be too busy planning your next fantasy.

About The Author

Paul Kyriazi, author of 'The Complete James Bond Lifestyle Seminar.' LIVE THE JAMES BOND LIFESTYLE http://www.BondLife.com.

What You Need To Know Before You Sell Your Boat

As the owner/operator of a full service boat detailing-yacht maintenance business I can't help but chuckle sometimes at seeing the extremes that otherwise bright, intelligent, successful, people will go to in a misguided attempt to save a few dollars.

One of the biggest mistakes that we see is that people will decide to sell their boat without first having her completely detailed.

According to Rob Scanlan, a well known and respected Master Marine Surveyor;

"Detailing a boat is the single most important investment of time, energy and money a seller can make because a clean and shiny boat sells faster and for a lot more money. I strongly recommended that a seller enlist professional assistance to do a quality job."

yacht1ship@aol.com (Email)

www.mastermarinesurveyor.com (Web site)

We at BoatDocs1, do a lot of work here on the Emerald Coast with local yacht brokers and know what the standards are for a "ready to show" boat. These professionals know that the cosmetic appearance says everything to the prospective buyer as to the overall care and maintenance that the previous owner has given the yacht. Add to that the universal wisdom about first impressions and it's not hard to see the importance of this vital first step.

Even if you intend to do most of the work yourself we can offer the expertise to assure that your time and money are spent wisely. Our trained eyes will often pick up the little details that only a prospective buyer would notice and likely balk at.

Here is an outline of the standard procedures we use when preparing a yacht to be put up for sale:

1. Thoroughly Wash and Dry the Boat

Note: For this part, pay attention to everything you see and unless your memory is a lot better than mine, make notes on a piece of paper for later.

• Wash and chamois-dry your boat top to bottom including transom.

• clean Isenglass and other ports/windows

• wipe down and dress all aluminum/stainless

• clean and dress vinyl seats

• wipe down fly bridge and cockpit

• vacuum exterior carpet

• clean and dress nonskid

2. Stand Back and Survey the Boat

Note: Bring your list and organize it with the following outline

* Put yourself in the buyers shoes, be critical, the buyer will.

Is it shiny? It's the first thing most people notice.

What about the smell? People have a way of getting used to almost anything. Get a second opinion and see the hint below.

Is all hardware intact and presentable? Just because you've used that broken table for years and are rather fond of it, to anyone else, it's just a broken table.

What about dings, any damage to the fiberglass? Aside from the fact that broken gelcoat can let water into the core of the lay-up and delaminate the fiberglass, it just plain looks BAD.

What about rust? You are probably thinking right now; (what's a little rust on a boat?) Let me tell you. A little rust on a boat is a sure sign that the owner let's little things go by unnoticed and if there is one thing there are always more. What about oil changes? I wonder if he flushed out the outboard after use? The object of this little exercise is to make the boat look like you are conscientious and a stickler for having everything perfectly "SHIP SHAPE."

One more little tip that you have probably already thought of. Take a look around the boat and remove EVERYTHING that isn't part of the boat.

EXAMPLE:

Engine controls, compass, life jackets, flare kit, and a first aid kit ARE part of the boat. Knick-knacks, fishing tackle, cutesy wall plaques, and half full paint cans are NOT part of the boat-and look tacky. A few cleaning supplies, in their own locker is probably all right as long as they're kept neat and clean.

Make a list of things that need attention, and get it taken care of. A few dollars spent now will pay back in spades when the time comes to show your boat. Anything that isn't right will stick out like the proverbial sore thumb, be noticed and start the price spiraling down. (if it doesn't just send them scurrying off shaking their heads)

Hint: If you are not a woman reading this and don't have a wife of your own, ask your mother or sister, or see if a friend will loan you his for a few minutes. For some reason women can smell things that a man would never notice. You may think that men buy boats but in my experience they buy the boats their women like. Along this same line, pay particular attention to the cabin and heads.

3. Prioritize the Job

With your list you are in good shape to decide what needs to be done and whether or not you want to do the work yourself or have it done by a professional.

Most of the professional yacht maintenance companies we are familiar with, would be happy to take a look and give you an estimate of what it will cost to have the work done right. We can do part of the job, for example the compounding/polishing and will gladly help you choose the best wax to finish the job yourself.

What about those little chips and dings in the gelcoat?

Many books have been written on fiberglass repair and it isn't the intent of this article to cover the subject in any depth but many small repairs are well within the reach of a fairly skilled do-it-yourselfer. Like anything else though, if you have never done it before, "consult an expert."

I've been building and repairing in fiberglass since I was 14 and while the first wooden boat I glassed was water tight and lasted a good many years, it was far from pretty. The small investment you lay out for expert repair now will pay big dividends when your boat sells at the price you want.

In the Emerald Coast region the standard fees for compound/waxing run between $15.00/ft. and $18.00/ft. for the topside (rub-rail up) which includes a thorough cleaning and treatment of the vinyl, windows, isenglass, and metal. In other words, for the price of doing the "hard" part we'll detail the entire topsides and leave it in "ready-to-show" condition. Hulls (rub-rail down) run about $8.00/ft. but, of course, the boat must be out of the water in order to do it. (This walking on water with a hi-speed electric buffer in hand is still beyond me, but I'll let you know;-)

Fiberglass repair runs from $45.00 to $65.00 per hour and in general as with most everything else, one gets what one pays for. The up side to this is that when approached in a professional manner the dents and dings of ten years hard use can be repaired and made to look like new in an amazingly short time.

All too often we have seen people save $300.00 or $400.00 on a detail only to loose $Thousands$ on what their boat could have sold for. Then too, our local marinas are clogged with many examples of boats with "For Sale" signs which were never given the least bit of attention to make the passer by want to stop and think, "Hey, I wonder what it would be like to call that boat mine." Some of these boats have sat for years when all they ever really needed was a little T.L.C.

I remember, years ago, someone saying something about being penny wise and pound foolish? Let's not let them be saying that about us.

About The Author

James "Doc" Lewis has been "messin about in boats" for as long as he can remember. He is owner/operator of BoatDocs1, a full-service boat detailing-yacht maintenance business serving the Emerald Coast region of Florida. To learn more about boats and keeping them looking their best visit his website at: http://www.boatdocs1.com/

Cutting Credit Card Costs

What are the APRs charged by the credit cards in your wallet? If you are paying more than 12% interest on any of them, you are probably paying too much. The prime rate is currently in the single digits, so credit card companies that charge above 13% APR are overcharging. If you have good credit, you should be able to find a credit card with an APR below 12%. Shop around and get the rate you deserve. Do not be afraid of asking for a lower rate on your current credit card if you think you deserve it. A lower interest rate can cut your credit card costs significantly.

Another action you can take to save money is transferring your outstanding balances to a credit card with a low APR. Many credit card companies offer low APRs on balance transfers, and taking advantage of those offers can save you a lot of money. You need to make sure, however, that the special balance transfer rate is not temporary. Otherwise, you will need to transfer your balance again once the offer expires. You also need to find out if either credit card charges a fee for transferring a balance. The fee might be higher than the money you will save from the lower APR.

Some credit card companies issue fees simply for holding their credit card, even if you do not have an outstanding balance (these are called inactivity fees). Close any accounts that currently charge you an annual fee. There are plenty of credit card companies out there that offer their services for free. Make sure to allow about one month between each credit card cancellation in order to prevent your credit score from dropping. Ask the credit card customer service employee to note on your credit report that the account was closed per customer's request.

You also might want to consider paying your credit card debt with part of your savings. These days, banks only reward your savings account with less than or up to 1.5%, while your credit card charges you up to 21% in interest, so you will actually save more money by using your savings to pay your credit card than by leaving it in the savings account. If this is an option you are willing to consider, make certain that you do not drain your savings completely. It is recommended to maintain at least 3 to 6 months of income in your savings account in case of an emergency.

Now that you are aware of which of your credit cards carry the highest interest rates, pay the most you can afford to those cards and pay a bit more than the minimum payment on ones that carry the lowest interest rates. Once you finish paying off the card with the highest interest rate, move on to the next highest, and so on until you pay off all your credit cards. This strategy will assist you in getting rid of the credit cards with the highest interest rates first, and leave you to handle the ones that do not charge you as much. You should discipline yourself to always pay more than the minimum required payment on any credit card. This can significantly reduce the time you spend in debt and the money you will pay in interest charges.

Remember to always manage your credit card spending and do not over spend. It could end up costing you much more than you bargained for.

The subject matter contained in our educational publications is for informational purposes only. We suggest that you consult your financial or other advisors when planning for your specific needs or requirements.

Ana Ribero is a Certified Financial Counselor for Debt Management Credit Counseling Corp., a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit credit counseling organization.

Putting You and Your Company in Position to Own Your Market

Americans have always liked their coffee hot. But then Starbucks made hot coffee desirable, in demand, and extraordinarily profitable. And then Starbucks made coffee "cool" with its super-popular iced Frappucino drink -- just as trendy, fashionable, and universally appealing.

Starbucks is no doubt one of the greatest marketing stories of recent history. How this company turned an unassuming beverage into an icon of sophistication and taste is no mystery, however. It's all about a marketing tenet called positioning.

The coffee company started out in Seattle's Pike Place market in 1971 as a single gourmet coffee shop, and by 1995, the chain's earnings were $26.1 million. Marketing experts agree that Starbucks' skyrocket to fortune centers on its aesthetic sense. In other words, the public's perception of Starbucks has to do with how it appreciates this company's style. Sure, Starbucks filled a need and created unique product brands, but what attracts coffee drinkers again and again is the experience of the Starbucks environment and its products. Smooth, sophisticated, artistic: These are seductive qualities even for a business based on a little brown bean.

The Starbucks story illustrates at least two powerful marketing principles. Both help us to better understand effective positioning, or the process of finding a "place" for ourselves in people's minds:

People buy for their own reasons, not anyone else's.

The stronger position is found in the experience, outcome, or benefit you provide as opposed to the methods you use for producing those outcomes. Starbucks shows us that it's not about packaging -- it's about positioning. The environment of Starbucks creates an experience that invites us to come study for exams, hang out and philosophize with friends, or get the day started with a warm cup of java and the morning news. Starbucks is an invitation to linger, not just get your coffee and go.

When you are assessing your own position and considering how you might improve your image and thus your market share, remember that there are essentially four winning positions: better, different, faster, or cheaper. You can certainly position yourself as one of these, perhaps even two; capturing a position as three of them is tough and probably not desirable, and cornering all four is just about impossible.

Not everyone is up to the task of creating another Starbucks. It's tempting, with price wars so rampant, to believe that a perception of being cheapest is easiest to establish. Yet in truth this is the most difficult because of fixed costs. It's like doing the limbo: you can go only so low, and then you're overextended or flat on your back. Definitely not the easiest position to be in.

How about being better instead? Contrary to popular belief, this is perhaps the easiest position to take, since making an improvement or simply creating the impression of greater quality or ability has no constraints. One tip: when you capture the different category, you may get the better category as a by-product.

Starbucks capitalized on this technique, as did Dennis Rodman, the oddball of basketball. He came up with a way to take two positions in fans' eyes: both different and better. Okay, maybe he wasn't actually better than his teammate Michael Jordan, who was unbeatable, but certainly he was perceived for a time as better (cooler, trendier) among those who were captivated by his style. His fashion and fascinating antics made him so unique that he became unforgettable. And because he was also an excellent ball handler, he became famous and highly regarded in his sport.

BMW has also taken the better-different approach. Until fairly recently, Mercedes-Benz had the better luxury car market sewn up, so BMW -- a competitor with a parity product -- simply repositioned itself. Its tag, "the ultimate driving machine," appeals to a younger crowd and gives them luxury with power and handling. This is "hip luxury," which is different from the Mercedes position, which could be summed up as "elegant luxury." And voil?: BMW became as hot and desirable as a cappucino on a wintry morning.

BMW marketers had both a strong sense of the position they wanted to hold and precisely defined their premium clients, the cr?me de la cr?me within their target market. You can do this, too. Once you've figured out what position you can successfully gain in your business, ask yourself the following.

• Who is my premium client? Who would be the most enjoyable and rewarding to serve?
• What are this client's unique desires, needs, and challenges? How can I best serve this client?
• What do I (or can I) provide in a unique way to help my clients achieve their business outcomes?
• How can I position myself as an expert in this market?

With this information, you can tailor your marketing efforts -- everything you say to people, any support materials you use, even the way you dress and act -- directly to this audience to help establish your position. This is the first step to "owning your market."

Positioning is like popularity: You have to be seen in the right places and with the right people. This is more than social climbing: You learn more about your clients and they learn more about you when you frequent the same places, attend the same functions, join the same associations, be published in their periodicals, and develop products and services specifically for them.

Positioning is as much about who you are not as it is about who you are. Starbucks is not a cheaper and faster cuppa joe; it is an upscale, gourmet coffee experience. BMW is no old-style luxury; it is stylish performance. Dennis Rodman is no gentleman forward; he is the outrageous, extreme athlete who is a recognized celebrity even for people who don't know basketball from billiards.

Do you want to win big? If so, have the courage to answer these questions clearly and define your own game: Who are you? Who are you not? Who are your clients? These are the essential decisions you must make if you want to not only understand but own your market.

James Arthur Ray of James Ray International is an expert in teaching individuals how to achieve Harmonic Wealth? in all areas of their life by focusing on what they want, opposed to what they don't want. He has been speaking to individuals as well as Fortune 500 companies for over 20 years and is the author of four books and an inventor of numerous learning systems. His studies of highly successful people prove that they continually achieve results by taking control of their thoughts and actions to create and shape their own reality.

The Power to Win seminar (http://www.ThePowerToWin.com) will explain in detail how success is state of mind and how the principles of quantum physics (as seen in the movie What the Bleep) can be applied to proven success-building techniques. James will also cover why people who are successful in one area of their life tend to be successful in all areas. For more information, visit http://www.ThePowerToWin.com.

Burn 340 Calories a Day with Aerobic Exercise

Strengthen your heart and lungs and give your body a wonderful shape with Aerobics.

Aerobic Exercise ? Improve your fitness the right way.

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Aerobic exercise involves the manner of muscles drawing on oxygen in the blood as well as fats and glucose that increase cardiovascular endurance. Aerobics is done in order to improve fitness, burn calories, shape the body, strengthen physical well-being, and maintaining fitness. There are different types of Aerobics, apart from a Warm up, a Cardio part, and a Cool down. There is another lesson that consists of Floor work, and Stretching.

Your body is always burning some fat but if you want to lose weight, you need to increase your activity to the point where your body starts to let go of some of its fat reserves. That means sustaining some activity. It takes about 20 minutes of aerobic activity before the body starts to burn its fat deposit. And fat-burning has an added bonus: if you can get your body into its fat-burning range, your metabolism stays elevated even after you've stopped exercising ?for up to six hours!

Exercising aerobically means you are basically doing two things: helping your body take in more oxygen, which strengthens your heart and lungs, and over time allows you to achieve more physical work that you could not without aerobic exercise. Aerobic exercise also creates a situation in the body due to which fat that is stored somewhat out of reach, are accessed and burned in greater number than they are when you are at rest.

Copyright ? Mathew Bell 2005

Mathew Bell is the author of many articles relating to health issues to help the public to be better informed of options available to them in today's online world.

Visit this Pharmacy link for more information.