I was recently taking a little R&R with my parents in Las Vegas. While I am not a big gambler, I thought I would do an experiment.
I decided to use the same rules that are essential for profitable trading and apply them to gambling.
Rule 1: Choose the right game. In gambling you need focus on a particular game that that is easy to play and understand. The same is true in trading. You should never trade markets that you don\'t understand and are difficult to trade real-time. I think alot of traders trade something just because it is popular. That is very foolish as you can have your head handed to you if you don\'t know what you are doing.
Rule 2: Choose a bet size that is within your comfort level. I decided on a bet(unit) size of $1. To some of you that may be small, but I chose this amount simply because it is nothing to me and I know that my emotions would not affect the game over this small amount of money.
Many traders’ downfall lies in betting too big!
Take forex traders for example, when they trade a regular sized forex contract each point(pip) is worth $10.00. If they lose just 20 pips on a trade, that is $200 and that may be way too big both financially and psychologically for the trader to stomach. As a result they start trading out of fear and anxiety and make a lot of mistakes.
If this sounds like you, then by simply switching to the smaller mini forex contract where each point(pip) is worth just $1.00 you may find that all your anxiety is gone and that you trade easily and confidently.
If you are a stock trader, you may found that trading 500 shares is way too stressful, but dropping down to 100 shares makes all the difference in the world.
Rule 3: Choose your \"windows of opportunity\" wisely. In every casino there are hundreds of slot and poker machines all trying to grab your attention to get you to play.
When I look for a machine that can give me a \"window of opportunity\" I have 2 criteria.
First, I only look for video poker machines because you can apply certain strategies that can increase your odds. Second, I always look for ones near the casino entrance area as these machines are often programmed to pay out more frequently so that they attract attention and lure gamblers into the casino.
Now in contrast, let’s look at how my Father picked a game. He had no rules and was sucked into the first machine that grabbed his attention. In addition, he would choose regular slot machines which didn’t allow for any strategies and would play machines that were in the middle of nowhere. Time after time he would lose all his money on these machines.
In trading you must pick your market wisely too. How do you do this? Only trade markets you can afford to trade and also make sure you understand all the rules and nuances of it.
Rule 4: Money management - Use a stop loss. In each new game I would start with the same $100.00 buy in which gave me 100 - $1 units. If I lost 30 units I would end the game and take a break.
Many traders have no set money management plan before they get into a trade and just wing it. You absolutely must know what your risk is before you enter the trade and use protective stops to protect your capital.
Rule 5: Getting a read on the game. I know from experience that when a machine is really hot I will be profitable practically right away and it will pay out often. These characteristics give me important clues to games that want to stay in until I hit my win target.
In trading what often happen is that when the trader is quickly profitable they get really excited and at the same time nervous. This is because they are so worried about losing all the time, that they get the overwhelming desire to get out of the trade and lock in some profit.
The problem with this is that they never ride the trade up far enough and to succeed at this game you have to fight the urge to bail out of a winning trade. You must learn to stick with a profitable trade so that you can lock in some big trades. It is the only way to succeed as it will make up for all your losses.
On the other hand, I would leave if the machine wasn’t paying out quickly. Sometimes I would sit there for 15 minutes and keep winning a few and losing a few. After all this effort I would still not be above my starting buy-in amount.
This type of game was a sure sign that things were not going my way and probably wouldn\'t do so either. When I am in this situation I will walk away. When faced with this situation the average gambler will convince himself his luck will change. This is rarely the case as the casino usually gets the last laugh!
In my trading courses I teach that if a trade doesn’t go your way within 5 bars it is more than likely going to turn into a loser. The reason is that there is no momentum. When you observe this type of market behavior then it is usually better to exit the trade and wait for a new setup.
Rule 6: Money management - Setting a stop win. When you are in Las Vegas everyone has the “Las Vegas Mentality”. They think that when they start winning that their luck will continue and they are going to get rich. This is exactly the stupidity that the casinos count on as they know the longer a gambler stays at the table the less likely the odds will stay in his/her favor.
It was interesting to watch my Father play as he has the “Las Vegas Mentality” and on many occasions he would have a nice profit and I would tell him to walk away. He would always say, “Just a bit longer” and I constantly watched him lose not only his profit but his entire buy-in amount as well.
When you trade you must have a “Stop Win” strategy. What this is is a pre-determined profit objective for you to exit at. For example it could be when you are up 5% or $200 or 15 points etc. It could be when the market hits a particular price level. For example, say you buy a stock at $10.00; you would tell yourself ahead of time that if it hits $11.00 then you are getting out. Your strategy cousl also be based on using a trailing stop.
You absolutely must decide what your “Stop Win” strategy is before you get into the trade!
My “Stop Win” strategy for the poker machines was 50 units. Anytime I was above this level I would simply cash out and take a break. For example, I got real lucky in one game and hit for 220 units on one hand and another time I hit for 1240 units. In each instance, I took the money and ran.
After 3 days in Las Vegas, it was interesting to see how I had a very profitable experience while my Father had the exact opposite. The only difference between us was that I had rules and he didn’t.
Viva Las Vegas!!!
Saturday, December 09, 2006
MLM Training - How One Person Sold One Billion Dollars Worth of Products
If you want to increase the profits in your MLM Business, a good starting place is to sell more product. There are hundreds of different "selling tactics" being taught, but I have always found this one specific approach to work like magic.
How in the world could ONE person sell a billion dollars worth of products? He knew his product...and he knew it well. The one thing that snagged my attention was how well he knew his product.
Which comes first? Knowledge of your product...or selling a billion dollars worth of it? Obviously knowledge of your product comes first.
This MLM training article is about the very important Communication Quality called, "Know what you're talking about."
The reason I mention this is because there is a group of characteristics an MLM business professional must possess in order to truly have success in speaking with customers and selling products.
I call these characteristics the 10 Communication Qualities. Once you're fully knowledgeable about these qualities and have the proper and correct MLM training to learn them, you will be amazed at how many prospects and customers will be interested in your MLM business and/or products.
I was watching a TV infomercial not long ago of a guy who was selling cutting knives. I became greatly impressed with the knowledge of the sales person. By the way he presented his knives I could tell he really knew everything one could know about knives.
I'll admit, in the beginning I was listening, trying to find a hole in what he was talking about.
The more I listened the more I could see and hear, "This man knows about knives!" There wasn't one part of a knife he didn't know about - and he demonstrated to me why he was right...and he discussed it so clearly that anyone could have understood it.
He did several demonstrations with his knives - everything from cutting a can in half to cutting other knives in half with his knife. He did everything without making me feel stupid for my lack of knowledge about knives. He did this without being too assertive (Communication Quality #4). In fact, the more I watched this man the more I realized he was using all 10 of the Communication Qualities.
Very rarely have I seen all the qualities in one person. Now, I didn't personally talk to him to see if he was "truly interested in me." But in the way he delivered his knowledge to me I could tell that he had researched everything about his knives. He explained what a good knife was, and then told where the largest cost is in a knife and why you (the listener) didn't need to have that in your kitchen knives. He gave a "no questions asked, money back guarantee." That certainly sounded like he was "interested" in me.
I bought the knives. The whole set.
Intrigued with his charisma, I started researching him. Ha! Guess what I found? He has sold over one billion dollars worth of goods! NOT through a downline of thousands of people...or a company with hundreds or thousands of stores...but he personally has sold a billion dollars worth of goods!
His name is Ron Popeil. His mother and father split up when he was three. Neither parent wanted him or his brother. So he grew up on the streets in the Bronx (a neighborhood in New York City). At 16, he visited his dad in Chicago and got a job working in a small kitchen appliance factory. One day walking home he walked past a place in Chicago called Maxwell Street. It was the equivalent of a dirty flea market today.
The main things sold on Maxwell Street were stolen goods - hub caps, steering wheels and car radios. As he watched the people selling their stolen goods and people buying them, he got an idea. The next day he bought some of the items from the appliance factory where he worked at wholesale (same price as a store would pay). He then went to Maxwell Street and sold them. As he describes it, "I had never been loved as a kid - I finally found love. It was with my customers. I made a connection with them."
He then found out about state and county fairs...and mastered those. He then volunteered to do live demonstrations inside of stores that carried the manufacturer's products. He mastered selling products live in stores. Then he went in front of cameras on television networks that sold products. You've probably heard his company name before; Ronco. He's the man who came up with, "It slices and dices..., but wait, that's not all...you'll also get...," and "If you order now you get absolutely FREE..."
To date, he has personally sold over one billion dollars worth of products.
You see, because he was the one working in the factory making those knives he KNEW HIS PRODUCT!
My whole interest in this was stimulated by his knowledge of knives. It was THIS quality of "know what you're talking about" that jumped out and grabbed my attention. When you know what you're talking about, prospects really admire it because your knowledge can help them get what they want.
Your downline will also greatly admire you if you know what you're talking about...and they will follow you. If you invent answers to their questions (instead of knowing what you're talking about) - they quickly learn you will say anything (truth or not) to get them to buy the product or sign up in your downline...and they won't.
This doesn't mean you have to work at a manufacturer to know all about the products you sell in your MLM business. It also doesn't mean you have to have a master's degree in nutrition to sell a nutrition product. The thing that impressed me the most was that Ron Popeil talked in such simple language that everyone could understand it.
He never tried to impress his audience with big words. He would say things like, "The steel this knife is made out of is tough - look how tough it is"...and then he would demonstrate it. He didn't try to explain the difference between anodizing (pronounced an'a-diz') and case hardening (two processes used to make steel hard and durable).
He instead would demonstrate for you what he wanted to communicate. It's the sign of a true communicator - to know everything about something, but to communicate it simply to make it very easy for the prospect to make a decision.
Be knowledgeable about your MLM business. Know everything there is to know about the products you sell. Then, when you find people who can benefit from your business and/or your products, you can confidently help them get what they want. It's this kind of knowledge that really pays you in network marketing.
How in the world could ONE person sell a billion dollars worth of products? He knew his product...and he knew it well. The one thing that snagged my attention was how well he knew his product.
Which comes first? Knowledge of your product...or selling a billion dollars worth of it? Obviously knowledge of your product comes first.
This MLM training article is about the very important Communication Quality called, "Know what you're talking about."
The reason I mention this is because there is a group of characteristics an MLM business professional must possess in order to truly have success in speaking with customers and selling products.
I call these characteristics the 10 Communication Qualities. Once you're fully knowledgeable about these qualities and have the proper and correct MLM training to learn them, you will be amazed at how many prospects and customers will be interested in your MLM business and/or products.
I was watching a TV infomercial not long ago of a guy who was selling cutting knives. I became greatly impressed with the knowledge of the sales person. By the way he presented his knives I could tell he really knew everything one could know about knives.
I'll admit, in the beginning I was listening, trying to find a hole in what he was talking about.
The more I listened the more I could see and hear, "This man knows about knives!" There wasn't one part of a knife he didn't know about - and he demonstrated to me why he was right...and he discussed it so clearly that anyone could have understood it.
He did several demonstrations with his knives - everything from cutting a can in half to cutting other knives in half with his knife. He did everything without making me feel stupid for my lack of knowledge about knives. He did this without being too assertive (Communication Quality #4). In fact, the more I watched this man the more I realized he was using all 10 of the Communication Qualities.
Very rarely have I seen all the qualities in one person. Now, I didn't personally talk to him to see if he was "truly interested in me." But in the way he delivered his knowledge to me I could tell that he had researched everything about his knives. He explained what a good knife was, and then told where the largest cost is in a knife and why you (the listener) didn't need to have that in your kitchen knives. He gave a "no questions asked, money back guarantee." That certainly sounded like he was "interested" in me.
I bought the knives. The whole set.
Intrigued with his charisma, I started researching him. Ha! Guess what I found? He has sold over one billion dollars worth of goods! NOT through a downline of thousands of people...or a company with hundreds or thousands of stores...but he personally has sold a billion dollars worth of goods!
His name is Ron Popeil. His mother and father split up when he was three. Neither parent wanted him or his brother. So he grew up on the streets in the Bronx (a neighborhood in New York City). At 16, he visited his dad in Chicago and got a job working in a small kitchen appliance factory. One day walking home he walked past a place in Chicago called Maxwell Street. It was the equivalent of a dirty flea market today.
The main things sold on Maxwell Street were stolen goods - hub caps, steering wheels and car radios. As he watched the people selling their stolen goods and people buying them, he got an idea. The next day he bought some of the items from the appliance factory where he worked at wholesale (same price as a store would pay). He then went to Maxwell Street and sold them. As he describes it, "I had never been loved as a kid - I finally found love. It was with my customers. I made a connection with them."
He then found out about state and county fairs...and mastered those. He then volunteered to do live demonstrations inside of stores that carried the manufacturer's products. He mastered selling products live in stores. Then he went in front of cameras on television networks that sold products. You've probably heard his company name before; Ronco. He's the man who came up with, "It slices and dices..., but wait, that's not all...you'll also get...," and "If you order now you get absolutely FREE..."
To date, he has personally sold over one billion dollars worth of products.
You see, because he was the one working in the factory making those knives he KNEW HIS PRODUCT!
My whole interest in this was stimulated by his knowledge of knives. It was THIS quality of "know what you're talking about" that jumped out and grabbed my attention. When you know what you're talking about, prospects really admire it because your knowledge can help them get what they want.
Your downline will also greatly admire you if you know what you're talking about...and they will follow you. If you invent answers to their questions (instead of knowing what you're talking about) - they quickly learn you will say anything (truth or not) to get them to buy the product or sign up in your downline...and they won't.
This doesn't mean you have to work at a manufacturer to know all about the products you sell in your MLM business. It also doesn't mean you have to have a master's degree in nutrition to sell a nutrition product. The thing that impressed me the most was that Ron Popeil talked in such simple language that everyone could understand it.
He never tried to impress his audience with big words. He would say things like, "The steel this knife is made out of is tough - look how tough it is"...and then he would demonstrate it. He didn't try to explain the difference between anodizing (pronounced an'a-diz') and case hardening (two processes used to make steel hard and durable).
He instead would demonstrate for you what he wanted to communicate. It's the sign of a true communicator - to know everything about something, but to communicate it simply to make it very easy for the prospect to make a decision.
Be knowledgeable about your MLM business. Know everything there is to know about the products you sell. Then, when you find people who can benefit from your business and/or your products, you can confidently help them get what they want. It's this kind of knowledge that really pays you in network marketing.
Foreclosures - How To Invest Successfully
If someone is about to lose their home to foreclosure, then you can guarantee they're feeling stressed. They're probably being bombarded by calls and letters from creditors, and for many people it all becomes too much to handle. They close their eyes and hope it will all just go away.
Reality is that it won't, and as an investor interested in buying foreclosures, the hardest part can be convincing the homeowner that they really are going to lose their house unless they do something about it. It can also be difficult to convince them that you really are trying to help them, even though you are helping yourself make a profit at the same time.
When you're dealing with foreclosures, time is of the utmost importance. You need to have enough time to bail out the homeowner and take over the property before it's too late. That's why it can be a good idea to subscribe to a foreclosure listing service - you get access to listings at the earliest possible time, and don't have to use your valuable time looking for potential foreclosure properties from other sources.
Many people facing foreclosure have spoken to an attorney, and are convinced that bankruptcy is their only option. In most cases this isn't true, but attorneys tend to stick to what they're familiar with, which is bankruptcy, rather than mentioning other possibilities such as:
- Sale by assumption
- Deed in lieu
- Straight sale
- Foreclosure presale
- Compromise sale
- Short payoff
- Workouts
- Assignment
- Injunctions
There are still more options than these, which shows that bankruptcy definitely isn't the only choice for the homeowner. When you're dealing with a homeowner in foreclosure, make it clear that you're offering an alternative to bankruptcy. Find out whether they really understand what bankruptcy will do to their credit history and how it will affect their future.
If you're serious about buying foreclosure properties, then you need to become familiar with everything that's required in the process, and check everything for every property you consider. These items include:
- Loan and mortgage documents
- Loan amount, monthly payment, and interest rate
- Any outstanding taxes
- Existing insurance policies
- Any other liens or judgments
Make sure you have enough information to complete all the necessary tasks before the foreclosure occurs. If there's not enough time, don't even bother starting. Having said that, learn as much as you can about ways to delay foreclosure, and help the homeowner to implement them all. If may just give you enough time to take over the property before the foreclosure auction.
Above all, focus on creating a solution where everybody wins. It's never an easy time for the homeowner, so be prepared for plenty of anger, frustration and resentment - some of which may be directed at you. Walk away if it's obvious the person doesn't want to work with you. Find someone who is interested in finding a solution, show empathy for their situation, put together a strategy to get the best possible result for them, and before long you'll find yourself with a good portfolio of investment properties.
Reality is that it won't, and as an investor interested in buying foreclosures, the hardest part can be convincing the homeowner that they really are going to lose their house unless they do something about it. It can also be difficult to convince them that you really are trying to help them, even though you are helping yourself make a profit at the same time.
When you're dealing with foreclosures, time is of the utmost importance. You need to have enough time to bail out the homeowner and take over the property before it's too late. That's why it can be a good idea to subscribe to a foreclosure listing service - you get access to listings at the earliest possible time, and don't have to use your valuable time looking for potential foreclosure properties from other sources.
Many people facing foreclosure have spoken to an attorney, and are convinced that bankruptcy is their only option. In most cases this isn't true, but attorneys tend to stick to what they're familiar with, which is bankruptcy, rather than mentioning other possibilities such as:
- Sale by assumption
- Deed in lieu
- Straight sale
- Foreclosure presale
- Compromise sale
- Short payoff
- Workouts
- Assignment
- Injunctions
There are still more options than these, which shows that bankruptcy definitely isn't the only choice for the homeowner. When you're dealing with a homeowner in foreclosure, make it clear that you're offering an alternative to bankruptcy. Find out whether they really understand what bankruptcy will do to their credit history and how it will affect their future.
If you're serious about buying foreclosure properties, then you need to become familiar with everything that's required in the process, and check everything for every property you consider. These items include:
- Loan and mortgage documents
- Loan amount, monthly payment, and interest rate
- Any outstanding taxes
- Existing insurance policies
- Any other liens or judgments
Make sure you have enough information to complete all the necessary tasks before the foreclosure occurs. If there's not enough time, don't even bother starting. Having said that, learn as much as you can about ways to delay foreclosure, and help the homeowner to implement them all. If may just give you enough time to take over the property before the foreclosure auction.
Above all, focus on creating a solution where everybody wins. It's never an easy time for the homeowner, so be prepared for plenty of anger, frustration and resentment - some of which may be directed at you. Walk away if it's obvious the person doesn't want to work with you. Find someone who is interested in finding a solution, show empathy for their situation, put together a strategy to get the best possible result for them, and before long you'll find yourself with a good portfolio of investment properties.
Investment on Returns
So there I stood, feeling incredibly stupid. Having waited in line for a few minutes to return a paperback copy of Harry Potter, which I realized I already owned once I brought it home, I stood face-to-face with the cashier. I looked over his shoulder and ready “Barnes and Nobles”, I looked down at the imprint on my plastic bag “Waldenbooks”. I paused , turned beet red and said “Oops, I am obviously in the wrong place”. I started to turn and leave when he gently stopped me with the words “If we carry that book we would be happy to refund it for you”. “Really???” I asked. “Sure no problem let me have a look”. He determined that he already had 24 copies in stock and was more than happy to take one more. He handed me a credit card looking store credit, had me sign a receipt and that was that.
But that was not the end of the story. I was so blown away and so grateful I decided to go buy a CD. Now the CD was about twice what my refund was so I handed the card and the money and I took my CD and left
But that was still not the end of the story. As soon as I got out of the store I called my brother and 5 of my friends to tell them about this amazing customer service. And now of course I am telling you, too.
So let’s look at this story and see what actally occurred. Barnes and Nobles made an “Investment on my Return”. What exactly was the “cost” of this investment? Perhaps there was a cost for training the employee that taught him to act in this kind and generous way. But other than that it cost them nothing. Okay maybe there was some cost for restocking. They will surely sell that other copy. But then we need to reverse this formula and see what the Return on Investment was.
Here is where the real power of this theory is seen. They not only were repaid their initial outlay of $7.99, they received an additional $7.99 that I most surely would not have spent otherwise. They received free word of mouth advertising (which is far more powerful and effective than traditional advertising) and they created a loyal, raving fan customer.
“Returns” are often emotionally charged events. Think about it. People return things that “don’t fit”, that they “don’t like” , that they “can’t afford” , “wasn’t what they expected”, that are of “inferior quality”, that” they don’t need” or “they don’t want”
For a lot of your customers returns are either embarrassing, filled with disappointment or frustration or at the very least a major inconvenience.
How you handle this touchy situation will impact on your customer’s decision to continue doing business with you.
There are many stories going around about how Nordstrom would take anything in a return (including a car engine). Of course you don’t have to go to that extreme to make your return policy fair, easy and effective.
What does it take to create a return atmosphere that will keep your customers coming back?
1. Create
Management needs to create a policy that is fair, easy and effective. Put yourself in your customer’s shoes and make a decision that benefits them.
2. Train
Once you have your policy make sure that your employees understand what the policy is and how to implement it.
3. Empower
This may be the most essential element of the process. Empower your employee to “do the right thing” to “err” in favor of the customer. Then publicly stand behind that employee even if his or her decision goes beyond your policy. Take them aside privately and discuss and modify.
4. Educate
Your customers need to know your policy inside out. This is especially true if your business has strict regulations. If they need to have a receipt to return the product then it is best to say to the customer as they are checking our “Remember if you need to return this we require the receipt. Would you like it in the bag or would you like to have it?” Granted this will not guarantee that the customers will remember but it does help. Also have the return policy displayed at the check out line and on the receipt.
5. Bend within Reason
Rules are important, but customers are more important. Even with a strict return policy you need to be customer focused. Do what you can to help that customer with their need. Remember the Investment of Return.
Truly looking out for your customers best interest is actually in your best interest. Take a long hard look at your policy. Is it serving you and your customers? If not change it NOW!
But that was not the end of the story. I was so blown away and so grateful I decided to go buy a CD. Now the CD was about twice what my refund was so I handed the card and the money and I took my CD and left
But that was still not the end of the story. As soon as I got out of the store I called my brother and 5 of my friends to tell them about this amazing customer service. And now of course I am telling you, too.
So let’s look at this story and see what actally occurred. Barnes and Nobles made an “Investment on my Return”. What exactly was the “cost” of this investment? Perhaps there was a cost for training the employee that taught him to act in this kind and generous way. But other than that it cost them nothing. Okay maybe there was some cost for restocking. They will surely sell that other copy. But then we need to reverse this formula and see what the Return on Investment was.
Here is where the real power of this theory is seen. They not only were repaid their initial outlay of $7.99, they received an additional $7.99 that I most surely would not have spent otherwise. They received free word of mouth advertising (which is far more powerful and effective than traditional advertising) and they created a loyal, raving fan customer.
“Returns” are often emotionally charged events. Think about it. People return things that “don’t fit”, that they “don’t like” , that they “can’t afford” , “wasn’t what they expected”, that are of “inferior quality”, that” they don’t need” or “they don’t want”
For a lot of your customers returns are either embarrassing, filled with disappointment or frustration or at the very least a major inconvenience.
How you handle this touchy situation will impact on your customer’s decision to continue doing business with you.
There are many stories going around about how Nordstrom would take anything in a return (including a car engine). Of course you don’t have to go to that extreme to make your return policy fair, easy and effective.
What does it take to create a return atmosphere that will keep your customers coming back?
1. Create
Management needs to create a policy that is fair, easy and effective. Put yourself in your customer’s shoes and make a decision that benefits them.
2. Train
Once you have your policy make sure that your employees understand what the policy is and how to implement it.
3. Empower
This may be the most essential element of the process. Empower your employee to “do the right thing” to “err” in favor of the customer. Then publicly stand behind that employee even if his or her decision goes beyond your policy. Take them aside privately and discuss and modify.
4. Educate
Your customers need to know your policy inside out. This is especially true if your business has strict regulations. If they need to have a receipt to return the product then it is best to say to the customer as they are checking our “Remember if you need to return this we require the receipt. Would you like it in the bag or would you like to have it?” Granted this will not guarantee that the customers will remember but it does help. Also have the return policy displayed at the check out line and on the receipt.
5. Bend within Reason
Rules are important, but customers are more important. Even with a strict return policy you need to be customer focused. Do what you can to help that customer with their need. Remember the Investment of Return.
Truly looking out for your customers best interest is actually in your best interest. Take a long hard look at your policy. Is it serving you and your customers? If not change it NOW!
Monday, December 04, 2006
Want an Exciting Change of Life? Try Living Overseas
Did you know that you can escape a boring life at home and experience international living by starting a simple service the local people need?
It's true. If you're from the USA, Canada, the UK, Australia, or New Zealand, and you're looking for more adventure, you can work abroad and live in any country that doesn't speak English as a first or second language.
How?
As you probably know, English is the top international language, spoken by 1.5 billion people as a first or second language around the globe. Many people who don't speak English need to speak it in order to succeed in business and school.
And that's where you come in - helping them with their spoken English. And it's just as easy as having a conversation with someone - no grammar, no drills. And I'm not talking about getting an overseas job by working at a school. I'm talking about starting your own mini-business - one where YOU decide when you want to work and who you want to work with.
It's easier than you think. Just follow these steps:
1. Choose your country
First of all, where do you want to live? Someplace in the tropics - like Thailand? Near a beach - like Rio? In an international center of commerce - like Shanghai or Tokyo? Whatever your choice, it must be a country where they don't speak English.
Also, why are you going? Do you want to study a foreign language? Do you love the food of that country - perhaps you want to learn how to cook it? Do you want to learn scuba diving or one of the martial arts? Maybe you're looking for romance... Get a fix on what you really want to do and it will make your stay much more rewarding.
2. On arrival
Before you go, do some research on your chosen country: pick up a travel guidebook like "Lonely Planet" or "Let's Go." Find out what the typical costs are and what visas you might need before you arrive. Pick a hotel or guesthouse you'd like to stay in and try to reserve a room.
Once you arrive, you might be asked by immigration what you are going to be doing in the country - just say you're a tourist. Say nothing about starting any sort of business: that requires a whole different visa and set of paperwork and is usually far more expensive.
After you've had time to adjust to this country. Pick up a cellphone (which you can get quite cheap in many countries) and some business cards - your hotel or guesthouse will tell you where you can get these vital items.
3. Getting Clients
Remember you're not looking for a job at a school, just people who are willing to pay you decent money for having a 1 or 2 hour conversation - believe me there are thousands of people who just want to talk - no formal lessons, no tutoring.
So your first stop is to look in the local English language newspaper. Check out the classified ad section and you'll almost always find ads placed by schools looking for teachers. Call them up and ask if they are looking for a native English speaker to give "conversation classes one-to-one or small group." Usually they are, so stop by and chat with them.
If you don't see any ads in the paper (unlikely since the demand for English instruction is so high, but some days have more ads than others), get a copy of the local yellow pages and look up "Schools" or "Instruction." You'll see ads for English schools like Berlitz, Inlingua, and smaller schools with acronyms like ALC, EEP, etc. Phone them and ask the same question as above.
EFL (English as a Foreign Language)agents hook up people looking to practice their English with native speakers. This is an informal way of getting a clients. Look for their ads in the newspapers, guesthouse bulletin boards, and on telephone poles and cafes in the backpacker tourist areas of town.
4. Working with clients
Now you've got some students/clients and you've never taught before what do you do? If their English is good, you'll be having conversations just like you do with your friends. Initial meetings will usually focus on small talk and the getting-to-know you stage. What do you do after you've finished that stage and your student isn't a brilliant conversationalist...or you're dealing with someone who is a beginner? I've found questionnaires a great way to keep the conversation rolling.
You can find questionnaires on the internet, in magazines, or you can just write them up yourself. Make 2 copies of each questionnaire - one for yourself and one for your student. Take turns asking each other the questions and elaborate on your answers. It takes about 10 questions to fill up an hour.
5. Money
If you are getting students through an agent or a school, you don't really have control over how much you make. But once you get students on your own, you'll be able to charge slightly less than the agents or the schools and make more money - and your students will be happy because you're saving them money. Ask other English teachers what you should be charging by the hour.
Once you get some students and you've developed rapport, it's time to ask them if they know anyone else who wants to practice their English conversation. Give them a few of your business cards to hand to family members, co-workers, and friends, and believe me, in a few weeks you'll have a ton of work. Try not to take an agent's or schools students away from them for obvious reasons but getting them to tell others about your services is perfectly legit.
There you have it: a simple program that allows you to live in practically any country you want - without formal training or academic credentials. You're no longer tied down to your home country - or any country for that matter. Ever thought about "country-hopping"? Well, now you can! For more info on living abroad, visit this site: http://www.liveoverseasnow.com.
It's true. If you're from the USA, Canada, the UK, Australia, or New Zealand, and you're looking for more adventure, you can work abroad and live in any country that doesn't speak English as a first or second language.
How?
As you probably know, English is the top international language, spoken by 1.5 billion people as a first or second language around the globe. Many people who don't speak English need to speak it in order to succeed in business and school.
And that's where you come in - helping them with their spoken English. And it's just as easy as having a conversation with someone - no grammar, no drills. And I'm not talking about getting an overseas job by working at a school. I'm talking about starting your own mini-business - one where YOU decide when you want to work and who you want to work with.
It's easier than you think. Just follow these steps:
1. Choose your country
First of all, where do you want to live? Someplace in the tropics - like Thailand? Near a beach - like Rio? In an international center of commerce - like Shanghai or Tokyo? Whatever your choice, it must be a country where they don't speak English.
Also, why are you going? Do you want to study a foreign language? Do you love the food of that country - perhaps you want to learn how to cook it? Do you want to learn scuba diving or one of the martial arts? Maybe you're looking for romance... Get a fix on what you really want to do and it will make your stay much more rewarding.
2. On arrival
Before you go, do some research on your chosen country: pick up a travel guidebook like "Lonely Planet" or "Let's Go." Find out what the typical costs are and what visas you might need before you arrive. Pick a hotel or guesthouse you'd like to stay in and try to reserve a room.
Once you arrive, you might be asked by immigration what you are going to be doing in the country - just say you're a tourist. Say nothing about starting any sort of business: that requires a whole different visa and set of paperwork and is usually far more expensive.
After you've had time to adjust to this country. Pick up a cellphone (which you can get quite cheap in many countries) and some business cards - your hotel or guesthouse will tell you where you can get these vital items.
3. Getting Clients
Remember you're not looking for a job at a school, just people who are willing to pay you decent money for having a 1 or 2 hour conversation - believe me there are thousands of people who just want to talk - no formal lessons, no tutoring.
So your first stop is to look in the local English language newspaper. Check out the classified ad section and you'll almost always find ads placed by schools looking for teachers. Call them up and ask if they are looking for a native English speaker to give "conversation classes one-to-one or small group." Usually they are, so stop by and chat with them.
If you don't see any ads in the paper (unlikely since the demand for English instruction is so high, but some days have more ads than others), get a copy of the local yellow pages and look up "Schools" or "Instruction." You'll see ads for English schools like Berlitz, Inlingua, and smaller schools with acronyms like ALC, EEP, etc. Phone them and ask the same question as above.
EFL (English as a Foreign Language)agents hook up people looking to practice their English with native speakers. This is an informal way of getting a clients. Look for their ads in the newspapers, guesthouse bulletin boards, and on telephone poles and cafes in the backpacker tourist areas of town.
4. Working with clients
Now you've got some students/clients and you've never taught before what do you do? If their English is good, you'll be having conversations just like you do with your friends. Initial meetings will usually focus on small talk and the getting-to-know you stage. What do you do after you've finished that stage and your student isn't a brilliant conversationalist...or you're dealing with someone who is a beginner? I've found questionnaires a great way to keep the conversation rolling.
You can find questionnaires on the internet, in magazines, or you can just write them up yourself. Make 2 copies of each questionnaire - one for yourself and one for your student. Take turns asking each other the questions and elaborate on your answers. It takes about 10 questions to fill up an hour.
5. Money
If you are getting students through an agent or a school, you don't really have control over how much you make. But once you get students on your own, you'll be able to charge slightly less than the agents or the schools and make more money - and your students will be happy because you're saving them money. Ask other English teachers what you should be charging by the hour.
Once you get some students and you've developed rapport, it's time to ask them if they know anyone else who wants to practice their English conversation. Give them a few of your business cards to hand to family members, co-workers, and friends, and believe me, in a few weeks you'll have a ton of work. Try not to take an agent's or schools students away from them for obvious reasons but getting them to tell others about your services is perfectly legit.
There you have it: a simple program that allows you to live in practically any country you want - without formal training or academic credentials. You're no longer tied down to your home country - or any country for that matter. Ever thought about "country-hopping"? Well, now you can! For more info on living abroad, visit this site: http://www.liveoverseasnow.com.
Sunday, December 03, 2006
Science Fiction Movie Reviews
Nothing beats a Friday night at home, snuggled up on a coach with a bowl of popcorn watching Science Fiction Movies. Stop at your local video store and find a science fiction movie sure to get you thinking about what could have been or what might be. Here are some of the best all time science fiction movies.
The Matrix
In this complex story that aspires to mythology, a computer hacker searches for the truth behind the mysterious force known as the Matrix. He finds his answer with a group of strangers led by the charismatic Morpheus. What they encounter in confronting that truth makes for a lightning-paced, eye-popping thrill ride of a movie that cleverly combines sociopolitical commentary with cutting-edge special effects.
Star Wars Episode 1
In this Star Wars prequel, Qui-Gon Jinn and a young Obi-Wan Kenobi must protect the Queen of Naboo from the evil clutches of Darth Sidious and Senator Palpatine. Along the way, they meet Anakin Skywalker, who shows the beginnings of a great gift.
ET
Heartwarming story of the special bond 10-year-old Elliot forges with an alien he names E.T. The adventures they share as Elliot tries to hide his new friend, as E.T. tries to get back to his planet.
Cocoon
A group of shut-ins at a rest home get a new lease on life when they're offered the gift of eternal youth by visiting aliens. A charter boat captain who helps fellow seniors make the choice between perennial youth or old age.
Lord of the Rings; Fellowship of the Ring
From the idyllic shire of the Hobbits to the smoking chasms of Mordor, Lord of the Rings is full of action. Frodo Baggins embarks on his epic quest for the one true ring.
Men in Black
This sci-fi comedy features J and K, agents in a top secret, above-the-government agency monitoring alien activity on Earth. Before rookie agent J even breaks in his stylish black suit, the team is called to save a galaxy from a bad-tempered alien "bug" and save Earth from total annihilation.
Harry Potter
Harry has lived under the stairs at his aunt and uncle's house his whole life. But on his 11th birthday, he learns he's a powerful wizard -- with a place waiting for him at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. There, he uncovers the truth about his parents' deaths ... and about the villain who's to blame.
Beetlejuice
Thanks to an untimely demise, a young couple ends up as poltergeists in their New England farmhouse, where they fail to meet the challenge of scaring away the insufferable new owners. In desperation, the undead newlyweds turn to an expert frightmeister named Beetlejuice -- who has a diabolical agenda behind his scheme to help them.
The Crow
Young rock guitarist Eric Draven and his fiancée are brutally killed by a ruthless gang of criminals. Exactly one year after his death, Eric returns -- watched over by a hypnotic crow -- to seek revenge.
Mists of Avalon
King Arthur's Camelot with a feminist slant. Avalon high priestess Viviane and sisters Morgaine and Morgause battle for control of the kingdom. Viviane manipulates her own sister into marrying a king in order to produce an amenable heir, but deceit, magic and human fallibility threaten to destroy both the plan and Avalon itself.
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
When Roy Neary encounters a UFO, he's left with a sunburned face, a skeptical family and a shaken psyche. Soon, Roy begins seeking out others who've had similar "visions." Among those he finds are Jillian , a woman who's lost her son to the aliens, and Claude, a researcher preparing for Earth's first contact with extraterrestrials.
Poltergeist
Life is very pleasant for the close-knit Freeling family until a host of otherworldy forces invades their peaceful suburban home. Before long, their house is transformed into a swirling supernatural sideshow -- all centered around their angelic young daughter, Carol Anne.
Andromeda Strain
When a satellite crashes in New Mexico, the Air Force sends two men to retrieve it. To their horror, they discover that the probe carries an alien virus that's already killed all but two of the residents of the town where it landed. Now, scientists must isolate the virus and stop it from spreading.
12 Monkeys
In the year 2035, convict James Cole reluctantly volunteers to be sent back in time by scientists to 1996 to discover the origin of a virus that wiped out nearly all of the earth's population. When Cole is mistakenly sent to 1990, he's arrested and locked up in a mental hospital, where he meets a psychiatrist and the son of a famous virus expert.
The Matrix
In this complex story that aspires to mythology, a computer hacker searches for the truth behind the mysterious force known as the Matrix. He finds his answer with a group of strangers led by the charismatic Morpheus. What they encounter in confronting that truth makes for a lightning-paced, eye-popping thrill ride of a movie that cleverly combines sociopolitical commentary with cutting-edge special effects.
Star Wars Episode 1
In this Star Wars prequel, Qui-Gon Jinn and a young Obi-Wan Kenobi must protect the Queen of Naboo from the evil clutches of Darth Sidious and Senator Palpatine. Along the way, they meet Anakin Skywalker, who shows the beginnings of a great gift.
ET
Heartwarming story of the special bond 10-year-old Elliot forges with an alien he names E.T. The adventures they share as Elliot tries to hide his new friend, as E.T. tries to get back to his planet.
Cocoon
A group of shut-ins at a rest home get a new lease on life when they're offered the gift of eternal youth by visiting aliens. A charter boat captain who helps fellow seniors make the choice between perennial youth or old age.
Lord of the Rings; Fellowship of the Ring
From the idyllic shire of the Hobbits to the smoking chasms of Mordor, Lord of the Rings is full of action. Frodo Baggins embarks on his epic quest for the one true ring.
Men in Black
This sci-fi comedy features J and K, agents in a top secret, above-the-government agency monitoring alien activity on Earth. Before rookie agent J even breaks in his stylish black suit, the team is called to save a galaxy from a bad-tempered alien "bug" and save Earth from total annihilation.
Harry Potter
Harry has lived under the stairs at his aunt and uncle's house his whole life. But on his 11th birthday, he learns he's a powerful wizard -- with a place waiting for him at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. There, he uncovers the truth about his parents' deaths ... and about the villain who's to blame.
Beetlejuice
Thanks to an untimely demise, a young couple ends up as poltergeists in their New England farmhouse, where they fail to meet the challenge of scaring away the insufferable new owners. In desperation, the undead newlyweds turn to an expert frightmeister named Beetlejuice -- who has a diabolical agenda behind his scheme to help them.
The Crow
Young rock guitarist Eric Draven and his fiancée are brutally killed by a ruthless gang of criminals. Exactly one year after his death, Eric returns -- watched over by a hypnotic crow -- to seek revenge.
Mists of Avalon
King Arthur's Camelot with a feminist slant. Avalon high priestess Viviane and sisters Morgaine and Morgause battle for control of the kingdom. Viviane manipulates her own sister into marrying a king in order to produce an amenable heir, but deceit, magic and human fallibility threaten to destroy both the plan and Avalon itself.
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
When Roy Neary encounters a UFO, he's left with a sunburned face, a skeptical family and a shaken psyche. Soon, Roy begins seeking out others who've had similar "visions." Among those he finds are Jillian , a woman who's lost her son to the aliens, and Claude, a researcher preparing for Earth's first contact with extraterrestrials.
Poltergeist
Life is very pleasant for the close-knit Freeling family until a host of otherworldy forces invades their peaceful suburban home. Before long, their house is transformed into a swirling supernatural sideshow -- all centered around their angelic young daughter, Carol Anne.
Andromeda Strain
When a satellite crashes in New Mexico, the Air Force sends two men to retrieve it. To their horror, they discover that the probe carries an alien virus that's already killed all but two of the residents of the town where it landed. Now, scientists must isolate the virus and stop it from spreading.
12 Monkeys
In the year 2035, convict James Cole reluctantly volunteers to be sent back in time by scientists to 1996 to discover the origin of a virus that wiped out nearly all of the earth's population. When Cole is mistakenly sent to 1990, he's arrested and locked up in a mental hospital, where he meets a psychiatrist and the son of a famous virus expert.
Saturday, December 02, 2006
Plan Ahead For A Fun Filled Family Camping Experience
Plan Ahead for a Fun-filled Family Camping Experience
Camping means different things to different people. For some, it is going out with a camper and practically all of the comforts of home. For others, it is backpacking into the mountains and sleeping in the open elements with nothing over your head but the stars. It could even mean foraging for your food (hopefully you'll come across a good trout stream!). My definition of camping falls on the more comfortable side of the two, loving the camping experience, but needing to have some basic comforts also.This article will give you a few tips that you can use no matter what kind of camping you enjoy!
Starting With A Plan
A great camping trip starts with a great plan! Planning out your camping trip will help you be prepared and build excitement way before time to head to the hills (or the beach!). Make sure that you include the whole family and let everyone have a part in deciding what you'll need to bring to make this a great adventure and a pleasurable experience. Camping with your family is a great way to build a closer relationship between parents and kids. Good quality time spent without the distraction of the TV, computer and video games can make for some great memories and shared experiences that will be remembered for years to come. You'll experience quality time for everyone involved.
Deciding Where To Camp
One of the first things you will want to decide is where you are going to camp. Do you prefer "roughing it"? This means no electrical hookups, no camp host or camp store, and bathroom facilities means "the woods"! For most campers, I would recommend an established campground. State Parks provide some of the best campgrounds available and they are usually very well maintained and reasonably priced. You will have the security of knowing that they have done their best to keep the area maintained and as safe as possible. In choosing the campground, you will also want to look into what kind of activities, if any, they offer or are offered in the nearby vicinity. I would recommend you pick up a good campground directory such as Woodalls campground guide and directory to help you decide where to camp.
Selecting Your Gear
Once you've found the perfect location, you will then want to begin to plan what to take with you. Will you be camping in a tent, "pop-up" type trailer or possibly an RV? Shop around; see what is offered and what will work the best for you and your family. Be sure you include everyone in this decision. It makes for some great excitement and will have everyone looking forward to the first time you try out that new tent or camper. Also, if everyone has a part in this decision it limits the number of complaints that you may hear about later on! Do you plan on using a sleeping bag? Remember that an adult size sleeping bag, does not necessarily mean one size fits all! If you will be tent camping, another thing to consider is having a mattresses or foam padding under the sleeping bags. Foam padding usually folds up to a compact size and is much easier on the back than sleeping right on the floor of the tent. It just might be worth the extra trouble to pack it along to insure a good nights sleep! I would also recommend a large battery operated lamp for your tent. Another great idea is for everyone to have their own flashlight, in case any get separated from other members of the family during trips to and from the bathroom facilities (or woods!).
Use A Camping Checklist
A camping check list makes every trip much more enjoyable in several ways. First, the whole family gets involved together in creating your camping check list. Making out your check list long before the trip is kind of like starting your vacation early. It builds up the excitement and anticipation when everyone begins to think of items they want and need to bring. Second, check lists help you organize and pack your camping gear. The check list reminds you what to bring, and where to pack it. Third, check lists help you remember to take everything with you. No one likes to get to camp and find out they forgot some important item (even though you will probably will forget something!). Fourth, check lists help you remember what NOT to bring next time. This is important, because each trip is a little different, so make notes on your check list about what camping gear you used, what you didn't and what you wish you had taken. This lets you plan to make your next camping trip even better.
Planning Out Your Meals
Food is another important factor. You need to consider what you will be taking for food and what you will need in way of storage for it, such as an ice chest, etc. Most camping areas have a cooking area. Do you want to bring your own grill or use the outside cookers which may mean waiting your turn? Don't forget to take the can opener if the food that you are taking with you will require one. Don't forget cooking and eating utensils. Remember, you don't have to wash paper plates and plastic cups! If you decide to use these type items be sure you dispose of them properly and don't leave your trash for someone else to pick up! Meals that can be cooked at home ahead of time, and travel well in a cooler, will save a lot of time especially on the first night of your trip. Precooked meats will last longer in the cooler than raw meats, especially if you use block ice in your cooler. It will last much longer than cubes. If you're an ice cream lover, nothing is better than home made ice cream on a camping trip. Depending on where you'll be camping, you can bring along your electric ice cream maker or your "old fashioned" hand crank ice cream churn. Of course you'll want to make sure you have access to a local store that has ice! If you're in an area inhabited by bears, special precautions must be taken with both your food and garbage. if you're in an established campground, place your food in the special bear-proof receptacles at night. If you leave food in your vehicle, a hungry bear will find a way to get inside it, and he doesn't care what kind of damage he does to your vehicle! It's always a good idea to talk with the local Park Ranger about wildlife in your campground area.
What About Your Drinking Water?
The water around organized campgrounds is probably safe. Their water is usually privately treated or it is supplied by a near by city treatment plant. The water from lakes, springs, rivers and streams however, is untreated and can carry a lot of bacteria, viruses, and other things that can cause illness. Water that runs rapidly over gravel, rocks, and plant life appears clean and limpid, but this is no guarantee it is safe for you. Your best bet to ensure you and your family's safety is to always treat any water obtained from unfamiliar sources, such as all the sources mentioned above. It is not that hard to do and it takes so little time. There are many different ways to treat water, but boiling water is probably the most common method used. It is best to boil it for more than 10 minutes at a steady boil. If you are camping in a wilderness type area where treated water is not available, then be sure to bring your own. Don't forget to add that to your checklist!
Clothing Considerations
Bring extra clothing along. If the weather is different than you had planned on, then you'll be glad you did. Don't forget a first aid kit for any unfortunate minor injuries. Bring activities that can be enjoyed inside the tent as well as those for outside, such as books, games, etc., in case inclement weather makes you want to be inside. Plan for everything that could go wrong, and then be grateful and glad when all goes well. And finally, one last important item.....a camera to capture those memories!
Make it a family adventure that all will enjoy and possibly want to repeat another time. Above all, have a fun-filled family camping experience!
Camping means different things to different people. For some, it is going out with a camper and practically all of the comforts of home. For others, it is backpacking into the mountains and sleeping in the open elements with nothing over your head but the stars. It could even mean foraging for your food (hopefully you'll come across a good trout stream!). My definition of camping falls on the more comfortable side of the two, loving the camping experience, but needing to have some basic comforts also.This article will give you a few tips that you can use no matter what kind of camping you enjoy!
Starting With A Plan
A great camping trip starts with a great plan! Planning out your camping trip will help you be prepared and build excitement way before time to head to the hills (or the beach!). Make sure that you include the whole family and let everyone have a part in deciding what you'll need to bring to make this a great adventure and a pleasurable experience. Camping with your family is a great way to build a closer relationship between parents and kids. Good quality time spent without the distraction of the TV, computer and video games can make for some great memories and shared experiences that will be remembered for years to come. You'll experience quality time for everyone involved.
Deciding Where To Camp
One of the first things you will want to decide is where you are going to camp. Do you prefer "roughing it"? This means no electrical hookups, no camp host or camp store, and bathroom facilities means "the woods"! For most campers, I would recommend an established campground. State Parks provide some of the best campgrounds available and they are usually very well maintained and reasonably priced. You will have the security of knowing that they have done their best to keep the area maintained and as safe as possible. In choosing the campground, you will also want to look into what kind of activities, if any, they offer or are offered in the nearby vicinity. I would recommend you pick up a good campground directory such as Woodalls campground guide and directory to help you decide where to camp.
Selecting Your Gear
Once you've found the perfect location, you will then want to begin to plan what to take with you. Will you be camping in a tent, "pop-up" type trailer or possibly an RV? Shop around; see what is offered and what will work the best for you and your family. Be sure you include everyone in this decision. It makes for some great excitement and will have everyone looking forward to the first time you try out that new tent or camper. Also, if everyone has a part in this decision it limits the number of complaints that you may hear about later on! Do you plan on using a sleeping bag? Remember that an adult size sleeping bag, does not necessarily mean one size fits all! If you will be tent camping, another thing to consider is having a mattresses or foam padding under the sleeping bags. Foam padding usually folds up to a compact size and is much easier on the back than sleeping right on the floor of the tent. It just might be worth the extra trouble to pack it along to insure a good nights sleep! I would also recommend a large battery operated lamp for your tent. Another great idea is for everyone to have their own flashlight, in case any get separated from other members of the family during trips to and from the bathroom facilities (or woods!).
Use A Camping Checklist
A camping check list makes every trip much more enjoyable in several ways. First, the whole family gets involved together in creating your camping check list. Making out your check list long before the trip is kind of like starting your vacation early. It builds up the excitement and anticipation when everyone begins to think of items they want and need to bring. Second, check lists help you organize and pack your camping gear. The check list reminds you what to bring, and where to pack it. Third, check lists help you remember to take everything with you. No one likes to get to camp and find out they forgot some important item (even though you will probably will forget something!). Fourth, check lists help you remember what NOT to bring next time. This is important, because each trip is a little different, so make notes on your check list about what camping gear you used, what you didn't and what you wish you had taken. This lets you plan to make your next camping trip even better.
Planning Out Your Meals
Food is another important factor. You need to consider what you will be taking for food and what you will need in way of storage for it, such as an ice chest, etc. Most camping areas have a cooking area. Do you want to bring your own grill or use the outside cookers which may mean waiting your turn? Don't forget to take the can opener if the food that you are taking with you will require one. Don't forget cooking and eating utensils. Remember, you don't have to wash paper plates and plastic cups! If you decide to use these type items be sure you dispose of them properly and don't leave your trash for someone else to pick up! Meals that can be cooked at home ahead of time, and travel well in a cooler, will save a lot of time especially on the first night of your trip. Precooked meats will last longer in the cooler than raw meats, especially if you use block ice in your cooler. It will last much longer than cubes. If you're an ice cream lover, nothing is better than home made ice cream on a camping trip. Depending on where you'll be camping, you can bring along your electric ice cream maker or your "old fashioned" hand crank ice cream churn. Of course you'll want to make sure you have access to a local store that has ice! If you're in an area inhabited by bears, special precautions must be taken with both your food and garbage. if you're in an established campground, place your food in the special bear-proof receptacles at night. If you leave food in your vehicle, a hungry bear will find a way to get inside it, and he doesn't care what kind of damage he does to your vehicle! It's always a good idea to talk with the local Park Ranger about wildlife in your campground area.
What About Your Drinking Water?
The water around organized campgrounds is probably safe. Their water is usually privately treated or it is supplied by a near by city treatment plant. The water from lakes, springs, rivers and streams however, is untreated and can carry a lot of bacteria, viruses, and other things that can cause illness. Water that runs rapidly over gravel, rocks, and plant life appears clean and limpid, but this is no guarantee it is safe for you. Your best bet to ensure you and your family's safety is to always treat any water obtained from unfamiliar sources, such as all the sources mentioned above. It is not that hard to do and it takes so little time. There are many different ways to treat water, but boiling water is probably the most common method used. It is best to boil it for more than 10 minutes at a steady boil. If you are camping in a wilderness type area where treated water is not available, then be sure to bring your own. Don't forget to add that to your checklist!
Clothing Considerations
Bring extra clothing along. If the weather is different than you had planned on, then you'll be glad you did. Don't forget a first aid kit for any unfortunate minor injuries. Bring activities that can be enjoyed inside the tent as well as those for outside, such as books, games, etc., in case inclement weather makes you want to be inside. Plan for everything that could go wrong, and then be grateful and glad when all goes well. And finally, one last important item.....a camera to capture those memories!
Make it a family adventure that all will enjoy and possibly want to repeat another time. Above all, have a fun-filled family camping experience!
Pesticide Here, Emulsifier There, Here a Toxin, There a Toxin
Several years ago I attended a Chiropractic convention in New Jersey. There were several vendors set up outside our conference room. A small vendor, easily overlooked by most, was selling nutritional items and products. He caught my attention, probably because I was getting hungry and he was providing snacks!
As I approached his booth, I noticed a package of – cover the children’s’ eyes – Twinkies sitting benignly on the shelf in his booth. “Why would a vendor selling organic health food products have a package of Twinkies on display?” I asked myself. So, being the curious soul I am, I asked, “What’s with the Twinkies”. The man grabbed the package, tossed it down in front of me and said, “I’ve been doing these conventions for the past five years and I have taken this package of Twinkies with me to every one to show people that over five years nothing … nothing in this package has changed! Does this look like it sat on the shelf for five years? And feel it. Does this feel like it’s five years old?” he asked.
I just stood there in amazement.
Understand, I’ve had my share of Twinkies and fast food in my lifetime. Growing up, we ate what tasted and made us feel good, never giving a thought to the possible health effects later in life. But, I’ve now done the research. I’ve spent years learning and, more importantly, understanding what we’re doing to ourselves.
Consider this. Food today isn’t what it was to our grandparents. Over the last 50-plus years our food industry has changed dramatically. Many of the foods we put into our bodies contain artificial preservatives to increase their shelf life … coloring agents to improve their appearance … enhancers to heighten their taste … processing agents to manage the food during production … emulsifiers and thickening agents to affect their appearance … fortifiers to control their nutritional values. I am sure there are some consumer benefits to these substances but at what risk to our bodies? Will we ever know?
The use of these chemicals in our food supply is incredibly widespread. Worse, we may never know the threats they pose to, and ultimate toll they might take on, our bodies. Use of these chemicals is only now being questioned and not likely to decline any time soon.
My point is this. Not enough time, effort and money are being directed to investigating the affects of these chemicals on humans. What does that mean? It’s up to us; you and me! We can minimize our exposure to these chemicals. We can even help support our body’s defenses by aiding the body with the detoxification and elimination of these chemical agents, many of which are or will become toxic:
• A periodic fast will help flush out the toxins. This can be followed up with a colonic treatment to help flush out the debris.
• Supplementing our diets with digestive enzymes will help with proper digestion, which helps our natural detox systems do a better job of eliminating waste build-up.
And something else: pesticides and herbicides that are sprayed on our foods. Does simple washing with plain water really eliminate them and the possible harm they do over time? And what about the genetically modified foods that are grown in the labs? Are these yet another source of long-term contamination? The truth is, we just don’t know because science hasn’t provided enough data on long-term effects. More about pesticides, herbicides and GMF in future articles.
How We Can Minimize Our Exposure to Food Additives
The simple answer? Don’t eat processed foods. Believe it or not, avoiding processed foods is easier than it sounds and, once a person gets in the “avoidance” habit, it gets easier and easier.
Today, convenience and comfort too often determine our food choices. Little effort is spent searching for the foods that are best for our bodies. Consider this:
• Nearly 70% of food advertising is for convenience foods, candy and snacks, alcoholic beverages, soft drinks and desserts. Just 2.2% is for fruits, vegetables, grains or beans (Marion Nestle, “Food Politics,” pg. 22).
• Fast food restaurants are growing in popularity because of people’s busy lives. They don’t (think they) have time to sit down and plan, then prepare a meal. Meal planning is way down on their lists.
So, here are some very simple and solid choices that we can make to avoid exposure to food-based toxins and contaminants:
• Choose organic foods and organic farming. More expensive? Probably, but how much are you worth?
• Shop at food coops or join a food coop that supplies organic meats and produce. Also, be cautious! Just because a store has an organic section or bins marked “Organic” does not mean that everything is 100% safe. Read up and get smart about what “organic” really means. You’ll feel better – literally and figuratively.
• Prepare your meals ahead of time, before you leave for the day. Weekends are the perfect time to plan, shop for and prepare many of the week’s meals. That way, they’ll be ready when you are.
• Check labels – read what’s in the can or box. And know that there are many additives the FDA does not require manufacturers to list on labels.
• Do your homework – check the foods that you already have in your house and research some of the ingredients to determine what you do not want to continue putting in your body. Recognize the chemicals that are harmful. There are volumes of free information on the Internet.
• Create a support group in your area to bring about more awareness in your community. You’ll be surrounded with consumers who share your values and concerns. This way, the benefits of healthy eating will be both physical and social.
• Always buy food that is fresh and in season.
• When in doubt, always bless your food. Don’t ever forget the power of ”intention”. Intention involves the “willing” of an outcome backed by emotion and feeling to create a pattern of energy that further facilitates the desire.
FYI: The Body and Stored Toxins
People, regardless of urban or rural living, have always been exposed to toxic chemicals and pollutants that take up residence in our bodies. Think of the living conditions in the Middle Ages. Think of what people inhaled during the early industrial revolution. Think about smog in our cities and toxic chemicals in the air we breathe, no matter where we live. Fortunately, our bodies provide us with a complex detoxification system that, for the most part, quickly defends us from most of these toxic pollutants.
That said, given the typical modern diet and the increase in new synthetic chemicals entering our bodies – an estimated 50,000 different chemicals: food additives, pesticides, herbicides, drugs and household and industrial chemicals (Source: Robert Buist, Ph.D., “Food Chemical Sensitivity”) – our detoxification systems are simply overwhelmed. They are unable to keep up with the demand that we put on them. The body can handle synthetic chemicals in very small amounts but not at the rate at which they are being introduced into the Standard American Diet (SAD diet). What’s even more sad is that research is linking cancer, behavioral problems in kids and chemical hypersensitivity to many of these synthetic chemicals.
So ... ?
Let’s go back to the Twinkies … well, food additives and all potential toxins. Knowing that our bodies are being exposed to toxic chemicals on a daily basis (does anybody really eat Twinkies on a daily basis?), how can you improve your situation by lessening the effects of chemical toxicity? Here’s a start, and it is only that.
1. Many of the vitamins and minerals that we consume every day play a very important role in the detoxification processes of our bodies.
2. Nutrients, such as Vitamin’s A and E, along with the trace minerals copper, zinc, manganese and selenium are known to play an important part in the body’s chemical defense system. Without these nutrients our bodies are subject to vast destruction and damage.
3. Unless our diet consists of entirely “raw foods,” which contain active enzymes that aid in digestion, an enzyme supplement is recommended at the beginning of a meal to help with the breakdown of the food you eat.
And a final note: you can help digestion by keeping cooking times brief (ie. 30 sec. - 1 min. for stir fry).
Want Some Additional Help and Support?
Please come visit me at my site, http://www.naturalhealingtools.com for our complete lineup of products for your body, mind, spirit and heart. Take a look at our IonCleanse machine and Ashi-Flora supplement to help clear your system of toxins.
As I approached his booth, I noticed a package of – cover the children’s’ eyes – Twinkies sitting benignly on the shelf in his booth. “Why would a vendor selling organic health food products have a package of Twinkies on display?” I asked myself. So, being the curious soul I am, I asked, “What’s with the Twinkies”. The man grabbed the package, tossed it down in front of me and said, “I’ve been doing these conventions for the past five years and I have taken this package of Twinkies with me to every one to show people that over five years nothing … nothing in this package has changed! Does this look like it sat on the shelf for five years? And feel it. Does this feel like it’s five years old?” he asked.
I just stood there in amazement.
Understand, I’ve had my share of Twinkies and fast food in my lifetime. Growing up, we ate what tasted and made us feel good, never giving a thought to the possible health effects later in life. But, I’ve now done the research. I’ve spent years learning and, more importantly, understanding what we’re doing to ourselves.
Consider this. Food today isn’t what it was to our grandparents. Over the last 50-plus years our food industry has changed dramatically. Many of the foods we put into our bodies contain artificial preservatives to increase their shelf life … coloring agents to improve their appearance … enhancers to heighten their taste … processing agents to manage the food during production … emulsifiers and thickening agents to affect their appearance … fortifiers to control their nutritional values. I am sure there are some consumer benefits to these substances but at what risk to our bodies? Will we ever know?
The use of these chemicals in our food supply is incredibly widespread. Worse, we may never know the threats they pose to, and ultimate toll they might take on, our bodies. Use of these chemicals is only now being questioned and not likely to decline any time soon.
My point is this. Not enough time, effort and money are being directed to investigating the affects of these chemicals on humans. What does that mean? It’s up to us; you and me! We can minimize our exposure to these chemicals. We can even help support our body’s defenses by aiding the body with the detoxification and elimination of these chemical agents, many of which are or will become toxic:
• A periodic fast will help flush out the toxins. This can be followed up with a colonic treatment to help flush out the debris.
• Supplementing our diets with digestive enzymes will help with proper digestion, which helps our natural detox systems do a better job of eliminating waste build-up.
And something else: pesticides and herbicides that are sprayed on our foods. Does simple washing with plain water really eliminate them and the possible harm they do over time? And what about the genetically modified foods that are grown in the labs? Are these yet another source of long-term contamination? The truth is, we just don’t know because science hasn’t provided enough data on long-term effects. More about pesticides, herbicides and GMF in future articles.
How We Can Minimize Our Exposure to Food Additives
The simple answer? Don’t eat processed foods. Believe it or not, avoiding processed foods is easier than it sounds and, once a person gets in the “avoidance” habit, it gets easier and easier.
Today, convenience and comfort too often determine our food choices. Little effort is spent searching for the foods that are best for our bodies. Consider this:
• Nearly 70% of food advertising is for convenience foods, candy and snacks, alcoholic beverages, soft drinks and desserts. Just 2.2% is for fruits, vegetables, grains or beans (Marion Nestle, “Food Politics,” pg. 22).
• Fast food restaurants are growing in popularity because of people’s busy lives. They don’t (think they) have time to sit down and plan, then prepare a meal. Meal planning is way down on their lists.
So, here are some very simple and solid choices that we can make to avoid exposure to food-based toxins and contaminants:
• Choose organic foods and organic farming. More expensive? Probably, but how much are you worth?
• Shop at food coops or join a food coop that supplies organic meats and produce. Also, be cautious! Just because a store has an organic section or bins marked “Organic” does not mean that everything is 100% safe. Read up and get smart about what “organic” really means. You’ll feel better – literally and figuratively.
• Prepare your meals ahead of time, before you leave for the day. Weekends are the perfect time to plan, shop for and prepare many of the week’s meals. That way, they’ll be ready when you are.
• Check labels – read what’s in the can or box. And know that there are many additives the FDA does not require manufacturers to list on labels.
• Do your homework – check the foods that you already have in your house and research some of the ingredients to determine what you do not want to continue putting in your body. Recognize the chemicals that are harmful. There are volumes of free information on the Internet.
• Create a support group in your area to bring about more awareness in your community. You’ll be surrounded with consumers who share your values and concerns. This way, the benefits of healthy eating will be both physical and social.
• Always buy food that is fresh and in season.
• When in doubt, always bless your food. Don’t ever forget the power of ”intention”. Intention involves the “willing” of an outcome backed by emotion and feeling to create a pattern of energy that further facilitates the desire.
FYI: The Body and Stored Toxins
People, regardless of urban or rural living, have always been exposed to toxic chemicals and pollutants that take up residence in our bodies. Think of the living conditions in the Middle Ages. Think of what people inhaled during the early industrial revolution. Think about smog in our cities and toxic chemicals in the air we breathe, no matter where we live. Fortunately, our bodies provide us with a complex detoxification system that, for the most part, quickly defends us from most of these toxic pollutants.
That said, given the typical modern diet and the increase in new synthetic chemicals entering our bodies – an estimated 50,000 different chemicals: food additives, pesticides, herbicides, drugs and household and industrial chemicals (Source: Robert Buist, Ph.D., “Food Chemical Sensitivity”) – our detoxification systems are simply overwhelmed. They are unable to keep up with the demand that we put on them. The body can handle synthetic chemicals in very small amounts but not at the rate at which they are being introduced into the Standard American Diet (SAD diet). What’s even more sad is that research is linking cancer, behavioral problems in kids and chemical hypersensitivity to many of these synthetic chemicals.
So ... ?
Let’s go back to the Twinkies … well, food additives and all potential toxins. Knowing that our bodies are being exposed to toxic chemicals on a daily basis (does anybody really eat Twinkies on a daily basis?), how can you improve your situation by lessening the effects of chemical toxicity? Here’s a start, and it is only that.
1. Many of the vitamins and minerals that we consume every day play a very important role in the detoxification processes of our bodies.
2. Nutrients, such as Vitamin’s A and E, along with the trace minerals copper, zinc, manganese and selenium are known to play an important part in the body’s chemical defense system. Without these nutrients our bodies are subject to vast destruction and damage.
3. Unless our diet consists of entirely “raw foods,” which contain active enzymes that aid in digestion, an enzyme supplement is recommended at the beginning of a meal to help with the breakdown of the food you eat.
And a final note: you can help digestion by keeping cooking times brief (ie. 30 sec. - 1 min. for stir fry).
Want Some Additional Help and Support?
Please come visit me at my site, http://www.naturalhealingtools.com for our complete lineup of products for your body, mind, spirit and heart. Take a look at our IonCleanse machine and Ashi-Flora supplement to help clear your system of toxins.
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Essential Oils with Dr. Daniel Pénoël
In November and December 2005, Dr. Daniel Pénoël (a French medical doctor picture left), visited Perth, Melbourne and Sydney for a series of workshops on “Aromatic medicine”. I was fortunate enough to attend his Sydney seminar, along with 150 other aromatherapists, health care professionals, and keen essential oil users. His 2 and a half day seminar was an amazing introduction to the French school of aromatherapy. In this bulletin, I want to share with you some of the highlights from Dr. Pénoël's seminar.
In the world of aromatherapy, there are 3 schools of thought. The first is the British school, which teaches the dilution of essential oils, and its application –often through massage – for relaxation and balancing. The majority of Australian aromatherapists are trained in the British system. Secondly there is the German school, which relies on the aroma of the oils, rather than direct application. And thirdly, there is the French school, which treats essential oils as a valid form of medicine, to be used as in any other medical protocol – internally, by injection, topically (undiluted), rectally, and vaginally. As Dr. Pénoël said, “In my country, we've given millions and millions of clinical treatments with essential oils.” It is from this medical application of essential oils that the term “Aromatic Medicine” was derived.
Dr. Pénoël described the differences between the 3 schools very humorously, when he said: “The German system of aromatherapy (smell) is comparable to platonic love. You cannot make babies with platonic love. The English system is like flirting. You still cannot make babies. The French system of aromatherapy is like “The Full Monty”, and it will make babies!”
In France, Doctors trained in aromatic medicine will often prescribe essential oils in preference to antibiotics. But first, they will conduct an “aromatogram”. This is a simple test involving taking a sample (e.g.. a swab) of a patient's diseased area. This swab is sent away to a laboratory, and tested with a wide variety of essential oils and allopathic drugs, to see which is the most effective against the specific disease or condition.
There are many cases where essential oils are more effective than antibiotics. However, in the case where an antibiotic proves more effective, the doctor still needs to weigh up the potential side-effects of the antibiotic (such as its long-term effects on gut flora), before deciding which treatment should be undertaken.
If essential oils are the chosen treatment, the doctor will supply the patient with essential oils, and instructions on where and how to use them, and in what proportions to mix them up. This means that patients are more involved in preparing their own mixtures and remedies than in traditional allopathic medicine.
It was fascinating to hear Dr. Pénoël's strategy for fighting an infection using essential oils. He begins with a mix of oils where the “stronger” oils are in higher concentration. The “stronger” oils are those with higher percentages of phenols (such as Oregano). These phenols are very aggressive against many infections (viral and bacterial). However, because of the potential irritation that the phenols can pose to the stomach and intestines, after a week's use, Dr. Pénoël then “ramps down” the proportion of oils containing phenols, and increases the proportion of other less-irritating oils.
He explained that he may start with a mix of 70% Oregano and 30% Melaleuca alternifolia (Tea Tree oil), and after a week move to 30% Oregano and 70% Melaleuca alternifolia (and continue on this mix for another couple of weeks). In his use of essential oils internally, Dr. Pénoël always includes a vegetable oil along with the essential oil in a gel cap, because the vegetable oil helps to transport the essential oil into the intestinal tract.
Another example given by Dr. Pénoël was how he works with tonsillitis, using the molecule Terpinen-4-ol, which is present at about 40% concentration in Melaleuca alternifolia. Dr. Pénoël demonstrated how he puts a tiny bit of high-quality, unadulterated Tea Tree oil on his hand (on a point between the thumb and 2nd finger on top of hand, which is a special acupuncture point), and then he licks the oil off.
“I now have millions of billions of molecules of terpenen-4-ol which have been blended in my saliva. I bring my saliva back to my tonsils……[and I have] changed the breeding ground of the medium which exists in my throat at this infectious stage. You have changed the pH of your saliva.” He went on to explain that this makes the saliva more acidic, which inhibits the growth of the infection.
Dr. Pénoël then described how he will swallow the Tea tree oil at this point, so that it will reach his stomach, small and large intestine to become an “aromatic healing saliva”. He stated that in addition to this indirect action, the Tea tree oil also has a direct action because “the terpenen-4-ol in the Tea Tree oil also attacks the bacteria itself. It penetrates through the cell wall and membrane, into the cell wall, and destroys the bacteria.”
One of the most interesting things I learned from Dr. Pénoël's seminar was about frequency of application. He shared that when one of his patients is fighting an infection, he instructs them to take a smaller amount of essential oil more often, so that the molecules are consistently in their blood stream. For example, in a simple case of tonsillitis he instructs his patients to lick the Tea Tree oil from their hand every minute for 5 minutes, then every 5 minutes for 15 minutes.
Peppermint Essential Oil
Dr. Pénoël was discussing important oils for a first aid (emergency) kit, when he said: “The #1 problem we face in our daily life in emergencies is pain. We want to find a molecule which is endowed with the capacity to stop the pain, instantly. One molecule which can achieve this is menthol (contained in Peppermint essential oil)…..So in your emergency kit, use Mentha piperita (Peppermint).
But don't use peppermint on a large area of the body. It's OK to use on a small area of the body. It must be used neat, exactly as it's been extracted from the plant. Use just a few drops neat, and the pain will go away almost immediately. This is because peppermint has a cooling action, so it blocks/inhibits the pain transmitters….[After applying Peppermint oil], you will suddenly feel the cold more. This means that although the outside temperature may be warm, your body feels as though it's had ice placed on it (so it has a similar effect to putting ice on pain)."
Natural Home Health Care with Essential Oils by Dr. Pènoël
Dr. Pènoël is a native French man and as a Medical Doctor, he uses essential oils in the treatment of his patients. He advises his patients to take essential oils internally, against all the advise of the English school of aromatherapy. The results speak for themselves. In this marvelous volume, Dr. Pènoël demonstrates just how you can use Essential oils as a drug free alternative for health. What distinguishes the oils that Dr. Pènoël uses is that they are therapeutic grade essential oils and the majority are organically grown.
Dr. Pènoël spent sometime with his wife Rose-Marie, in a medical practice in Adelaide, South Australia. Here he met Abby who had been suffering from chronically blocked sinuses for many years. As these things go, Abby was due for an operation, the final resort, to alleviate the problem when she met Dr. Pènoël.
Given just two weeks to turn Abby's condition around, Dr. Pènoël launched on an intensive aromatic care program. This involved essential oils, of course, but demanded the dedication and co-operation of his patient, Abby and her parents.
Needless to say Abby was much improved and the surgery was cancelled. The book has photographs of Abby and reproductions of her X-rays before and after her treatment with Dr. Pènoël. You can judge for yourself the effectiveness of his protocol.
Dr. Pènoël goes on to give recipes and protocols for some common ailments. Since all circumstances are unique, we suggest using common sense when integrating any new health system and especially essential oils.
For anyone seeking a drug free alternative to mainstream medicine, this book is an excellent place to start. At times the English is a little stilted but this does not detract from the wealth of information it contains.
With oil, Noel Cunnington
In the world of aromatherapy, there are 3 schools of thought. The first is the British school, which teaches the dilution of essential oils, and its application –often through massage – for relaxation and balancing. The majority of Australian aromatherapists are trained in the British system. Secondly there is the German school, which relies on the aroma of the oils, rather than direct application. And thirdly, there is the French school, which treats essential oils as a valid form of medicine, to be used as in any other medical protocol – internally, by injection, topically (undiluted), rectally, and vaginally. As Dr. Pénoël said, “In my country, we've given millions and millions of clinical treatments with essential oils.” It is from this medical application of essential oils that the term “Aromatic Medicine” was derived.
Dr. Pénoël described the differences between the 3 schools very humorously, when he said: “The German system of aromatherapy (smell) is comparable to platonic love. You cannot make babies with platonic love. The English system is like flirting. You still cannot make babies. The French system of aromatherapy is like “The Full Monty”, and it will make babies!”
In France, Doctors trained in aromatic medicine will often prescribe essential oils in preference to antibiotics. But first, they will conduct an “aromatogram”. This is a simple test involving taking a sample (e.g.. a swab) of a patient's diseased area. This swab is sent away to a laboratory, and tested with a wide variety of essential oils and allopathic drugs, to see which is the most effective against the specific disease or condition.
There are many cases where essential oils are more effective than antibiotics. However, in the case where an antibiotic proves more effective, the doctor still needs to weigh up the potential side-effects of the antibiotic (such as its long-term effects on gut flora), before deciding which treatment should be undertaken.
If essential oils are the chosen treatment, the doctor will supply the patient with essential oils, and instructions on where and how to use them, and in what proportions to mix them up. This means that patients are more involved in preparing their own mixtures and remedies than in traditional allopathic medicine.
It was fascinating to hear Dr. Pénoël's strategy for fighting an infection using essential oils. He begins with a mix of oils where the “stronger” oils are in higher concentration. The “stronger” oils are those with higher percentages of phenols (such as Oregano). These phenols are very aggressive against many infections (viral and bacterial). However, because of the potential irritation that the phenols can pose to the stomach and intestines, after a week's use, Dr. Pénoël then “ramps down” the proportion of oils containing phenols, and increases the proportion of other less-irritating oils.
He explained that he may start with a mix of 70% Oregano and 30% Melaleuca alternifolia (Tea Tree oil), and after a week move to 30% Oregano and 70% Melaleuca alternifolia (and continue on this mix for another couple of weeks). In his use of essential oils internally, Dr. Pénoël always includes a vegetable oil along with the essential oil in a gel cap, because the vegetable oil helps to transport the essential oil into the intestinal tract.
Another example given by Dr. Pénoël was how he works with tonsillitis, using the molecule Terpinen-4-ol, which is present at about 40% concentration in Melaleuca alternifolia. Dr. Pénoël demonstrated how he puts a tiny bit of high-quality, unadulterated Tea Tree oil on his hand (on a point between the thumb and 2nd finger on top of hand, which is a special acupuncture point), and then he licks the oil off.
“I now have millions of billions of molecules of terpenen-4-ol which have been blended in my saliva. I bring my saliva back to my tonsils……[and I have] changed the breeding ground of the medium which exists in my throat at this infectious stage. You have changed the pH of your saliva.” He went on to explain that this makes the saliva more acidic, which inhibits the growth of the infection.
Dr. Pénoël then described how he will swallow the Tea tree oil at this point, so that it will reach his stomach, small and large intestine to become an “aromatic healing saliva”. He stated that in addition to this indirect action, the Tea tree oil also has a direct action because “the terpenen-4-ol in the Tea Tree oil also attacks the bacteria itself. It penetrates through the cell wall and membrane, into the cell wall, and destroys the bacteria.”
One of the most interesting things I learned from Dr. Pénoël's seminar was about frequency of application. He shared that when one of his patients is fighting an infection, he instructs them to take a smaller amount of essential oil more often, so that the molecules are consistently in their blood stream. For example, in a simple case of tonsillitis he instructs his patients to lick the Tea Tree oil from their hand every minute for 5 minutes, then every 5 minutes for 15 minutes.
Peppermint Essential Oil
Dr. Pénoël was discussing important oils for a first aid (emergency) kit, when he said: “The #1 problem we face in our daily life in emergencies is pain. We want to find a molecule which is endowed with the capacity to stop the pain, instantly. One molecule which can achieve this is menthol (contained in Peppermint essential oil)…..So in your emergency kit, use Mentha piperita (Peppermint).
But don't use peppermint on a large area of the body. It's OK to use on a small area of the body. It must be used neat, exactly as it's been extracted from the plant. Use just a few drops neat, and the pain will go away almost immediately. This is because peppermint has a cooling action, so it blocks/inhibits the pain transmitters….[After applying Peppermint oil], you will suddenly feel the cold more. This means that although the outside temperature may be warm, your body feels as though it's had ice placed on it (so it has a similar effect to putting ice on pain)."
Natural Home Health Care with Essential Oils by Dr. Pènoël
Dr. Pènoël is a native French man and as a Medical Doctor, he uses essential oils in the treatment of his patients. He advises his patients to take essential oils internally, against all the advise of the English school of aromatherapy. The results speak for themselves. In this marvelous volume, Dr. Pènoël demonstrates just how you can use Essential oils as a drug free alternative for health. What distinguishes the oils that Dr. Pènoël uses is that they are therapeutic grade essential oils and the majority are organically grown.
Dr. Pènoël spent sometime with his wife Rose-Marie, in a medical practice in Adelaide, South Australia. Here he met Abby who had been suffering from chronically blocked sinuses for many years. As these things go, Abby was due for an operation, the final resort, to alleviate the problem when she met Dr. Pènoël.
Given just two weeks to turn Abby's condition around, Dr. Pènoël launched on an intensive aromatic care program. This involved essential oils, of course, but demanded the dedication and co-operation of his patient, Abby and her parents.
Needless to say Abby was much improved and the surgery was cancelled. The book has photographs of Abby and reproductions of her X-rays before and after her treatment with Dr. Pènoël. You can judge for yourself the effectiveness of his protocol.
Dr. Pènoël goes on to give recipes and protocols for some common ailments. Since all circumstances are unique, we suggest using common sense when integrating any new health system and especially essential oils.
For anyone seeking a drug free alternative to mainstream medicine, this book is an excellent place to start. At times the English is a little stilted but this does not detract from the wealth of information it contains.
With oil, Noel Cunnington
Saturday, November 25, 2006
ADD and Relationships; 5 Tips for Success!
Attention Deficit Disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, characterized by significant difficulties with functioning in areas such as impulse control and motivation, is becoming a much more common diagnosis in adults in recent years. Research suggests that children who have ADD and ADHD do not simply "outgrow" the disorder, but rather become adults who may learn to control or hide their difficulties, in their work and personal lives. Relationships are never perfect, nor are they necessarily easy, and adults with ADD and ADHD often have additional challenges that, if not addressed, may lead to the proverbial relationship revolving door. Despite the difficulties, individuals with ADD and ADHD can and certainly do succeed in relationships. Here are some key points that may help increase your chances of success:
Work on YOU first
I tell clients time and again, finding a relationship isn't hard, but finding a healthy one that fits your needs (and theirs) is impossible unless you have solid knowledge of yourself. One of the most common problems in relationships is the feeling that once you find someone, the relationship should become all-encompassing. There are two glaring problems with this logic. First, people pick up on insecurity pretty quickly and that is at the core of much-too-fast relationships in which one person feels smothered while the other feels so insecure that they are literally afraid to acknowledge their own needs. Second, when someone ignores their needs for the (perceived) sake of a beloved, they end up harboring resentment towards the other person. These are characteristic of toxic relationships that are doomed, simply because someone isn't being themselves. If you can't enjoy the pleasure of your own company, you will create realistic expectations that someone else will have to be the source of that pleasure. Choosing to be single is hard, but if you're fresh out of a relationship, it may be the best time to enjoy your hobbies, interests, learn a new craft, or start an exercise program. The more comfortable you become with your own company and being single, the less you will feel compelled to seek out a relationship when you aren't ready.
Boredom in a relationship is NORMAL!
Sure, we'd all love to maintain that euphoric rush that is characteristic of a new relationship, who wouldn't? We are attracted to that feeling, which is a result of stimulation of our emotional and chemical systems. That feeling, however, is a direct result of novelty; as our minds and bodies work to assimilate the new information into our existing schemas. We can' reinvent novelty, and we can't force ourselves to believe a relationship is new when we've been together for some time. Think about this though, we can't make that cognitive change in ourselves when we become familiar with any aspect of our lives, including jobs, hobbies, and friends. What then, can we do to reignite a spark in a relationship; thereby lessening the chances that we will impulsively seek out that initial euphoria, perhaps in ways that are not healthy? One thing that seems to be extraordinarily effective, time and again, is to create change within the relationship itself. This reinvention of the fundamentals can often strengthen the bond within the relationship and can provide enough novelty to make you both feel like you've met for the first time again.
Take responsibility
Relationships are a two way street, both individuals involved are just that: individuals. In the context of a relationship, two people are growing together in an evolutionary process of figuring out what feels best for each of us. At times, understandibly, we expect someone to whom we feel extraordinarily close to understand us, to realize that if we feel overwhelmed in our lives or work, we may choose behaviors that may hurt someone else. In these cases, we are choosing to act out our feelings on someone else who, in reality, can't solve the problem. Individuals who have ADD/ADHD may lash out impulsively, may choose to indulge their immediate need for self-gratification, and may choose to blame the very people closest to them. This is an easier risk, since the people who love us the most are perceived to be the least likely to judge us or our behaviors harshly. They love us after all, right? Unfortunately, this behavior is an easy way to defer one's own responsibility for choices they've made. Even after the fact, often under the guise of superficial guilt, we may continue to rely on the fact that we have ADD/ADHD as a means of explaining away what we've done. In many cases, once we've filed bad behavior into the ADD/ADHD folder, we feel that we've done enough so that when the impulse returns, we give in yet again. Keep in mind that patterns of behavior are just that, patterns and we all have the ability to identify them and realize when the temptation comes around again. Taking responsibility means making fundamental changes in our behavior that directly impact the pattern in a positive way. By doing so, we not only accept what we've done, but we learn from it and decrease the likelihood that we will resort to it again.
Make a real committment
Individuals who have ADD/ADHD have a wonderful ability to impart all their abundant energy to focusing on something. At the same time, we also seem to have a bit of difficulty when it comes to taking that step from being an active partner in a new relationship to being equally active once its clear that the relationship is moving forward. This tendency may be a result of earlier problems in connecting with others on deeper levels, it may be a sensitivity to rejection or it may also be a genuine fear of underachieving. It is important in any relationship to realize that both parties are new to the relationship, and are therefore at the same level of novelty. Most likely, both parties are also experiencing some level of fear along with the wonderful emotional fulfillment that grows deeper as the relationship progresses. If one person in a relationship puts on the brakes, out of fear, the relationship also stalls. Taking things slow is healthy, and helps each of us grow at a pace that fits our level of comfort, but there is also something to be said for walking into the face of fear. The one thing to ask oneself in cases of hesitation of commottment is "what is it that is stopping me from putting my personal 100% into this relationship?". The answer to that is a great way to gauge where the problems may lie. If we are experiencing something that upsets or bothers us, a deeper level of committment may be encouraged by discussing one's concerns openly, either with the other individual in the relationship or with a professional.
Change your perceptions
Taking charge of your life means making an effort to listen to what we say and considering what we think. With boredom often comes the lens of negativity and without thinking, we resort to making negative attributions. Its an easy habit to fall into, mainly because its a way for us to perpetuate our belief that things aren't going well in our lives. Its our unconscious way of saying "see, this isn't going right, this is proof that something is wrong". As I mentioned earlier, our partners/spouses are often the target of our frustrations, and also the target of our negative attributions. This behavior takes the blame (and the responsibility) off of us and places it on an external source. Getting rid of or rejecting the source is easier than doing the hard work it takes to solve the issue, but time and again, we'll find ourselves back in a similar situation because we haven't ever faced the real problem. I'm a big believer in seeing the positive side of things and people, even if we initially don't do so. One of the easiest things to do initially is to force ourselves to create a positive thought or comment and consciously add it to whatever negative thought or comment we produce. This takes some work, we often aren't aware that we've fallen into the negative zone. Over time, however, we can become more aware of what we think and say, how they effect the way we feel and also the effect they have on others. No one wants to stick around that person who continually points out the bad stuff, it brings us down. Positive people are infectious, very attractive, confident and fun to be around. Even if their lives aren't perfect, they will tell you whats great about the world. Positive perceptions change our lives in ways we can only begin to imagine. Give it a try!
Work on YOU first
I tell clients time and again, finding a relationship isn't hard, but finding a healthy one that fits your needs (and theirs) is impossible unless you have solid knowledge of yourself. One of the most common problems in relationships is the feeling that once you find someone, the relationship should become all-encompassing. There are two glaring problems with this logic. First, people pick up on insecurity pretty quickly and that is at the core of much-too-fast relationships in which one person feels smothered while the other feels so insecure that they are literally afraid to acknowledge their own needs. Second, when someone ignores their needs for the (perceived) sake of a beloved, they end up harboring resentment towards the other person. These are characteristic of toxic relationships that are doomed, simply because someone isn't being themselves. If you can't enjoy the pleasure of your own company, you will create realistic expectations that someone else will have to be the source of that pleasure. Choosing to be single is hard, but if you're fresh out of a relationship, it may be the best time to enjoy your hobbies, interests, learn a new craft, or start an exercise program. The more comfortable you become with your own company and being single, the less you will feel compelled to seek out a relationship when you aren't ready.
Boredom in a relationship is NORMAL!
Sure, we'd all love to maintain that euphoric rush that is characteristic of a new relationship, who wouldn't? We are attracted to that feeling, which is a result of stimulation of our emotional and chemical systems. That feeling, however, is a direct result of novelty; as our minds and bodies work to assimilate the new information into our existing schemas. We can' reinvent novelty, and we can't force ourselves to believe a relationship is new when we've been together for some time. Think about this though, we can't make that cognitive change in ourselves when we become familiar with any aspect of our lives, including jobs, hobbies, and friends. What then, can we do to reignite a spark in a relationship; thereby lessening the chances that we will impulsively seek out that initial euphoria, perhaps in ways that are not healthy? One thing that seems to be extraordinarily effective, time and again, is to create change within the relationship itself. This reinvention of the fundamentals can often strengthen the bond within the relationship and can provide enough novelty to make you both feel like you've met for the first time again.
Take responsibility
Relationships are a two way street, both individuals involved are just that: individuals. In the context of a relationship, two people are growing together in an evolutionary process of figuring out what feels best for each of us. At times, understandibly, we expect someone to whom we feel extraordinarily close to understand us, to realize that if we feel overwhelmed in our lives or work, we may choose behaviors that may hurt someone else. In these cases, we are choosing to act out our feelings on someone else who, in reality, can't solve the problem. Individuals who have ADD/ADHD may lash out impulsively, may choose to indulge their immediate need for self-gratification, and may choose to blame the very people closest to them. This is an easier risk, since the people who love us the most are perceived to be the least likely to judge us or our behaviors harshly. They love us after all, right? Unfortunately, this behavior is an easy way to defer one's own responsibility for choices they've made. Even after the fact, often under the guise of superficial guilt, we may continue to rely on the fact that we have ADD/ADHD as a means of explaining away what we've done. In many cases, once we've filed bad behavior into the ADD/ADHD folder, we feel that we've done enough so that when the impulse returns, we give in yet again. Keep in mind that patterns of behavior are just that, patterns and we all have the ability to identify them and realize when the temptation comes around again. Taking responsibility means making fundamental changes in our behavior that directly impact the pattern in a positive way. By doing so, we not only accept what we've done, but we learn from it and decrease the likelihood that we will resort to it again.
Make a real committment
Individuals who have ADD/ADHD have a wonderful ability to impart all their abundant energy to focusing on something. At the same time, we also seem to have a bit of difficulty when it comes to taking that step from being an active partner in a new relationship to being equally active once its clear that the relationship is moving forward. This tendency may be a result of earlier problems in connecting with others on deeper levels, it may be a sensitivity to rejection or it may also be a genuine fear of underachieving. It is important in any relationship to realize that both parties are new to the relationship, and are therefore at the same level of novelty. Most likely, both parties are also experiencing some level of fear along with the wonderful emotional fulfillment that grows deeper as the relationship progresses. If one person in a relationship puts on the brakes, out of fear, the relationship also stalls. Taking things slow is healthy, and helps each of us grow at a pace that fits our level of comfort, but there is also something to be said for walking into the face of fear. The one thing to ask oneself in cases of hesitation of commottment is "what is it that is stopping me from putting my personal 100% into this relationship?". The answer to that is a great way to gauge where the problems may lie. If we are experiencing something that upsets or bothers us, a deeper level of committment may be encouraged by discussing one's concerns openly, either with the other individual in the relationship or with a professional.
Change your perceptions
Taking charge of your life means making an effort to listen to what we say and considering what we think. With boredom often comes the lens of negativity and without thinking, we resort to making negative attributions. Its an easy habit to fall into, mainly because its a way for us to perpetuate our belief that things aren't going well in our lives. Its our unconscious way of saying "see, this isn't going right, this is proof that something is wrong". As I mentioned earlier, our partners/spouses are often the target of our frustrations, and also the target of our negative attributions. This behavior takes the blame (and the responsibility) off of us and places it on an external source. Getting rid of or rejecting the source is easier than doing the hard work it takes to solve the issue, but time and again, we'll find ourselves back in a similar situation because we haven't ever faced the real problem. I'm a big believer in seeing the positive side of things and people, even if we initially don't do so. One of the easiest things to do initially is to force ourselves to create a positive thought or comment and consciously add it to whatever negative thought or comment we produce. This takes some work, we often aren't aware that we've fallen into the negative zone. Over time, however, we can become more aware of what we think and say, how they effect the way we feel and also the effect they have on others. No one wants to stick around that person who continually points out the bad stuff, it brings us down. Positive people are infectious, very attractive, confident and fun to be around. Even if their lives aren't perfect, they will tell you whats great about the world. Positive perceptions change our lives in ways we can only begin to imagine. Give it a try!
Friday, November 24, 2006
How to Lose Weight?
For those of us who lead busy lives losing weight can seem difficult to achieve. Health advisors suggest that a sensible way to lose weight is to increase the amount of daily exercise. In their publication, The Step Diet, Hill et al. suggest that over 2000 steps a day will significantly contribute to a reduction in weight. (Hill et al., 2004: 2). This is a useful method as it is doesn't cost anything and can be incorporated into your daily routine. Diet pills and regimes are not advisable as they can precipitate dramatic weight loss, which can cause you more problems - such as skin problems and hair loss. In the worst case scenario they can cause you to gain weight - as any sudden change in the metabolic rate can mean that when you start eating normally again you pile back on the pounds.
If exercise alone is difficult then a balanced regime of exercise and reduced calorie intake - bearing in mind the maxim ‘little and often' - is a good way to approach losing weight. It is generally believed that eating three smaller regular meals, with morning and afternoon snacks in between, is the best way to lose weight. Regular eating maintains a balanced sugar level in the blood, preventing hunger and helps us to avoid overeating. This has the effect of speeding up the metabolic rate so your body breaks food down more quickly to turn it into energy. "Ideally, eat something small (even a piece of fruit) every 3 hours (women) or every 5 hours (men)" (Collins, 2005). Another timeless way to lose weight - and one that will save you money - is to increase your daily intake of water. This is important as dehydration can mean that you don't reap the full benefits of your efforts to lose weight.
Enough water is considered to be at least two litres a day (Biggs, 2006). If you don‘t drink enough then your metabolism will shut down first causing your weight loss to slow right down; your digestion will suffer; and you might experience ‘fake hunger' symptoms (Biggs 2006) . It is important to remember that some people lose weight more easily than others because of their body's ability to burn fat. One of the most effective ways to burn fat is through cardio-vascular exercise which increases the heart rate sufficiently - for example, aerobics or running. This form of exercise is more effective than, say for example, weight lifting or light walking, which are good muscle-toning activities helping to reduce the appearance of fat. However, if you simply don't have time to go to an aerobics class or the space in your own home, then other forms of exercise are still effective. Jon Shepherd, from Ultra-FIT magazine, explains: "You won't burn so many calories weight training, but the potential effect it will have on your body composition and metabolic rate are significant. Muscle is the most metabolically active part of your body, burning up to three times as many calories as any other tissue type. Weights (and other forms of resistance training, like circuits) promote the development of lean muscle, boosting your fat burning potential" Source: (http://www.concept2.co.uk/weightloss/chewing_the_fat.php#2)
Fitness activities and calorie burning
Activity calories/hour Aerobics high intensity 520 Rowing – slow 400 Weight training 270-450 Swimming for fitness 630 Treadmill running (3.8min/km) 1000 Treadmill running (5.6 min/km) 750 Source: (http://www.concept2.co.uk/weightloss/chewing_the_fat.php#2)
The above figures are based on a 65kg individual. If you weighed more then additional calories will be expended, fewer if you weigh less. The table illustrates the differences in calorie reduction between various activities. It is important to find the right kind of exercise to suit you. For most people, walking is the easiest and most effective form of exercise. Ann Bolger, M.D., a spokeswoman for the American Heart Association (AHA) says, ‘exercising is like taking the pennies from under the couch cushions and putting them into your piggybank,' in that every little bit counts.' (Meadows 2003: 18). There are many small ways of increasing the amount of walking in your day. For example, if you have a dog, or someone in your family or a friend has a dog, then try to find the time each day to take it for a brisk half-hour walk. If you're lucky to live a mile or so away from work then get up a bit earlier and walk instead of catching the bus. Even parking a bit further away when you go shopping can make a difference.
So this is all about what to do outside the home. But what about when you come back from a day at work and you want to relax? You can contribute to your efforts to lose weight by the way you cook: using unsaturated vegetable oils, and oils such as corn, olive, or soyabean makes a significant difference to your fat intake. Snacks too can be swapped for healthier, lower fat options such as sesame snaps; Ryvita, or a piece of fruit. (Meadows 2003: 18). Many of us like to relax with a glass of wine in front of the TV - but there are other more weight-loss-effective ways of relaxation. Try substituting your daily glass of wine (110 calories) or half bottle (250 calories) for a session of meditative yoga. In this way you can reduce calorie intake, and exercise and relax all at the same time, and it doesn't cost you a penny. "Yoga also offers psychological benefits. As Baxter Bell, a graduate of Piedmont Yoga Studio's Advanced Studies Program, says: Weight gain often brings with it a great deal of harsh self-judgment. Through yoga, we can counteract this by creating a safe, positive environment to reconnect with our bodies and quiet the counterproductive messages that often arise in our minds. (http://www.yogajournal.com).
If the traditional more-exercise-less-calories method doesn't work then look into alternative ways to lose weight. There are little exercises and tips that can take all of 15 minutes of your day - such as the ancient Chinese system of exercise called Chi Kung. A specific series of movements called the Swimming Dragon is renowned for its effectiveness in helping to lose weight. Through a series of simple movements, the Swimming Dragon works to stimulate the correct flow of chi, or vital energy, through the meridians (energy pathways) of the body. The exercise massages all the internal organs and helps to normalise hormone secretions. By practising the exercise for 15 minutes once or twice a day, it is claimed that your body will begin to naturally break down unwanted fatty tissue. (Alexander, J, 1996: 31)
Lastly, weight loss is something to be achieved over time: take it a step at a time and don't expect too much. Most importantly, losing weight should be something that fits comfortably into the rest of your life and something that you enjoy.
If exercise alone is difficult then a balanced regime of exercise and reduced calorie intake - bearing in mind the maxim ‘little and often' - is a good way to approach losing weight. It is generally believed that eating three smaller regular meals, with morning and afternoon snacks in between, is the best way to lose weight. Regular eating maintains a balanced sugar level in the blood, preventing hunger and helps us to avoid overeating. This has the effect of speeding up the metabolic rate so your body breaks food down more quickly to turn it into energy. "Ideally, eat something small (even a piece of fruit) every 3 hours (women) or every 5 hours (men)" (Collins, 2005). Another timeless way to lose weight - and one that will save you money - is to increase your daily intake of water. This is important as dehydration can mean that you don't reap the full benefits of your efforts to lose weight.
Enough water is considered to be at least two litres a day (Biggs, 2006). If you don‘t drink enough then your metabolism will shut down first causing your weight loss to slow right down; your digestion will suffer; and you might experience ‘fake hunger' symptoms (Biggs 2006) . It is important to remember that some people lose weight more easily than others because of their body's ability to burn fat. One of the most effective ways to burn fat is through cardio-vascular exercise which increases the heart rate sufficiently - for example, aerobics or running. This form of exercise is more effective than, say for example, weight lifting or light walking, which are good muscle-toning activities helping to reduce the appearance of fat. However, if you simply don't have time to go to an aerobics class or the space in your own home, then other forms of exercise are still effective. Jon Shepherd, from Ultra-FIT magazine, explains: "You won't burn so many calories weight training, but the potential effect it will have on your body composition and metabolic rate are significant. Muscle is the most metabolically active part of your body, burning up to three times as many calories as any other tissue type. Weights (and other forms of resistance training, like circuits) promote the development of lean muscle, boosting your fat burning potential" Source: (http://www.concept2.co.uk/weightloss/chewing_the_fat.php#2)
Fitness activities and calorie burning
Activity calories/hour Aerobics high intensity 520 Rowing – slow 400 Weight training 270-450 Swimming for fitness 630 Treadmill running (3.8min/km) 1000 Treadmill running (5.6 min/km) 750 Source: (http://www.concept2.co.uk/weightloss/chewing_the_fat.php#2)
The above figures are based on a 65kg individual. If you weighed more then additional calories will be expended, fewer if you weigh less. The table illustrates the differences in calorie reduction between various activities. It is important to find the right kind of exercise to suit you. For most people, walking is the easiest and most effective form of exercise. Ann Bolger, M.D., a spokeswoman for the American Heart Association (AHA) says, ‘exercising is like taking the pennies from under the couch cushions and putting them into your piggybank,' in that every little bit counts.' (Meadows 2003: 18). There are many small ways of increasing the amount of walking in your day. For example, if you have a dog, or someone in your family or a friend has a dog, then try to find the time each day to take it for a brisk half-hour walk. If you're lucky to live a mile or so away from work then get up a bit earlier and walk instead of catching the bus. Even parking a bit further away when you go shopping can make a difference.
So this is all about what to do outside the home. But what about when you come back from a day at work and you want to relax? You can contribute to your efforts to lose weight by the way you cook: using unsaturated vegetable oils, and oils such as corn, olive, or soyabean makes a significant difference to your fat intake. Snacks too can be swapped for healthier, lower fat options such as sesame snaps; Ryvita, or a piece of fruit. (Meadows 2003: 18). Many of us like to relax with a glass of wine in front of the TV - but there are other more weight-loss-effective ways of relaxation. Try substituting your daily glass of wine (110 calories) or half bottle (250 calories) for a session of meditative yoga. In this way you can reduce calorie intake, and exercise and relax all at the same time, and it doesn't cost you a penny. "Yoga also offers psychological benefits. As Baxter Bell, a graduate of Piedmont Yoga Studio's Advanced Studies Program, says: Weight gain often brings with it a great deal of harsh self-judgment. Through yoga, we can counteract this by creating a safe, positive environment to reconnect with our bodies and quiet the counterproductive messages that often arise in our minds. (http://www.yogajournal.com).
If the traditional more-exercise-less-calories method doesn't work then look into alternative ways to lose weight. There are little exercises and tips that can take all of 15 minutes of your day - such as the ancient Chinese system of exercise called Chi Kung. A specific series of movements called the Swimming Dragon is renowned for its effectiveness in helping to lose weight. Through a series of simple movements, the Swimming Dragon works to stimulate the correct flow of chi, or vital energy, through the meridians (energy pathways) of the body. The exercise massages all the internal organs and helps to normalise hormone secretions. By practising the exercise for 15 minutes once or twice a day, it is claimed that your body will begin to naturally break down unwanted fatty tissue. (Alexander, J, 1996: 31)
Lastly, weight loss is something to be achieved over time: take it a step at a time and don't expect too much. Most importantly, losing weight should be something that fits comfortably into the rest of your life and something that you enjoy.
Thursday, November 23, 2006
Piano Restoration
Pianos are one of the loveliest instruments one can own, and make some of the most loyal companions. Pianos aren't to be taken lightly and you should care for them as you would any other expensive item. For pianos, care is especially important as the more you take care of them, the better they become.
Pianos, like some pets, are bought and loved, then slowly forgotten. They become dusty and out of tune, sitting and waiting until someone decides they want to play again fifteen years later. But what happened? It's out of tune, dirty and doesn't sound like it used to. Do you throw it away? You could, but there are better options, like piano restoration.
Piano restoration can make any old instrument come alive again and work as well or better than it once did. Imagine that gorgeous old baby grand, cleaned up and in tune, ready to be played again. A good piano technician can make your old piano sound better than it ever did, even when it was brand new.
Like any other instrument, pianos have limited lifespan. However, different parts on pianos also have different life spans, and this is one of the main reasons piano restoration can be so effective/ For example, on an instrument that saw heavy use over its life, the hammers might be worn while the soundboard could be alive and kicking, so to speak, for decades more.
Thus, having a piano technician look at your instrument every couple years and replace worn parts can eliminate the need for deeper, more intensive restoration later on. Though piano restoration is a very good thing, it should only be done on expensive pianos or on pianos with sentimental value, because it is also relatively expensive.
Its cost lies in the tediousness and the time involved in rebuilding or restoring a badly damaged or decrepit piano. For example, imagine a piano where some of the action parts, like the hammers, ribs and strings, are still in good condition, but the body is worn and cracked in areas, and the bridges are about to go out.
A good piano restorer could rebuild and replace the worn parts and tweak the okay parts so they are better than before. A good rule of thumb is that, when a piano technician assesses your piano and says repair, the cost will be mild to medium depending on the repair. Maintenance is in the same bracket, but restoration is a clue that it is getting more expensive, and rebuilding is even more intensive.
So while restoration can be an excellent venture if you love your piano immensely, if it holds sentimental or historical value or if it is valuable enough to justify the expense, don't do it if you have only lukewarm feelings about the piano and don't use it much. You will be better off selling your piano to a technician who will rebuild and resell it, and buying a newer one with part of the money from the sale.
David Anderson Pianos is a full-service piano business offering complete restoration and maintenance services for pianos in the Los Angeles area. For more information, please visit http://www.davidandersenpianos.com.
Pianos, like some pets, are bought and loved, then slowly forgotten. They become dusty and out of tune, sitting and waiting until someone decides they want to play again fifteen years later. But what happened? It's out of tune, dirty and doesn't sound like it used to. Do you throw it away? You could, but there are better options, like piano restoration.
Piano restoration can make any old instrument come alive again and work as well or better than it once did. Imagine that gorgeous old baby grand, cleaned up and in tune, ready to be played again. A good piano technician can make your old piano sound better than it ever did, even when it was brand new.
Like any other instrument, pianos have limited lifespan. However, different parts on pianos also have different life spans, and this is one of the main reasons piano restoration can be so effective/ For example, on an instrument that saw heavy use over its life, the hammers might be worn while the soundboard could be alive and kicking, so to speak, for decades more.
Thus, having a piano technician look at your instrument every couple years and replace worn parts can eliminate the need for deeper, more intensive restoration later on. Though piano restoration is a very good thing, it should only be done on expensive pianos or on pianos with sentimental value, because it is also relatively expensive.
Its cost lies in the tediousness and the time involved in rebuilding or restoring a badly damaged or decrepit piano. For example, imagine a piano where some of the action parts, like the hammers, ribs and strings, are still in good condition, but the body is worn and cracked in areas, and the bridges are about to go out.
A good piano restorer could rebuild and replace the worn parts and tweak the okay parts so they are better than before. A good rule of thumb is that, when a piano technician assesses your piano and says repair, the cost will be mild to medium depending on the repair. Maintenance is in the same bracket, but restoration is a clue that it is getting more expensive, and rebuilding is even more intensive.
So while restoration can be an excellent venture if you love your piano immensely, if it holds sentimental or historical value or if it is valuable enough to justify the expense, don't do it if you have only lukewarm feelings about the piano and don't use it much. You will be better off selling your piano to a technician who will rebuild and resell it, and buying a newer one with part of the money from the sale.
David Anderson Pianos is a full-service piano business offering complete restoration and maintenance services for pianos in the Los Angeles area. For more information, please visit http://www.davidandersenpianos.com.
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Musicians and Performance Anxiety
Have you ever faced your time to shine, and felt overcome with an intense hesitation or worry about an upcoming performance? As the time nears for you to address your audience, do you suffer from sweaty palms? Is there a lump in your throat? Do you experience tremors, tension, stuttering, upset stomach or loss of focus? All of these symptoms are a sign that you may suffer from performance anxiety, which is a common problem that requires a little mental rewiring to get you on the right track.
Music performance anxiety develops from the thoughts, feelings and habits of a musician. The level of anxiety that one has will affect a musician’s desire to perform, as well as their ability. In order to deliver a high-quality performance, a musician must overcome the mental obstacles that create a barrier between wanting to perform and actually completing the act. When you feel anxious, pressure begins to build up that makes it impossible to pick up an instrument or sing a song.
Main Types of Performance Anxiety
There are three main kinds of performance anxiety that musicians encounter. The first occurs before a performance date is even mentioned. Fear of rejection or self-doubt regarding their abilities may hinder a musicians attempt to arrange a showing of their talents. The anxiety sometimes mounts to the point where a musician never feels they are truly ready to perform in front of others.
The second type of anxiety occurs during an actual performance. Gripped by fear of what the audience thinks of them, a musician’s body might tremble. Sweat may form on their forehead, nose, neck or hands. These bodily reactions may also impact the way an instrument is played. Voices become tight or locked, emitting cracked, flat or quivering notes. The anxiety of a musician might be so high that they may actually self-sabotage their performance without even knowing it.
Anxious musicians often become quite distracted by the slightest movement or noise during a performance. They might take this opportunity to blame their inability to complete their set because of outside interruptions. This is just an excuse. Within themselves, they do not feel completely adequate to continue their performance. Musicians with performance anxiety often exhibit poor concentration, as well as loss of focus.
After a performance, the anxiety madness continues, which is seen through a harsh, unforgiving critique of their presentation. The musician will nit-pick every aspect of their set and despite positive encouragement and comments, they will continue to downplay and dismantle their ability.
Tips On Managing Performance Anxiety
When it comes to getting over the hump of performance anxiety, there are numerous ways to combat the fears and doubt that come with presentation. Below are five aspects of performing that a musician suffering from anxiety should take into consideration:
1) Self-Assessment
When you get to know the ins and outs of yourself as an individual, as well as a musician, you are inching your way towards overcoming performance anxiety. Knowing what makes you tick both inside and outside musical circles will help you to better deal with the problems you face before, during and after a performance. A musician should analyze their performance goals, personal capabilities and limitations.
Musicians should also know that everyone has to start somewhere with infinite room for improvement. It is quite important for a musician to perform to the best of their abilities, as well as learn from mistakes and peer criticism.
2) Exposure: Baby Steps
Musicians should take the opportunity to gradually expose themselves to varying levels of performing. One moment a full-length mirror becomes a suitable audience, while the next could be a crowd of five friends. Testing low, medium and high levels of stressful performance situations will help musicians slowly overcome the issues faced in regards to performing. Additional suggestions include practice performances in an empty theater, dress rehearsals with friends and taping acts, then viewing them with family and friends.
3) Preparation
In anything that we do, preparation is an important component for achieving success. A good performance is one that has been thought out, thoroughly visualized and played over and over again in the mind. Once the mental preparation is complete, the physical part of the process involves sufficient practice and specific rehearsing for the particular venue you may perform at. Before a performance, a musician should enter this moment with a clear head. Meditation, yoga and other muscle relaxation techniques can create the right state of mind.
4) During a Performance
Every musician at some point in their lives will feel the flutter of butterflies before, during or after a performance. This is a normal occurrence that just takes some longer to get over. When it comes to the audience, you shouldn’t focus on blocking them out, but instead embrace them as support. If you go into a performance thinking that no one likes you or during a presentation focus on scowling faces, you will surely surrender to your flight or fight performance anxiety tactics.
Try to put anxiety in the backseat and attempt to stay calm. If you make a mistake, such as tickle the wrong piano keys, simply move on and do not dwell on small imperfections that pale in comparison to the overall scheme of things. Sometimes, if you don’t wear your disappointment or errors on your face, the audience is less apt to remember or care about mistakes. Breathing techniques will also come in handy once you get into the thick of performing and feel a touch of anxiety.
5) After the Performance
After each performance, take the time to assess yourself before relying on the approval or criticism of others. No one but you truly knows all of the hard work and preparation that went into your performance. Take the time to give yourself a mental pat on the back. Next, combine outside comments with your gut feeling to decide on what you can do next time. Regardless if you had the performance of your life or tanked on your first break, there are always aspects of your musical craft that you can still shape and mold for the future.
Music performance anxiety develops from the thoughts, feelings and habits of a musician. The level of anxiety that one has will affect a musician’s desire to perform, as well as their ability. In order to deliver a high-quality performance, a musician must overcome the mental obstacles that create a barrier between wanting to perform and actually completing the act. When you feel anxious, pressure begins to build up that makes it impossible to pick up an instrument or sing a song.
Main Types of Performance Anxiety
There are three main kinds of performance anxiety that musicians encounter. The first occurs before a performance date is even mentioned. Fear of rejection or self-doubt regarding their abilities may hinder a musicians attempt to arrange a showing of their talents. The anxiety sometimes mounts to the point where a musician never feels they are truly ready to perform in front of others.
The second type of anxiety occurs during an actual performance. Gripped by fear of what the audience thinks of them, a musician’s body might tremble. Sweat may form on their forehead, nose, neck or hands. These bodily reactions may also impact the way an instrument is played. Voices become tight or locked, emitting cracked, flat or quivering notes. The anxiety of a musician might be so high that they may actually self-sabotage their performance without even knowing it.
Anxious musicians often become quite distracted by the slightest movement or noise during a performance. They might take this opportunity to blame their inability to complete their set because of outside interruptions. This is just an excuse. Within themselves, they do not feel completely adequate to continue their performance. Musicians with performance anxiety often exhibit poor concentration, as well as loss of focus.
After a performance, the anxiety madness continues, which is seen through a harsh, unforgiving critique of their presentation. The musician will nit-pick every aspect of their set and despite positive encouragement and comments, they will continue to downplay and dismantle their ability.
Tips On Managing Performance Anxiety
When it comes to getting over the hump of performance anxiety, there are numerous ways to combat the fears and doubt that come with presentation. Below are five aspects of performing that a musician suffering from anxiety should take into consideration:
1) Self-Assessment
When you get to know the ins and outs of yourself as an individual, as well as a musician, you are inching your way towards overcoming performance anxiety. Knowing what makes you tick both inside and outside musical circles will help you to better deal with the problems you face before, during and after a performance. A musician should analyze their performance goals, personal capabilities and limitations.
Musicians should also know that everyone has to start somewhere with infinite room for improvement. It is quite important for a musician to perform to the best of their abilities, as well as learn from mistakes and peer criticism.
2) Exposure: Baby Steps
Musicians should take the opportunity to gradually expose themselves to varying levels of performing. One moment a full-length mirror becomes a suitable audience, while the next could be a crowd of five friends. Testing low, medium and high levels of stressful performance situations will help musicians slowly overcome the issues faced in regards to performing. Additional suggestions include practice performances in an empty theater, dress rehearsals with friends and taping acts, then viewing them with family and friends.
3) Preparation
In anything that we do, preparation is an important component for achieving success. A good performance is one that has been thought out, thoroughly visualized and played over and over again in the mind. Once the mental preparation is complete, the physical part of the process involves sufficient practice and specific rehearsing for the particular venue you may perform at. Before a performance, a musician should enter this moment with a clear head. Meditation, yoga and other muscle relaxation techniques can create the right state of mind.
4) During a Performance
Every musician at some point in their lives will feel the flutter of butterflies before, during or after a performance. This is a normal occurrence that just takes some longer to get over. When it comes to the audience, you shouldn’t focus on blocking them out, but instead embrace them as support. If you go into a performance thinking that no one likes you or during a presentation focus on scowling faces, you will surely surrender to your flight or fight performance anxiety tactics.
Try to put anxiety in the backseat and attempt to stay calm. If you make a mistake, such as tickle the wrong piano keys, simply move on and do not dwell on small imperfections that pale in comparison to the overall scheme of things. Sometimes, if you don’t wear your disappointment or errors on your face, the audience is less apt to remember or care about mistakes. Breathing techniques will also come in handy once you get into the thick of performing and feel a touch of anxiety.
5) After the Performance
After each performance, take the time to assess yourself before relying on the approval or criticism of others. No one but you truly knows all of the hard work and preparation that went into your performance. Take the time to give yourself a mental pat on the back. Next, combine outside comments with your gut feeling to decide on what you can do next time. Regardless if you had the performance of your life or tanked on your first break, there are always aspects of your musical craft that you can still shape and mold for the future.
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
What Makes A Good Entertainer?
Hi everyone!
My name is Kim Wist and I’m a professional magician from Finland. Finland is a rather small country, and we have only about 10 professionals who make their living on performing magic.
Despite this above mentioned fact, I do around 150 gigs per year, and that is about as much as I can handle.
I have been around the world in many magic conventions and seen a lot of good performers and sleight of hand artists, but the big question remains; why do some make a living performing this art, and other don’t.
Is it personality?
To some extent I would say yes, definitely. You have to be an open person and you must find it easy to communicate with people. Let’s say you do close up magic (which I strongly suggest you should also do if you want to make a good living in magic) but you find it difficult to confront people up close. This will obviously make you somewhat unnatural and the audience senses this very quickly.
It is of vital importance for a performer to be very bold, strong but at the same time sophisticated and not too aggressive. It is very important to be able to read the audience correctly and to ‘tune in’ into the audience.
A performer is not just anybody. He is someone people are used to look up to, give him the space and enjoy the ride. But if the ride is not enjoyable and the performer is uncomfortable it will end up very quickly.
Is it my technique?
The skill of the performer is also very important. A skillful performer always gets credited, take for example a good juggler; it is enjoyable to watch he’s pure skill and the excitement of the art.
So being skillful is also important and will add up to the total entertainment value. This should also not be overused and never just show off, blend skill into the performances with taste. We are speaking of the whole package here and that is what people are going to remember.
What magic style should I choose?
Well, obviously the one that suits you best, but there can be variations and exceptions.
What I do, is mixing comedy and magic. This is very common and many do this, but you need to be very good and very funny to make it really pay off.
Let me give you an example:
I used to perform more seriously, but I also wanted to have comedy in my shows. I ended up being confusing and probably not funny at all. I thought that the tricks I do will make people wonder and it is not so important what I say. Still after many performances I felt confused and lost. I haven’t found my stage person, and I did not get the reactions I knew were possible.
Then I saw a younger friend of mine perform in a magic competition. He was so funny I could not believe it, the audience loved him and he was having a good time on stage.
This was a big lesson for me.
I started to work with my program from scratch and really going through every second of it. What I say, how do I look, what gestures etc.
I had always on my mind my goal, which was to do good quality tricks but to be very funny at the same time. I rehearsed my show over and over and left out parts that did not really work and finally ended up with a 15 minutes of solid material.
I went to gig with this material and the response was amazing. People laughed, enjoyed themselves, and wanted to get my cards more than ever…
I knew I was on the right path.
Then I started to do the same to my close up magic. I was always a more natural close up worker than a stage performer, but I took my close up to another level also.
Finally I had a stage personality and I knew what I was doing and what I wanted to do.
What a relief and how nice it felt doing gigs and make people happy.
That is the secret how I get so many bookings.
Marketing is important, but the most important is the gigs you do, because there is always someone in the audience who is arranging a party in the near future and need a good entertainer. And the word gets around. Many times when a new customer calls me, he says he got a reference from somebody else who had seen me somewhere.
Customers want to get a good performer, because we all experienced the annoyed feeling a bad performer generates and if you do corporate magic you will never be booked again if you do a bad job.
Summing it up; be natural with people, practice your art, practice and review your show and don’t risk anything. Have a complete script for your show and follow it.
Keep improving and the gigs will come.
I hope you found something of value in this short article and wish you good luck and happy performances.
My name is Kim Wist and I’m a professional magician from Finland. Finland is a rather small country, and we have only about 10 professionals who make their living on performing magic.
Despite this above mentioned fact, I do around 150 gigs per year, and that is about as much as I can handle.
I have been around the world in many magic conventions and seen a lot of good performers and sleight of hand artists, but the big question remains; why do some make a living performing this art, and other don’t.
Is it personality?
To some extent I would say yes, definitely. You have to be an open person and you must find it easy to communicate with people. Let’s say you do close up magic (which I strongly suggest you should also do if you want to make a good living in magic) but you find it difficult to confront people up close. This will obviously make you somewhat unnatural and the audience senses this very quickly.
It is of vital importance for a performer to be very bold, strong but at the same time sophisticated and not too aggressive. It is very important to be able to read the audience correctly and to ‘tune in’ into the audience.
A performer is not just anybody. He is someone people are used to look up to, give him the space and enjoy the ride. But if the ride is not enjoyable and the performer is uncomfortable it will end up very quickly.
Is it my technique?
The skill of the performer is also very important. A skillful performer always gets credited, take for example a good juggler; it is enjoyable to watch he’s pure skill and the excitement of the art.
So being skillful is also important and will add up to the total entertainment value. This should also not be overused and never just show off, blend skill into the performances with taste. We are speaking of the whole package here and that is what people are going to remember.
What magic style should I choose?
Well, obviously the one that suits you best, but there can be variations and exceptions.
What I do, is mixing comedy and magic. This is very common and many do this, but you need to be very good and very funny to make it really pay off.
Let me give you an example:
I used to perform more seriously, but I also wanted to have comedy in my shows. I ended up being confusing and probably not funny at all. I thought that the tricks I do will make people wonder and it is not so important what I say. Still after many performances I felt confused and lost. I haven’t found my stage person, and I did not get the reactions I knew were possible.
Then I saw a younger friend of mine perform in a magic competition. He was so funny I could not believe it, the audience loved him and he was having a good time on stage.
This was a big lesson for me.
I started to work with my program from scratch and really going through every second of it. What I say, how do I look, what gestures etc.
I had always on my mind my goal, which was to do good quality tricks but to be very funny at the same time. I rehearsed my show over and over and left out parts that did not really work and finally ended up with a 15 minutes of solid material.
I went to gig with this material and the response was amazing. People laughed, enjoyed themselves, and wanted to get my cards more than ever…
I knew I was on the right path.
Then I started to do the same to my close up magic. I was always a more natural close up worker than a stage performer, but I took my close up to another level also.
Finally I had a stage personality and I knew what I was doing and what I wanted to do.
What a relief and how nice it felt doing gigs and make people happy.
That is the secret how I get so many bookings.
Marketing is important, but the most important is the gigs you do, because there is always someone in the audience who is arranging a party in the near future and need a good entertainer. And the word gets around. Many times when a new customer calls me, he says he got a reference from somebody else who had seen me somewhere.
Customers want to get a good performer, because we all experienced the annoyed feeling a bad performer generates and if you do corporate magic you will never be booked again if you do a bad job.
Summing it up; be natural with people, practice your art, practice and review your show and don’t risk anything. Have a complete script for your show and follow it.
Keep improving and the gigs will come.
I hope you found something of value in this short article and wish you good luck and happy performances.
Sunday, November 19, 2006
Seven Steps To A Successful Audition
I have been a musician since the tender age of 7 and in my career I've passed a larger number of auditions all of which have taught me something. These days, however, as the owner of a talent agency, I seem to be learning a disproportioned amount more about these same auditions. There is something to be said about looking at an issue from different perspectives.
In this article, I want to shed some light on what an audition process looks like from the point of view of the "auditioner" rather than the "auditionee". I'll give you seven tips that hopefully provide some help.
I should mention that my company, Oceanbound Entertainment Inc., hires musicians, bands, and variety acts for placement on cruise ships and thus the auditions I'll talk about will mostly relate to cruise line entertainment auditions.
Let me quickly outline the various types of auditions you can encounter when applying for a job on a cruise ship.
The most obvious type would be the live audition, where you go to the audition location in person and play what's asked of you.
You may also be asked to record your audition on videotape and mail it to the company. This is very similar to the first category since you'd play almost exactly the same music.
And finally, you may be asked to submit a recording of your band or your solo act to the company. This audition differs from the previous two in that you don't have to perform music that the company provides, but rather your own repertoire.
There are several problems that keep arising in regards to these different types of auditions that have led me to compile the following tips.
1. Get the details on the job description
This is one of the most important steps. If you know exactly what it is that the employer is looking for, you won't waste time, money, and energy presenting the wrong package. There is no point in submitting a tape of your local blues band if the employer is looking for a cover band that plays all kinds of musical styles. Similarly, there is no point in applying as a clarinet player if the job description clearly indicates that woodwind players have to play saxophone, flute and clarinet.
Also, if sight-reading is the main focus of the job you're applying for, there is no point in hoping you'll slip by simply because you can improvise like Charlie Parker.
2. Be flexible enough to present what's actually needed
Let's assume that you got all the details on the job description and you realize that you don't exactly fit that description. It is probably wiser for you to take some time to try to fit the description, rather than trying anyway, hoping it'll pass somehow. Try to make changes to your line-up, add some repertoire or start a completely new project that’s geared to the job in question.
3. Audition only when you feel that you have a good chance of passing
Often musicians apply for a job they are not qualified for. Now, you could argue that that's what auditions are for, and people couldn't possibly know in every case whether they are qualified or not. I agree, all I'm saying is that if the job description mentions that strong sight-reading skills are required for example, musicians should ask themselves how good their sight-reading skills really are and be honest about it.
Being dishonest about what your skills really are can hurt you in more ways than one. Let's assume for a minute that you slip through the cracks and you end up in an orchestra but you can't cut the gig. First and foremost, you'll be humiliated in front of other musicians, you'll feel uncomfortable, you may actually feel guilty for not being able to do the job, and you will get fired on top of it, which will most likely kill your career before it's begun. (This happens all too often...)
So if you are unsure about whether you are qualified or not, ask questions. Call the agency you are about to audition for and ask specific questions that will help you get a good picture of the job you're about to apply for. With that knowledge you can always postpone the audition and work on the skills that you may feel you're lacking.
4. Put some time and effort into preparing your best possible package
This applies to bands, small ensembles, and solo entertainers. Often artists get turned down, not because they are bad entertainers, but because they didn't supply a package that's appealing, that can be viewed quickly and that presents exactly what was asked for in the beginning. Often this happens because the artist already has some demo laying around that could kind of qualify but not really, and instead of modifying it or recording a new one that fits the specifications, they send it in anyway.
Usually, demo packages include the recording itself, which should present the exact repertoire you're planning to play on the gig, a short resume of each member, and a list of your repertoire.
You won't impress people with fancy DVD animations or 12-page resumes, but rather with short examples of the repertoire that's asked of you, played with energy and skill.
5. Try to impress with your playing, not with your resume
I would say 7 people out of 10 probably fall under this category. Simply put, a masters degree from the best school in the country won't get you a gig if you can't play, yet all too often do people try to sway the decision in their favor by mailing in overly long resumes stating all the famous people they've played with. You're doing yourself a disservice if you hype yourself up with your resume and you can't back it up later during the audition.
6. If you fail, accept the criticism and use it to prepare better for your next audition
All the practicing in the world may sometimes not be enough to pass an audition. If that's the case, accept the reasons that you're given by the jury, and go home and practice those specific things. If they aren't forthcoming with specific reasons, ask questions. I think it's only fair that a jury tells you what your weaknesses are if they turn you down.
I'll spare you the details of all the things we've heard from people that have been rejected. Just watch "American Idol", and you'll get a good idea of what we go through sometimes.
7. Be honest about your strengths and weaknesses
This step ties in with step #3. Keep in mind that the ideal candidate for a job is not always the best musician. Other qualities like, honesty, work ethic, respect for others and inter-communication skills, amongst others are qualities that you're being judged on. Weaknesses you've been trying to hide prior to the audition will come out during the audition and will speak volumes about your character. Would you hire a dishonest person?
Those are my "7 Steps to a successful audition". I hope that some of you will find this information helpful. Please visit my website for more information on the subject of "Music on Cruise Ships". Contact me if you have questions or if you'd like to audition.
In this article, I want to shed some light on what an audition process looks like from the point of view of the "auditioner" rather than the "auditionee". I'll give you seven tips that hopefully provide some help.
I should mention that my company, Oceanbound Entertainment Inc., hires musicians, bands, and variety acts for placement on cruise ships and thus the auditions I'll talk about will mostly relate to cruise line entertainment auditions.
Let me quickly outline the various types of auditions you can encounter when applying for a job on a cruise ship.
The most obvious type would be the live audition, where you go to the audition location in person and play what's asked of you.
You may also be asked to record your audition on videotape and mail it to the company. This is very similar to the first category since you'd play almost exactly the same music.
And finally, you may be asked to submit a recording of your band or your solo act to the company. This audition differs from the previous two in that you don't have to perform music that the company provides, but rather your own repertoire.
There are several problems that keep arising in regards to these different types of auditions that have led me to compile the following tips.
1. Get the details on the job description
This is one of the most important steps. If you know exactly what it is that the employer is looking for, you won't waste time, money, and energy presenting the wrong package. There is no point in submitting a tape of your local blues band if the employer is looking for a cover band that plays all kinds of musical styles. Similarly, there is no point in applying as a clarinet player if the job description clearly indicates that woodwind players have to play saxophone, flute and clarinet.
Also, if sight-reading is the main focus of the job you're applying for, there is no point in hoping you'll slip by simply because you can improvise like Charlie Parker.
2. Be flexible enough to present what's actually needed
Let's assume that you got all the details on the job description and you realize that you don't exactly fit that description. It is probably wiser for you to take some time to try to fit the description, rather than trying anyway, hoping it'll pass somehow. Try to make changes to your line-up, add some repertoire or start a completely new project that’s geared to the job in question.
3. Audition only when you feel that you have a good chance of passing
Often musicians apply for a job they are not qualified for. Now, you could argue that that's what auditions are for, and people couldn't possibly know in every case whether they are qualified or not. I agree, all I'm saying is that if the job description mentions that strong sight-reading skills are required for example, musicians should ask themselves how good their sight-reading skills really are and be honest about it.
Being dishonest about what your skills really are can hurt you in more ways than one. Let's assume for a minute that you slip through the cracks and you end up in an orchestra but you can't cut the gig. First and foremost, you'll be humiliated in front of other musicians, you'll feel uncomfortable, you may actually feel guilty for not being able to do the job, and you will get fired on top of it, which will most likely kill your career before it's begun. (This happens all too often...)
So if you are unsure about whether you are qualified or not, ask questions. Call the agency you are about to audition for and ask specific questions that will help you get a good picture of the job you're about to apply for. With that knowledge you can always postpone the audition and work on the skills that you may feel you're lacking.
4. Put some time and effort into preparing your best possible package
This applies to bands, small ensembles, and solo entertainers. Often artists get turned down, not because they are bad entertainers, but because they didn't supply a package that's appealing, that can be viewed quickly and that presents exactly what was asked for in the beginning. Often this happens because the artist already has some demo laying around that could kind of qualify but not really, and instead of modifying it or recording a new one that fits the specifications, they send it in anyway.
Usually, demo packages include the recording itself, which should present the exact repertoire you're planning to play on the gig, a short resume of each member, and a list of your repertoire.
You won't impress people with fancy DVD animations or 12-page resumes, but rather with short examples of the repertoire that's asked of you, played with energy and skill.
5. Try to impress with your playing, not with your resume
I would say 7 people out of 10 probably fall under this category. Simply put, a masters degree from the best school in the country won't get you a gig if you can't play, yet all too often do people try to sway the decision in their favor by mailing in overly long resumes stating all the famous people they've played with. You're doing yourself a disservice if you hype yourself up with your resume and you can't back it up later during the audition.
6. If you fail, accept the criticism and use it to prepare better for your next audition
All the practicing in the world may sometimes not be enough to pass an audition. If that's the case, accept the reasons that you're given by the jury, and go home and practice those specific things. If they aren't forthcoming with specific reasons, ask questions. I think it's only fair that a jury tells you what your weaknesses are if they turn you down.
I'll spare you the details of all the things we've heard from people that have been rejected. Just watch "American Idol", and you'll get a good idea of what we go through sometimes.
7. Be honest about your strengths and weaknesses
This step ties in with step #3. Keep in mind that the ideal candidate for a job is not always the best musician. Other qualities like, honesty, work ethic, respect for others and inter-communication skills, amongst others are qualities that you're being judged on. Weaknesses you've been trying to hide prior to the audition will come out during the audition and will speak volumes about your character. Would you hire a dishonest person?
Those are my "7 Steps to a successful audition". I hope that some of you will find this information helpful. Please visit my website for more information on the subject of "Music on Cruise Ships". Contact me if you have questions or if you'd like to audition.
Friday, October 27, 2006
Mozilla Rebuts Firefox 2 Bug Reports
Bug hunters appear to be in a race to uncover new security flaws in both Firefox 2 and Internet Explorer 7, which Microsoft released last week. Word of what appears to be the first publicly disclosed IE 7 vulnerability came Wednesday.
At least two bug reports that indicated they affected the new Firefox release crossed over popular security mailing lists this week. But Mozilla on Wednesday downplayed those claims.
“I would call it just noise,” said Window Snyder, Mozilla’s security chief. The two issues don’t present any real risk to Firefox users, she said.
One of the problems is related to a vulnerability that was patched in an earlier version of Firefox. A report on the Bugtraq mailing list suggested that the issue, labeled “critical” by Mozilla, resurfaced in Firefox 2.
The report is incorrect, Snyder said. “The vulnerabilities that were identified were actually fixed.”
However, there is a related problem that can cause Firefox to crash. “The exploitable issues are fixed. There is a crash, but it is a denial of service,” Snyder said. “We’re going to look at it and make sure there is really nothing there.”
Another report on the Full Disclosure mailing list suggested that there is a flaw in Firefox 2 that could be exploited to aid in cyberscams.
At least two bug reports that indicated they affected the new Firefox release crossed over popular security mailing lists this week. But Mozilla on Wednesday downplayed those claims.
“I would call it just noise,” said Window Snyder, Mozilla’s security chief. The two issues don’t present any real risk to Firefox users, she said.
One of the problems is related to a vulnerability that was patched in an earlier version of Firefox. A report on the Bugtraq mailing list suggested that the issue, labeled “critical” by Mozilla, resurfaced in Firefox 2.
The report is incorrect, Snyder said. “The vulnerabilities that were identified were actually fixed.”
However, there is a related problem that can cause Firefox to crash. “The exploitable issues are fixed. There is a crash, but it is a denial of service,” Snyder said. “We’re going to look at it and make sure there is really nothing there.”
Another report on the Full Disclosure mailing list suggested that there is a flaw in Firefox 2 that could be exploited to aid in cyberscams.
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