2 Simple Ingredients That Will Boost your Morning Energy

You have probably read that breakfast, as part of your morning routine, is extremely important to losing weight. I am not discrediting the preachers of this sentiment because not only am I one of them, but they are 100% correct. However, this is only a portion of the ritual you should begin. There should also be some form of exercise involved, albeit a jog, weight workout, or something simpler.

Realizing that money is tight and time is tighter, let's discuss a quick workout that doesn't cost a penny and can be knocked out in no time. Short and free, this routine will boost your morning energy level exponentially, especially if your current workout only consists of a shower.

Sound good?

Great. Let's agree that if you are not working out already, you will try this tomorrow morning. Any takers? Is anyone willing to make a small change to their morning in the interest of increased energy, a better mood, and oh, less fat?

Good. Let's go.

When you get up, right after you eat your breakfast, do this push up routine:

1. Muster up some will, get down and pump out as many push ups as you can do.
2. Wait 30 seconds
3. Pump out more push ups (again as many as you can do)
4. Wait 30 seconds
5. Pump out more pushups (again as many as you can do and don't hold back… really push it!)

When you are done and you stand up, whatever the tired, sluggish, or "get out of my face" morning feeling you might have felt will have been replaced with an "I am the shiznit!!!" feeling.

Don't be surprised if you feel like pumping out a fast core routine. In fact go for it!

Here is a quick Core Routine that you can do:

1. Lie down on the floor
2. Lift your feet off the floor to about 6 inches while keeping your lower back on the floor
3. Scissor kick for 1 minute
4. Rest 30 seconds
5. Scissor kick for another minute

Good for you. You have done more than 99% of people typically do in the morning. It will also follow you into your day and make you be a lot more productive.

Not only have you eaten a great tasty breakfast that has revved up your metabolism, but you have shocked your muscles and woken them up to further boost your metabolism. Hey you are feeling pretty darn great… get off to work and kick some butt; life is good.

You just went through the ultimate morning…! Optimize your life

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Writing an Effective Call-to-Action

Alluring Strategies and Top CTA Blunders By: Vanessa, Editorial Manager You did it! A reader has read your quality, informative article from title to conclusion. Now what? Did you provide an effective call-to-action (CTA) in your Resource Box? If you didn't, you may be missing out on an incredible opportunity to foster a relationship with your readers and drive traffic to your blog or website. A CTA is a pitch to your readers to urge or motivate them to take immediate action. When effectively used, a CTA can generate incredible results and increase your return on time investment. Use these tips to write an effective and alluring call-to-action! Desire - Readers are motivated by an empathetic link. Consider what problem they want to solve or what desire they want to achieve. Lead your CTA with it.   Convenience - Clearly prescribe a product or a service that solves the reader's problem or helps them achieve their goal.   Incentive - Encourage your reader to act by providing an enticement, e.g. a discount, a free gift, or a free download. To make it timely, use urgent language like "act now" to add a sense of immediacy.   Simplicity - Often, the simplest design produces the best results. Succinctly tell your reader what you want them to do in one direct action.   Link - A combination of 1 link in anchor text and 1 URL link often produces the best results. It also ensures your original URL will be preserved should your article be picked up by another publisher. Next, watch out for these top 3 call-to-action blunders. Premature Placement - Many experts will place their CTA too early, i.e. add the CTA to their summary or in their article body. Recall that your article should be non-self-serving and entirely information-based to benefit your reader. Your CTA belongs in your article's Resource Box, because it's very nature is promotional. "Give" in your article and "take" in your Resource Box.   Negative Blunders - Attitude is contagious. A negative CTA could result in a negative reaction. A positive CTA is more inclined to result in a positive reaction. Ensure your CTA conveys a positive message.   Pesky Keywords - Cluttering the CTA with a cloud of keywords, a list of websites, or advertising every product hoping to ensnare as many readers as possible will weaken your credibility. Save keywords for the Keywords field of your article submission form. Finally, as obvious as it may seem, don't forget to include a call-to-action! Don't miss out on this great opportunity to drive traffic to your blog or website and increase your return on time investment. Give your readers a route to continue their journey with you by including a finely-tuned call-to-action in the Resource Box of all your articles. Vanessa, Editorial Manager http://Blog.EzineArticles.com/

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20 Essential Blog Directories to Submit Your Blog

Gaining exposure for your blog is critical to building a following, readership, and revenue. Besides the basic SEO steps of adding compelling and keyword friendly titles, URL structure and descriptions (along with the basic WordPress SEO plugins) basic link building for blogs begins with listing them in blog directories.
Personally, I love launching a new blog, or adding one to an existing site, and watching the high valued links roll in. And as we know, BLOG = Better Listings On Google.
There are many paths to consider when building links to your site or blog such as link baiting or blogroll link swapping, but few are as easy to implement and cost effective as submitting to blog directories – and good link juice is essential to a healthy growing blog.

Let us take a look at 20 popular directories worthy of your consideration.

1. Best of the Web Blog Search La Crem de la Crem, Best of the Web’s Blog Directory is very selective and only lists aged and valuable blogs. A link from here is majestic and well deserved.
2. Bloggeries has the best categories and subcategories home page on the internet. The layout is clear and concise, and readers are able to find what they are looking for in a snap!
I am really liking what Rob is doing with Bloggeries and this is bound to be one of the premier Blog Directories on the web.
3. EatonWeb Blog Directory is a real jewel with many aged inbound links and a blog rating system. You may have to pay a fee for your blog to be reviewed, but like Yahoo, the review fee is well worth the few dollars.
4. OnToplist.com is a free human-edited blog directory where you submit the RSS feed of your blog. You can also set up your own micro-directory (blog ranking) and compile a list of your favorite blogs in one place. OnToplist is also a social network that allows you and other bloggers to get in touch and promote your blog by attracting more readers.
5. Blogged.com is an interesting mix of a blog directory and a Google News type site which fuels its news feed from the blogs listed on the site. Blogged.com is very impressive and is free to list your blog.
6. One of the most selective Blog Directories on the web (and WordPress powered), Blog Search Engine is owned by Performancing’s parent company and serves search results powered by IceRocket.
7. Blog Catalog features a vast directory of categories, from academic to writing, while offering the ability to search by country, language, or user. It has a no frills design, but offers convenient member access through simple blog registration.
8. Globe of Blogs has too many features to list. In order to be listed on the site, the blog must not be commercial. The site may appear to be busy, but I like the features of being able to search by title, author, or subject. Narrowing the search becomes easier on this blog.
9. The ultimate directory of British blogs connotes all things British. It is not directed by location, but by the culture! It is asked that bloggers be genuinely “britished.” Being listed in this blog reaches readers all the way across the pond!
10. Blog Universe is the perfect place to promote your video or podcast themed blog. Its layout is easy to navigate. Although the content is limited, it is an all around good directory site worthy of submission.
11. Bigger Blogs is a relatively new blog directory with only a few blogs registered. The blog is intertwined with a business directory. The blog section is difficult to find, and it is located through a link on the right side of the business directory page. However, the benefit is that the earlier you are accepted on a blog directory, the more exposure your blog will obtain. In addition, a back link is indeed a back link, so this can help with your search engine placement.
12. Upon visiting Bloggernity, you find a crisp, clean, and easy to navigate site. Scrolling down, you find the new blogs. As there is little advertising on the home page, it is pleasant to the eye of the reader as well.
13. Bloggapedia has an interesting and eye catching homepage. Readers are easily connected to the top blogs and newest posts. Innovative categories and a colorful design make this blog directory a hit.
14. Spillbean is a well-designed blog directory site with categories such as health, society, internet, and personal. The site is aesthetically pleasing, but there are not many listings yet.
15. Blogging Fusion is a blog with over sixty categories. These categories include photo blogs and family focused blogs. Blogging Fusion has an good amount of blog listings within the directory, and it also has visitor stats available.
16. Blogflux is not only a tool for bloggers, but a directory that has the listings in alphabetic order. The blog listings are organized and clear. It is definitely an effective blog directory in which to be listed.
17. The blogs on the top listings of Bloglisting are fun, colourful, and catch the attention of the reader. Bloglisting displays the page ranking blogs, which is a helpful tool when determining with whom you want to exchange links.
18. Blogio may be a small blog directory with few listings, but it worthy of a submission. Despite its small size, there are quality blogs and a solid ability to search on this site.
19. Blog Explosion claims to be the largest blog promoter on the internet. They have a vast directory but do not seem to have direct links. However, the listing in the directory can still show up in SERP’s, so keep this in mind.
20. Super Blog Directory is a great site that offers tools to posters that others do not. You can see the latest submitted links and blogs on the site, which is a perk that draws traffic into the directory.

The above listings are a glimpse inside the large and vast world of blog directories and the valuable inbound links that your can build for your blog and your business.
There are countless more directories at your disposal, which are always just a Google, Yahoo, Live or Ask.com search away.

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Why Affiliate programs is best Way to Make Money Online

There are many webmasters have started their own part time business online, although there are lots of ways to make money online but the sad fact is that the majority of them who get started will not earn any money online. One of the most important way for making money online is affiliate programs.

Affiliate programs is a business that requires you to do work consistently over a period before you will be able to see the profit.

If you people are serious in making money online, then I will strongly recommend you to start with the affiliate business model. Below is the 3 main factors why you should start with affiliate business:

Factor #1 -  Low Cost of Starting Up your business

 To startup your affiliates business you will only need to have your own website and auto-responder to get started. The monthly cost will be less than $50 for Hosting and Domain. To starting a website you need to have a Hosting and Domain Name. You do not need any advanced tools or skills as the main purpose of your website is to collect the visitors details so that you can follow up with them. 

Factor #2 – Low Cost Of Marketing the Business

You will have to invest your time or money to start getting targeted visitors to your website or blog who will be interested in the product that you are promoting. For this the best method is the content marketing where you will be creating and distributing quality content across the internet. There are many other methods that you can use to drive more constant stream of traffic back to your website. Get more Visitors from Google images traffic, Spottt – Free Link Exchange.

Factor #3 – Mastering in Marketing Skill

 Getting experience in the Marketing Skills will affect your affiliates business. When you are able to get some sales after applying some marketing strategies, you will be able to know that you are doing the right thing. Once you know how to market other people’s product effectively, you will have mastered a lifelong skill that will enable you to market other products too.

Note: You have to focus the majority of your time on traffic generation activities, so that more and more peoples get aware of your promotions. And it will help you to generate more revenue.

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Get Cash From View Ads

CashNHits member benefits,

CashNHits (CNH); Cash & many Hits, that's how I call my best loved site ever sometimes.
Earning opportunity; it's not hard to make $ 0,10 daily from your own clicks (for upgraded members, 3 months for $ 2,60 even some standard make about  15 cent). I always keep my account upgraded here, because for upgraded members there are more ads (also with a higher value) and you will not pay any fee when you withdraw, so you will earn it back this way.
At Cash N Hits, members have a great opportunity to earn money by doing simple tasks like visiting the advertisers sites (PTC), reading ads, completing offers, referring others, promoting the site.

Unique earnings opportunities:- For the upgraded CashNhits members, on sunday: the Weekly Funny Surprise ad, value at least 3 cent up to 50 cent.  This ad is a gift from admin Serenity for the upgraded members.
- Autosurf (Auto-Earn), sit back and let the money come: up to 4,8 cents daily,
How it Works: Just click on "Start Surfing" button and a small pop-up window will open. There again you will see a "Start Surfing" link, click on that and a pop-up will open with the Ads which will Auto-Surf through the Ads and you do not have to do anything else.- High value ads (FaceBook likes), get paid to like (value 0,5 cent upto 1 cent),You must have a FaceBook Account WITH AT LEAST 20 FRIENDS and must be logged in to View these Ads (if you are not it will prompt you to do so).
- Video ads (YouTube ads),When you click on a Ad, a window will open and you will be able to click a button "Click here to view the video". After clicking that button a pop-up/pop-under      will open. You should NOT close this pop-up /pop-under while the Timer is still running. When the countdown has finished, click the "Click here to get credited" button to get credited. Firefox and Chrome are preferred browsers to view the Ads.
- Direct referrals; unlimited
- Paid To Click (PTC), Paid To Read (PTR), Paid To Promote (PTP),Paid To Sign Up (PTSU)
- $ 0,60 minimum payout standard, $ 0,25 for upgraded members through - PayPal and $ 1,05 through AlertPay within 72 hours
- 10% referral earnings for free members  upto 80% for upgrade
- Earn up to $ 0,50 CPM( per 1.000) from Paid To Promote and $ 5 per offer completed
- Free 50 X-Credits & 500 banner credits upon joining


CashNHits has a forum: BuxTalk, the place where you go when you face any problem or mayby talk about anything you like, you can see the payment proofs here to and see they are paying. Activity on the forum by the owners and several moderators.
Check the news always, you will find this on the site and it gets updated several times a week.

@ Newbies, join for free now!!  @ CashNHits you can make up to 10 cents daily (for upgraded members, standard 6+), by checking frequenty for ads, gain credits in the click exchange and start to promote other sites you join.



CashNHits advertisers benefits 

Cash N Hits, delivers quality traffic to advertisers at very affordable prices. Their premium advertising services will not only provide you Instant traffic and leads,
but also helps you to improve your site Alexa ranking, or do you want your site liked on FaceBook? You can buy the likes.

• Quality traffic at cheap prices
• 24 hour unique Hits & Free Live Stats
• Geo-Target Your Ad ( multiple country selection possible)
• Many Ways To Advertise (PTC, PTR, Email, Banner, Link, PTSU Ads etc)
• Make your Own Price Signup/PTSU Offers & Get Easy Referrals
• Automated Transactions accepting Paypal, AlertPay & LibertyReserve

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Article Summary : Do's and Don'ts

Hello,  Here is the next edition of the Training Series: An Introduction to Article Writing and Marketing.

The purpose of your article summary is to entice a potential reader to read the rest of your article. Get right to point and playfully tease your audience with the benefits they will receive if they read your article.


Article Summary Do's:

1. Create in Proper Length: Your article summary should be 2 to 5 sentences long.
   
   
2. Give Emotional Benefit: Speak directly to your reader of the emotional benefits that can be gained by reading the information in your article body.
   
   
3. Target your Reader: Give your ideal reader reasons they should continue reading your article.
   
   
4. Include Keywords: Your article summary should mention at least 3 to 5 keywords relating to your article topic, using keyword research tools.

Article Summary Don'ts:

1. Repeat Your Article Title
   
2. Repeat Your Author Name
   
3. Pitch You or Your Business
   
4. Include your URL or E-Mail Address
   
5. Blatantly Self-promote
   
6. Create an Article Summary more than 2 paragraphs or 7 sentences in length.
   
   source : http://EzineArticles.com/

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Today Business Motivation Quotes

"In business, the competition will bite you if you keep running; if you stand still, they will swallow you."
William Knudsen Jr


Don't just let your bussiness or your job make something for you, let it make something of you.
Jim Rohn


There is one rule for industrialists and that is: make the best quality goods possible at the lowest cost possible, paying the highest wages possible.
Henry Ford


"There is something that is much more scarce, something rarer than ability. It is the ability to recognize ability."
Robert Half


In the business world, everyone is paid in two coins:  cash and experience.  Take the experience first; the cash will come later
Harold Geneen

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Great Ways to Get More People Read Your Article

 Each article you submit contains different components and sections. While some sections carry more weight than others; each section must be crafted with care and foresight. A truly great article can increase traffic to your website. An article is divided into the following sections:

• Article Title
• Article Keywords
• Article Summary
• Article Body
• Article Resource Box

Each one of these sections will be examined in upcoming editions of this series, but a few general ideas apply to each one:

1. Proof your Work: Credibility and expertise in your article's subject matter can be diminished by typos or grammatical errors in any part of your article. Here's a proof-reading tip: Read your work aloud. Often times this will help you catch mistakes you missed while reading the article to yourself silently.
   
   
2. Keep Your Audience in Mind: If you are writing an article on a technical topic, it's fine to use technical terms, but be wary of alienating a wider target of readers with information they may not be ready to understand or digest.
   
   
3. Keep An Ace Up Your Sleeve: Always keep a tidbit of important information in reserve to make your readers want more. Remember, your article can generate traffic, so use the Resource Box to entice your readers to click on your website link.
   
   
4. Be Clear and Concise in Your Writing: A 500 word article will always out-perform a 1,000 word article. You are writing for a medium that embraces instant gratification: the Internet. Keep your articles clear and concise, so the reader can quickly comprehend the quality content you are sharing.
   
   
   Happy writing!

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Article Title and Keywords

In traditional copywriting, your headline determines as much as 95% of the success of the book or article. This statistic takes into consideration what makes the book title successful: whether or not a human purchases it.

Article marketing success on the internet must take into consideration how the article is found by readers.

Myth: Most people will read your articles because they came to a website and started browsing just like they do if they were at a local book store.

Fact: Most people search the Internet using one of the major search engines. They will type 1 to 5 keywords that are related to the topic of the article or information they are looking to locate. The search engine will then deliver results that best match the human's interest.

Goal: Find your articles in the search engine results for the keywords and topics that are most relevant to the content of your article. Most search engines give heavier weight to the first 3-5 keywords and a lower priority to the rest.

The first 3-5 words of your article title determine the success of your article in terms of how much traffic your article will generate back to your website. Create keyword-rich article titles that match the most commonly searched keywords for your topic.

You can maximize your article marketing strategy by understanding keyword research and creating keyword-rich, intelligent article titles. You can create massive amounts of traffic to your articles and website thanks to the search engines who love smart, keyword-rich titles.

Here are some Keyword Research sites to help you create your keyword-rich Article Titles:

• Good Keywords:
  http://www.goodkeywords.com
  
  
• Google AdWords:
  https://adwords.google.com/select/KeywordToolExternal

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3 Methods to Empower Your Readers

Rev Up Your Articles by Sharing Your Power

You know the old adage, "knowledge is power." Want to amplify your power to increase your credibility, exposure, reader-loyalty, and much more? Rev up your knowledge-engines by empowering your readers with quality, original articles.

Feeling empowered is an incredible motivator to take action. By empowering your readers, you will increase your credibility and exposure, as well as your reader's trust and confidence in your platform. In turn, this increases the likelihood they will return to your platform, try your products or services, sign up for your newsletters, and much more.

Here are 3 ways to rev up your articles to empower your readers and ensure your efforts don't backfire.

1. Lose (or At Least Loosen) the Tie

A formal writing style can often stifle the reader's ability to connect with the author because the author's personality isn't present in a formal presentation of ideas. To connect with your readers, try an informal, conversational article writing style. This style often includes sharing personal anecdotes or humor in a more personable, casual manner.

A conversational article writing style doesn't include using SMS text language (e.g. LOL I <3 U), nor does it entail taking a break on proofreading your articles for comprehension and grammar. Confusing language and poor grammar doesn't build relationships; it isolates readers with the opposite effect: alienation. Use clear language and proper grammar to increase your ability to empower your readers.

2. Measure Article Density

To measure the density of your article, consider the mass (the core of your message) and volume (the amount of words you've used to convey the message). Dense articles are often overwhelming to readers, whereas thin or light articles are often rejected by readers for vague and unoriginal content.

Balance the mass by limiting your articles to 3-5 key points per article (save additional points for other articles), incorporating lists, or using bolded headers. Limit the volume of your article to 500-700 words, and if you must, try not to go over 1,000 words.

3. More "You" and "Yours"

Ensure your articles are reader-centric, i.e. they should feel the article revolves completely around them. Give your readers a sense of immediacy and place them directly in the article by using more active, descriptive language as well as talk directly with the reader by using "you" and "yours." Ensure the content in your articles is in-tune with your reader's needs and is relevant. Also, avoid dropping a promotional bomb that makes readers scatter like a scalded cat.

Finally, target your reader's expectations by delivering on every aspect of your title, summary, article body, and resource box. And no last minute additions of "Oh! I almost forgot!" Properly incorporate, deliver, and seal the deal with quality.

Aim to inspire by showing your audience the possibilities and empower them to take action by imparting your incredible knowledge. Use the above tips to write more engagingly, to create a more memorable platform, and to empower yourself in the process.

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Cash is The King

Ever heard the term cash is the king? I assume you've heard or know the term. The main meaning of this term is when you have enough cash, you will have the flexibility and convenience in financial terms.
Here are some primacy have the cash :
1. Short-term needs
Have some cash to help you to live daily needs. Starting from the needs of shopping, buy gasoline, pay electricity, school fees, pocket money, to pay contributions. All of these are needs that need to be paid in cash and do not ever think to use a credit card that you ultimately have to pay more due to exposure to interest on the loan. This is a requirement that needs to be excluded from your income and it is definitely happening every month.

2. emergency fund
Preparation of cash funds or cash money when things happen outside the box is absolutely necessary in our lives. We may face a condition in which we suddenly lose your job and need time to find a replacement. Other conditions that may occur is if one of the stricken relatives and in urgent need of financial assistance in large numbers.

Do not get when the condition comes, you become a frenzy and are thinking of selling your assets. This is partly an option, but it should be a last option. If you have an emergency fund, you will not lose assets and have no potential losses on asset sales. Emergency fund of at least let your financial problems at an early stage and provide an opportunity for you to act rationally without damaging the structure of your financial plan that has been built.
Both of point above is the absolute primacy of having cash money in the financial planning. On the next point, I wish to describe more deeply related to primacy having cash money. In my opinion, it should also be a consideration. Point number 3 is:
3. opportunity
There is a condition or a time where you find an opportunity to invest, but the opportunity was missed because you did not have the cash money to participate. You may think there is so such conditions? The answer: There is ...Yes!

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Money Tips : Challenge YourSelf !

DAY 1

The Challenge: Track Your Spending

For the next month, here’s your assignment: Record where every cent goes. Save receipts, credit card slips, canceled checks, and write everything else down on a pad of paper. Or you can go all-digital with a site like mint.com that tracks every credit and debit card purchase. Whatever your preference, here’s the key: Let no donut go unrecorded. You’ll be surprised at just how much those $4 Dunkin’ runs add up. Often just seeing your spending pattern will point out ways to save.

DAY 2

The Challenge: Save in Your Sleep

Most of us think too much when we save. What do we mean? Big goals like your dream car, a vacation home by the lake, and your kids’ college education are huge and uncertain. If you wait until you know the exact cost and when it’ll strike, you’ll never save anything.

So start today. Instead of thinking about how much you’ll need to reach your goal, estimate the maximum amount you could possibly save each month, says Dan Ariely, Ph.D., author of Predictably Irrational and a professor of psychology and behavioral economics at Duke University. To figure out exactly how much you have left over, use the budget sheets at menshealth.com/2011budget.

Then set up automatic payments from your paycheck toward your goal. If you find you need more spending cash during the month, you can always adjust—but in the meantime, you’re stashing dough toward the day Junior gets into Yale.

Why It Works: Automatic payments don’t just make saving easier—they make spending less tempting. How? Money—spending it or even thinking about spending it—causes a dopamine rush in your brain. Then you’re relying on your willpower to resist handing over your VISA. That’s a battle you’ll lose, says Chip Heath, Ph.D., a professor of organizational behavior at Stanford University. “You can’t advise people to ‘spend less,’” he says. “You’re creating a willpower struggle that will have to be fought on a day-to-day, week-to-week basis.” So remove as many of those decisions as you can through automatic bill pay and savings withdrawals.

DAY 3

The Challenge: Transfer Your Savings to a Money-Making Account

Don’t stow extra cash in your checking account—you’re letting your money be lazy. “Having more than what’s required to avoid minimum-balance fees is a waste, because it’s not earning interest,” says Dan Candura, a certified financial planner at Massachusetts-based PennyTree Advisers. Stash a month’s worth of expenses in checking. Then put the rest of your emergency stash—experts now recommend a 6- to 9-month buffer—in a high-yield savings account. Compare rates at bankingmyway.com.

While You’re At It: If you’re always in the black at the end of each month, schedule a recurring automatic transfer to a mutual fund, Candura says.

DAY 4

The Challenge: Bulk Up Your Emergency Fund

In this volatile economy, you should save at least 6 months’ worth of expenses in case you get laid off. To start, save much as you can once you’ve paid the bills, experts say. If you must insist on a number, start by putting 10 percent of your paycheck toward the emergency fund. Once you have 6 months’ worth of income saved, tackle your debt. (You might hear debt first, savings later, but the safety net is important to have in case layoffs hit.) “Setting aside cash is as important as avoiding interest, so be aggressive about both,” says Ray Harrison, the founder and CEO of Harrison Financial Group.

DAY 5

The Challenge: Balance Your Budget

Call it a “spending plan” or “financial strategy” if you can’t stand the b-word. Point is, you need to know where your money’s going if you want to save more of it. Use the five categories listed below, and within them list all the expenses you pay online from your checking account. (Put rent under housing, car payment under living expenses, etc.) Add a line for cash under living expenses.

Recommended budget allocations:

Renting
Housing    35%
Living expenses    40%
Emergency/insurance    2%
Pleasure/personal    15%
Savings    8%

Single with home
Housing    45%
Living expenses    25%
Emergency/insurance    6%
Pleasure/personal    14%
Savings    10%

Married with home
Housing    37%
Living expenses    25%
Emergency/insurance    8%
Pleasure/personal    20%
Savings    10%

Household with kids
Housing    37%
Living expenses    30%
Emergency/insurance    10%
Pleasure/personal    15%
Savings    8%

While You’re At It: Stay humble. People who lack financial confidence often make the best money decisions. In one study, when people were told that budgeting was difficult, they estimated their expenses more accurately than people who were told it was simple.

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Tips For Working Mom

All moms are working moms, and all moms face the challenge of prioritizing how they spend their time. Time management becomes absolutely critical, though, for mothers who must devote 40 to 50 precious hours a week to a job. For women in such situations, it’s crucial to streamline and simplify pretty much every imaginable area of life.
 The following tips may not solve every time-management challenge that confronts you, but hopefully they’ll help you think about ways to simplify and save time as you manage your own unique schedule and circumstances.

1. Have places and times for key items and tasks. If you’re constantly tripping over shoes, losing library books or running late in the mornings because your kids can’t find their backpacks, homework or school books, something’s got to change. It may be time to institute a system for packing up backpacks with all necessary contents and leaving them by the door before bedtime — no exceptions. Baskets and low-cost storage bins also can help you organize the most troublesome items in your life. As for tasks, having a rough idea of when you’ll tackle them can give you a sense of calm throughout the week. For instance, if you know that you’ll run errands on Fridays after work (when stores, post offices and other establishments are less crowded) and you’ll do laundry on Sunday mornings, you won’t feel your blood pressure rise at the thought of trying to cram those activities into already jam-packed workdays.

2. Smooth out the bumps in your mornings. Mornings are exceptionally rough for many working moms. It can be hard enough to get yourself ready, out the door and off to work on time, right? Well, that whole process becomes exponentially harder when you have to wake, feed, clothe, pack for and transport a small human being in addition to yourself. Here are some ideas for helping you wrest control of your mornings and arrive to work on time, despite all the challenges involved:

• Do as much as you possibly can the night before. Set out clothes for the next day — both for yourself and for your child. Pack lunches. Make sure diaper bags, backpacks and work satchels are completely packed and ready to go.
• Wake up one full hour before your child does. This will allow you to drink coffee, get dressed, take care of your own pre-work tasks and get breakfast staged before the kids get moving. Once they do wake up, you’ll feel less harried because you’ll be able to focus your attention on them.
• Plan to arrive everywhere 30 minutes early. (Note: You’ll probably never arrive anywhere 30 minutes early.) But this mindset of trying to arrive early will give you a much better shot at showing up where you’re supposed to be on time.

3. Feed kids on your terms. Here are some ideas that can help you save both time and money:

• Invest in a crock pot if you don’t have one. And while you’re at it, invest in a good crock-pot or one-pot cookbook that’s tailor-made for people who are insanely busy. With some lickety-split advance planning over a weekend, you can devise a menu plan for the week that will allow you to come home from work each day and swoon with gratitude and relief because the house smells so good.
• If the idea of devising a menu plan for the week makes you roll your eyes because it sounds too exhausting, pretend your boss is requiring it of you and your next performance evaluation and raise will hinge on whether or not you do it. You’d probably be able to knock out a simple menu plan and jot down a workable grocery list in 20 to 30 minutes — if that — if you had to do it for your job.
• Breakfast for dinner is A-OK. Why not have some eggs, toast, hash browns and bacon or sausage for dinner every now and then? It’s fast and simple, and your kids will love it. Just serve some fruit along with it or load up the egg dish with a bunch of vegetables and you’ll feel even better about going this route.
• Remember other easy options that kids love. Quesadillas, omelets and grilled-cheese sandwiches are almost always popular with kids, and they’re easy for harried parents to make. You can also incorporate ingredients and/or toppings that you know your kids will like.
• Get your kids to help you in the kitchen. Here’s some advice from my friend Rebekah Denn, a talented food writer and mom: “Enlisting young kids to help with the cooking usually makes everyone happier. The children are interacting with me instead of trying to get my attention. I can say something like, ‘Can you grate this cheese for me?’ or, ‘Can you crack the eggs in a big bowl?’ instead of, ‘I’m cooking dinner, I’ll talk to you when I’m done.’ ”
• When packing lunches for school, do it the night before with your kids’ help. This will save you precious morning time and increase the odds that the food you bother to pack will actually be eaten.
• In your car and in a sacred spot of your home, keep two separate stacks of take-out menus for restaurants that serve reasonably priced food that has at least some redeeming nutritional value. When everything blows up in your face during a busy week, don’t feel guilty about opting for a take-out meal that everyone will like.
  
  

4. Stockpile important gear in important places. The gear will keep changing as your child ages, but the principle will remain the same: Store stuff where you’re likely to need it so you can save yourself time and frustration. For example, a low-height, lidded plastic container in the trunk of your car or on the floor of the backseat could contain these sorts of items:

• Baby wipes (no matter how old your kid is);
• Toilet paper or tissue;
• Paper towels;
• Change of clothes for each kid, along with diapers if needed;
• Snacks that won’t melt and/or go bad, such as fruit leather;
• A big beach towel, which can double as a blanket when needed;
• Band-Aids;
• Toys and books.

In that same vein, you can keep all bath-related items in a basket near the tub so you won’t be tempted to leave young kids unattended while you rush off to get something you forgot.

5. Juggle kids’ after-school activities. If you’re working full time, you simply may not be able to attend every single activity that your child does. Your whole family needs to understand that and banish guilt about this area of life once and for all. That said, you often can make arrangements to attend the events that matter most, especially if you have plenty of notice for those events. And you also can find ways to help out your kid’s teacher and school by offering to do tasks that won’t require you to make an appearance in person during regular school hours. Just ask the teacher what you can do during your off hours; he or she will appreciate it, and that’s good for your kid.
When it comes to choosing activities for your children to pursue, keep these general principles in mind:

• Be sure they really want to do it. Otherwise this activity may become far too frustrating for everyone involved, and you don’t have time for that.
• Ideally choose an activity that’s close to home. My buddy Heath Foster, a longtime journalist and mom of three, gave me this advice: “Never drive more than 10 miles for a weekly activity. It’s not worth the hassle unless you are trying to create an Olympic athlete or it is something they are unbelievably passionate about.”
• Make friends with other parents who may be able to give your kids rides to activities when you can’t. Be sure to return the favor in ways that fit into your schedule.
• My friend Heath also pointed out that it can be wise to limit activities for kids. “The simpler your child’s schedule, the less distracting their needs will be during the day,” she said. “Kids really don’t need to be as busy as we keep them to be happy.” She said she typically tries to let her kids choose two activities each — one active and one creative — although she sometimes breaks that rule if the circumstances truly call for it.

6.Make sure you’re not slipping at work. Especially in this economy, you’ve got to keep your game face on. This applies no matter how many times you had to get up in the middle of the night the previous evening to tend to an inexplicably crying kid. In rare cases — cases that involve an unusually empathetic boss — you can talk to your employer about what’s upending your personal life and making you so bleary-eyed. In general, though, it’s typically best to keep that sort of soul-baring to a minimum and throw your shoulder into the work at hand. Otherwise, you may get branded the wrong way in the workplace and your advancement could suffer for it.
What are you supposed to do, though, if you’re feeling a nervous breakdown coming on? Here are some ideas:

• Take a personal day every few months. That’s the whole point of personal days: to meet your personal needs. While the kids are at school and you don’t have to pay for a babysitter, spend an entire day in bed if necessary.
• Use break times and lunch breaks to play catch-up. Be extremely careful about handling personal business — making pediatrician appointments, checking the school district’s calendar online and so forth — during your regular work hours. Your activities may be monitored. Take on such tasks only during designated break times.
• Find allies where you can. Fellow moms at work may understand what you’re going through and prove to be excellent confidantes. If you have genuinely trustworthy friends at work, vent to them about your travails — not to your boss.

7.Devise a system for tackling housework. Every household is different, and every mom you meet will have different standards and sentiments about how to handle the never-ending obligation of keeping a home clean. Here are some overarching ideas that may be helpful, however:

• Make sure your kids are pitching in. Sometimes — or, heck, much of the time — it may seem easier to do everything yourself so it will be done the way you want. But it’s good for your kids to have a share in keeping the house clean and neat. It will teach them the importance of teamwork and give them survival skills and beneficial habits that will last a lifetime. Even children as young as 3 and 4 can pick up their toys, put garbage in the trash can, water plants and help feed pets. To eyeball a chore-readiness chart and see what kids typically can handle at different ages, click here.
• Divvy up tasks with your partner. If you’re both working, you’re both tired — and it’s only fair that you should both share the work that needs to be done around the house. Play to each other’s strengths when deciding who will be responsible for what.
• If you can possibly afford it, do some outsourcing. Even if you can only spring for cleaning help once a month, it’s better than nothing — especially considering how exhausted you probably are. Farming out some duties to reasonably priced hired help can prove to be both a sanity saver and a marriage saver.
• If your child-care provider comes to your home, make sure that person is willing to do at least some light cleaning. Your home — or at least your main living areas — should feel neat and organized when you walk in the door.
• Don’t be a perfectionist anymore. Maybe your home was always immaculate before you had kids. That was the past. Let it go. You can allow spotlessness and perfection to reign once again after your kids have left for college.

8. Carve out time for romance. Make arrangements for a date night, put that night on your calendar — and don’t break the date! No matter how tired you are! Plan the night several weeks out if necessary so you’ll have plenty of time to make babysitting arrangements. Also, anticipating the upcoming night out will be half the fun. Have the babysitter stay until the kiddos have definitely gone to bed so the two of you will have an entire evening together, just the two of you. Another idea: Once or twice a year, coordinate personal days or vacation days where the two of you stay home together while the kids head off to school.

9. Maintain at least some semblance of a social life. Much like those scheduled date nights with your partner, you can make specific plans with your close friends and add those details to your calendar as well. If at all possible, arrange to have Dad watch the kids so you can really and truly get caught up with girlfriends who matter to you. Or, if necessary, become more laid back about hauling the Pack n’ Play over to a friend’s house and letting junior sleep in an unfamiliar room for an hour or two or three so you can get some adult time on a weekend evening. Yes, this can be semi-inconvenient, and this approach won’t work for every kid — but it can be worth it to give yourself some down time to talk, laugh and preserve important friendships.

10. Remember what matters most. Mother Teresa said it’s not how much you do, but how much love you put into the doing that matters. Ticking items off of your massive to-do list with great efficiency may feel fabulous — but always stay focused on the big picture. Why is it that you’re trying so hard to be so organized and knock so many items off your list, anyway? It’s so you can maximize the time you’re able to spend with your little ones — while they’re still little and they still crave your time and attention. Time that you actually get to spend playing, talking, reading, snuggling, walking and laughing with your kids trumps any errand, e-mail message or chore in importance. If you’re feeling overwhelmed and your son or daughter wants to talk, just take a deep breath, settle down and start listening. That pile of laundry can wait.

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Today Motivation Quotes

"We are all inventors, each sailing out on a voyage of discovery, guided each by a private chart, of which there is no duplicate. The world is all gates, all opportunities."
-Ralph Waldo Emerson

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20 Things TO DO in the Morning to Have a Good Day

 Who doesn’t like to have a good day? We all wake up in the morning a little cranky which then sets us off for a bad day ahead of us. How we act in the morning before work or before our day officially starts effects out day and how it plays out. Here is a good, long list of 25 things to do in the morning that will get you ready to have a marvelous day!

1. Wake up on time. Most of us hear that loud ringing sound in our ears and just bang it until you hit the snooze button and then go back to sleep for 9 more minutes. Then it goes off again! Some of us hit it again, but others actually get up! By hitting the alarm clock over and over meaning you sleep later and later only calls for a bad day. This means you wake up late and have to rush to work or school and rushing things is always a call for disaster. Instead, get up at the right time so you can have enough time to get ready and stuff.
2. Take an early morning walk or jog. If you have a lot of time on your hands, this will surely wake you up. Get up, get some shorts or something on, and go for a walk with the dog or a jog. It allows you to awaken strong for a good day!
3. Take a shower. Taking a shower allows you to be cleansed of all the gross stuff your body picked up overnight. For example, oil in your hair. You don’t want to go to work with horrible looking hair! You want to keep your job don’t you? Taking a shower also offers some relaxation for your morning.
4. Take your time getting dressed. When taking your time, really at anything, you avoid error. If you rush through something like getting dressed and mess up somehow, you will be regretting it. You will regret forgetting socks and you have to go the whole day with a stinky pair of feet!
5. Eat a good breakfast. Once you have done the first 3 thing, its time for the food, everyone’s favorite! Eat a good breakfast for energy for the day. Choices include an apple or banana or both, cereal, bacon and eggs, anything that will give you energy for the day.

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How To Wake Up Feeling Fresh In The Morning

17 Ways To Wake Up Feeling Fresh In The Morning

Okay so we know that waking up and doing things in the morning is the best way to achieve our goals in life. We can exercise, study, work, meditate, etc. much better than other times in the day. However, most of us feel pretty crap in the morning.
So what can we do about it? How can we wake up ready for work?

Ways to wake up feeling fresh in the morning

Here are some things you can do in the short term and the long term so that you will wake up fresh and energetic in the morning. I’ve divided them up into three sections; (1) the night before and (2) during the night and (3) the morning.

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Motivation Quotes

 The following quotes employ Optimal Thinking, the language of your best self. Optimal Thinking empowers you to make the best choices and take the best actions to achieve your highest priorities. It gives you the best chance of achieving everything you want.

"Every situation is an opportunity to be your best."
Rosalene Glickman, Ph.D.
Creator and author of Optimal Thinking

"It's not how low you fall, but how quickly and often you optimize that counts."
Rosalene Glickman, Ph.D.
"Practice is the best of all instructors."
Publilius Syrus (b. 42 AD)

"I do the very best I know how, the very best I can and I mean to keep doing so until the end."
Abraham Lincoln

"The man who makes everything that leads to happiness depend upon himself, and not upon other men, has adopted the very best plan for living happily."
Plato

"An investment in knowledge pays the best return."
Benjamin Franklin
"Laughter is the shortest distance between two people."
Victor Borge
"When we do the best that we can, we never know what miracle is wrought in our life, or in the life of another."
Helen Keller
"Living your best life is your most important journey in life."
Oprah Winfrey
"Choose to be your best, know what you most want to achieve, what you stand for above all else, and what you are most committed to."
Rosalene Glickman, Ph.D.
Creator and author of Optimal Thinking

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Improve Your Life Right Now

  All wise people know that it takes sometime before a person can reach their goals and improve their life. And while this is a an unquestionable fact still this doesn’t mean that you can’t make small changes to your life to make it better in few weeks if not  in few days!

While you can’t reach your life goals overnight you still can take small actions that can help you live a better life almost instantly.

 Use these simple actions to improve your mood and to give yourself a mood boost so that you can pursue your bigger goals.
Here is what you can do:

1.      Start waking up earlier : one of the main causes of stress is finding yourself out of time while being loaded with lots of tasks. When you wake up earlier you won’t only become more productive but you will also reduce the amount of stress in your life to a great extent.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

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10 Ways to Be Your Own Boss

 
 Working for yourself comes with plenty of benefits, one of which is working without having a boss breathing down your neck and stressing you out. However, what many people who go into business for themselves don’t realize is that without a boss nagging them it’s hard to stay focused and do the work that must be done. However, by following these 10 tips you can keep on target and become the best boss you ever had.

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Clean Your iPad Screen

How to Clean Your iPad Screen

Apple recommends cleaning your iPad in one particular approach through the iPad User Guide (iPad Only Link) that can be found as a bookmark in Safari on your iPad.
They suggest to clean the iPad:

• unplug all cables and disconnect the iPad from any accessories or docks
• Turn off the iPad by holding the Sleep/Wake button and sliding the onscreen slider off
• Use a soft, slightly damp cloth or a cleaning solution like 2 GO but be sure to not allow moisture in any openings in the iPad
• DO NOT use window cleaners. These can damage the oleophobic coating on the iPad screen and reduce the functionality of the iPad over time
• Wipe the iPad in a circular motion and be sure that no sand, dirt, or dust is on the cloth used to whip the screen

The iPad Screen coating is designed to repel oil. That may be why finger prints show up so quickly on the screen. You can easily wipe them off with the lint-free cloth and have the iPad screen looking new and clean again.
As always, clean the iPad carefully and often so that it continues to look great and so that it retains its value over time.


Screen Cleaner "2 Go" Perfect for iPhone, Droid, iPad, Lap Tops, and Other Devices

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10 Tips to Optimize Your iPad Battery Life

10 Tips to Optimize Your iPad Battery Life

The battery life on the iPad is pretty impressive as it is. Apple claims that it can last for up to 10 hours of continuous video playback. Some people have reported that their iPads have lasted even 11 to 12 hours.
However, when you’re onboard a long flight or have a weekend camping trip, you might not readily have access to charge your device. At times like this, you really need to stretch out the battery life of your iPad.
I could just tell you to turn off your iPad altogether, but here are 10 more practical tips you can adopt without sacrificing too much on the iPad’s usability and functions.

1.) Do you really need to go online?
If you don’t require an Internet connection, simply turn on the Airplane mode in the Settings. You can also switch off Wi-Fi or 3G separately too.
To turn off Wi-Fi:
Settings > Wi-Fi > set Wi-Fi to Off
To turn off 3G:
Settings > Cellular > Set Cellular Data to Off



2.) If you must go online, turn off push notification
Is your iPad really on standby mode? If have push notification on, it might still be working in the background checking for emails, updates and messages.
To turn it off, simply go to:
Settings > Notifications > Set Notifications to Off

3.) Turn off extra features you don’t need

They’re the little things we often forget but matter when every bit of battery life counts. Make sure you have these things turned off:

• EQ
• Vibrate
• Bluetooth

4.) Check online accounts less frequently
Having a bit of self-control is tough, especially when you have developed a habit of constantly needing to check your e-mail, Twitter, Facebook, Flickr and five other social media platforms.
However, when battery life is scarce, try to check for updates less often.

5.) Limit your use of location services

As much as you love to check into Foursquare and geotag yourself with every service, you might like to limit yourself a bit. I think it goes without saying that don’t use the Maps feature unless you really need to. You can also turn off location services by going to:
Settings > General > Location Services > Set to Off

6.) Forget downloading or live streaming

Hold off on downloading from the App or iTunes Store another time when the battery life isn’t a concern. You might also want to go easy on watching YouTube clips.
lenty of ambient lighting around, you don’t require a brightly lit screen. To adjust the brightness, simply go to:Settings > Brightness & Wallpaper > Drag the slider towards the left

7.) Dim the screen
This tip applies to a lot of devices and it does make a small difference. If there are plenty of ambient lighting around, you don’t require a brightly lit screen. To adjust the brightness, simply go to:
Settings > Brightness & Wallpaper > Drag the slider towards the left

 

8.) Avoid playing games that are rich in graphics

Games that are rich in graphics and sound can suck the life out of your battery very quickly, even more so if you’re playing multiplayer mode. Switch the game Sim City for something like Scoops instead.

9.) Update your firmware

Ensure that your iPad is updated with the latest firmware. If you’re unsure, just plug your iPad into your computer and “Check for Updates” in iTunes. Apple states that the advantages of operating on the latest firmware not only fixes certain bugs, but “Apple engineers may find new ways to optimize battery performance.”

10.) Consider an external battery pack

If you had time to plan ahead, you might like to purchase an external battery pack for the iPad. The prominent ones are from the HyperJuice series. Although prices don’t start cheap.

U can find hyperJuice External battery here

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Fuel Saving Tips for Drivers

We count on our cars to get us where we want to go, when we want to go. That sense of freedom is important to us, but we also want to be sure we do our best to conserve natural resources for future generations.

Following are a few simple steps you can take to meet these goals.

• Have your car tuned regularly. An engine tune-up can improve car fuel economy by an average of 1 mile per gallon.
• Keep your tires properly inflated. Underinflated tired can decrease fuel economy by up to 1 mile per gallon.
• Slow down. The faster you drive, the more gasoline your car uses. Driving at 65 miles per hour rather than 55 miles per hour reduces fuel economy by about 2 miles per gallon. 
• Avoid jackrabbit starts. Abrupt starts require about twice as much gasoline as gradual starts. 
• Pace your driving. Unnecessary speedups, slowdowns and stops can decrease fuel economy by up to 2 miles per gallon. Stay alert and drive steadily, not erratically. Keep a reasonable, safe distance from the car ahead of you and anticipate traffic conditions. 
• Use your air conditioner sparingly. The use of air conditioning can reduce fuel economy by as much as 2 miler per gallon under certain speeds and operating conditions.
• Plan your trips in advance. Combine short trips into one to do all your errands. Avoid traveling during rush hours if possible, to reduce fuel-consumption patterns such as starting and stopping and numerous idling periods. Consider joining a car pool.

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5 Secrets to Business Success

Richard Branson: Five Secrets to Business Success

The celebrated entrepreneur and founder of the Virgin Group offers his tips for starting out.

No. 1: Enjoy What You Are Doing.
Because starting a business is a huge amount of hard work, requiring a great deal of time, you had better enjoy it. When I started Virgin from a basement flat in West London, I did not set out to build a business empire. I set out to create something I enjoyed that would pay the bills.
There was no great plan or strategy. The name itself was thought up on the hoof. One night some friends and I were chatting over a few drinks and decided to call our group Virgin, as we were all new to business. The name stuck and had a certain ring to it.

A businesswoman or a businessman is not unlike an artist. What you have when you start a company is a blank canvas; you have to fill it. Just as a good artist has to get every single detail right on that canvas, a businessman or businesswoman has to get every single little thing right when first setting up in business in order to succeed. However, unlike a work of art, the business is never finished. It constantly evolves.
If a businessperson sets out to make a real difference to other people’s lives, and achieves that, he or she will be able to pay the bills and have a successful business to boot.

No. 2: Create Something That Stands Out.
Whether you have a product, a service or a brand, it is not easy to start a company and to survive and thrive in the modern world. In fact, you’ve got to do something radically different to make a mark today.
Look at the most successful businesses of the past 20 years. Microsoft, Google or Apple, for example, shook up a sector by doing something that hadn’t ever been done and by continually innovating. They are now among the dominant forces.



No. 3: Create Something That Everybody Who Works for You is Really Proud of.
Businesses generally consist of a group of people, and they are your biggest assets.

No. 4: Be a Good Leader.
As a leader you have to be a really good listener. You need to know your own mind but there is no point in imposing your views on others without some debate. No one has a monopoly on good ideas or good advice.
Get out there, listen to people, draw people out and learn from them. As a leader you’ve also got to be extremely good at praising people. Never openly criticize people; never lose your temper, and always lavish praise on your colleagues for a job well done.
People flourish if they’re praised. Usually they don’t need to be told when they’ve done wrong because most of the time they know it. If somebody is not working out, don’t automatically throw him or her out of the company. A company should genuinely be a family. So see if there’s another job within the company that suits them better. On most occasions you’ll find something for every single kind of personality.

No. 5: Be Visible.
A good leader does not get stuck behind a desk. I’ve never worked in an office – I’ve always worked from home – but I get out and about, meeting people. It seems I am traveling all the time but I always have a notebook in my back pocket to jot down questions, concerns or good ideas.
If I’m on a Virgin Atlantic plane, I make certain to get out and meet all the staff and many of the passengers. If you meet a group of Virgin Atlantic crew members, you are going to have at least 10 suggestions or ideas. If I don’t write them down, I may remember only one the next day. By writing them down, I remember all 10. Get out and shake hands with all the passengers on the plane, and again, there are going to be people who had a problem or have a suggestion. Write it down, make sure that you get their names, get their e-mail addresses, and make sure the next day that you respond to them.
Of course, I try to make sure that we appoint managing directors who have the same philosophy. That way we can run a large group of companies in the same way a small business owner runs a family business – keeping it responsive and friendly.
When you’re building a business from scratch, the key word for many years is “survival.” It’s tough to survive. In the beginning you haven’t got the time or energy to worry about saving the world. You’ve just got to fight to make sure you can look after your bank manager and be able to pay the bills. Literally, your full concentration has to be on surviving.
Obviously, if you don’t survive, just remember that most businesses fail and the best lessons are usually learned from failure. You must not get too dispirited. Just get back up and try again.

source

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