Scourings

Who needs a network of people to talk to about the struggles you’re encountering in your profession? You do! The more people you have in your personal network, the more people that can help you Make it Great! Don’t be afraid to ask for help, as you can’t do everything alone, contrary to popular belief. By developing your network, you can actually become more dependant on others, and they will become dependant on you.

The key to making it great is over-promise and over-delivering. Offering people what you know is the key to YOUR long-term success. Read that again and let it sink in: Offering people what you know is the key to YOUR long-term success. Zig Ziglar has been known to say “If you help enough people get what they want, you will get what you want.”

What this means is if you prove you can help people get what they want, especially if there is no direct benefit to you, they will want to repay the favor and help you get what you want. The key to this is taking the long-term view. Don’t immediately expect that because you did something nice for someone, that now they “owe you a favor” and will immediately do something for you. Eventually, it will come around.

There was a movie made in 2000 called Pay It Forward starring Haley Joel Osmond, Kevin Spacey and Helen Hunt. The gist of the story was a young boy, played by Osmond, who practiced random acts of kindness to people he came in contact. These people would then practice random acts of kindness on others, which propagated more random acts of kindness, and the cycle continued. It’s so simple really: Help people, and you’ll be helped. Try it for yourself. It will change your life!

Phil Gerbyshak leads a team as manager of an IT Help Desk in Milwaukee, WI, and finds that sharing his knowledge is a crucial component for in his success as a leader and as a person. Phil’s personal philosophy is paraphrased from Tim Sanders’ fantastic book Love is the Killer App: “Share your knowledge, your network, and your love. The rest will follow.” Feel free to contact Phil at http://makeitgreat.org or call 414.640.7445 anytime.

Networking isn’t just for Realtors; it’s a valuable tool for every savvy business leader. Meeting people in a variety of industries can lead to all kinds of alliances. Think about the people you know. How have those relationships enhanced your business?

No matter what kind of business you operate, whether you’re an independent contractor, store owner, infopreneur, professional speaker or consultant, networking can cause your business soar to new heights.

Advantages of Networking

*Meet Potential Clients. No matter where you go, you have the chance to meet people who could become clients for your business.

*Create Strategic Alliances. As you get to know someone new, you may find that you have common interests or goals. If so, suggest a way to work together.

*Increased Word of Mouth. Some of the best advertising that money cannot buy is word of mouth. The more people who learn about you and your business, the more chance you have to spread the word about your offerings.

*Develop Six Degrees of Separation. You never know where a new alliance can lead. I’ve had friendly business contacts refer me to speaking engagements (which then led to other speaking engagements), media exposure (which led to a slew of new clients), new business opportunities (that generated exposure and income), and marketing campaigns (spreading my reach with little cost or effort). Your new client could introduce you to another associate, and that person could introduce you to yet another person, and so on.

*Learn Something New. Savvy business leaders know that in order to stay at the top of their game, they need to continually learn more about their industry. You have the opportunity to learn something from each person you meet. You could discover a new business process, a useful technology, an industry trend or a creative marketing strategy.

*Challenge Yourself. When you meet someone whose level of success is higher than your own, challenge yourself to take your business to the next level. Let that person’s success inspire you to achieve more.

Twenty-five Steps to Successful Networking

1. Evaluate Your Handshake. This may seem like a no-brainer, but unfortunately a lot of people miss the ball on this one. Your handshake should be firm and confident without breaking bones. This is true for both women and men.

2. Watch Your Body Language. Nothing is more subtle than body language. Watch a roomful of people to see how each looks different. Confident people stand up tall, hold their heads high, and often talk with their hands. People who are shy or uncomfortable cross their arms in front of them, hang their heads low, and look disinterested. Who would you rather approach? Someone who looks miserable and closed off or someone who is confident and relaxed? Watch yourself in a mirror. See how much better you look when your posture is strong and your arms are at your side.

3. Maximize the Value of Your Business Card. Make sure the information on your card is up to date and accurate. There is nothing worse than someone who hands you a card and says, “Oh, but my phone number has changed. Let me write it in there for you.” Even if you have new cards on order, you can purchase blank card stock at the office supply store and print some temporary cards so you always portray a professional image. You can also add value to your card by print something on the back side such as a calendar or a list of resources.

4. Prepare an Elevator Pitch. You should have a 30-second sound byte that you can give whenever you meet someone new. Your pitch should explain who you are and what you do and should be succinct and compelling.

5. Define Your Purpose. Attending networking events won’t have much value if you don’t know why you are there. Are you interested in finding clients? Locating new business partners? Define your goals clearly so you can make the most of your efforts.

6. Say Cheese. Smiling at someone instantly puts them at ease and it is human nature to “mirror” the other person. Notice how when you smile at someone, he/she automatically smiles back. The added benefit is that the act of smiling has a magical power to cause a person feel better. So if you encounter someone who is having a bad day, you smile and make them smile, you have subconsciously given reason for him/her to like you!

7. Crack ‘em Up. Humor is a wonderful ice breaker. Avoid inappropriate jokes or comments, but do try to inject some humor into your conversations. People who are funny are naturally magnetic to others. You can still be a serious business person with a good sense of humor.

8. Use Small Talk. When meeting or introducing yourself to a new contact, start with small talk. Ask the contact what he/she does, where they live, how far they traveled to get to the event or what brought them to the event. Develop a standard list of questions you will use to start and maintain small talk with new people.

9. Keep Moving. Don’t hold up the wall or stay in one place for too long. Make the most of your networking time by moving often and ending conversations that have reached their maximum value. If you want to move on from the person you are talking to, you could say, “It’s been a pleasure talking with you. I have some other people I need to meet so I hope we can keep in touch.”

10. Offer Your Business Card. The best time to exchange business cards is typically near the end of your conversation. Handing the contact your card will usually prompt him to give you his in exchange. If this doesn’t happen automatically, simply ask.

11. Remember to Offer Value. Networking should be a two-way street. If you want someone to help you, you should offer something that helps them. Offer up interesting contacts or resources and keep the relationship reciprocal.

12. Never Monopolize a Conversation. There is nothing more unappealing than someone who does nothing but talk about himself. Make sure your interactions always go two ways.

13. Ask Questions. People love to talk about themselves. Ask questions that evoke more than a Yes or No answer. By asking questions and showing genuine interest in the answers, you automatically build a rapport with the person you are talking to. They will most likely leave the conversation remembering that they liked you.

14. Drop a Line. Send an email or better yet, a hand-written note, to let the person know that you enjoyed meeting them. Try to point out something specific that you talked about to jog their memory in case they met a lot of people and can’t remember exactly who you are. For example, you could say, “It was a pleasure meeting you at the cocktail reception. I enjoyed our conversation about Minnesota. I hope we can keep in touch and find a way to work together in the future.”

15. Follow Through. If you offered to send something, like an article or referral, make sure to follow through on your promises. Send any materials within a week of meeting.

16. Organize Your Contacts. New people you meet may not fill an immediate need in your networking strategy, but could be a good resource down the line. File every person you meet in a contacts database with a note about when and where you met and what your conversation was about.

17. Remember Details. I once had a Dentist that I actually enjoyed seeing because I always found it remarkable that he remembered details about me even if I hadn’t seen him in two years. He would say, “How is your job going? The last time I saw you, you had just gotten promoted.” I eventually realized that he made notes in my file after each visit, but even knowing this, I still appreciated that he personalized our interactions. You will meet a lot of people in your business life and aren’t likely to remember all the details. Be sure to makes notes in your contacts database even if the items seem trivial. For example, for Joe Schmoe you could note: “Going to Hawaii in December, has two teenage daughters, Raider fan, likes vodka tonics.” Check his card prior to your next meeting so you have a few conversation starters ready.

18. Refer Your Contacts. If someone mentions they are building a website, offer up the contact information for a great website designer that you know. If someone mentions that they are going on vacation, recommend your pet sitter. No matter how insignificant this may seem, it can earn you loyalty with both those you refer and the people you refer them to. Eventually this good karma will come back around.

19. Let Them Know. If you see one of your contacts mentioned in the media or notice a new glossy ad in a trade magazine, drop an e-mail and let them know. You could say, “Hey, I saw the article about you in Business Today magazine. Congratulations!”

20. Offer an Invitation to Lunch or Coffee. Though we all have busy schedules, we also have to take time out to eat. If you want to spend some extended time with your new contact, offer to buy lunch or coffee. Most people appreciate a free meal and a chance to interact with someone who is engaging.

21. Keep it Light. If you make plans to meet a business contact for a meal, avoid launching right into a business discussion. It’s best to keep the conversation light and informal at least until the food arrives. Start by developing a rapport and talking about personal topics (not too personal!) and then work your way into a business discussion.

22. Hold a Networking Event. If you want to increase your business contacts on your own terms, host your own networking event. Invite local trade organizations, peers, clients, and business associates. Offer basic refreshments like coffee and inexpensive cookies or step it up a notch and cater in some food. Encourage people to mingle and trade business cards. This can be a wonderful way to showcase your business.

23. Join the Chamber of Commerce. Networking opportunities abound and you can make some great connections by getting in touch with your local business community. Make sure to attend events and participate in all chamber-sponsored programs.

24. Join Local Trade Organizations. Many organizations hold regular meetings and free seminars, providing you with another opportunity to make valuable contacts.

25. Join Everything. Even the PTA (Parent/Teacher’s Association) can be a great place to network. Join book clubs, writer’s groups, or any groups of interest to you, even if they don’t directly relate to your business. Get known by everyone. They will associate you with your business as soon as they get to know you, your mere presence at functions could serve as a reminder and cause members to want to do business with you. Before long you will have an excellent database of contacts and will begin to weave a web of opportunities.

It takes time to develop a network of business alliances so the sooner you get started, the sooner you can reap the rewards. Treat every event that you attend as a chance to meet new and interesting people. Set a personal goal to attend at least two events each month and soon your business will flourish in new and wonderful ways.

Stephanie Chandler is the author of “The Business Startup Checklist and Planning Guide: Seize Your Entrepreneurial Dreams!” and founder of http://www.BusinessInfoGuide.com, a directory of resources for entrepreneurs. Subscribe to the newsletter for hot tips and small business tools.

Casinos have changed in the past few years. Glamorized by movies and books, even online casino have been thought to be the best place in the world to be. The hotels attached to them have been known to attract celebrities, movies, books and so much more.

Casinos have changed in a number of ways since some of those movies came out in the 60’s. One of the things that have changed is security. Security in casinos are much tougher than they use to be. It is not as easy as some of the movies have portrayed to break into a casino.

At one time, the casinos tried to make the area more family friendly. However, as most found out, some children were not allowed to enter into casinos. Hence, that idea has been dwindling quite a bit throughout the years, even as games like online poker have risen.

Hotels have acquired more and more casinos. In doing this, casinos just by themselves are not present at much anymore, if at all. Limits on how much are entered into a machine such as slots, or into a card game has changed a lot, mostly a higher amount is now requested.

Casinos may have changed a bit since those movies have come about. It has not hindered people wanting to go night after night to a casino.

Poker seating and the position one has at the table is one of the most important and least talked about aspects of poker. It’s especially relative to the Texas Hold’Em poker game because it is positional in nature. Where a player sits each hand determines the amount of information he or she can gain on other players. This can have a big effect on your poker strategy and how a hand is played. This article will reference how to play poker from a table of 10 players and discuss playing from the dealer, early, middle and late positions.

Dealer Position — This position, also referred to as “on the button”, is the most coveted because once the flop takes place, the dealer is the last to act. This means you can watch and gather information on all the other players before making your decision. Aggressive play is expected from this position, especially when all others have checked. Almost any hand except trash hands like 9 2, 10 4 offsuit can be considered for play here.

For example, your opponent has Jc, Jh. You have Qd, Kd and are the dealer. Your opponent raised $20 before the flop and you called. The flop shows 2d, 3d, 5d. You both check the flop and the turn shows 8c. Your opponent checks, you raise $20 and they call. On the river the Js comes up and your opponent raises $50. From watching you figure they may have trips. You raise to $100, they call and you win with a King high flush. Had you been in your opponents position of having to bet first, you would have been hard pressed to figure what the dealer had.

Early Position — This is made up of positions 1, 2 and 3 to the left of the dealer and are the least advantageous as you are the first to act after the flop and have no information on the other players. Here one should play only the strongest hands like paired A’s, K’s, Q’s, J’s, Tens, or suited AK, AQ, AJ and KQ. Anything outside of these one should consider folding and waiting for a better opportunity, especially with an aggressive table. One thing that can be done from an early position is bluffing. Betting from an early position can imply that you do have a strong hand, but bluffing too often will result in others picking up on it and can be disastrous, particularly when aggressive bettors are at the table.

Middle Position — Positions for the middle are 4th, 5th and 6th to the left of the dealer. Because the disadvantage is not as great as with the early position, you have greater flexibility to play more hands. Hands like paired 5’s thru 9’s, suited connectors from 5 6 on up, unsuited connectors 5 6, 6 7, on up. There are more hands that can be played but this covers the majority that can be easily remembered. Being in the middle, it is better to raise than call if no one is in the pot, if you have a playable hand and you feel some players will fold.

Late Position — The 7th, 8th and 9th seats at the table to the left of the dealer make up the late position. Here you are in an excellent seating area of the table. You can gather a great amount of information about the players and their hands. In these positions, one should be aggressive if not many have entered the pot. If there are a lot of players, scale back the aggressive play unless you have the type of superior hand as discussed in the early position. Another advantage of the late position is that you can easily play cards like 5 8, J 7, Q 8. For example, supposing you have 5 8 in the late position and the flop is 2 6 7 unsuited and everyone else checks. Raising at a non-aggressive table would be the correct thing to do as it gives you a chance to gain control of the pot as well as keeping other raises in check from those who would try to steal the pot. But remember, it is not a license to play trash hands.

Poker seating is an advanced player concept, but the basics are simple enough for anyone to remember and take advantage of when the opportunity does present itself. Good luck!

Tom Howze is a webmaster for 9 sites that relate to online gambling, World Series of Poker and World Poker Tour events and updates. For more information, please visit 2005 World Series of Poker .

Although gambling is decidedly legal in the United States, not all websites that offer online gambling have legal permits. Besides, gambling especially casinos are strictly regulated in the US, perhaps even more so than in other countries in the world.

The same cannot be said of online gambling. Unlike countries in Europe and in the United Kingdom, online gambling in the United States has not merited any attention yet. In fact, there is no particular law regulating the online gambling process.

This can be quite confusing for online gamblers. While they won’t get into too much trouble because as mentioned, states are just starting to develop regulations for online gambling, gamblers are of course still reluctant to participate if there are potential legal issues.

Potential risks

Basically, only operators of online gambling sites can get into trouble if they don’t have licenses. Players are not actually prohibited to participate in online gambling games although of course there will be risks to their money if they choose to play on sites that don’t have permits.

Another risk that players on online gambling sites that do not have permits is the fact that their personal information will be an open book to the operators of the site. If the site turns out to be bogus, this will pose a great risk on the player… that is if he has not already lost his privacy to online hackers which can easily hack the information.

Only operators

Most states are already quite eager to legalize online gambling. However, the government is very cautious on the subject because online gambling sites can be used by money launderers for their illegal operations.

So far, there is no single law in the Unites States that deems playing in online casinos illegal. However, the Wire Act, which is often used or cited in reference to illegal online gambling has a section which says that people who are engaged in the business of online gambling can be fined or imprisoned but the act of course only covers the individual who presides over the business.

This however was cleared up when the US Supreme Court refused to review the case of Jay Cohen. The Wire Act, it seems, does not prohibit Internet gambling. This decision was upheld by the US Fifth Circuit Federal Appeals Court, which stated that “the Wire Act concerns gambling on sporting events or contests…”

One of the bills that are filed in Iowa by James Leach, inhibits people to gamble online although there is nothing in the bill that criminalizes the act. Several bills have in fact been proposed, targeting online wagers and online gambling. There are however no bills that have so far targeted the players. It seems that although some would like to discourage the proliferation of gambling sites and the participation of people in online gambling, no one wants to make it a criminal act.

For some states, online gambling per se is illegal but the letter of the law does not penalize the players but the perpetrators. A long as players remain only players in the game and do not act as a bookie, an agent, or an owner, then there will be no problem with the existing law. This is of course true with all online games including online poker.

Claire Bowes is a successful Webmaster and publisher of My Poker Tips. Claire provides more information on her site about Online Poker Rooms that you can research at home.

Let’s face it; all games in online casinos are games of chance. Some people can win on pure luck, but the rest of us need to tip the odds in our favor. This can be done very easily by playing games that have better odds, and by playing games that require some degree of skill.

Playing the games with better odds can help you win more often and collect more money. In games like roulette, there are many different types of bets all offering different odds. The best bets can sometimes be the one’s with the worst payout. In roulette betting on many numbers lowers payout, but increases your chances of winning. Games like craps can have worse odds than others, so it is advisable to stay away from those types of games.

The best games to play in online casinos are the games of skill like poker and blackjack. In poker, you are playing other players, so if you have higher skill then you can make quite a bit of cash. Tipping the odds in your favor is easy in games of skill because all you need to do is study up on how to play the game better. In blackjack you are playing the dealer. Blackjack is slightly tougher than poker in terms of odds because you have to get as close to 21 as possible without going over. Even the odds in blackjack can be tipped in your favor if you are smart with when to take a hit and when to stay.

Online casinos also have slot machines. The odds in slot machines are pretty bad. The payouts can be great, if you know exactly when to press the buttons, but there are still odds against you, one of the bad things about online casinos is that you are not physically present in a casino. Therefore, games that you usually have a physical impact on do not serve you as well. Video poker is also not as good because you are simply playing against a computer. You only win if you get certain hands, so skill is not as important. In online poker where you sit down at a table against other players, you can bet well, and make a lot of money. Video poker is completely random.

Online casinos are great places to have fun and make money. It is important to know a lot about every online casino game that you play. Stay away from games that you have no impact on, and try to play the games that require a certain level of skill. Following these suggestions will tip the odds in your favor and increase your chances of having a very successful and fulfilling online poker experience.

Josef Gagne is very familiar with online casino gambling strategy. Learn more at www.casinochoice.co.uk .

Web bingo is coming to be more and more prevalent in the UK and elsewhere. Pursuant to the total smoking ban in public places, hundreds old-fashioned bingo halls went bust - this brought about hundreds organizations selling world wide web bingo as an alternative.

Public icon promo from the likes of S. and J. Osbourne and many others have proved beneficial by raising the reputation of ‘net bingo - encompassing just about 2.5-3 million supporters now enjoying a recurrent game online.

You’ll find many world wide web bingo web setups, every one propounding patrons truly incredible cash bonanzas and a limitless amount of other prizes such as innovative cars, movie premiere tickets and luxury holidays.

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One would have expected that the community side of bingo fun would undoubtedly suffer on account of the decline of the old-fashioned bingo halls - but on the contrary - bingo fans in Great Britain have indisputably proven all alarmists wrong! A steadily growing number are moving over to the facilities tendered by rafts of world wide web bingo organizations.

Here, anyone can forge a good many new friendships, leverage special tournaments and become part of other bingo communities.

Independent studies have also proved that players are more likely to collect mega bucks by having a go at on line bingo as compared to other types of laying a bet such as National Lotteries and sports betting.

And should you become a bit tired of bingo, innumerable world wide web bingo web setups will present a comprehensive selection of other pastimes. These can be anything from numbers games through to caption contests and multiple choice exercises.

With so much such a range of possibilities it may be somewhat tricky to decide which bingo firm to actually sign up with. As well, it pays out to take a stab at some rudimentary research and analyse who is currently recommending the best bonuses and promos. A fair number of world wide web bingo web setups will let you some games of free web based bingo or up any initial cash deposit at 1:1.

If any of your neighbourhood group members have signed up at some special world wide web bingo Web site, what about doing likewise because the social chat aspect will certainly add to the recreation…

Online Bingo

The thought of a safari might probably stir up the emotions of amazement and the location of warm Africa. Safaris have been well accepted in Zambia for decades and have become attractive with the Welsh holiday tourists cause of the superb weather and the beautiful wildlife that might often be explored.

The best time to explore Africa for a marvellous safari is around February as the weather is phenomenal. The number of UK tourists who travel over to Zambia for a safari has significantly risen in the last 4 years due to the strong pound and also due to the increased attention of Africa. Visit Southern Africa and go on Zambia safaris to explore the wonderful planes of South Africa.

The wildlife that you might well observe is big, you might see tigers and hippos all up close. Africa is great for people who wish to come and scout out the animals and also wish for a romantic vacation. The walking safaris are not too strenuous that you couldn’t possibly go back to your incredible hotel in the evening for a romantic evening. That is why walking safaris in Africa will be perfect for a honeymoon. Zambia has some of the best privately owned hostels and safaris in the world and should be experienced by everybody at least once.

Has your house lost power? Did you notice if your refrigerator broke last night? Do you have qualms about food that was in the freezer?

Not to worry - there are some simple guidelines to food safety in such a situation.

Through the food away when it is thawed or warmed to room temperature. Throw it out if it has been sitting at room temperature for longer than two hours.

Largely thawed food that is still cold should be cooked immediately. The cooked foods can either be consumed or put in the refrigerator to eat later.

You may notice ice crystals on your food and if so, it’s okay to freeze it again. You can put it in a cooler with some dry ice if there is no freezer available to you. The food will need to be cooked, because it won’t last as long as with a normal freezer.

If you notice any food with even a little freezer burn, you need to throw it away.

Sudden power outages cannot be avoided, but there are things you can do to prepare for them.
If your current refrigerator or freezer isn’t working like it should, your best bet is to purchase a new one. A new American Style fridge freezer is a great option if you have the amount of space needed. You will find that it can make a big difference with just about any kitchen. This site contains a wide range of American made fridges and freezers, aiming to serve you better.

Mortgage plans for graduates and other professionals aim for a defined number of borrowers in particular professional employment. Several mortgage banks can supply enhanced wage multiples and, likewise, very advantageous rates specially to barristers, solicitors and many other professionals.

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