John Muckle’s new novel, set in Eighties London, will be out from Shearsman Press in Jaunuary 2010.  He’s an interesting writer and deserves much wider recognition - but don’t take my word for it, here’s what others have to say about him: 

John Berger: “…a wonderful book—marvellously constructed, and of a fidelity to experience such as you only come across with a true storyteller—as distinct from word spinner!” 

Will Self: “I don’t think I’ve read anything for quite a while—perhaps not since Norman Lewis’ memoir Jackdaw Cake—which conjures up quite so effectively this peculiar inter-zone between the behemoth of the city and the hinterland of the country. And on top of all of this there is the wrenching portrayal of a family at odds with itself in the most violent fashion, rendered without cant or sentimentality.” 

Michael Moorcock: “I think Cyclomotors is my best book of 1997 and a real bit of quality in a fairly bleak landscape.”

Tom Raworth: “The milky bar gleam of Kensington in the sun . . . memory of Spitalfields in the rain . . . a small flask of Southern Comfort . . . John Muckle’s window on that world is the one people will eventually look through.”

Out of the hundreds of RFPs and briefs I’ve read over the past several years, the majority of them say creating ‘increased attention’ for a particular brand (product or service) is their primary goal.

Our industry doesn’t have a reliably accurate awareness metric like Cost-Per-Attention. Sure, we can commission recall studies, or extrapolate neuromarketing results to ad exposures, but no one can truly measure the cost for generating attention or recall, let alone attribute those costs to a specific marketing activity. But if we could…

Will marketers pay more or less to generate attention in the future?

My sense is marketers are an optimistic bunch. They see technology as a cost-cutter, providing advances in media mix modeling, behavioral targeting, and results attribution – things that should lead to greater efficiency. They also see developments in digital media and what has been touted as Web 2.0 as an effective, low cost method of engaging consumers and generating awareness via word of mouth.

On the flip side, we’re seeing an avalanche of content, media, and activities competing for attention. Media costs aren’t getting cheaper and consumers are increasingly successful in avoiding advertising. We’re also seeng more SKUs and services than ever, all competing for our attention.

Add to that the cost of agency services. Margins are falling as brand marketers adopted a cattle-call/jumpball approach to selecting agencies. What brand marketers don’t seem to understand is they’re paying bloated rate cards to offset the increasing cost of prospecting and pitching. Every time a brand manager does an agency search, or sends out an RFP to a dozen agencies, they’re burning tens (if not hundreds) of thousands of dollars in agency costs. Those costs need to be made up somewhere, and in the end, they’re paid in hidden fees by the agency’s customers – the brand.

My guess is price for attention is going to increase over the coming years, but unfortunately nobody will be measuring it.

As soon as Internet began to emerge as a means of sharing information, trainers and teachers started to see a new opportunity: let’s put our courses online! E-learning was born.

Unfortunately, too many e-learning initiatives failed. Too boring, low learning outcomes, bad results. Designers and developers of e-learning content focused too much on converting the content of course textbooks into technical online versions. Paper text and pictures merely became online text and pictures. However, online students don’t read online text with the same attention as when reading text in a course book. When an e-learning course is mandatory (or when a certification or promotion depends on it) then people will take it, no matter how poor the content is. However, when the course is not mandatory, they’ll react differently. They’ll rather glance at text pages than read them. First they’ll skip a few words, then some sentences, then paragraphs and finally, they’ll skip whole pages. “Click Next to continue” becomes a handy escape or fast-forward button.

Digesting text-based content online requires curiosity, interest and attention from the viewer, as well as the discipline to read the text in a concentrated way. Only then does the message get across.

In a classroom environment, a teacher or trainer will narrate the content and often use a whiteboard or slides as visual aids. If the presenter is good, trainees will listen, follow and concentrate on the story being told. This technique works. Additionally, a good trainer can keep the class attentive by using interaction techniques such as asking questions, doing an exercise or demonstrating something.

Another technique is using “movement”. A teacher sitting behind a desk and teaching his class without moving will have a hard time keeping the attention levels high all the time. Whereas a trainer who brings movement into his lesson will be more successful in keeping the attention of the class. Movement can be anything: walking around, raising a hand, showing something, writing something on the board,… people react to visual motion.

Online motion has a similar effect. Video is motion. So is animation. Banners are animations and catch the attention because they contain moving objects. In the same way, animation can be an interesting technique for online learning, when properly used. Furthermore, animation is based on graphics, which, as opposed to video, can be very useful for learning purposes because they help to simplify complex subjects.

When a didactical storyboard is animated and synchronized well with a professional voice-over, the result can be an extremely powerful combination, which successfully grabs and keeps attention. Our animated explanations have an average attention span of over 90%. None of them are mandatory, and they are all free.

Girls can never seem to be dominant in this world.

Why?

Simple because our emotions are so damn weak.

A little flattering and cuddling up can cause hearts to soar and souls to lift above the ground.

A little neglecting and moment of silence can make us feel like they lost interest in us.

A little negativity can cause us to break down and even turn to suicide.

Girls just always find this need to be loved and noticed.

Maybe that’s why this world is still continually ruled by the majority male species. But we all know that women are very capable of many talents that men can even think about. Yet, we are controlled and manipulated by everyone through our little emotions.

Doesn’t it cause a little shame?

When we look back to ourselves and question why we did the stupid things we did, that wave of shame floats up and smothers us.

“Next time, be strong.”

We said that a billion times; each only followed by failure.

No matter how “strong” we try to be, why are there still weak spots to pick at?

There’s this brave 1% of the female population who are very capable of controlling herself; I admire you all.

But slowly I am learning how to be strong and not let others manipulate me through my emotions. Maybe in turn I can earn my place in the world by using the tool that I have suffer from. If I were to overcome my weakness, I will be sure to put them in use and be in control.

There are many things to focus on at this time
but that which is most powerful to put your attention on is without question love and the vibration it brings
into your life
for this vibration will help you understand ALL THAT IS AROUND YOU FROM A HIGHER PERSPECTIVE YES
THE VALUE OF LOVE AND THE VIBRATION IT HELPS YOU FEEL IN YOUR BODY IS MANY FOLD
THERE ARE SO MANY BLOCKS SO MANY CONDITIONED THOUGHTS THAT CAN EASILY BE REMOVED THROUGH FOCUSING ON LOVE
SPEND YOUR ENERGY
YOUR ATTENTION YOUR TIME
DEVELOPING A BETTER SENSE OF THIS FEELING NEAR YOUR HEART AND FILLING YOUR BODY WITH LIGHT EMANATING FROM THIS AREA AND YOU WILL NOTICE CHANGES DRAMATICALLY
YOU WILL FEEL AND SEE NEW THINGS ARISE IN YOUR AWARENESS AND WATCH OLD BLOCKS THAT HAVE BEEN HIDDEN FROM YOUR CONSCIOUS AWARENESS DISSOLVE
YOU WILL FEEL LIGHTER FREER AND LESS TENSION IN YOUR BODY
MORE EASE
LOVE ALLOWS YOUR BODY TO OPERATE AT ITS MAXIMUM POTENTIAL BECAUSE LOVE IS WHAT HOLDS THE BEST AND HIGHEST UNDERSTANDING FUNCTIONING AND GUIDANCE FOR YOUR LIFE AND FOR ALL THAT IS CONCERNED
KNOW THAT BY FOCUSING ON LOVE YOU WILL BRING ABOUT A GREATER EXPANSION OF YOUR LIFE AND A GREATER UNDERSTANDING OF WHO YOU ARE HERE TO BE
A GRATEFUL FULFILLMENT IN EVERYTHING YOU DO
THIS WILL SPREAD NOT ONLY FROM YOU INTERNALLY BUT EXTERNALLY
ALL THOSE AROUND YOU ARE AFFECTED BY YOUR PRESENCE IN SOME WAY
IF YOU ARE ABLE TO FOCUS ON BEING AND FEELING AND RADIATING LOVE
YOU WILL FUNCTION MUCH LIKE NATURE INTENDED HUMANITY TO FUNCTION
EXACTLY HOW SOURCE WISHES TO FUNCTION THROUGH YOU
YOUR HEART WILL BE YOUR GUIDE INDEED
AND YOU WILL HAVE THE MOST WISE THOUGHTS YOU COULD IMAGINE
LET GO NOW AND GIVE YOUR ATTENTION TO LOVE AND ALLOW THE FEELINGS TO BUILD
GIVE INTO THE FEELING COMPLETELY AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS

- Morning stream of consciousness writing from John Stringer

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As you start shopping for holiday gifts for Christmas, you start with an organized list and a budget. Next, consider the person on the list of personality traits, and a Google search for something like "gifts for readers," "Gifts for Travelers" or "gifts for engineers." For an excellent source of where you are looking for men, women, seniors and young people in your life, you try to "Gift Ideas" section holiday.

The electronics are great for Christmas gifts, so that by 4 / 10 ofTop wish list items for 2008 (Consumer Electronics Holiday Purchase Patterns Study). Nearly 80% of adults and 84% of children said they would like an electronic gift this year. So, what's hot for this holiday season? Computer, video game consoles, portable MP3 players, mobile phones and digital cameras this year's top Christmas wish list. For computers, check out laptops to "Dell", where you will find products for as low as $ 376 to.

The Nintendo Wii game console is still thethe election this year, with a wide range of virtual reality fun-type games. The price has come to a lot over the years, retailing for around $ 300. The X-Box 360 is also a good option for gamers. In the world of portable MP3 player, iPod is still prevailing, retail between $ 149 and $ 300

The iTouch is the most popular phone on the market for the year 2008, for the touch screen, application support and versatility known. For cameras, check out the Canon PowerShot series, wheregreat value can be found at $ 300. The Nikon SLR cameras, prices have fallen a lot and the Sony Cybershot is said to be a good buy as well as for the perfect Christmas gift.

The choice of Christmas gifts for in-laws can be unnerving, especially if you're a little strapped for cash this holiday season. You can try a magazine subscription as Readers Digest, GQ, Esquire, Cosmo, Vanity Fair, National Geographic, Newsweek and The New Yorker. Music CDs are anotherChristmas gift ideas to show for under $ 25, which was thoughtful. You can try Opera, vacation albums, to traditional folk music or oldies, it make sure. Audiobooks may be a better choice if you're really not sure what your interests are in-laws. "

If they especially computer savvy, Web sites such as Audible, "a monthly subscription and unlimited downloads. Gourmet coffees, gift baskets, Christmas or edible plants arrangements also a nice treat. Spa certificates cantreat your in-laws, and are something they would not typically buy for themselves. In "Amazing Clubs" you can send a monthly wine and cheese, ice cream, beer, and a number of other goodies in the mail, although this is a bit more expensive.

If you opt for Christmas gifts for children, then try something that will find new interests and discoveries encouraged. For younger readers, "Mosnose" a book entitled "Mo Smells Red", which contains a neat push-and-sniff featurethat children will love! So, "Frog Town Central" is a musical book with the title "One Night in Frogtown." In "Freckle Box" You can have personalized books for the very small, inserted her name as a character.

For music lovers, visit the "Spin Master" to see, to dance, some fuzzy-Yo Gabba Gabba Monster toys, including: Was Dance Time Brobee, 'n Sing TooDee and Muno's Groovin' Guitar. Leap Frog's Learn & Groove Musical Table is perfect for children aged 6 months – 3 years. Little Artistslove the doodle mat, while toddlers and older children alike enjoy Crayola Color Wonder Magic Light Brush. TaDoodles Crayola Beginnings Scribble & Sing Art Station is another game for the fulfillment of 18 months and up. There are a number of gifts for the kids this Christmas season, so much fun shopping!

Tags : More items on Sale All Holidays Gifts

Half empty?  Half full?  Which is it?  It’s really both… but it’s all about where your attention is. Is it on what you do have? or is it on what you don’t have? Is it on the abundance in your day or on the lack?  Are you thankful for what you have or grumpy about what you don’t? The truth is that the glass is both full and empty at the same time. The world is the way it is. It’s the same for everyone. It rains on everyone, the sun shines on everyone, we struggle to pay bills sometimes, have seasons of plenty sometimes, I get my way sometimes, sometimes I don’t etc etc.

Overly positive people can be a pain though. They can live in fantasy or denial about whats really going on, they can choose not to see that how things could and should be even better than they are. The glass should fulfil its potential by being full to the max. It’s great to celebrate the good but that’s not enough..grow the good, get more, spread more! 

Overly negative people stress themselves and everybody by focusing on the reality of the emptiness most of the time, sometimes it’s to justify their lack of imagination, or it’s their fear of the effort of changing thought positions, or perhaps it’s to avoid  taking responsibility in some undisciplined area of thought or action. Yes there is lack, but it can be filled more than it is, will you try? Will you learn how to fill your glass? Acknowledge the good you have, be thankful for it, taste and little, want more, learn how to and go fill the glass!!!

So where is your attention today? What are you looking for? Will you see and experience the fullness of your day, the things that bring meaning, self-worth, value, positive connection with a safe and nurturing world? Will you see and feel the emptiness of the moments of stress, confusion, harsh words, misunderstood comments and actions? Your day will have both..what ever you attend to is what you’ll see the most.

I wish you a full day today!

St. Ignatius Brianchaninov

The sons of the world consider distraction to be something innocent, but the holy fathers recognize it to be the origin of all evils. The person who has given up to distraction has, concerning all subjects and even the most important ones, a very light most superficial understanding. One who is distracted is usually inconstant. The feelings of his heart usually lack depth and strength; and therefore, they are not solid but transitory. As a butterfly flits from flower to flower so also a distracted person passes from one earthly satisfaction to another, from one vain care to another.

In Greek – Στα Ελληνικά

St. Ignatius Brianchaninov

The sons of the world consider distraction to be something innocent, but the holy fathers recognize it to be the origin of all evils. The person who has given up to distraction has, concerning all subjects and even the most important ones, a very light most superficial understanding. One who is distracted is usually inconstant. The feelings of his heart usually lack depth and strength; and therefore, they are not solid but transitory. As a butterfly flits from flower to flower so also a distracted person passes from one earthly satisfaction to another, from one vain care to another.

Ill ne sfatuieste :

A aparut un virus, scris probabil de un pacalici. Veti fi abordat de un prieten infectat, uite un scenariu:

(13:36:47 AM) Virusatul: o cunosti? o-lume-nebuna-de-tot.blogspot.com )
(13:36:47 AM) Virusatul has buzzed you!
(13:37:03 AM) Victima: Iar link-ul cu virus…
(13:37:03 AM) Virusatul: intra ca nu e nici un virus
(13:37:23 AM) Victima: E virus, verifica-ti statia cand vezi mesajul!
(13:37:24 AM) Virusatul: intra ca nu e nici un virus
(13:39:59 AM) B: Ping-pong.
A is typing…
(13:45:58 AM) Virusatul: sa intrii sa imi zici ce parere ai ca sigur recunosti personaju

V-ar pacali ca sunt niste filmulete care au nevoie de div-x, veti primi si link-ul catre “kit” dupa care, daca executati, o sa va luati carne de la prieteni ca o sa le trimiteti discutii ca cea de mai sus. Recomand sa nu fiti creduli , sansele sa aveti o prietena care e intr-un filmulet sexy sau porno de pe net sunt NULE si nu mai dati click pe toate tampeniile pe care le primiti

Asa ca, mare atentie!

Holiday Shopping Season Revs Up With Black Friday Sales.  Fox.  Maybe this will jump start the economy?

Black Friday.  The day after Thanksgiving.  The official start to the Christmas shopping season.  The mad dash to the stores to buy the deals of the century. 

Your local vendors wish to apprise their customers of the following public service announcement. 

In good spirit, of course.

“Free ride in a police car.  If you shoplift at this store.  Courtesy of your local police department.  Notice!  Closed circuit television.  Recorded.  24-Hour surveillance.”
Image courtesy of http://eatliver.com/i.php?n=4977.

See:

• http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,577167,00.html
• http://eatliver.com/i.php?n=4977

As a Buyer, you can encourage your Freelancer to create an ongoing way to replicate his success strategy even when he’s not forced to do so by circumstances. The key to creating a sustaining work relationship with a Freelancer is to show the person why a successful project is always important. Providing constant feedback will encourage him to duplicate or work properly on a project. However, if you are always telling him to stop working on a project the way he likes, his instinctive reaction is either to defend what he is doing and continue as before or to focus so hard on not doing it that his behavior may appear uncomfortable or contrived. It’s essential to find ways to encourage and reinforce positive change.

• Judiciously negotiate projects’ goals with him
• Regularly give him the feedback he needs to self-correct and keep going
• When he succeeds, celebrate with him from time to time.

Dealing with a Freelancer is not an easy task. In order to motivate him, you have to think about intrinsic motivators. What it is that makes him go the extra miles? These are motivators that reflect people’s internal beliefs and values about their place in the world and how the world works. A Freelancer, who believes in hard work, bringing innovation and creativity to a project, will do his best when offered an opportunity.

However, a Freelancer who is only interested in money, perks, will avoid challenges and find excuses, when a project is not fully completed.

Many businesses have realised that some of the best freelancers they work with are attracted to altruistic opportunities as well as intellectual challenges and money.

Once you have outsourced more than two projects to a Freelancer, start paying attention to motivators. What are they interested in, ask them questions and make sure to use both intrinsic and extrinsic motivators, and use them judiciously. You can then motivate a Freelancer in the way that suits him best.

Image : http://www.flickr.com

Whether you want to hear it or not, you will! It’s true that your Mom, Grandma or neighbor may have valuable tips you can put into practice with great results. For example, Mom may have the best diaper rash cure in the world. Grandma may have the foolproof remedy for colic. Your neighbor, having raised four young children, has experience you can use. At the same time, you’ll hear all sorts of advice on parenting that is, well, just not applicable. Such information includes ’spare the rod and spoil the child’ dissertations, as well as potty training advice and which foods are best for your child. New parents are easily bewildered, feeling insecure by virtue of having no experience.

Sifting through the overwhelming list of family members advice on parenting, and neighbor’s opinions on the subject, can be a daunting and thoroughly discouraging challenge. Everyone seems to know more than you, but it’s your baby, after all.

The first premise of good parenting is to approach the subject with the natural love in your heart and take everything you’re told with a grain of salt. It’s so easy, when you’re the one with sleepless nights and a dab of insecurity, reinforced by your lack of experience, to try to do everything anyone suggests, in hopes of being a good parent.

It’s essential that you let your heart and your own lights guide you, while keeping an open mind to all of the advice on parenting you will undoubtedly receive. Keep in mind that everyone means well. Try that diaper rash remedy. It may be a jewel of baby care advice. If someone suggests your feeding your baby too much, or too little, graciously thank that person for their advice. Then, consult your pediatrician, and your Mom, and form your own conclusions.

No one will love your child more than you do. How you care for your child is ultimately, your responsibility. Take all of the advice on parenting into consideration, weighing the pros and cons as it pertains to caring for your baby. If nosy Aunt Betty thinks you should be putting your baby to bed at 6pm, but you find that your baby frets and cries until 7pm, go with your own experience as to what the best course of action may be. This is your baby we’re talking about!

Self-help books can provide you with some great advice on parenting. Maybe that book on children’s nutrition will help you stave off Grandma’s insistent remarks on the virtues of candy!

Listen to everyone, but let your heart guide you too. Believe me, you’ll be a wonderful parent if all you apply is the love in your heart and that important grain of salt.

Persze, lehet, hogy csak én vagyok lemaradva…
Innen tudjátok letölteni.
Új számok: Humanoid, Attention, Down On You, In Your Shadow (I Can Shine), Alien angol verzió és Phantomrider teljes verzió.

Na, most akkor csak én nem tudtam arról, hogy ezek a számok is léteznek [jó, leszámítva az Alient és a Phantomridert - meg a Humanoid fél percét]?
Melyik a kedvenc számotok egyébként az új CD-ről? Angolul vagy inkább németül hallgatjátok?

Meg aztán lehet véleményezni az eddig [legalábbis számomra] ismeretlen számokat

What’s in a name? A whole bunch.

When Mom and Dad (or Mom and Mom!) come up with that perfect monicker, they’re doing a lot more than simply honoring a favorite family member, friend or vacation locale. (Paris, anyone?). No, I maintain they’re setting cosmic events into motion and  influencing history. And quite possibly dooming him or her to a childhood full of torment and teasing. And maybe beyond childhood, too.

For instance, what if American icon John Wayne would have instead grown up with the name:

Marion Morrison.

(What? Really? Oh. Bad example)

This is the next in a series of suggested names for Michelle’s temporary body tenant, with possible life experiences and scenarios:

Name: Bobby Jo Precious

Sex: F

Childhood Highlights: Fitted for her first tiara, age 6 months. Only child in neighborhood with a rhinestone studded baby blanket.

Learned to walk on catwalk constructed in family garage, age 13 months. Learned to walk in heels on catwalk, age 15 months.

Lost first baby teeth, age 5. First use of teeth whitener, age 5 years, 1 month. Mom cautioned by doctor to limit child to only one spray tan per week.

Entered 1st beauty pageant, age 3. Completed 100th beauty paegant, age 5. Number of pageants won — 3, all in Arkansas.

What she wants to be when she grows up — age 10: Miss  America / orthodontist.

What she wants to be when she grows up — age 23: Princess

Favorite Sport Growing Up: Anything she could wear her cheerleading costume to.

Favorite Song: It’s all about me, by Chelsea Staub

Possible Cruel Nicknames She’ll Endure In School — Barbie. Prom Queen. Diva. Little Miss Perfect. Dumb Blonde. Dumber Blonde. Dumber than a sack of doornobs Blonde. 

Exerpt from High School Yearbook: OMG, do you remember the time we thought we were using hair spray and it turned out to be cooking spray. It did wonders for my highlights! Too bad you didn’t make Homecoming Queen. I know you were really depressed about it but I’m sure you’ll bounce back real soon. Maybe next year? Hey, did you get that job at Hooters? We’ll meet some really classy guys there. Love ya, TTYL.  Britney. <33

Over/under on number of hair pulling fights before 7th grade: 7.5.

Favorite Birthday or Xmas Gift, Teen Years – Modeling Lessons, from Bob’s Mail  Order School of Runway Success, headquartered in that media center, Omaha, Nebraska.

Favorite TV Show Growing Up: Miss America Paegents, Project Runway, My Super Sweet 16. Bought all the DVDs of Toddlers In Tiaras, including all the episodes she appeared in.

Academic Career: Showed up for school most of the time. First runner-up Prom Queen, Winter Dance Queen, Homecoming Queen, Head Cheerleader Tryouts.

Eventual Occupation: Assistant Manager, Hooters, Bentonville, Arkansas.

(Thanks to mydaughter Sara for her invaluable assistance on this post)

Image : http://www.flickr.com

Public space is a fabulous tool for solo professionals to their companies on marketing. But I have to do it wrong so many times. This is a shame, because if you present your speech with the right time-tested techniques and strategies, you'll see amazing results every time.

The first words you speak are some of the most important words of your entire presentation. Real estate professionals use the term "Location Location Location" to talk about what is important with respect to the purchaseand selling a home. Speaking in public, you can use the same concept with the most popular and absolutely worst way to begin your presentation. Ready for it? Here it is:

Is Hello, my name … "

Bleck.

Boring.

Yawn.

Do people need to know who you are? Sure they do. What they need to hear it as the first words out of his mouth? Only if you want to bore them to tears during your ever important first impression. Think about your question regarding the real estate andConsider your first words, as a "focal point" is well known that some of the prime real estate of your speech. Just as you are not a hut built on the same street with multi-million dollar luxury homes, you do not want to be one of the most important parts of your speech with a less-than-clutter powerful sentence like "Hello, my name is . Why is it bad? Read on.

First, you've probably already introduced. Hardly a speaker gets up to speak at a public event and begins to give his / herSpeech without someone to introduce this person. What does this mean? It means the audience already knows your name. They were probably drawn to the event, and also saw your name in pre-event advertising, or on the program when you arrived. Do not re-state the obvious as an eye catcher.

Subsequently, the first words out of his mouth will need to compel your audience to sit up note, and be involved with your speech from the beginning. They want their reaction to his "Ohhhhh … this is gonna beinteresting! "And while your name is undoubtedly a beautiful name, it is not enough to hear an audience be forced to what you have to say next.

Finally, as a solo-professional a speech to market your business, your speech, you should never be about you. Your audience will be tuned in radio station WIIFM: What's In It For Me Make it clear from the outset that your speech is all that is in it for them. You will not only listen, they will be taking notes!

So if yourEye-catcher is a prime real estate and "Hello, my name is …" does not deserve the best location, it will be everywhere? Yes. Your name has a home later in the introduction to your speech. Tell your audience who you are, once you have attracted their attention. Use the real estate that comes to your eye-catching as the time to start building your credibility. Tell your audience information that enable them to know, that you are qualified to help them with their needs.

If you have the correctTechniques and provide the information in the correct order, you can all the benefits of professional marketing of your solo or small business with the public space.

See Also : DIY home addictions-tutorials.blogspot.com/ attractionnetwork.wordpress.com

It was an image that the terrorists had meticulously calculated to grab the world’s attention: the Taj’s dome on fire smouldering against an unforgiving sky. The hotel’s century-old heritage wing destroyed.

Taj Hotel

But with Mumbai, the Taj has recovered. The charred dome has been restored.  Signature restaurants (Wasabi, Golden Dragon) and the Harbour Bar, splattered with blood during the attacks, are back in business.

Many who work here say the renovation stands for the same defiant spirit with which Sir Jamshedji Tata initially set up the Taj in 1903 in retaliation against policies that forbade non-whites from luxury hotels.

Read More…

Clearly, strategic planning is no panacea. Strategic planning is simply a set of concepts, procedures, and tools designed to help leaders, managers, and planners think and act strategically. Used in wise and skillful ways by a “coalition of the willing,” strategic planning can help organizations focus on producing effective decisions and actions that further the organization’s mission, meet in mandates, and satisfy key stakeholders. But strategic planning is not a substitute for strategic thinking and acting. Only caring and committed people can do that. And when used thoughtlessly, strategic planning can actually drive out precisely the kind of strategic thought and action it is supposed to promote.

Furthermore, strategic planning is not a substitute for leadership. There is simply no substitute for leadership when it comes to using strategic planning to enhance organizational performance. At least some key decision makers and process champions must be committed to the strategic planning process, or any attempts to use it are bound to fail.

In addition, strategic planning is not synonymous with creating an organizational strategy. Organizational strategies have numerous sources, both planned and unplanned. Strategic planning is likely to result in statement of organizational intentions, but what is realized in practice will be some combination of what is intended and what emerges along the way. Strategic planning can help organizations develop and implement effective strategies, but they should also remain open to unforeseen opportunities. Too much attention to strategic planning and excessive reverence for strategic plans can build organizations to other unplanned and unexpected—yet incredibly useful—sources of information, insight, and action.

The discipline necessary for strategic planning can be of two sorts. The first harkens back to Latin root of the word “discipline,” emphasizing instruction, training, education, and learning. The second embodies later interpretations of the word, emphasizing order, control, and punishment. Emphasis should be placed on education and learning, although there clearly are occasions when imposing order, taking control, and enforcing appropriate sanctions are appropriate. Certainly, key leaders, managers, and planners can best use strategic planning as an educational and learning tool, to help them figure out what is really important and what should be done about it. Sometimes this means following a particular sequence of steps and preparing formal strategic plans, but not necessarily. The ultimate goal of strategic planning should not be a rigid adherence to a particular process or an instance on the production of plans. Instead, strategic planning should promote wise strategic thought and action on behalf of an organization and its key stakeholders. What steps to follow, in what sequence, and whether or not to prepare formal plans are subsidiary concerns.

My Consultancy–Asif J. Mir - Management Consultant–transforms organizations where people have the freedom to be creative, a place that brings out the best in everybody–an open, fair place where people have a sense that what they do matters. For details please visit www.asifjmir.com, and my Lectures.

We have been anxiously awaiting for the server issues to be corrected at our mother site KnowTheLies.com.  So far the problem continues as of Friday November 13th… KnowTheLies is fully operational… the problem is this… we are not able to add new articles or updates.

Our persistance prevails… we intend to bring you information exposing the lies and criminal activity anywhere we find it because you have the right to know and decide for yourself. 

Until the server issues for www.KnowTheLies.com  is resolved we will use this site to keep you updated with important daily events here at home and around the world.

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For this thought must work harder than muscle.

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You study limit, you don’t break it.

If you race against yourself, you will eventually break. If your last best is the limit to be broken, breaking your very best will break you.

By far, my favorite thing about the National Youth Workers Convention in Atlanta was Perry Noble’s message to youth workers. Perry spoke on Saturday morning and left most people in the room feeling encouraged, energized, and pumped up for youth ministry. Perry Noble is a 6’ 6” 230 lb. Senior Pastor from New Spring Church in South Carolina. He started off by making a joke about his southern drawl. He said that in heaven, everyone will have a southern drawl, if you don’t believe that, you may not be going to heaven!

Perry’s message was based out of Acts 20:7-12. I’ve spoken to a few different youth workers at the convention and have heard mixed reviews/feelings about this message. The reviews/feelings ranged from “he nailed it,” to “he took the passage and made it apply to his topic!” When someone takes a passage and make sit say what they want it to say, it is known as “eisegesis.” Eisegesis is when you put your own ideas into the text to make it mean whatever you want it to.

For the record, I do not know where I stand on this matter! I loved what Perry had to say but I am not a Bible scholar so I don’t know if it was eisegesis or not.

Anyway, regardless of how you interpret the passage and the message he gave us, it’s time to move on. Perry went on to tell us that he believes there is a breakdown in communication with youth pastors and the church in general. He and many others believe that youth pastors are viewed as glorified babysitters in that we are supposed to watch the kids, teach them a few things, and when they are old enough to attend big people church and tithe; then they matter to the church. This is not the case and it should never be viewed as such. Perry was not saying that this is the case in all churches, but it is definitely something that he has seen happen occasionally. But regardless of whether your church falls into either of these categories, an alarming statistic is that around 80% of students are walking out the door when they turn 18, and many of them are never going to come back!

Youth ministry is a hard and vital job. Most people will disagree with that, but that is because they have no idea what it means to be a youth pastor. They think we get paid to hang out and play video games all day, but that is 100% inaccurate. There are days when we go home from youth ministry and it isn’t “Thank you Jesus!” it’s “Help me Jesus!” Rest assured…there is hope! Perry said that we, as youth workers, are game changers. We work in the ripest harvest in the world and if we can get our minds (senior pastors, youth pastors, volunteers) around several of these soon to be mentioned concepts, we could see a revolution in youth ministry and the local church. When youth ministry catches on fire through the local church, nothing can stop it!!!!

Perry and many of the other speakers who were senior pastors were very much in support of youth workers. Perry has four prayers that he is praying for youth ministry. Those prayers are: For Attention, For Submission, For a Biblical Foundation, and For Stewardship.

For Attention:

In the Bible passage that Perry spoke from (Acts 20:7-12), Paul was speaking to a group of people late into the night (because he intended to leave the next day) and basically had a long message planned for them. There was a young man (a youth) sitting in a window seal in the back of the room who fell into a deep sleep as Paul was preaching. Eutychus fell to the ground from the third story and died. Yikes! Perry said that in this story, Eutychus fell out of the window because no one was paying attention to the youth ministry of that church. When a church refuses to pay attention to the youth ministry, kids fall out of the window and die (a.k.a. – leave the church and never look back) each and every day.

Youth ministry is important, not just for the teenagers but for also for the church as a whole. The youth aren’t the church of tomorrow, THEY MATTER TODAY! Perry said “The kids that we are called to ministry to matter today and the church better wake up and smell the Starbucks because if not, the kids will fall out of the back window and die.” Perry’s philosophy is that you can tell if a church is paying attention to the youth by looking at how much money they spend on them. He says that you can never spend too much on your youth and children. I understand the premise of what he was saying, but I don’t know if it applies to every circumstance. Some churches simply can’t afford to put a lot of money in the youth fund, and they could be the church that supports their youth way more than the church with the large youth fund. Money shouldn’t matter and shouldn’t be a deciding factor on whether or not a church is paying attention to their youth (my thoughts).

Perry does something cool in his church. I don’t think it would work at every church, but it is something to hope for I guess. Perry believes that a youth group should never be asked to do a fundraiser for anything. He doesn’t allow the youth group at his church to do fundraising because he believes that the church and the older people should support them to show that they care.

If we want attention in our youth ministries, we need to start reaching kids for Jesus and seeing lives change! If the adults come into the sanctuary and have no place to sit because of the youth, the older people will pay attention and take them seriously. The last thing that Perry said about this first prayer for youth is that we need to not bang the budget drum, but we need to bang the kids need Jesus drum and change their lives!

For Submission:

The way a youth group gets noticed in the church is when they are completely submitted and sold out to Jesus! Perry says that we need less strategy and more spirit in our youth ministries, and I couldn’t agree more! Not only do we need submitted and sold out youth, but we need leaders who are as well. When God asks us to do something unbelievable, we need to say “Yes Lord!” In the Bible passage, Paul was so submitted to Jesus that he was willing to declare the impossible (that Eutychus was alive). We need to have complete submission.

In order to be completely submitted to God, according to Perry, “you have to be you!” We shouldn’t have the desire to be someone else or do ministry as they do it because you think they’re better than you. When you do this, it is known as ministry envy. You can read a post of mine about ministry envy by clicking here. Perry says that the problem with churches today is that there is too much imitation and no more revelation. He also said that youth pastors have a disease that he invented called “destination disease.” Destination disease is when people in ministry want to be over there (at the other church/ministry) because they think it’ll be better there. This is not true though because you take you with you and it will be exactly the same. You are you!

When we get to the point where we get it all figured out in our ministry, God will say “you don’t need me? Fine…go ahead!” We need to be in complete submission to God. When we do this, it is unbelievable. Leadership is as easy as listening to God and doing what He says! Perry’s prayer is to have a generation of youth pastors and workers completely sold out for Jesus. We are the ones who set the pace for what youth ministry will look like in 10-20 years!

For a Biblical Foundation:

After Paul (with God’s help) brought Eutychus back to life, they went upstairs again and broke bread. Paul got carried away preaching, the youth died, Paul declared something supernatural and brings the kid to life, and then comes back up to keep the focus on Jesus. Paul never stopped focusing on Jesus or teaching about him. This is an example to us. We need to never quite proclaiming who Jesus is to students. They need to know who He is and it is our job to tell them. Some people think that if we focus on only Jesus, then we won’t be relevant. Perry says that we won’t be irrelevant, we will be impotent! We’ve watered our youth ministries down with these next three things and the kids don’t even know who Jesus is when they graduate from or leave our youth groups. 1. Morality – we teach our kids to be good…problem is, if we teach our kids not to watch rated R movies or listen to “bad” music, they can become morally superior to everyone and no one likes them…we can’t teach them to be moral without Jesus. 2. Compromise – Everyone gets caught up in this game. We think that if a lot of kids come to our group and we do all kinds of fun things, we have a great ministry. But in reality, we are compromising who Jesus is to have a great crowd show up. Sometimes, youth ministries let kids show up and say it’s ok to do what you are doing and not repent. When they do this, they are leaving Jesus out of the picture…allowing compromise to creep into that ministry. 3. Personal Agendas – Don’t ever let your personal agenda trump the Gospel! We make our own personal agendas the agenda of the youth group. If we put anything in front of the cross, it becomes an idol in our ministry. Let’s worship God in splendor and majesty rather than trying to boil him down to fit into our social agendas.

For stewardship:

Perry’s prayer is that our prayer would be that we look at God and say “give me the ball…I’ll be hurt and play hurt, but I’ll do whatever it takes to push the ball down the field…I want the ball!” Perry said that in Acts 20:12, the youth ministry got brought back up and the church embraced stewardship…they said they want the ball.

We can do it, no matter how small our budget is. But if our attitude is that we want the ball, money doesn’t matter. It doesn’t happen because of lights, sound systems, looks, but because there is a sold out man and team saying give us the ball…and they are sold out for Jesus. Perry says that the senior pastor needs to make sure the youth ministry has everything they need and the youth pastor needs to sit down with his senior pastor and find out what his vision is…and then line up with that.

God’s plan is that youth ministry will thrive in the context of the local church to make a difference. When the church gets that right, it is on fire and is an unstoppable force!

Perry closed with the following comments:

“It’s always hard when we do what Jesus calls us to do. When we think it’s hard, may we think of Jesus hanging on the cross and bleeding! If no one else tells you this, I (Perry Noble) believe that you are the difference makers. Out of your ministries will be the next Billy Graham and other amazing church leaders! We will not fall…we want the ball!”

-          paulg