Sebutir Pasir

Aku adalah sebutir pasir yang menetap di sebuah pantai yang sepi tak berpenghuni, tiada satu pun orang yang datang untuk bermain, memancing di tepian laut atau bersenda gurau dengan ombak yang bergulung–gulung tanpa henti dan belas kasih menerpa, menyeret teman teman serta sanak familiku yang sedang bermain di tepiannya, yang kemudian dihempaskannya mereka ke dasar biru.

Tenggelam. Tak mudah kembali ketepian untuk melaksanakan kewajiban, tugas tugas apalagi untuk mengambil hak hak mereka yang telah hilang bersama mereka. Terseret. Masuk kedalam dunia penuh keindahan dalam kerajaan laut yang abadi sampai lautan itu berubah menjadi api.

Kalian semua dapat mencari aku dengan mudah karena aku adalah sebutir pasir yang berwarna abu abu yang ada diantara pasir putih yang menghampar luas di pinggiran laut yang biru. Tetapi kadang kau bisa jumpai aku di antara pasir hitam.

Sibakkanlah pasir itu maka kau akan menemukanku sedang bercumbu mesra diantara kerang kerang yang terbenam dalam gundukan pasir hitam. Kelam. Seakan melukiskan warna dalam jiwaku, walaupun aku hanya sebutir pasir.

Gemerisik tubuh kami yang saling bersinggungan karena s
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Kok, Takut Berbuat Salah?

Tanggapilah dengan pandai bahkan terhadap perlakuan tidak pandai sekalipun. - Lao Tsu -

Dalam sebuah wawancara, seorang reporter menanyakan rahasia dibalik sukses seorang direktur utama bank.

“Dua kata”, jawabnya. “Apa saja?”, kejar sang reporter. “Keputusan jitu.” “Bagaimana membuat keputusan yang jitu?” “Satu kata.” “Apa itu?” “Pengalaman.” “Bagaimana Anda menimba pengalaman?” “Lima kata.” “Apa saja?” “Dengan membuat keputusan yang salah.”

Sering kali kita menghindari kesalahan atau kegagalan. Kita tidak ingin terlihat bodoh, malu, atau dipecundangi oleh orang lain. Dalam setiap penampilan kita, ketika bergaul dengan orang lain, kita selalu ingin terlihat sempurna. Bahkan, terdapat sebuah pemikiran yang berkembang, bahwa kalau kita berbuat kesalahan, maka kita tidak saja membuat malu diri kita, tapi juga orang tua kita. Kenapa? Karena orang tua kita telah salah mendidik kita. Begitulah yang sering dipikirkan oleh kebanyakan orang.

Agar kita tidak membuat malu orang tua, maka kita harus tampil sempurna. Yang lebih parah lagi, orang t
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Jatuh 7 Kali

“Kriing… kriingg!!”
Duh… suara apa sih itu? Mengganggu saja! Tidak tau apa kalau aku sedang tidur?!
“Krriinngg… krriinngg… kkrriinnggg!!!”
Suara itu semakin lama semakin kencang. Akhirnya aku coba membuka mata. Ternyata asal suara itu dari jam bekerku. Pantas saja berbunyi. Jam sudah menunjukkan pukul 5 pagi. Sudah saatnya aku siap-siap berangkat sekolah!
Dengan semangat 45, aku pun bersiap-siap turun dari tempat tidurku. Tiba-tiba terdengar suara teriakan dari luar kamar dan membuatku kaget.
“Kak Nina, cepet bangun! Sudah jam 5 pagi nih!” teriaknya.
Ternyata suara teriakan yang menganggu itu, adalah suara adikku si Mona. Anak itu sering sekali berteriak menyuruhku bangun. Sebenarnya, aku tidak suka dibangunkan dengan cara seperti itu. Lagipula tidak perlu di beri tau pun, aku juga sudah tau kalau ini sudah pagi! Menyebalkan sekali! Membuat suasana pagi yang tenang ini menjadi panas aja!
Dengan kesal, aku pun kembali berteriak menjawab teriakkannya tadi.
“Iya, udah tau! Enggak perlu teriak, juga bisa kalee!” teriakku dari dalam kamar.
Tiba-tiba ketika aku bangun dari tempat tidur, mendadak tangan dan kakiku kram. Apalagi dengan posisi tidurku yang salah yaitu badanku berada di ujung tempat tidur dan menghadap ke lantai. Mem
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Bantal

Oh, betapa nikmatnya,.bahwa aku masih memiliki sebuah bantal yang bisa membantu serta menemaniku untuk menciptakan mimpi di malam hari! Setiap malam tiba, aku mengebas bantalku, menempatkannya dalam posisi yang enak buat menyanggah kepalaku untuk beristirahat, untuk berziarah menjelajahi segala kemungkinan di dunia mimpi.

Di siang hari, mungkin aku harus berhadapan dengan sejuta kekecewaan, sejuta kegagalan. Mungkin aku harus berhadapan dengan pengalaman yang membuatku seakan tak mampu berdiri dan bergerak maju. Mungkin aku harus berhadapan dengan orang yang memandangku dengan sorotan mata dingin.

Mungkin karena salah paham, saya harus menerima penilaian yang tidak adil menurut pertimbanganku. Mungkin sepanjang hari aku diselimuti oleh sejuta kesibukan yang aku sendiri tak tahu mengapa dan untuk apa aku begitu sibuk, hingga seluruh badanku penat menanti liang lahat. Mungkin aku ditinggal sendiri ketika sebuah beban berat datang menindih. Namun, .. Puji Tuhan!!! Sekurang-kurangnya aku masih memiliki sebuah bantal untuk dipeluk.

Bantalku.... Ia menyimpan semua rahasia mimpiku untuk dunia masa datang. Ia secara tabah dan setia mendampingiku saat kemelut bathin datang mencekam. Ia rela menampung semua butir air mataku yang pernah bergulir jatuh. Ia seakan tangan Veronika yang penuh kasih, mengeringkan air mata yang masih tersisa di
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Apa yang Kau Cari?

Oleh: Herry Prasetyo

Hari-hari terakhir ini, kita disibukkan dengan perhatian terhadap teror. Banyak hal diperbincangkan, dianalisis, dikupas habis, semua terkait tentang terorisme. Polisi pun tak kalah sibuknya, berusaha mencari gembong teroris, dengan segenap kemampuan dan keahliannya. Kritik dan barangkali caci maki ditujukan kepada pihak kepolisian, namun sebaliknya, dukungan pun mengalir agar sang pengawal keamanan itu mampu menjalankan tugasnya dengan baik. Dan semoga, proses pencarian terhadap pelaku teror itu kelak membawa hasil.

Saya mengikuti proses pencarian yang dilakukan polisi untuk menemukan “tantangan terhebat” yakni menaklukkan para pembawa teror. Bahkan, emosi saya ikut larut ke dalam proses pencarian itu, dan sangat berharap ada keberhasilan dalam proses tersebut. Dan akhirnya, saya terhenti sejenak, mencoba pula memberi makna dengan gemas terhadap kata “proses pencarian”, untuk diri saya sendiri. Ini karena saya pun setiap hari bergelut dengan proses pencarian, hingga sampai pada pertanyaan terhebat dan mendobrak perenungan terdalam, “Apa yang kau cari?”

Sangat sederhana pertanyaan tersebut. Sangat mudah ditujukan kepada siapa pun. Kepada para karyawan, misal
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Michael Jordan, Sang Legenda Basket

Dunia olahraga mengenal beberapa nama sebagai legendanya masing-masing. Tinju ada Mohammad Ali. Sepakbola ada Pele dan Maradona. Golf ada nama Tiger Woods. Balap F1 ada Michael Schumacher. Dan, di bola basket, ada satu nama yang dianggap paling berpengaruh hingga sekarang, Michael Jordan.

Untuk satu nama terakhir, meski sudah pensiun dari olahraga yang membesarkan namanya, namun dirinya seolah tak tergantikan. Beberapa nama yang dianggap sebagai the next Jordan-di arena basketball Amerika, NBA-tetap tak bisa menggantikan ketenarannya. Nomor kaosnya-23-hingga kini juga digantung di langit-langit hall of fame sebagai bentuk penghargaan atas prestasinya.

Michael Jordan memang sosok yang sangat komplit. Di dalam lapangan, kemampuannya tak diragukan lagi. Berbagai atraksi menarik disuguhkan saat bertanding. Ia bahkan disebut-sebut bukan lagi sebagai seorang atlet, melainkan sudah menjadi aktor film yang mengundang decak kagum penontonnya. Karena itu, tak heran, kala ia pernah memutuskan pensiun dini-pada tahun 1993-jumlah penonton basket di dunia menurun.

Dunia basket seakan kehilangan ruhnya. Tak urung, komentar yang meminta Jordan kembali ke lapangan terus bergema. Dan, hal itu akhirnya diwujudkan oleh Michael dengan bergabung lagi ke t
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Calon Raja

Dahulu kala, ada seorang raja di daerah Timur yang sudah tua. Ia menyadari bahwa sudah dekat saatnya ia mencari pewaris kerajaannya. Ia tidak mewariskan kerajaannya itu kepada salah satu dari bawahannya ataupun anaknya, tetapi ia memutuskan untuk melakukan sesuatu hal yang berbeda.

Ia memanggil seluruh anak muda di seluruh kerajaannya. Ia berkata, "Sudah saatnya bagiku untuk mengundurkan diri dan memilih raja yang baru. Aku memutuskan untuk memilih salah satu di antara kalian."

Anak-anak muda itu terkejut! Tetapi raja melanjutkan,"Aku akan memberikan kalian masing-masing satu bibit hari ini. Satu bibit saja. Bibit ini sangat istimewa. Aku ingin kalian pulang, menanamnya, merawatnya dan kembali ke sini lagi tepat 1 tahun dari hari ini dengan membawa hasil dari bibit yang kuberikan hari ini. Kemudian aku akan menilai hasil yang kalian bawa, dan seseorang yang aku pilih akan menjadi raja negeri ini!"

Ada seorang anak muda yang bernama Ling yang berada di sana pada hari itu da
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Hari Terakhir Untuk Salma

Hari ini cukup cerah, hari yang sangat menyenangkan untuk pergi ke sekolah. Namun tidak untuk salma. seorang gadis kecil yang imut dan lucu itu tak bisa bersekolah karena harus menjaga kakeknya yang sakit keras. Sebenarnya ia ingin masuk sekolah tapi ia tidak ingin kakeknya kenapa-napa. Jadi ia urungkan niat sekolahnya.

“salma, kamu tidak sekolah?” tegur sang kakek.
“tidak kek. Salma ingin jaga kakek.” jawab salma sambil mengusap air mata.
“kakek istirahat dulu ya?. Salma mau beli nasi uduk dulu.” Lanjut gadis kecil itu.

Salma pergi ke tempat penjual nasi uduk lalu membelinya dan pulang. Sampai di tengah jalan ada sebuah mobil menabrak tubuh salma. Aaakkkhhh!!!. saat itu juga salma pingsan. Pengemudi mobil itu segera turun dan melihat keadaan salma yang tergeletak di depan mobilnya dengan luka di bagian kepala dan tangan lecet-lecet.
“pa! gimana ini?” Tanya seorang wanita panik.
“sekarang kita bawa ke rumah sakit saja, ma?” tegas sang suami.
̶
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7 Secrets of a Highly-Effective Resume Cover Letter

by: Jimmy Sweeney

Just like the late, great Rodney Dangerfield, the "humble" cover letter gets no respect.

Job-seekers spend so much time and energy on their resumes they've got nothing left to offer their poor, neglected cover letters.

Big, BIG mistake!

It is the well-written cover letter not the resume that can single-handedly land you more job interviews. The cover letter is your one chance to really "market" yourself to an employer using proven marketing strategies rarely found in the typical cover letter.

Conversely, there's only so much you can do with the traditional CV or resume. I believe the carefully crafted cover letter is more important to your job search success than any other written document, including the resume.

As a direct marketing professional for over 20 years, I bring to you my 7 secrets of a highly-effective resume cover letter:

1. ADDRESS your cover letter to a specific person. Do your best to find out "To Whom" you should address your cover letter. "Dear Manager" is lifeless.
2. OPEN with an attention-grabbing first sentence to really grip the reader. This will almost guarantee your cover letter and resume get a closer look.
3. REMEMBER less is more. The best cover letters have plenty of white space. Cover letters that are clear, focused, short and sweet land more job interviews period.
4. FOCUS on what you can do for the employer. How can you benefit the company specifically? Do a little research and relate this simply and clearly in your letter.
5. CHOOSE WORDS that show enthusiasm and passion for the position you seek... (big, big secret!) Then, carry this passion into the interview with you.
6. REQUEST ONE ACTION you want the employer to take: "I would really like the opportunity for a personal interview this week." (You never know until you ASK.)
7. END your cover letter with something enthusiastic and telling like, "I look forward to being interviewed at your earliest convenience. Thank you so much for this opportunity." Sincerely, Jane Jobseeker. (Notice how Jane assumes she'll land the interview? This is clever, smart, and it works like a charm).

Think of your cover letter as a sales letter. The only purpose of your resume cover letter is to land you more job interviews. That's the bottom line. By using the proven marketing strategies I've outlined above you will land more quality job interviews than your competition.

You must find a way to get your "foot in the company door" to have any chance of landing the job. With the right cover letter you can blow the doors of opportunity wide open. And remember, more job interviews translate to (drum roll please)... more job offers.

Finally, the most important advice I can offer you is this: FOLLOW-UP every job lead, contact, and communication. Following up is the "golden key" to getting hired for the job of your dreams. Use follow-up cover letters, thank you letters, even follow-up phone calls. Following-up can literally double your chance for success. It is also the one secret ingredient missing from 99% of every job-seeker's playbook.

Good news for you!

About The Author

Jimmy Sweeney is the president of CareerJimmy and author of the new, "Amazing Cover Letter Creator." Jimmy has written several career-related books and his unique, "think-outside-the-job-search-box" approach, make his articles a job-seeker favorite. Jimmy is regularly published on some of the Internet’s largest career web sites. Who else wants their phone ringing off the hook with more quality job interviews? Visit Jimmy on the web right now at http://www.Amazing-Cover-Letters.com for your 'instant' cover letter today.

5 Ways to Work More Effectively With Your Administrative Assistants

by: Karen Fritscher-Porter

(Stop hiring new administrative support staff. And learn how to retain your existing administrative staff.)

Are you a manager, director or other senior-level personnel who wants to work more effectively with your administrative support professional? Did you know that partnering with your administrative assistants and executive assistants can actually help you to meet your professional goals at work? Would you like to know how to improve morale among your administrative support professionals and retain them as long-term employees? After all, isn't it a lot more profitable to retain existing staff than to constantly hire, train and get along with new staff? Here are five ways to work more effectively with your current administrative support professionals starting now:

1. Assume that your administrative support professional doesn't know what's on your mind until you tell him. That's the one assumption it's okay to make in the office environment. Always remember that your administrative support professional is not a mind reader--no matter how in tune with your thoughts she or he may seem to be sometimes. It's that one time that you "assume" when things will go awry in your work relationship.

2. Discuss your personal and professional goals. In order to be your partner, your administrative support professional needs to know who you want to be when. What do you personally want in your career? And what are you striving for on behalf of the company? These answers will affect your administrative professional's duties. She wants to help you achieve your plans. Knowing these answers helps her to clarify the prioritization of tasks and situations that arise daily. She'll focus on projects relevant to your goals first when possible. And she'll know and pass along pieces of information she happens upon throughout the year that would be useful or of interest to you.

3. Discuss project expectations. When you're giving an assignment, make sure your administrative professional precisely understands the expected project outcome. This means you will need to clarify the outcome in your head first and then clearly relay that expected outcome to your administrative professional. Clearly voicing the precise (or nearly precise) expected project outcome before it happens means no surprises upon project completion and efficient use of your time and that of your administrative professional. Precise communication prevents misinterpretation by both parties which can cause bad relationships and inappropriate work results. If the results aren't what you asked for then maybe in actuality you didn't quite ask for the results you wanted.

4. Have a daily briefing with your administrative support person. Meet daily whether either of you want to do so or not. This meeting forces communication to flow daily between you both, which is a good thing. And comfort levels with each other will rise. It could be a five minute meeting while standing. Or it could be a 10 minute meeting while seated that's officially posted on the calendar to happen every day that you're in the office at 9:00 a.m. Do what works best for you both. And make sure you're uninterrupted during this time.

5. Support opportunities for your administrative professional to achieve certifications. For example, your administrative professional can become a Certified Administrative Professional (CAP) and a Certified Professional Secretary (CPS), both elite designations by administrative professional criteria. Encourage her or him to train and test for these titles as well as have your company pay the registration costs.

About the Author

Karen Fritscher-Porter is the author of the eBooklet: 87 Ways You Can Work More Effectively With Your Administrative Support Professional. Order your copy at http://www.admin-ezine.com/employertips.htm . Fritscher-Porter publishes The Effective Admin newsletter (www.admin-ezine.com). The monthly e-zine is distributed to 800+ administrative assistants and executive assistants globally to help them excel on the job and in their careers.

So You Want To Be A Consultant?

by: Matt Bacak

Let's say you have more than 20 years experience in your chosen field. For the sake of this article, let's say you have been in the nonprofit field for 25 years and are at the very top of your game. And let's say you're a bit bored with the hum-drum day-to-day routine of being an executive director. You love nonprofit sector, but you need more of a challenge and you yearn to help people grow and achieve success in their nonprofit careers. Plus, you'd like to earn a little bit more money and are a bit tired of the board of directors overseeing everything you do.

Perhaps it's time to go into business for yourself. Perhaps it's time to become a consultant, a coach, a speaker and trainer. The thought is exciting, albeit a little frightening. You're current salary is certainly respectable for a person with your skills and experience, and the health insurance and retirement plan are comforting benefits that you don't want to relinquish. But none of these factors have been able to sufficiently scratch that darned itch that keeps telling you it's time to start your own nonprofit consulting business.

Going into business for yourself as a consultant, coach, or speaker (or all of the above) requires determination, a little self-sacrifice (in the beginning), and a lot of experience. People hire consultants because they need the expertise of someone who has been there and done that…hundreds of times. There are consultants in literally every career field, and once they become accustomed to the process of generating clientele, they can make over double what they were earning as employees. In fact, recent statistics show that successful and established consultants can make anywhere from $1,200 to $5,000 per day.

There is power and prestige in consulting that can rarely be found in management positions, even executive positions. The power comes from calling the shots as a business owner and making sure people know they need you; the prestige comes from being the very best in your field…and making sure people know it.

But there's a not so subtle difference in owning your own business and owning your own consulting firm. Lots of people own businesses. My fiancé owns a deli, my father owns a small publishing business, and my mother owns a bakery. But owning your own consulting firm lets people know that you're the crème de la crème in your field - and if they want to rise to the top like you have, they'll hire you to help them.

Consulting firms, like the one you will soon own, can be anything from a one man show to a large agency boasting senior and junior associates. Most consultants make their day to day income from coaching and mentoring individuals in the field - charging anywhere from $300 (for junior level staffers) to $500 (for senior executives) per hour. They also assist clients with organizational development, strategic and financial planning, and a host of other services including workshop facilitation and board and staff retreats. And if they like to speak in front of audiences, many consultants make thousands of dollars simply talking to a crowd for a few hours about their experiences and knowledge.

While it's not as easy as 1-2-3 to quite your job and start making $5,000 a day as a consultant, it's certainly not as difficult as it looks - especially if you're very very good at what you do and have expertise that few can match. Start off as a moonlighter, which is the term used when someone has a “day job” but works on their own business in the evenings. Make a simple business card for yourself and during your lunch hour at work, go to chamber of commerce or rotary meetings where you can network and talk to people about your new consulting practice.

It's not too difficult to pick up a small client or two this way, and once you do a good job for them and build confidence in yourself you'll begin to branch out and up. People will hear about you, your phone will start ringing, those simple business cards you handed out at the rotary meetings will change hands and generate bigger clients, and you'll begin to realize that maybe you really can quit that hum-drum job and make it big on your very own.

About the Author: Matt Bacak became "#1 Best Selling Author" in just a few short hours. Recent Entrepreneur Magazine’s e-Biz radio show host is turning Authors, Speakers, and Experts into Overnight Success Stories. Discover The Secrets http://promotingtips.com

Source: www.isnare.com

10 Tips for a Successful Job Search

by: Cathy Severson, MS

Create a support system for yourself emotionally and for your job search. Identify allies that you can count on. Know some will have strengths in one area, but weaknesses in another. Recognize different people will play different roles in your job search.

Maintain a positive attitude. Inevitably, negative feelings can sabotage your job search. If you have anger about your former employer, work through it. Negative emotions will undermine your best efforts. Keep yourself renewed and enthusiastic throughout the process.

Network. The number one way of getting a job is through networking. Even if you are involved in the computer industry, less than 10% of jobs are obtained through the Internet. Devote energy to making real, valuable connections with people.

Develop a schedule and goals. Getting a job is of course the ultimate goal, but it is impossible to predict when you will achieve it. Develop daily and weekly schedules of job search activities you can control. For example, send out 10 resumes, research 5 companies and call 10 people in your network. This will keep you on track, and focused.

Know what you want. People need to work for money and benefits. But remember other components are necessary for you to feel satisfied in the workplace. Know what motivates and satisfies you. Know which environment you're most productive in. Know what you can compromise on and what you won't.

Always have a "Plan B". The best time to accelerate your job search is when you've just had the greatest interview of your life. You're feeling confident, enthusiastic and competent. This is the time to expand your networking, follow-up on contacts and schedule new interviews. Remember, even the most promising prospect can backfire.

Take care of yourself physically, emotionally and spiritually. Exercise and eating right can't go wrong-they are proven to enhance quality of life. Celebrate your creativity and find ways to engage your mind, body and spirit.

Research companies before the interview. Find out about the company through your local library and Internet. Request an annual financial report and promotional information from the company. Ninety percent of the other job seekers don't do their homework, be the one that stands out.

Know what you have to offer. Identify your relevant skills and accomplishments. Know the unique contributions you offered former employers. Be able to articulate your strengths on your resume and in the interview.

Think outside the box during your job search. Look for unexpected opportunities; explore untapped skills and interests. Open yourself up to
new possibilities

About the Author

Cathy Severson, MS is a career counselor and a career coach. She helps adults find both success and fulfillment in their work by incorporating a simple three-step strategy. Contact her at cathy@passporttopuprose.com and visit her website at www.passporttopurpose.com

10 Things Managers/Supervisors Should Know When Dealing With

by: Rick Yost & Lorna Reitberger

When dealing with staff, whether it's in a cafe, gas bar, clothing store, etc, it can be frustrating sometimes. But the staff is only as good as the management is! Worth repeating, often a management person forgets this and expects something from the staff that they themselves fail to supply. So below are a few helpful examples to think about if you'd like to retain a content and happy staff.
1. If you have to have a grievance with a particular member of your staff, Don't do it in front of customers. Surprisingly this happens alot.
2. As well, don't do it in front of the other staff. Setting an example you think or maybe creating an atmosphere of discontent would be a better description. Not only have you embarrassed the person but the other staff has now realized they could be next.
3. Set positive examples to your staff. If you're positive, they'll be positive
4. Try to always address your staff by their name. Personalization always creates warmth and a warm person will always try harder.
5. Simple common courtesy like please and thank you go a long ways in the managerial field. We all want to be treated like a human being.
6. Try to always encourage your staff to keep their breaths fresh by mints or even brushing their teeth once in awhile. Simple but how long are you going to stay with that salesperson when their breath is melting your glasses?
7. Always try to encourage safety. If your staff knows you're concerned about them, they'll be happier. A happy person is always nice to be around, your customers and clients will notice this as well!
8. As with the breath, proper dress and appearance should always be encouraged.
9. If you have to deal with a member over something very personal like you're new waiter has a 4 inch nose ring and two tables just walked out over it. Try being compassionate with the staff member. Use firmness but understanding of his/her feelings when doing so.
10. Never ever loose your temper and make your staff feel inadequate. If you feel you're going to loose it, walk away and come back when you're calm or try another managerial staff to deal with it. It's better to wait than to create a situation that once happens cannot be reversed.
Remember a happy staff is a producing staff!

About the Author

Rick Yost is a free lance author both online and off. Being involved as publisher and editor of the local community paper where he resides for over two years has given Rick the knowledge and experience that enables him to put to paper his delicious sense of humour as well as his ability to keep the reader reading. http://www.abetterlover.com. Lorna Reitberger has being in the retail and sales dept. of various businesses in her career.

9 Steps to Public Speaking Success

by: Jake Mayer

It is inevitable that at times during our careers or personal lives; we will be required to provide a presentation or public speech to a group of people. Perhaps the group is a group of peers; perhaps the audience will be senior or top-level management; perhaps the group will be comprised of people who wish to learn something from you. This is an opportunity that can boost or hinder your career path. When the day comes to provide a public presentation, will you know what to do to create and present an effective speech? Will you put the audience to sleep? Or will you be able to hold the attention of most of the audience? While you may wish you had listened more during that speech coachÕs presentation last year, you still have to get ready to hold the interest of an audience for a specific period of time. Professional speech coaches will always stress that preparation is the key to success in public speaking.

Speech CoachÕs Tip 1: Know your audience: Before you begin to prepare your material to present, you need to know what group of people will most likely comprise your target audience. It is important to speak at the level of understanding of that particular audience. If you are speaking about aerospace to grade school children, you would want to be certain you will be speaking at the level they can understand clearly and find interesting. If you are speaking to rocket scientists about aerospace, a completely different and much more technical speech would be required. One way to be certain to put an audience to sleep is to talk over their heads or far below their level of knowledge. All good speaking coaches will agree that targeting your audience and their knowledge level is crucial. You may well know exactly what group you will be speaking to and their level of understanding of the topic. If you do not have this information, seek it out by talking to the person or group who invited your to speak or talking to members of a group likely to be similar to those who will attend your speech.

Speech CoachÕs Tip 2: Know Your Subject: Speech coaches sometimes state that anyone can speak to any group on any subject and hold their interest Ð for a short time. This is true, but only to a point. Hopefully, you were asked to present this speech because you are an expert in the field. However, that may not always be the case. You must know the subject you are speaking on to the level of detail that will prepare you to answer questions from the group. Research, read, search the internet, talk to experts, or whatever is required to gather the information so that you know your topic well. Remember, you will need to be able to offer specific facts or anecdotes if you are to create a lasting impression with your speech, so make sure to take at least mental notes of real-life examples to pepper throughout your speech.

Speech CoachÕs Tip 3: The Rule of Three: People in general can focus on three things and remember them well. Speech coaches recommend that a speaker identify the three major things they wish the audience to remember from the presentation you provide. Identify what three things you want to emphasize to your audience. Speaking coaches also recommend that no more than three examples or ÒproofsÓ of each point be made as sub-points. This will provide a basis for your outline of the speech. You will also want to repeat the three major points three times in your speech: during the introduction, while covering each point, and in the closing statements.

Speech CoachÕs Tip 4: Prepare Your Material: At this point, most speech coaches recommend sitting down and fleshing out the material you will be presenting Ð the body of the speech or the three points you identified as your main points. DonÕt worry about opening or closing the speech at this point, just get your three points defined and formatted so that you can convey excitement and knowledge about your topics.

Speech CoachÕs Tip 5: Compelling Opening Statements: Now that you have bodies for your speech, professional speaking coaches recommend reviewing your material and developing a compelling and interesting opening comments section. You must give the audience a reason to listen. Make them want to know what you have to tell them. Humor can be used Ð provided you are a person who can deliver humor naturally and intelligently to the target audience Ð but it is not necessary. In the opening, you should include the three points you will be covering in the body of the speech.

Speech CoachÕs Tip 6: Closing Statements: You should close the speech with a brief review of the three major points contained in the speech. These should be brief, but, remembering the Rule of Threes, will allow you to reinforce your main points.

Speech CoachÕs Tip 7: Read and Re-Read Your Material: After you have prepared your speech, read the material until you know it well. Speech coaches recommend that you not attempt to memorize word-for-word, but that you know the material so well in your head that you can discuss the subject even if you lost all your notes! By having this material in your brain, you are prepared to delivery the knowledge to other people. I once attended a lecture series with a man who would enter the room, sit on top of his stack of notes, and then recite them word for word for the next three hours. The notes and speech were not even in his native language. You may never be the most dynamic speaker in the world, but you have full control over whether you are perceived as being informed and prepared.

Speech CoachÕs Tip 8: Audience Involvement: Speech coaches often stress that you must involve an audience to hold their attention. Depending on your audience, this can be accomplished in several ways. For a formal audience where you canÕt break the audience into groups or other physical involvement, ask questions of the audience such as ÒWhat would you do if this occurred?Ó Another technique is to ask for a show of hands of how many people have been in similar situations or had the same questions you are answering in your speech. Tell the audience, ÒNow, please write this down because it is crucial knowledge for your success.Ó If the group is small and informal, you may be able to involve the audience by asking groups of several people to write a question or comment to be collected and reviewed at the end of the presentation. Any technique you can think of that will involve the audience and get them to participate will work much better than ending with, ÒAre there any questions?Ó That ending almost never, according to the best speech coaches, results in a response from any attendees.

Speech CoachÕs Tip 9: Present with Confidence: When the time comes to present your speech, take a few minutes to practice deep breathing to calm yourself. Remember that body language is very important and you must be animated while speaking. Talk the speech rather than read it. These people came to hear you, not read your work! Make eye contact with the audience, moving that eye contact from person to person. Move your hands and if room allows, walk about the stage. Smile where appropriate, show facial expressions of concern where appropriate. Animate your body and your face to remain interesting and dynamic. If you make a mistake and have to correct yourself, laugh at yourself. Accept that you are human and this one speech is not the end of the world. Use short, clear sentences spoken in a clear, calm voice. Pause at main points Ð there is no need to rush because you are prepared and KNOW you are prepared.

By following these nine tips, you will be able to develop a speech for any group on any subject on which you have some knowledge. Enjoy the moment and do not allow stage fright to hold you back. During your time on stage presenting your well-prepared material, you will shine in the spotlight!


About the author:

By Jake Mayer Lapis Teahouse http://www.tea-dojo.comMy own background includes an extensive grounding in philosophy and eastern religion (I have a B.A. in comparative religion, and a Master's Degree in Oriental Medicine). I am available for public speaking, and can be reached at jake@tea-dojo.com

7 Secrets of a Highly-Effective Resume Cover Letter

by: Jimmy Sweeney

Just like the late, great Rodney Dangerfield, the "humble" cover letter gets no respect.

Job-seekers spend so much time and energy on their resumes they've got nothing left to offer their poor, neglected cover letters.

Big, BIG mistake!

It is the well-written cover letter not the resume that can single-handedly land you more job interviews. The cover letter is your one chance to really "market" yourself to an employer using proven marketing strategies rarely found in the typical cover letter.

Conversely, there's only so much you can do with the traditional CV or resume. I believe the carefully crafted cover letter is more important to your job search success than any other written document, including the resume.

As a direct marketing professional for over 20 years, I bring to you my 7 secrets of a highly-effective resume cover letter:

1. ADDRESS your cover letter to a specific person. Do your best to find out "To Whom" you should address your cover letter. "Dear Manager" is lifeless.
2. OPEN with an attention-grabbing first sentence to really grip the reader. This will almost guarantee your cover letter and resume get a closer look.
3. REMEMBER less is more. The best cover letters have plenty of white space. Cover letters that are clear, focused, short and sweet land more job interviews period.
4. FOCUS on what you can do for the employer. How can you benefit the company specifically? Do a little research and relate this simply and clearly in your letter.
5. CHOOSE WORDS that show enthusiasm and passion for the position you seek... (big, big secret!) Then, carry this passion into the interview with you.
6. REQUEST ONE ACTION you want the employer to take: "I would really like the opportunity for a personal interview this week." (You never know until you ASK.)
7. END your cover letter with something enthusiastic and telling like, "I look forward to being interviewed at your earliest convenience. Thank you so much for this opportunity." Sincerely, Jane Jobseeker. (Notice how Jane assumes she'll land the interview? This is clever, smart, and it works like a charm).

Think of your cover letter as a sales letter. The only purpose of your resume cover letter is to land you more job interviews. That's the bottom line. By using the proven marketing strategies I've outlined above you will land more quality job interviews than your competition.

You must find a way to get your "foot in the company door" to have any chance of landing the job. With the right cover letter you can blow the doors of opportunity wide open. And remember, more job interviews translate to (drum roll please)... more job offers.

Finally, the most important advice I can offer you is this: FOLLOW-UP every job lead, contact, and communication. Following up is the "golden key" to getting hired for the job of your dreams. Use follow-up cover letters, thank you letters, even follow-up phone calls. Following-up can literally double your chance for success. It is also the one secret ingredient missing from 99% of every job-seeker's playbook.

Good news for you!

About The Author

Jimmy Sweeney is the president of CareerJimmy and author of the new, "Amazing Cover Letter Creator." Jimmy has written several career-related books and his unique, "think-outside-the-job-search-box" approach, make his articles a job-seeker favorite. Jimmy is regularly published on some of the Internet’s largest career web sites. Who else wants their phone ringing off the hook with more quality job interviews? Visit Jimmy on the web right now at http://www.Amazing-Cover-Letters.com for your 'instant' cover letter today.

10 Keys to Rise From Retrenchment and Move on to an Exciting

by: Kim Beardsmore

You may be astonished to realize that retrenchment may occur more than once during the life of the modern day worker. In fact, career advisors report that we could expect to be made redundant up to three times during our working life.

As common as retrenchment is, when it happens, no one likes it. Whatever range of emotions initially emerge - fear, anger, resentment, retaliation, humiliation, disappointment - we should recognise as being quite normal. How we respond and deal with the situation will influence our entire financial future and how quickly we move through these negative emotions.

This article will assist those people who may wonder how to deal with retrenchment. These eight keys will help you move on quickly and re-establish yourself in a productive working environment.

1. Don't take it personally. Redundancy is rarely, if ever, personal. Don't let it affect your self-confidence and morale. In most cases retrenchments occur as a result of changing economic situations, mergers or acquisitions which are typically outside most people's span of control.

2. Retrenchment is not an end, but rather a beginning. Even though we may not expect it, throughout various stages of our lives doors close and others open. When one door closes and it is a shock, we may not immediately see other doors opening.

3. Take advantage of outplacement support. If you company provides outplacement support - make full use of it. If no outplacement support has been provided ask if the company could provide assistance with a registered outplacement firm. Research has shown that job seekers with the assistance of a qualified outplacement consultant have better strike rate in job interviews.

4. Sort out your finances. Discuss with your partner or spouse your financial position and make adjustments where necessary. Few people realize that this transition may be a gift to help you change directions. Poor financial planning may propel you into a less than favourable job and close down opportunities to explore what you really would like to be doing.

5. Be realistic about time. Expect things to take a while. The more senior your previous job, the longer it will take to find something else at the same level. If you change careers to start your own business it will take time for you to achieve the same feelings of effectiveness. Be patient when making a new transition and go easy on yourself by not expecting too much, too soon.

6. Forget the 'labels'. Recruitment consultants are rarely concerned with the fact you were retrenched. They are more interested in how you respond when the chips are down and what you did about and how quickly you took control of your situation. It's not what happens in life that distinguishes us, but rather what we do about it. Very likely the person interviewing you for your next job has been retrenched themselves at some stage!

7. Explore options. Talk to a specialist career advisor or business coach. This may just be the chance to propel you in a new direction. With assistance you may uncover skills and pathways you may not have previously had the time, inclination or confidence to embrace.

8. Get some exercise. There is limited appeal in sitting around the house in your pyjamas until lunchtime. Get up early and get some exercise. The endorphins will keep your mind energetic and creative and assist you through the transition.

9. Volunteer your time to a worthwhile cause that interests you. This will help keep your self esteem high and provide activities that may help you explore new avenues, or maintain your current skills. At the very least it will keep you busy and stop your brain turning into "TV-mush".

10. Feed your spirit. Finding exhilarating testimonies of people who succeed against all odds. If you are not an avid reader, then now is the time to start and ensure you are keeping your mind positively challenged with the heros of our time. It will help keep things in perspective.

About The Author

Kim Beardsmore operates a successful international marketing business. She is a mentor and coach for others wanting to operate their own home business. If you are serious about earning money from home and are willing to work, then we'd like to help you grow a profitable business. We offer complete training, online and offline resources and a partnership for success: http://free2liv.com/?refid=rtnchmnt-567885686

The Irish Driving Scene.An Instructors Perspective.

by: Robin Piggott
The Irish Driving Scene.An Instructors Perspective

The Driving Environment

Today’s motoring environment is very different to that of thirty or even fifteen years ago for a number of key reasons and we will examine these to get an idea of the kind of skills needed to survive in today’s world and stay accident free.
For the first time in over one hundred and fifty years our population has exceeded 4 million and continues to increase steadily.
Demographics
The age of our population is quite unique and according to the 2002 census there are approximately 640,200 people in the 15 – 24 age bracket who are in, or approaching, the age at which they will want to drive. Lets be clear on this point …every person in today’s Ireland will aspire to drive and own a car in this prosperity environment, for career, family and social reasons .In the past until you had the potential to be able to own a car it was quite common not to bother to learn to drive. Those that needed to get to work from a distance tended to rely on neighbours and friends or relatives to be the ever present chauffeur. It’s very common today for an exodus from the city limits out to the open country to live, with huge numbers of houses, sorry mansions; being constructed at seemingly breakneck speed. The draw of the country air and the sweet sounds of birds in the morning seems to be an irresistible magnet for the city dweller. A car or three is taken for granted. Of course , we are a nation of keen gardeners now and the regular trip to the garden centre could not be undertaken by public transport because it doesn’t exist in most rural areas. All of this means that we have a far greater number of cars and drivers on the road than thirty years ago and at different times of day due to many variations in working hours. So there is hardly a time when you are unlikely to meet another vehicle. Six am during the working week can be just as dangerous as five thirty rush hour.
Learner Drivers
Current numbers of learner Drivers are estimated at 350,000 and this continues to be swelled by the increase in our immigrant population, both expatriates and non-nationals setting up home here for the first time. The waiting list for a Driving Test has reached an all time high due mainly to these demographics, but also to the relatively small number of Driving Examiners
. This situation is being addressed at the moment with the probability of an outside agency being drafted in to undertake a further 40,000 Driving Tests over the course of a year .While it is unfortunate that all drivers have to wait such a long time in order to sit their Test it is an opportunity for them to learn some very essential skills and to prepare well for the Test.
It is very common for candidates to leave their lessons to the last moment which very often produces a negative result. Worse still, is the mistaken belief that the longer one is driving the greater chance of passing the Driving Test. Without professional lessons the chances of passing the Test are pretty remote; but more crucial will be the lack of basic skills leading to accidents which can and should be preventable .Passing the Driving Test, while certainly a milestone in a person’s driving career, is only the beginning of a life –long process not the end.
Professional Tuition
Safe Driving for Life can be achieved, with the correct mind set and the knowledge that good basic driving skills are the foundation for the learning process and need to be provided by Professional Instructors and not relatives or friends. Practise with Mum or Dad is very useful but only in conjunction with proper Tuition. Being able to move a car down the road and perhaps change a gear or two and even steer out of trouble is not the level of skill needed to stay alive and is about as far from the required Driving Test standard as we are from the Moon.(about 250,000 miles, sorry 400,000Km at the last count).I am not suggesting that we need to drive a quarter of a million miles

New Technology
The development of technology over the last number of years has had a big impact on the driving environment both positive and negative. Better roads and road markings make the driving experience much more pleasurable especially on major thoroughfares; however despite the millions of Euro spent on the main road infrastructure, Irish country roads will probably remain as they have always been, difficult and full of danger for the novice or Tourist Driver.
Legislation, most of which has emanated from Europe, has contributed to better maintained cars, that are more Eco-friendly and more easy to drive. Having said that, a car will quite easily go off and do its own thing if the driver has not got the ability to control it under all kinds of weather and road conditions.
Cars are much better insulated than years ago so the impression of speed is nothing like what it was thirty or forty years ago when you really knew you were travelling at 70mph.Wind noise and vibration kept you alert and aware! Even small family cars today have the ability to travel at 100mph (or 156kph) without too much coaxing .Back then a much larger capacity engine of say 1500 cc had a top speed of around 75mph (120kph).This ease of speed gives new and novice drivers the opportunity to far exceed their capabilities without realising it .
Employment
In today’s Ireland we have virtually full employment and many sectors are suffering from a lack of skilled employees, the commercial driving sector being one of many. More jobs and the need to get to those jobs on time has created a society that is flush with prosperity and awash with an ever increasing number of new cars on the road. The opportunities now being created for younger people with full Driving Licenses are many. Indeed most occupations now require you to have a full driving license and it certainly looks good on a C.V. especially if you are in the younger age bracket. So get to it all you young ones and don’t leave it till later on in your career…. Do it now!
Accidents
Most of these new cars on the road are being piloted by Learner Drivers, a good proportion of whom, do not take driving lessons professionally.
Unlike most of the rest of our European Neighbours, we do not yet have mandatory tuition for learner drivers, although it is being proposed. Therefore we have a situation whereby learner drivers can buy a car and just head off into the wide blue yonder without the necessary skills to control what is essentially a lethal weapon. Our Accident statistics bear out this point and it would be of great benefit to the whole community to see a reduction in these horrific figures
Recent E.U. Directives have extended the scope of the Driving Test and not before time. There has to be at least a basic knowledge of instruments and equipment before you can pass the Driving Test today but there are still many areas of driving expertise that do not come within the remit of the Irish Driving Test. An emergency stop; country road driving; high speed carriageway experience and a greater emphasis on hazard perception would go a long way to improving standards on today’s roads by being incorporated into the Driving Test.

About the Author

Robin Piggott is the owner of Astral School of Motoring which is based in Limerick, Ireland.He has thirty five years of Driving Experience,and including teaching in–house.

http://www.astralmotoring.ie>
http://astralmotoring.blogspot.com

10 Good Reasons for taking Driving Lessons.A Guide for the I

by: Robin Piggott
In a driving context, most of the decisions that you take and the techniques that you employ, will have both an economic and a safety impact. The decision to take driving lessons is really a simple one but one that will have far reaching consequences well into the future. Most, if not all, poor or dangerous habits in today’s drivers stem from the lack of professional tuition at the outset. In this second in a series of articles designed to assist today’s learner drivers we will have a look at the benefits in taking Professional Tuition.

1.Taking lessons will greatly improve your chances of staying safe and accident free since providing you retain what you have been taught, you will be probably better than many motorists who have been driving for considerably longer. Lack of sufficient training, or even no training at all which is common in Ireland, will inevitably lead to accidents at a very early stage in the driving career. Accidents are to be avoided at all costs. After all isn’t the safety of the driver, the passengers and other road users the paramount priority?

2.A course of lessons at the start of your driving career and not one month from your Driving Test, will give you the confidence you need to continue the learning process, and will form the foundation for safe motoring.

3.Taking a course of lessons will give you the chance to be accepted by an insurance company for your first Insurance policy. In fact most companies will insist on a minimum number of lessons completed by a recognised school, before a son or daughter will be admitted onto a Parent’s policy.

4.On a very topical note, the Irish Insurer Hibernian, in conjunction with the Institute of Advanced Motorists, has extended its successful Ignition scheme to provisional license holders since January 2005.Learner drivers that pass the one hour driving assessment, will be offered a 21% reduction on their insurance. This is a substantial reduction for any new driver, particularly young males under 25 years of age, and well worth achieving. Just being in the possession of a provisional license will not suffice to pass this test. A course of lessons will be needed in order to achieve the required standard and the test should not be booked until quite a high level of both competence and confidence has been reached.

5.Passing the Department of Transport Driving Test, sooner rather than later, will result in further reductions in already high Insurance costs. Lessons taken just before the Driving Test will not cut it in today’s Test environment; there is just too much to learn if one wants to be successful first time out.

6.The long waiting list for the Irish Driving Test is a great inconvenience for many learner Drivers and also their Driving Instructors. The long wait is accentuated by the huge numbers of learners who do not prepare adequately with a professional school and then are forced to re sit their Test sometimes several times over. Career aspirations can easily be affected if the journey to a full License is overly prolonged.

7.Obtaining a full driving license promptly will speed up the reduction in your insurance premiums via your annual no claims bonus, providing of course you are not involved in any accidents.

8.As a fully licensed Driver you will have much greater opportunity to shop around for a competitive insurance quote, since there are only a very few companies who will insure provisional license holders and then only at a huge premium.

9.As an addition to item number 4 as a fully licensed Driver, you may apply for the more advanced Hibernian Ignition course, providing you are in your first five years of driving .This is a full day course, the cost of which can be recouped, if you pass the practical driving assessment at the end of the day. The reduction in insurance premium for the successful candidate can be upwards of 30%, so again very worthwhile .Drivers in this category should take a refresher course with a driving school to ensure that any bad habits or techniques are eradicated. Once again it is worth pointing out that the length of your driving experience is not a guarantee of success unless you started on the right foot to begin with!

10. If, in the early days of your working life you are unlucky enough to find yourself jobless through either, takeovers, cutbacks or closures, a full Driving License will enable you to pick up an interim job very quickly while you regroup and examine your future options. There is a shortage of drivers to fill current vacancies in Europe, particularly in the commercial sector so there are great opportunities for young qualified drivers who have been well trained.


Both career and promotional opportunities abound for the fully licensed driver in any organisation. Faced with two candidates of similar qualifications, an employer will naturally favour the person with the full license pretty much every time.

About the Author

Robin Piggott is a professional Driving Instructor who runs a School in Limerick, Ireland. The many benefits in taking Driving lessons are both obvious and not so obvious.Please check out his web site.


http://www.astralmotoring.ie


http://astralmotoring.blogspot.com

5 Key Factors to Consider When Selecting an Outplacement Firm

by: Ann Hackett
With today's economy, more and more companies are finding themselves
faced with the situation of having to reduce headcount to remain
competitive. Here are five key factors to consider when selecting
an outplacement firm if your company is ever faced with a workforce
reduction.

1. Types of Services Provided.

One decision you will need to make regarding outplacement is whether
your displaced workers would benefit most from group or individual
one-on-one outplacement. For the majority of outplaced employees,
if your budget permits, individual outplacement is the preferred
option since it provides one-on-one support that will help them move
forward more quickly than they would on their own.

If you decide they would benefit most from individual outplacement,
you will then need to determine what services would be most valuable
to your displaced employees. One option would be to select an
outplacement firm that develops their resume and cover letter for them.
Another option would be an outplacement firm that offers office space
and a computer for the displaced worker to prepare their own job
search materials.

2. Areas of Specialty.

Another factor to consider when selecting an outplacement firm is
whether it is important to you that they have experience working with
the type of displaced employees you will be sending them. A related
factor is whether it is important to you that the outplacement company
specializes in dealing with companies like yours.

If their areas of specialty are important to you, review the
outplacement company's web site and other marketing materials to see
what their specialty is or ask them directly. If an outplacement
firm's expertise lies in serving large companies displacing
administrative staff and your small business is displacing experienced
managers, this outplacement firm may not be the best fit for you.

3. Experience with Current Job Search Practices.

How important is it to you that the outplacement firm be experienced
with Internet job search techniques? Is it likely that the Internet
will play a key role in your displaced employees' job search strategy?

If you determine that Internet savvy is an important evaluation point
for an outplacement firm, check to see whether the outplacement firm
recognizes the importance of the Internet by having a web site. Are
they aware of the top online career sites? Do they offer a service to
post displaced employees resumes on these top online career sites?
Do they have the ability to distribution resumes electronically to a
select group of employers and recruiters?

4. Length of Time Support is Provided.

Another factor to consider when selecting outplacement services is the
amount of time you feel the displaced worker would require outplacement
support. In general, the more senior-level the position, the longer it
will take the displaced employee to find suitable employment.

A second time factor to consider is whether the displaced worker will
receive ongoing one-on-one scheduled sessions with a career transition
consultant or whether the ongoing support merely includes access to job
search support materials.

5. Costs.

Outplacement costs must be considered when selecting an outplacement
firm. Check to see whether outplacement costs are clearly defined and
stated on the outplacement firm's web site and in their marketing
materials. Are you charged only if the displaced employee elects to
contact the outplacement firm for support or are you charged regardless
of whether the displaced employee receives support? Are there
affordable packages available that provide the services you feel your
displaced employees would most benefit from without providing unwanted
services?

Another cost factor to consider is whether the outplacement firm gives
you the able to select outplacement services a la carte to meet your
needs. Also determine whether the outplacement company has a minimum
fee requirement or whether they will charge you only for the number of
displaced employees you actually have even if the number is as few as
one.

By considering each of these five factors you can develop effective
selection criteria for deciding on an outplacement provider to best
meet the needs of your displaced employees while adhering to your
budget constraints.

About the Author

Ann Hackett is the founder and President of Quest
(http://www.QuestCareer.com), an online career management company that
specializes in providing small businesses located throughout the world.

Internet Marketing: A Journey Of Discovery

by: Lianne Blanch

A summary of the journey we take from beginner to experienced internet marketer

Internet marketing is an intense experience It's like living your whole life over again in a few short months or years. Read this article and decide which step you are currently at. This may give you an idea of what to expect as you progress in your internet adventure:

Step 1: Babyhood!

You start off your internet marketing career as a brand new baby, with no idea of how the whole system works. You just follow obediently what others tell you to do, think and say, and you get to know the basics of how the whole system works.

Step 2: "Know-it-all" Teenage Years

Then you become a "teenager", and have just enough knowledge to be dangerous to yourself and others! You go out, gung-ho, spending lots of money and telling everyone what they should be doing. In fact, you probably don't make much money in this phase because you really don't know what you are doing and you eventually find this out the hard way!

Step 3: "Study" Phase

Then you enter the "study phase", where you decide that if you are going to make money at this, you better learn a bit more about the theory of marketing and how to apply it to your business. You realise that this internet marketing business isn't as easy as you thought it was going to be. It is tough going. This is the phase where most people drop out. You find out things about yourself that you didn't know. You grow in your personal knowledge. Even if you do drop out at this stage, it is not really a failure. You have just admitted that this is not for you after all.

Step 4: "Career Phase"

If you tough it out and say to yourself "I AM going to make a success of this", then you enter the "Career" phase. You start taking your business very seriously and you look at how you are going to progress from here on in. Maybe you will decide you are going to build an ezine or an opt-in mailing list. Maybe you decide to join a REAL marketing company with REAL products, and stop jumping on the bandwagon of the latest online ventures that eventually all go bust.

Step 5: "Senior Executive Level"

The previous stage takes a long time. Just like a normal career, your online business career will develop over a period of 5 - 10 years and longer, until you are fully established in your career and are now a "Senior Executive" in the online business market, and you are enjoying the fruits of your hard labour! You have achieved immense personal growth, have stuck it out through the hard times and can be very proud of what you have achieved. --------------------------------------------------- Lianne Blanch is a successful online marketer and work-at-home mom. Visit her website today! http://www.working-from-home.biz/1721

About the Author

Lianne Blanch is a successful online marketer and work-at-home mom. Visit her website today! http://www.working-from-home.biz/1721