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Having a good sense of humor is one of the most important characteristic of all happy and successful people. A good sense of humor helps you to solve problems, improve your relationships, and have a positive outlook on virtually every aspect of your life.

Sense of humor is something people talk about but rarely understand in terms of what humor really is. It is often defined as having a different perspective on things. This way of looking at sense of humor is only partly correct. If you defined sense of humor as just having a different perspective, it would be like saying, “If you were just 6 feet tall, you’d understand this” and “If you just had a full head of hair, you’d be more comprehensive.

Changing your perspective means going back through your entire life and looking at all the belief systems and elements that went into making up your perspective. So it’s not a simple process. A sense of humor is a very particular developed sense of perspective that allows you to access joy even in adversity.

I’m not talking about going through life and laughing things off. Nor am I talking about the fact that you ignore a problem or don’t take it seriously. I am talking about first dealing with the problem and then putting a positive spin on it.

The idea is that a sense of perspective when it comes to humor allows you to see yourself in the scope of things rather than always at the center of things. Most of us have a tendency as to believe that any problem we are confronting and facing at particular moment is the most important thing that is going on in the world.

This way of looking at problems is a very heavy responsibility. It makes you feel as if the problem is everywhere and it becomes the focus of your being. This is why a developed sense of humor is so important, because it allows you to see yourself in the scope of things rather than always at the center of things.

When you look at things with a sense of humor perspective, it enables you to have a remarkable capacity to control how you see the things that are going on in your life. You cannot control the external events in your life, but you can control how you look at them.

An important part of a developed sense of humor is the capacity to take yourself lightly, even though you may take your work or your problem very seriously. A sense of joy in being alive is an intimate component of the human will to live. It’s not abstract, but it’s not easy either, you have to work at it.

One of the best ways to develop your sense of humor is to make a list of all things that make you happy, that put a smile on your face, or give you joy. Make of a list of the things you do or once did that you don’t have time for anymore, that nourish and sustain your sense of joy. List the things that enliven you and strengthen your spirit, so that when a problem occurs you’ve got a reason to combat it and have the flexibility to see it though to a successful conclusion.

The root form of humor is umar in Latin. It means to be fluid and flexible like water and that is what humor is about. It’s staying flexible so you don’t get broken by the difficulties you confront. Being flexible enables your creative mind to stay open so that you can still come up with solutions even in painful situations.

Making a list of the things that make you happy sounds simple, but it’s not. I’ve done it with thousands of people over the past ten years and what I’ve found is that most adults over the age of 35 cannot write down more than three things that give that make them happy. They will invariably start off with something such as, “my work, I love my work.”

You should never put work on your list, or anything that causes you or other people harm. Instead you should list things that make you happy and put a smile on your face. For example, you might want to list things like going to a movie, fishing, or kissing your spouse.

Don’t try to complete this list all in one sitting. You should spend at least four to six weeks completing it. I advise my clients to get a small diary or pocket folder and carry it with them. This way you can write down things as they come to mind or as you’re actually enjoying them. After six weeks time you should have over 100 things on you list that make you smile, laugh, or feel better.

This list is going to become a critical component in developing your sense of humor because it will help you deal more effectively with all those small things that are always chewing at you. If you have a big problem, you can handle it, you can see it, and get into it, but it’s all those little things that keep sneaking up behind you and nipping at your neck that having a good sense of humor helps you deal with.

Misery is not subtle. Pain is not subtle. Joy, humor, and laughter are very often subtle. So you have to pay attention to them to start activating them into your life and that’s what this list will help you to do.

Making a list of all the things that you enjoy and put a smile on your face will not only help develop your sense of humor but it also gives you the opportunity to find out more about the people in your life and what makes them happy and this will enable you to help them develop their sense of humor. When you are able to give other people joy and put a smile on their face, especially when they need it most, you will be giving them the greatest gift you can give.

Copyright©2006 by Joe Love and JLM & Associates, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide.

Joe Love draws on his 25 years of experience helping both individuals and companies build their businesses, increase profits, and achieve total success. He is the founder and CEO of JLM & Associates, a consulting and training organization, specializing in personal and business development. Through his seminars and lectures, Joe Love addresses thousands of men and women each year, including the executives and staffs of many businesses around the world, on the subjects of leadership, achievement, goals, strategic business planning, and marketing.

Reach Joe at: joe@jlmandassociates.com

Read more articles and newsletters at: http://www.jlmandassociates.com

With massive rebate programs and tax credits being issued by state and federal governments, using the sun to generate electricity is very popular. So, how does it work?

Generating electricity from the sun is all about converting sunlight into power. Importantly, the process has nothing to do with converting the heat produced by sunlight into energy. This common misconception leads to a lot of confusion regarding solar systems.

The technology behind solar systems is known as photovoltaic technology. Essentially, this technology involves using sunlight to create a chemical reaction. During the chemical reaction, electrons are released from the relevant material and collected by tiny wires. This process creates a direct current of electricity. The electricity is then converted to usable alternating current electricity and stored in a battery or fed into a utility grid system.

Solar platforms use this exact process to produce energy. The arrays are made up of small squares called photovoltaic cells. A collection of these cells forms a single panel and a collection of panels makes up a “solar array.” The size of your array is entirely dependent upon the amount of electricity you want to produce.

The photovoltaic cells in a solar array are where the action happens. The cells are typically made with crystalline silicon under a glass cover. When sunlight hits the crystalline silicon, the material reacts by kicking off electrons. Tiny wires built into the cells collect the electrons in the form of an electrical current. This current is then sent to an inverter, which converts it to usable electricity.

The biggest issue with solar platforms is how efficiently they convert sunlight into electricity. The answer depends on how much you want to spend. Top brands will convert at roughly 15 percent efficiency. Less expensive brands will convert at 5 to 10 percent efficiency. The more efficient the panels, the fewer you will need.

It has become clear that our reliance on fossil fuels is only going to lead to further problems, whether political, environmental or economic. Advancements in solar technology as well as incredible tax breaks and rebates make using the Sun as an energy source a viable solution for you.

Rick Chapo is with SolarCompanies.com, a directory of solar energy companies. Visit us to read more articles on solar power and renewable energy.

“A man to carry on a successful business must have imagination. He must see things in a vision, a dream of the whole thing. ” – Charles M. Schwab (1862-1959)American capitalist

Many of us have been taught that effort is the key to success. “Work hard and everything will turn out okay,” we were told. Many of us have taken that wisdom and applied it to every facet of our lives. Many of us expect our employees to take the same “just work harder” approach to sales, customer service and leadership. Yet effort is really NOT the best predictor of success. According to a study at State University in Albany, New York, effort is the single-most over-rated trait in producing success. According to the study, effort, by itself, is a terrible predictor of outcomes, because inefficient effort is a tremendous source of discouragement. People then conclude erroneously that they can never succeed, since expending maximum effort did not produce the results they hoped for.

If effort is not the key to success, what is? The key to success simply lies in how we feel about ourselves at the deepest level of our being, our personal beliefs. Over the course of our lives, we have developed many beliefs about:

-What is wrong or right
-How success should be defined
-What is possible or impossible
-Failure and risks
-What we deserve
-Who we are and who we can become
-What we have now and what we could have

These beliefs dictate how we think and how we feel. They determine the choices and decisions we make in our life, personally and professionally. They determine how long we are willing to sustain our efforts. And ultimately, they determine the results we obtain, and the quality of our life.

For many people, this “just work harder” mentality has become their primary life strategy. When a task comes up, their belief says, “Work hard and everything will turn out okay.” The reality is that things do not always work out just because you’re willing to work hard. This “No pain, no gain” approach to life is really a prescription for frustration and disappointment. Creative imagination is far superior to willpower. We know now that, while hard work, determination, willpower and effort are necessary to create success, what we believe about ourselves (our abilities and our feeling of worthiness), how we think (positively or negatively), has a least as much to do with our outcomes as does “hard work.”

We each have enormous untapped resources within us, resources that we habitually fail to use. We know that in terms of goal-setting, planning for the future, our aspirations, income and things we want to accomplish, we can never have today simply by sweating harder. The old days where the basic rule was that you work harder and harder and hammered away, and if you weren’t getting the results you wanted, you worked harder still, are long gone. Today we know that we live in a totally creative world. Everything we have today is the result of the efficiency with which we use our minds – our imagination. Everything that we have tomorrow will be the result of our creative capacity, our ability to formulate and stamp indelibly on our mind a clear mental image of what we want. To see it, believe in it and begin to build upon it.

© 2004 Paul Huff, Paul Huff International

Paul is president of Paul Huff International. He works with organizations that want to maximize productivity and profits by bringing out the best in their people. He has worked with many of America’s Fortune 500 companies, spanning multiple industries across the globe. He has been inducted into the Motivational Speakers Hall of Fame. Tens of thousands of people in more than 13 nations have benefited from the humor, energy and passion of Paul Huff’s insight. Paul is the author of several books including, “SHINE: A Simple Philosophy for Success” (Pure Heart Press; Sept. 2005). Call 704-944-6070 or visit http://www.paulhuff.com for more information.

Why Text?

Text messaging is a quick way to stay in touch with people for personal or business purposes. With text messaging, you can chat with a partner by typing on the keyboard and reading what they write to you on the screen. Many text messaging products can work with cell phone text messaging (aka SMS or Short Messaging Service) so you can chat with people who aren’t in front of their computer. So, why not just pick up the phone and talk?

It’s faster than e-mail and phone calls. And you don’t have to pay anything to text. If you need to chat with someone briefly or ask a quick question, it’s much less intrusive than calling someone. As with most developing technologies, several types of text messaging are available and each one is incompatible with the others. But don’t let that keep you from trying it out. The main text messaging products are ICQ (www.icq.com), MSN Messenger (www.msn.com), AIM (www.aim.com), and Yahoo Messenger (www.yahoo.com).

btw (By the Way…)

Each one is free and simple to download, install, and sign up. You can locate your “buddies” by searching in an online directory by their screen name, e-mail address, name, or telephone number. Once you get the hang of it, text messaging can be extremely addictive. As you continue to use text messaging, you will find yourself learning to abbreviate words and sentences. When you leave an online chat, you might say BRB (Be Right Back), I’m afk (away from the keyboard), or TTYL (Talk to You Later). See glossary below.

Some text messaging products are beginning to offer voice and video chat. The future of digital communication is an integrated product, since voice, video, interactive text messaging, and e-mail are all effective means of communication. In the future, you will be able to switch between text, voice, and video with ease. Until then, we will continue to use different methods for different communication needs

Glossary

Smiley face. Means that someone is happy

Smiley face with wink.

If someone sends you this in an e-mail, they’re probably not having a good day

BTW – By the Way

FYI – For Your Information

FWIW – For What It’s Worth

IMHO – In My Humble Opinion (or IMO)

TIA – Thanks in Advance

WRT – With Respect To

LOL – Laughing Out Loud

ROTFL – Rolling on the Floor Laughing

AFK – Away From Keyboard

TTYL – Talk To You Later

CYA – See You Later

Deryck Richards is the founder and managing partner of Desktronix. With an extensive educational background in computer information systems, Deryck currently manages hosting and data center operations for Desktronix. He also provides system administration and technical support directly to small businesses as he has since 2000. His areas of expertise include networking, Windows, Linux, and Macintosh systems and he is the author of The Guide to Technology for Small Business. For more information on Desktronix, visit www.desktronix.com.

Many people like to take an evening walk or jog, yet in many parts of the world during wintertime this is not possible because it is dark. If a walking or jogging light is used during such evening exercises then it is possible. But with all the bouncing around where would one mount such a light in order to keep the beam steady.

When discussing this issue with those that study the human anatomy, many believe the best place would be mounted as a “Head Light” so that wherever the individual was looking they would have the light they need to see. This brings up some good points on a head mounted walking light, yet problems arise with the way in which it is attached for comfort and steadiness. We have heard many people complain about helmets, goggles, sunglasses and miners often complain about their helmet lights or “head Lamps.” Those who use them at work do not enjoy them and are often irritated with the way they fit. When walking or jogging for pleasure this of course can cause and issue. If the unit is too lose it bobbles and if it is too tight it is highly uncomfortable and that just blows the joy of the entire event. So you can see how the light would move too much and as one think tanker recently mentioned end up;

“distorting the footpath so that the planes were not obvious, which meant more injuries.”

Another thought is to mount the walking or jogging light on the ankles and have two lights one on each ankle thus as the ankle moved the two lights would average the direction of travel. The ankle mounted light might also cause similar problems although to a bouncy “head mounted light” only closer to the ground, and thus the distortion of light to dark to light or shades there of would be lessened.

If in fact a walker had more than one, that is to say one on each leg or was walking with another with one on each leg, four lights even when moving around would be averaging out the bouncing? If these lights were mounted on each ankle of a group of trick-or-treaters or a couple or a couple of friends with a “DogLight” (trademark?) on their pet as well then that could solve the problem, as many lights would average out the shadows and create a bright and safe environment in the direction of travel preventing unnecessary tripping over obstacle that were not seen.

When designing a walking or jogging light there is much to consider in the way the light projects forward and how such light will be used. The more jarring human motion the more disarrayed the light will appear unless multiple lights or joggers are added. Think on this.

“Lance Winslow” – Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/

No matter what you say or do, your kids will chat and use IM (instant messengers) over the internet. That’s a given. But since you have the obligation to protect your children, be aware that there are parent-friendly software tools that can assist you.

Chat Watch

Chat Watch logs both sides of instant messages on AOL, ICQ, MSN, and Yahoo. Chat Watch features parental controls, chat scheduling, a chat acronym translator, and more. Chat logs can be automatically e-mailed to you, copied to a network computer, or uploaded to a remote server. Chat Watch is password protected and can run hidden in stealth mode and accessible by a hot key. Chat Watch allows you to monitor and be in control of your child’s instant messaging.

Features:

* Log both sides of instant messages on AOL Instant Messenger, ICQ, MSN Messenger, and Yahoo! Messenger.
* Chat Watch can automatically e-mail you the chat logs at a pre-set time.
* The chat logs can be copied to a network computer.
* The Content Monitor quickly highlights chats that may contain offensive words. Parents can add custom words to the content monitor watch list.
* Parents can set scheduling options that determine when chatting is allowed and when it is not allowed.
* Chat Watch can run in complete Stealth mode hidden to the user.
* Task Manager can be disabled while Chat Watch is running.
* Advanced Hot Key allows for the hot key to be a combination of three hot keys for maximum security.
* Access to the chat logs is password protected.

More Information: http://www.deprice.com/chatwatch.htm

IamBigBrother

IamBigBrother records all of the internet activity for many programs including America Online, MSN, Outlook Express and more. And it logs all keystrokes typed in EVERY program along with screen shots. So basically IamBigBrother monitors EVERYTHING on your computer.

More Information: http://www.deprice.com/iambigbrotherspy.htm

SpyTech SpyAgent

SpyAgent gives you the power to log all websites visited, windows viewed, applications ran, internet connections made, passwords entered, documents printed, AIM/AOL/ICQ/Yahoo/MSN conversations made, documents opened, emails sent/received, and even capture screenshots of the user’s activities.
SpyAgent can be run on Windows startup in active monitoring mode with an optional splash warning screen. This allows you to have the option to let others using your workstation that they are being monitored (or not). A built in stealth mode is available to keep users from task-ending or knowing about SpyAgent.

More Information: http://www.deprice.com/spytechspyagent.htm

About the Author

David Deprice owns and operates Deprice.Com. He reviews family friendly software at http://www.deprice.com/utilities.htm

I like to rave about using the treadmill for keeping fit.

I understand the treadmill< /a> is one of the best machines for aerobic exercises. What makes it great is that you don’t even need to learn any sports to keep yourself fit and healthy. Everyone knows how to run naturally and the treadmill is there to help you in this activity.

Safety

Imagine running down the streets. You have to watch every step you take. As you cross the road you need to keep your eyes open for approaching traffic. You need to stop running if a car is crossing your path. You just can’t concentrate on your run.

We all lead busy lives and have tight schedules to keep. Sometimes, the only time available for a run may be at night. There is an element of fear especially amongst women who may be subject to an attack from muggers or robbers. Exercising at night on the treadmill will ensure your safety.

Environmental constraints

You won’t be subject to extreme cold especially during winter periods. Exposure to long periods of direct sunlight may not be healthy. Extreme high temperature may also cause you to suffer heat stroke. Sometimes strong winds may hamper your run. You may have scheduled a day and time to exercise and to your dismay, it suddenly rains and disrupts your plan. Lastly, you will be exposed to car exhaust fumes running on the pavement.

Flexibility

You may want to run a certain distance or climb a hill at a particular gradient. In reality, distance covered may be subject to contraints in the physical environment. It may not be precisely the exact distance you want to cover. There may not be any hills in your area at all and even if there is it may be too steep or too gradual for your liking. A treadmill allows you to set the exact distance and inclination that you want. As you progress, you can set higher standards with longer distances and steeper inclination.

How to enjoy your treadmill session.

Wear a good pair of running shoes and tie the shoe laces tightly. Otherwise, your lace will come undone and disrupt your running. If you find it hard to cope with the running , slow down the machine otherwise you ‘ll find yourself falling off the treadmill.

Some people might find it monotonous running on the treadmill.

Here are a couple of suggestion to liven up your routine.

1. Don’t just place the treadmill in a corner! Our eyes need a bit of stimulation to arouse our interest in running. Try to site it near a window with beautiful scenery. It makes a vast difference instead of staring stupidly at a blank wall.

2. If possible, turn on the air conditioner to keep yourself cool and refreshed at all times.

3. Install a tv set hanging from the ceiling so that you are facing your tv set directly. It sure takes your mind off the run.

There is no refuting the fact that the success of a company is because of the work done by the workers, but one catastrophe can easily wipe out your efforts and shrink the revenue to dust. Thus, to avoid such an instance, you need to insure your firm, whether it is a small enterprise or a big corporation. Though, please bear in mind that smaller businesses are significantly more probable to need business insurance cover in today’s world. This is preliminary because smaller business owners will have put their whole lives and pay into the business.

A couple of the topics frequently protected by nearly every business insurance covers consist of: natural disasters, hurricanes, mechanism or equipment fault that closes down the organisation, loss of income owing to personnel failure & legal action brought against the business.

There are numerous insurance companies, which provide policies that combine protection for all important property and liability risks in one single package. You can also get hold of a separate policy covers. Such a policy is typically labelled as a business owners’ policy (BOP). Large sized organisations may well procure a business-related policy cover.

BOPs comprise of building insurance for property and kit owned by the firm. If there is any loss of profits attributed to disruption of operation & business because of disasters such as tornadoes, it can be insured under the Business Interruption policy. Click here to get a great public liability quote.

There are a variety of policies, which cover the organisation’s legal responsibility for the harm it may well inflict to others. It is the effect your firm’s failure to do the business operations. It can also be the actual injury or property damage caused due to damaged goods, faulty installations and slip-ups in services offered.

Nonetheless, BOPs don’t cover against professional liability, auto insurance, workers’ re-payment or health and disability insurance. Instead separate insurance policies are required for professional services, vehicles & employees. Traditionally, floods, earthquakes & terrorist attacks are not protected in the business cover. Please make sure before you acquire!

Les Trois Vallees is amongst the premier skiing areas for vacation entertainment and repose. Les Trois Vallees is an idyllic area which offers the family golf, windsurfing, cycling, shows and lots of other things for the whole family to savour.

However as the first snow commences to lie on the trees and mountain peaks, and the rivers freeze up, Les Trois Vallees varies its feel from autumn colours to glistening white with bright blue skies. Les Trois Vallees teems in sports ” sledding, snowshoeing and monoskiing.

Les Trois Vallees has been voted the no. 1 ski domain in Europe yearly by skiing journals and eager snowboarders. It rises a lofty 3100 meters into the air, it has 95 pistes, the longest is 10 kilometres, and in total there is 520 acres of skiing. There are slopes for beginners and good skiers, and 48 pistes for expert snowboarders. Les Trois Vallees’s lift systems can deal with 24000 skiers an hour and so there isn’t any waste of time standing to catch a lift. One can pick the gondola for an exceptional overall vista of the resort and the whole area. For the peckish skier, there are a lot of lunch spots which provide hot chocolate and stews, sandwiches or full meals. Should you like further information then go to Chamonix Holidays who run skiing and summer holidays to the alps.

There are rising problems with debt amongst Americans. Although the laws around bankruptcy have changed, it is not always an easy process. The problem often occurs after a job loss. No matter the reason, debt relief is possible and you are not alone in this struggle. Don’t forget that debt relief is a grind that does not happen right away and is only finished when you send in your last payment.

Electronic media such as radio, television and the Internet all have commercials and advertisements about debt relief with various options. A word of caution regarding committing to something that is advertised quite heavily without full knowledge of what you are getting into. A lot of companies are in it for the quick buck and don’t care much for helping their clients.

Get in touch with your creditors and let them know your particular situation and they might be willing to help you by lowing your interest rate or reduce your monthly payment or both. An arrangement for payment could be set up which will lower the possibility of poor credit later. Don’t dismiss specialist credit counseling although they may charge you a small fee, quite often there isn’t a fee. It could simply be the case that an impartial eye should have a look at your monthly expenses.

It never hurts to follow the advice of these professional as they know exactly if what you plan to do will affect your credit rating. Don’t hesitate to contact them; they can be a great source of information and ideas and help you plan your debt relief actions even if you don’t sign up with them to manage it. Your home may be useful if there is equity in it as your bank may be able to arrange an equity loan for you if you have a steady job. Taking out a home equity loan can help your debt relief plan, no question about it. But, only if the new loan has a lower interest rate or smaller payment than what you are currently paying on your credit cards. Home equity lines also only work if you actually use the money for it’s intended purpose, bill consolidation. Something else to consider is that if you are in a bind and have to look at your home equity as a life-line to paying off debt you should understand that some think that using a secured asset to pay unsecured debt is a bad financial practice. Get some professional input from somebody you trust before making such a move.

And, of course, there’s nothing wrong with having a second job when it is helping your debt relief situation. If you only use this method as a temporary measure until your financial situation improves, it won’t take long before you can live comfortably again. The most important thing to do is destroy the credit cards as this will lessen the possibility of you increasing your debt.