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Whether you suffer from anxiety and panic attacks or not, there is a lesson in here for everyone.

Some year’s back my husband and I got our selves into a bit of a pickle where money is concerned (probably something quite a few people can relate to). Of course I wanted to fix this problem (money woes can really put a strain on you and your relationship).

So what did I do?

I went out and bought books on making money. One of them you would probably be familiar with “Rich Dad and Poor Dad”. It sure got a lot of hype; I went out and bought it right after watching a promotion about it on Oprah.

With each of my books I read maybe a chapter from each and then placed them on my book shelf (where they collected dust). Wow! That was a bad investment on my part. But it didn’t have to be! After all I did buy these books to fix a “problem”.

Chances are; had I read these books but also APPLIED the methods (after all they were written by people who are very wealthy) I would have made an extremely wise investment.

I certainly didn’t make the same mistake again when I invested money into finding a cure for my anxiety and panic disorder. This time round I was grasping the fact that if I didn’t at least apply and try these methods then I may as well grabbed my dollar bills and flushed them down the s-bends (the toilet incase that’s some aussie jargon term).

So my advice to you is this, EVERY time you invest in information don’t just read it, apply it. You bought it to fix a problem didn’t you? Just reading information alone does not fix the problem you need to actively “try and apply”.

Now when I buy information I make it work for me. Whether I paid $10 or $1,000 to obtain that information I get my investment back on it a thousand times over, simply by achieving and getting what I wanted from it in the first place.

© Joanne King – http://www.anxiety-panic-free.com

About the Author – Joanne King is a former sufferer of Anxiety & Panic Attacks. She is the author of “How to Overcome Anxiety & Panic Attacks”. She has helped other sufferers Worldwide to eliminate their Anxiety & Panic attacks. http://www.anxiety-panic-free.com

Spring cleaning is a great motivator. Why confine it to Spring?

It is arguable that we should not only give gifts at Christmas and make resolutions at the New Year.

It is worth giving gifts all year round and making resolutions to improve throughout the year. Why wait until December?

In the same way we can benefit from not leaving spring cleaning to April or May alone.

The motivational power of clearing up clutter and getting organized is enormous.

Piles of paper lying around can weigh you down as much as an extra stone’s weight around the midriff. File the paper away and feel lighter, less tired and more agile.

When the material rubbish of the house is cleared away, the rubbish of the mind tends to follow. This allows new thoughts and energy to come in.

Recently after clearing away rubbish I stayed up till 6 a.m. without feeling tired.

A great way to clear rubbish is to burn it. Bonfires are fun so long as they are kept safe. They can shrink huge piles of rubbish into tiny little ashes.

Also, while the fire is burning, you get motivated to find more stuff to burn and you end up clearing away much more clutter than you originally planned. Even sensitive documents can be burned as the data will no longer be retrievable.

A daily bonfire might not be possible but a daily mini ’spring clean’ is a great way to get motivated.

You not only clear your house and your thoughts; you discover things that once got you excited enough to buy them.

You will renew that excitement and enthusiasm as you see that book, which you were so keen to get, once again. You might even read it this time! As you have probably guessed when I say ‘you’
I usually mean ‘I’ as well.

I have an acronym PALACE stuck up on a wardrobe to focus my mind on a daily mini spring clean:

PLACE – put at least one thing in its proper place every day

ANSWER – answer at least one letter or email a day

LABEL – label at least one thing a day

ARCHIVE – archive at least one thing a day i.e. move a less important thing further away from your normal centre of activity

CHUCK – chuck out at least one thing a day

EMPTY – empty or clear away at least one piece of clutter off one surface a day

You will probably find that you apply the above acronym (PALACE) to more than one thing as you start taking action.

This daily habit could turn your home into a palace and you into a dynamic, effective person. Give it a try!

About the author

John Watson is an award winning teacher and martial arts instructor. He has recently written two books about achieving your goals and dreams.

They can both be found on his website http://www.motivationtoday.com along with a daily motivational message.

The title of the first book is “36 Laws To Ignite Your Inner Power And Realize Your Dreams Now! – Acronyms, Stories, Pictures And Quotes…Easy To Remember And Use Everyday To Grab Your Life And Soar With The Eagles”

The book can be found at this URL: http://www.motivationtoday.com/36_laws.php

The book uses acronyms, stories, pictures and quotations to help readers remember 36 laws that can gradually transform your life if you apply them.

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Manhattan is the heartbeat of New York City and has become one and the same with the city as a whole. The Island itself is home to Grand Central Station, as well as a number of artistic and cultural focal points. The Island of Manhattan can be roughly separated into Downtown, Midtown and Uptown areas, each of which have a number of outstanding attractions.

Found to the south of 14th Street, Downtown Manhattan is the site of the Financial District which runs along Wall Street, including the rebuilt World Trade Center and Battery Park, from which you can access the Statue of Liberty by boat. Numerous well liked cultural areas downtown, including Greenwich Village Tribeca and Soho feature old architecture, hip dining and plenty of shopping. Another well liked target downtown is Manhattan, which runs along Canal Street.

The Midtown area is found between 14th Street and Central Park, and is home to a top arts scene. The center|core|axis|hub|heart} of arts life in the metropolis is the Theater District which encompasses Broadway, Times Square and Hell’s Kitchen, as well as the Radio City Music Hall. The Midtown area is a opportune spot for tourists to stay as there are lots of hotels of Manhattan in the area. Other trendy districts consist of Gramercy Flat Iron, a trendy residential area, as well as the fashion obsessed Chelsea District.

Made up in large part by Central Park, Upper Manhattan contains the Belvedere Castle in Central Park, the MET and a number of museums all through the Upper East and West side. Additionally, the district is thehome to Columbia University in Morningside Heights, the notable Harlem area and Washington Heights.

All of the Island’s irreplaceable sections carry their own sense of history, as well as popular selling points from world-class arts to eats. A jaunt to New York is not whole without a complete tour of Manhattan’s finest spots. There is an excellent reason that the island has come to characterize the public face of the city. Manhattan is one of the world’s greatest cultural capitals and continues to lead the way in commercial and artistic trends.

A quality speech that keeps the attention of your guests and/or employees is the most important consideration in looking for a speaker. If you hired “The Best” speaker in the business and he/she puts everyone to sleep, you’ve lost a lot of money and no one has learned a thing.

It is Josh London’s specific goal to deliver dynamic, entertaining, informative, and inspiring speech’s for your next meeting or event. Josh utilizes one of his talents as a Magician to entertain your guests and employees while teaching them.

Listen to what just one client has to say about Josh London’s unique ability to combine Magic and Learning into every speech to drive home each key concept that your group needs to succeed in life, both at home and work:

“Josh’s Sales And Marketing Speech was fabulous. I learned so much from an entrepreneur (Josh) just from hearing his stories and personal marketing strategies. I felt like nothing was held back.

I was looking around the room and it was the first time I’ve ever seen my employees taking notes! They loved it. The magic Josh used blended perfectly with the message. It kept the whole thing alive. We see, so often, speakers who just speak and nothing more. Josh is different. He motivated us, even in a Sales And Marketing speech.” Debbie Cornell. Capitol Records

When you hire a speaker to speak at your meetings, events, banquets, etc., does your audience get bored after the first 15 minutes of it? They probably would! At every single one of Josh London’s speeches he incorporates magic and your customized message into every talk, giving your group an unforgettable experience.

Here Is What Your Group Will See…Right After The Introduction Of Josh London…

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Now Josh holds in his hands nothing more that a wine bottle that a few lucky guests are invited to partake of.

Out of all the speakers you’ve contacted, how many open a speech like that? Well, that is How Josh London opens all his Speaking Engagements…with a bang! And the fun, excitement, audience involvement, and teaching never stop.

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Sam is a college student who struggles with many aspects of attending school. He has a passion for his major and he enjoys researching the subject; however, when it comes to interacting socially, Tim feels horribly anxious. He often skips his class lectures out of a fear of being called on. Even though he knows the material, the thought of addressing that many people terrifies him. He has difficulty asking questions of and talking to his peers. He fears that they may find him boring or uninteresting. Class presentations are impossible for Tim, and more than once, he has made up excuses to avoid them. In the past, when he has attempted to make a presentation, he has experienced physical issues such as shortness of breath, dizziness, tunnel vision, shaking hands, and trembling lips. Tim has always been shy, yet he feels that his fears are taking over his life, and he worries that he won’t be able to accomplish his goals unless something changes.

Tim suffers from Social Anxiety Disorder. Though many people feel varying degrees of anxiety when relating to others, those with Social Anxiety are often incapacitated by certain aspects of social interaction. Social Anxiety extends beyond shyness; it can limit the social lives, education, and even the career choices of those who suffer from it. The unifying characteristic in social anxiety disorder is a fear of performing poorly in social situations and suffering from embarrassment or humiliation. By definition, social situations mean interacting with or performing for other people and being under their potential scrutiny. If a socially anxious individual’s performance is found ‘lacking’ in some way, he often says to himself, “How embarrassing” or “How humiliating.” This fear of embarrassment or humiliation causes these individuals to either avoid those situations altogether, or suffer extreme anxiety as they endure them.

Their lives can be further complicated by anticipatory fear of upcoming social encounters. As socially anxious individuals anticipate or become involved in social encounters, they experience an increase in troublesome physical symptoms which may include heart palpitations, trembling, sweating, and flushing or blushing. These indicators of anxiety may often repeat in an uncomfortable cycle that is difficult to control.

In addition, social anxiety sufferers worry that their anxiety or awkwardness will become even more obvious, and this, in turn, leads to feelings of shame as well as further embarrassment and humiliation.

How common are Social Phobias?

* About 3.7 percent of the U.S. population ages 18 to 54–approximately 5.3 million Americans–has social phobia in any given year.

* Social phobia occurs in women twice as often as in men, although a higher proportion of men seek help for this disorder.

* The disorder typically begins in childhood or early adolescence and rarely develops after age 25 .

While most people can attest to being nervous or shy in certain social situations (i.e., walking into a party, giving a presentation, or meeting someone for the first time), those who suffer from social anxiety are often completely unable to function in certain social settings. The onset for this disorder varies from person to person. Some people will report increasing shyness as they get older. Others will find their social anxiety brought on by a certain challenge or life change. The rate of recognition of social anxiety disorder is often extremely low. One reason may be that many people know very little about it — which makes it difficult to discern where shyness ends and social anxiety begins.

What causes Social Anxiety Disorder? The exact cause of Social Anxiety Disorder is under investigation. Like many other emotional disturbances, Social Anxiety Disorder is a complex issue with many possible contributing factors. The following are several theories regarding the causes of Social Anxiety Disorder.

Genetic predisposition

Just as physical features such as hair and eye color are inherited, sensitivity to criticism or social scrutiny may be passed on from one generation to the next. It’s possible that the child of one or two shy parents may inherit genetic code that amplifies shyness into social anxiety disorder. Through his research at Harvard University, Jerome Kagan, Ph.D., found evidence of this genetic predisposition. He studied children from infancy through early adolescence. He found 10-15% of children to be irritable infants who become shy, fearful and behaviorally inhibited as toddlers, and then remain cautious, quiet and introverted in their early grade school years. In adolescence, they had a much higher than expected rate of social anxiety disorder.

Kagan also found a physiological accompaniment of anxious temperament in these children: a high resting heart rate. Their resting heart rates rose even higher in the presence of mild stresses. Additionally, when exposed to new situations, these children exhibited substantial behavioral restraint — becoming quiet, avoiding interaction and even retreating from the scene. Parents of these children have increased rates of social anxiety disorder and other anxiety disorders.

Development

Social anxiety emerges at different developmental stages. Babies develop a fear of strangers at seven months, not before. Separation anxiety is quite clear in some children–perhaps more obvious in three-year-olds we take to daycare than in five-year-olds going off to kindergarten. Being alone is difficult for children ages six to eight, but actually becomes desirable as they approach puberty and adolescence. Solitude becomes more important as anxiety about physical appearance and performance in school increases. We also know that traumatic or stressful life events occurring at an early developmental stage may increase the risk of social anxiety disorder.

Chemical Imbalances

Individuals with social anxiety disorder (and other emotional disorders) probably have abnormalities in the functioning of some parts of their anxiety response system. Most often, the symptoms of long-term social anxiety disorder can be attributed to an improper chemical balance in the brain. There are several key neurotransmitters, namely Serotonin, Norepinephrine and Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), which are produced in the brain and directly affect the way we feel about a given thought or situation. Scientists believe that at least four brain areas are critical to our anxiety-response system:

* brain stem (cardiovascular and respiratory functions)

* limbic system (mood and anxiety)

* prefrontal cortex (appraisals of risk and danger)

* motor cortex (control of muscles) These structures are richly supplied with these three important neurotransmitters: norepinephrine (NE), found in neurons arising primarily from a part of the brain stem called the locus ceruleus; serotonin (5-HT), found in neurons beginning in the raphe nuclei of the midbrain; and gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA), found in neurons that are widespread throughout the brain.

In terms of emotive response, this neurochemical process is vital to sustaining a sense of emotional well-being. Examples of brain regulation include control of thinking, control of physiologic functions, and control of behaviors. For example, thoughts can range from safe to dangerous, serious to humorous, etc. Physiologic functions, such as regulation of blood flow, the nervous system and the muscular system, fluctuate from resting states to initial arousal, then to marked arousal/anxiety and finally to extreme anxiety or panic. Behaviors from deep sleep to moderate activity to extremes of fighting, fleeing or freezing are all played out endlessly in each of us.

Many factors can contribute to a chemical imbalance, but treatment is essential in order to experience complete relief from those symptoms.

There is a real magic in these two words, a complete path of a royal road. It’s quite an art of saying a complete ‘YES’ or complete ‘NO’. Total ‘YES’ will come out as a result of saying total ‘NO’ to thousand things, then there is chance of an authentic ‘YES’ and discover that being authentic is the only power, a power which transcends the borrowed power of the world where there is no ownership.

To learn the secret of saying a total ‘YES’ means to deny thousands of false, it’s quite an act of courage, a courage to act with authentic voice of one’s own, uncontaminated by past, tradition or crowd. Whosoever has found a glimpse of truth has to keep it uncorrupted and at times, one has to rebel and say a thousand of ‘NO’ to thousands of things and events. One becomes more authentic when one learns the art of saying total ‘NO’. There will be no force in your ‘YES’ unless you have exhausted yourself saying saying ‘NO’ to thousand things for the sake of one thing that matters. It’s the way of bridging the gap of integrity; it’s way of being oneself, standing alone in one’s glory without any support of tradition or past.

We will always have temptation of saying ‘YES’ even when we know in our guts that it has created thousand problems in the past. All the experiences that we have gathered had taught us only two things, that is what is ‘YES’ and what is ‘NO’ in the book of our life. It’s about constantly educating ourselves for the things which matters and the things which doesn’t matter. The very process of saying ‘YES’ and ‘NO’ is enfoldment of an authentic life.

There is no force that can oppose an authentic ‘YES’, and there is no force that can fight against an authentic ‘NO’. The magic is being authentic, having a sense of integrity in your choice, nothing else matters.

If you want to discover the power of your choice, try the magic of discovering for yourself an authentic ‘YES’ and an authentic ‘NO’ and then for the first time you will discover that you are an empowered and responsible creator of your own world. You will for the first time discover the virtue of ownership. There is value of true ‘YES’ and true ‘NO’. Let the ‘YES’ or ‘NO’ be an expression of your totality.

We are in mess because we are saying a lot of half hearted ‘YES’ and thousand of half hearted ‘NO’. We don’t mean it, nevertheless we say it, and we miss a chance of discovering our own greatness. Learn and discover the passion of saying either of it with the totality of being. Power comes from having the sense of direction and pursuit of a goal which is larger than life, which consumes the logs of right and wrong and bend every event learning and discovering towards the goal of being happy and making happy. Say ‘YES’ to the desires that brings more life, love and beauty and say ‘NO’ to desires that destroys love, life and beauty. This is but a general guideline. Discovery is yours, journey is yours and a path is yours too and remember- nobody can walk for you. Wishing you all the best a complete yes.

Author is a Manager working for a pvt company, loves travelling, reading and sharing. Drop in an e-mail if you wish so on
sskunte2@rediffmail.com

“I only know that summer sang in me a little while, that in me sings no more.”

That excerpt from one of her sonnets expresses how much poet Edna St. Vincent Millay (1892-1950) probably knew of depression.

Marie Osmond has described her experiences suffering from postpartum depression in her book Behind the Smile: “I’m collapsed in a pile of shoes on my closet floor. I have no memory of what it feels like to be happy. I sit with my knees pulled up to my chest. It’s not that I want to be still. I am numb.”

That kind of numbness, that sense of endless hopelessness and erosion of spiritual vitality are some of the reasons depression can have such a devastating impact on creative inspiration and expression.

There are reports that as many as a quarter of American women have a history of depression. According to an article on the Allhealth.com website, “The risk of depression among teen girls is high, and this risk lasts into early adulthood.” A study of young women living in Los Angeles found that almost half had at least one episode of major depression within five years after high school graduation.

Psychiatrist Kay Redfield Jamison, herself a person with bipolar disorder or manic depression, notes in her book “Touched with Fire” that the majority of people suffering from mood disorder “do not possess extraordinary imagination, and most accomplished artists do not suffer from recurring mood swings.”

She writes, “To assume, then, that such diseases usually promote artistic talent wrongly reinforces simplistic notions of the ‘mad genius.’ But, it seems that these diseases can sometimes enhance or otherwise contribute to creativity in some people. Biographical studies of earlier generations of artists and writers also show consistently high rates of suicide, depression and manic-depression.”

According to the website Famous (Living) People Who Have Experienced Depression, women in the arts who have declared publicly they have had some form of the mood disorder include Sheryl Crow; Ellen DeGeneres; Patty Duke; Connie Francis; Mariette Hartley; Margot Kidder; Kristy McNichol; Kate Millett; Sinead O’Connor; Marie Osmond; Dolly Parton; Bonnie Raitt; Jeannie C. Riley; Roseanne and Lili Taylor.

Development of a mood disorder may start early in life. C. Diane Ealy, Ph.D., in her book “The Woman’s Book of Creativity” writes: “Many studies have shown us that a young girl’s ideas are frequently discounted by her peers and teachers. In response, she stifles her creativity. The adult who isn’t expressing her creativity is falling short of her potential.

“Repressed creativity can express itself in unhealthy relationships, overwhelming stress, severe neurotic or even psychotic behavior, and addictive behaviors such as alcoholism. But perhaps the most insidious and common manifestation of repressed creativity in women is depression.”

Marie Osmond also wrote about another aspect, the impact on her esteem and sense of self: “My mother has always been my role model, and I believe my survival in the entertainment business is in large part due to my desire to be a strong woman like my mother. She is my hero.

“I can vividly recall what it felt like to be alone and in a crumpled heap on the closet floor. I remember thinking that my mother would never have fallen apart like that. I was sure no one would understand what I was going through. I could have managed the pain. It was the shame that was destroying me.”

Fortunately, depression can be effectively managed for most people, through medication, cognitive behavioral therapy or other approaches.

According to an issue of the Blues Buster newsletter, formerly published by Psychology Today magazine, research studies have shown significant reductions in depression through engaging in aerobic activities such as walking and jogging, and resistance exercise, such as weight training.

In a press release, Rosie O’Donnell has commented about her own experience, “the dark cloud that arrived in my childhood did not leave until I was 37 and started taking medication. My depression slowly faded away. I have been on medication for two years now. I may be on it forever. The pills did not make me a zombie, they did not change the reality of my past, they did not take away my curiosity.

“What the pills did was to allow me to deal with all of those issues when and where I wish. My life is once again manageable. The gray has gone away, I am living in bright Technicolor.”

In her book “Life After Manic Depression” actress Patty Duke also affirms that getting the right diagnosis and treatment allowed recovery of her life and spirit: “The rate of growth in my mind and my heart in the last seven years is beyond measuring.”

~ ~ ~

Douglas Eby writes about psychological and social aspects of creative expression and achievement. His site has a wide range of articles, interviews, quotes and other material to inform and inspire: Talent Development Resources
http://talentdevelop.com/

Fear is an amazing feeling! It has significant power over our thoughts, feelings and actions. It takes on a “life of its own” and makes it appear as though we have lost the discerning power of choice in a situation. Fear can completely rule a person’s life.

So … why is it so amazing, you might be asking?

It has been said that “The only we have to fear is fear itself.” This is quite true, for fear is of our own making. Then, it spreads like wildfire!

How does fear really work? First of all, each of us creates a thought. At this juncture, it is a neutral thought. After creating this thought, we then determine that we are afraid about this thought. So, now the emotion of fear is linked to the idea/thought that we created.

To bring this into clearer focus reflect on the fact that not everyone is afraid or experiences fears about the same things. The race-car driver who comfortably goes in excess of 200 miles per hour might be afraid of the needle used for her vaccination. The high-rise window-washer who has no problem up on the 12th floor washing windows might become panicked learning to swim.

So, once we have an idea that is linked to fear, we do an incredible amnesia-thing. We absolutely forget that the act of linking fear to that thought was our own doing. We totally “space out” this fact. Instead, we begin to react to the fear as though it were a living, breathing, awe-inspiring entity all on its own. And not just any living, breathing, awe-inspiring entity: One that stirs up overwhelming FEAR.

Recognizing that linking-fear-to-the-thought was our own creation is a powerful step to gaining a sense of mastery over what in the past may have seemed overwhelming! Having recognized this, it is time for the next step.

One definition of FEAR is

False

Evidence

Appearing

Real

Pay attention to what that is saying. This simple acronym suggests that something seems to be real … and that perception is false. Or, simply stated, we are erroneously believing something. That something that we are believing is that we need to fear.

Now, do not get me wrong. I am not advocating wanton disregard for personal safety. Of course not! It is essential that you learn to determine the Correct Evidence Appearing Dangerous, too. If you are standing at the edge of the Grand Canyon, feeling nervous … step away from the edge a couple of feet. This is only honoring the fact that danger is possible.

If you are feeling nervous walking up an open stairway, by all means grab onto the handrail. You could fall over the edge of the Grand Canyon or off the open stairs and kill or hurt yourself. People HAVE done so! This is not an invitation to be foolish.

However, if you are 15 feet from the edge of the Grand Canyon, it is time to relax and enjoy the view; not to be so nervous that you cannot look for the fear of it all. The Grand Canyon is certainly an awe-inspiring sight. Profound fear can rob you of this inspiration and pleasure.

This need not be!

So, what can you do? You can make an agreement with yourself to NOT create the fear in the first place. In other words, you can CHANGE YOUR MIND about there being anything to fear. You can focus on ALL you have to gain … in a positive, productive way!

Marlene Shiple, Ph.D., is a licensed psychotherapist, business consultant, certified sex therapist, speaker, writer and professional coach. She has a private practice in Phoenix, AZ., where she sees clients and enjoys the experience of helping people be happier in their lives.

Dr. Shiple believes in supporting the individual to be his/her best self — in helping to discover interactive aspects about the self as a physical, mental, emotional and spiritual complex. She works with individuals to create healing on all of these dimensions.

To learn more, please visit Dr. Shiple’s website at http://www.counselorsassociated.com

When you think of choices, what comes to mind? Decisions like what to wear, what to eat or perhaps even what to do this weekend? These are all valid choices but I wonder how many of us have been neglecting some very important choices in our lives. I’m talking about choices that affect your life. Choices that you may make yourself, or heaven forbid, allow someone else to make for you!

What! You may think, I don’t allow other people to make decisions for me! It’s true, however, that many of us don’t realize how many of our own choices for empowerment we just toss by the wayside and allow others to have control. Whose life is it anyway? Are other people living your life for you? Who will have to live with the consequences? They won’t!

What I simply am suggesting is that you become more conscious of how you make decisions and choices.

Do you make decisions with confidence? With unwavering trust in your own wisdom and competence? Do you ask others for their input before deciding? Do you ask others on a regular basis before coming to a final decision for yourself?

If you find that you are constantly looking for validation for sources outside of yourself, ask yourself why. What is the motivation behind asking for someone else’s input before a decision? I am not saying this isn’t a good thing at certain times, but if it is done on a regular basis, then the reasons behind it are worth exploring, so that you can begin to trust yourself wrong and put your power back in your own hands.

If you find that you are basing many of your choices on what others think, then do the decisions represent the values that you want to embody for yourself? In other words, is it the choice you would have made anyway, or was your mind swayed by the responses you received from outside sources?

If you find that you are unable to make your own decisions, then realize that you don’t trust or value your own opinion as much as you do that of others. Allow me to now remind you that you are a valuable, worthwhile human being. Your opinions are just as valid as anyone else’s. And, when a decision or choice affects your life, then your opinion becomes that much more valuable. Why disempower yourself by handing over a decision that is important to you and affects your life-to someone else? When you do that you are literally handing away your power.

If you question the fact that you are powerful, take a moment to remember that we all have the ability to make choices. This ability can never be taken away. Choice=power!

Your power of choice cannot be taken from you, you can, however, hand it over to someone else if you are not making your choices with faith and trust in your own wisdom and knowing. Again, handing this power over is a choice. You can choose to stand in your own power majestically, or, you can hand it over to someone else. Which will you choose?

When you make a choice or a decision, ask yourself- “Am I empowering myself or disempowering myself?” “Am I giving my power away?” “Who will this decision ultimately affect?”

Empowerment is power on the inside. Call up your inner power and use it!

Some points to remember:

1. One of the most disempowering choices we can make is valuing the opinions of others above our own. When we do this, we are forfeiting our own power of choice.
2. Think about why you have made the choices you have made in the past, or are making now. What has influenced you? Are you being true to yourself in those choices?
3. Remember to make conscious choices! When you are conscious of the things you are choosing for yourself, you will be focus and clear, leading to some very empowered choices!
4. Don’t allow yourself to be programmed to believe that you don’t have the power to choose what you want in your life, because you do!

Arielle Sumner Consoli has been dubbed “Long Island’s Favorite Life Coach”. Aside from writing for such websites as The Long Island Guide (Ask the Coach!) and longisland.com (The Life Coach Expert) she has helped numerous people live their ideal lives by making lasting changes, removing blockages, achieving goals and by simply showing them how possible it is to truly live their dream. Arielle gives complimentary sesions, and hold numerous teleclasses throughout the year. Stop by her website at http://indigoskiescoaching.com for more information.

Small to medium companies that want to increase sales or profits and find it is possible to outsource sales should – do it! At this point most business owners and executives either become overwhelmed with doubt or fear.

Here’s what we hear: “We can’t give up control of sales, that’s too risky.” Or “Our products can’t be sold by anyone but us, they are too complicated for anyone else to understand.”

Many small companies outsource accounting and legal work, but still find using contracted sales professionals universally out of the question.
Unfortunately, most small to medium sized companies are good at one thing: making a particular product or providing a particular service – not selling.

Hence, many companies find themselves dissatisfied with the salespeople they hire. They tend to hire people who have experience with a product or market and figure they can teach them how to sell.

This, rarely works, and the company ends up with a product expert who just is not selling. A lose-lose situation is born.

There are many industries that have a preponderance of willing and able partners that are looking for new and innovative (read profitable) products to sell.

The vast majority of these re-sellers operate on a regional basis, other work on a national or even international level.

There are even companies that will set up and manage the entire process for you, and some will even manage your marketing activities as well.

So what makes this approach so good? Here are seven reasons:

* Pay for performance.

Contracted re-sellers do not get paid unless they sell something. They will either receive a commission on the goods sold, or be sold the goods at a discount which they in turn mark up and sell for a profit. This lowers your risk of having to pay salary and benefits and can also allow you to put more feet on the street faster because you’re not handcuffed by these costs.

* They already know how to sell. Professional sales organizations, whether they are called reps, agents, distributors, wholesalers, partners – whatever – have one thing in common, if they don’t sell they don’t get paid. This pretty much ensures that resellers who’ve been in business for any length of time already knows how to sell.

* Specialization.

Re-sellers tend to pick a niche and specialize in particular industries and markets. So they spend their days in this environment and know what needs to be known from a business and technical standpoint. Therefore, if you pick the right ones they surely can handle your “complex” product.

* Instant credibility.

An established re-seller has been calling on companies in their market or territory for years and has long standing relationships in place. These relationships allow them to call their contacts within a target company and easily get some time to present a new product or service that they are now handling. This is, obviously, a lot more effective that having an inside salesperson from the your company cold calling on the same target companies. These existing relationships, therefore lead to increasing a product’s speed to market.

* Other lines bring leads.

Almost all re-sellers have other products to sell. In selling these other products they will uncover opportunities for selling yours.

* They will tell it like it is.

They need you to be doing the right thing because they need to make money, not secure their job. Therefore, you will get candid and timely feedback from the field, allowing you to serve you customers better. Often, feedback received from a rep and one territory can be used to improve relationships and increase sales in all territories.

* An enhanced sales function.

This approach can replace or enhance your current sales function. In some cases it is appropriate to disband an existing direct sales force and commit fully to an indirect or outsourced sales strategy. In this instance you would have a sales manager working directly for you or hire a sales management agency to recruit and manage your indirect sales force. In other instances a company may choose to retain all or part of its direct sales force to certain markets, or manage certain accounts, and outsource other pieces. Despite the many virtues of outsourcing there are some caveats.

First, you’ve got to pick the right ones. Independent re-sellers need to be selling products and services that line up with your offerings. They also need to be selling to the right customers, and the right players within those companies. (Example: You don’t want a re-seller that makes its living calling on purchasing agents if engineers or CFOs are responsible for making the ultimate buying decision for your offering.) Taking the time to find the right reps is more productive and cost efficient than taking the first that express an interest. You don’t want to spend the recruiting and training resources twice if you don’t have to.

Secondly, treat them well and they sell. Simply put, re-sellers follow the money. If your commission rates are on the low end of industry average, you give no added incentive for meeting quota, or you just make doing business difficult, an average agent will spend his time selling other products.
If your commission rates are good, you offer attractive incentives and you make their lives easy, you’ll have agents that turn over every stone in effort to sell your products.

Three other major factors in using an independent sales force are: Support, support, and support. A good rep will know a lot about your product, they will also make sure they know what they don’t know. When faced with a question from a customer for which they don’t know the answer, a good sales agent will say, “I don’t know, but will have you the answer tomorrow.”
It is your job to make sure that you provide them with assistance in finding such answers in a timely fashion. You should also make it a practice to share these questions and answers with the entire sales channel, because questions usually arise in multiple places.

Lastly, outsourcing sales is a commitment. You need to realize that it is going to take some time to establish the sales channel. Usually the same year to eighteen months it takes to get a direct sales person up to speed. With this approach, however, you can have twenty to forty individuals up and selling for you, rather than a handful. Also, with regard to commitment, you cannot vacillate between direct and indirect selling. If the independent channel feels you will be selling direct again soon, they will slow their efforts to a crawl. Plus, word travels fast, if you went from indirect selling, back to direct, agents will be hesitant to engage you if you decide to go back to the indirect approach.

Outsourcing, or indirect selling has been going on for ages. As companies become more conscious of their bottom lines and to sticking to their core competencies we are seeing a renewed vigor in this approach.

If you’re a small or medium sized company that is looking to grow sales and you’re in one of the many industries that lends itself to outsourcing the sales function, it is surely worth investigate.
Gaetan Giannini is a partner in Giannini O’Connor LLC, a full-service marketing/PR firm whose goal is to increase clients’ sales through imagination. Contact him at gaetan@goimagine.biz

GAETAN GIANNINI

Gaetan Giannini serves as a board member on the Small Business Council of the Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Business Advisory Committee at Ben Franklin Technology Partners. He was named among the “Top 20 Under 40″ by the Eastern Pennsylvania Business Journal. He has taught at East Stroudsburg University and given marketing seminars for the Pocono Mountains Chamber of Commerce, the Manufacturer’s Association of Berks County, and the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce. He is the occasional host of “Pocono Perspectives,” a business talk show produced by the Pocono Mountains Chamber of Commerce, East Stroudsburg University and Blue Ridge Cable. Giannini holds an undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering Technology from Temple University and an MBA from Seton Hall University. His experience spans from sales engineering to director of sales to vice president of marketing for a variety of domestic and international industrial companies. He is a partner at Giannini O’Connor LLC, a full-service sales and marketing firm in Allentown, Pennsylvania.