Happy Labor Day!

Labor Day, an annual celebration of workers and their achievements, originated during one of American labor history’s most dismal chapters. In the late 1800s, at the height of the Industrial Revolution in the United States, the average American worked 12-hour days and seven-day weeks in order to eke out a basic living. Despite restrictions in some states, children as young as 5 or 6 toiled in mills, factories and mines across the country, earning a fraction of their adult counterparts’ wages. People of all ages, particularly the very poor and recent immigrants, often faced extremely unsafe working conditions, with insufficient access to fresh air, sanitary facilities and breaks.
As manufacturing increasingly supplanted agriculture as the wellspring of American employment, labor unions, which had first appeared in the late 18th century, grew more prominent and vocal. They began organizing strikes and rallies to protest poor conditions and compel employers to renegotiate hours and pay. Many of these events turned violent during this period, including the infamous Haymarket Riot of 1886, in which several Chicago policemen and workers were killed. Others gave rise to longstanding traditions: On September 5, 1882, 10,000 workers took unpaid time off to march from City Hall to Union Square in New York City, holding the first Labor Day parade in U.S. history.
The idea of a “workingmen’s holiday,” celebrated on the first Monday in September, caught on in other industrial centers across the country, and many states passed legislation recognizing it.Congress would not legalize the holiday until 12 years later, when a watershed moment in American labor history brought workers’ rights squarely into the public’s view. On May 11, 1894, employees of the Pullman Palace Car Company in Chicago went on strike to protest wage cuts and the firing of union representatives.
On June 26, the American Railroad Union, led by Eugene V. Debs, called for a boycott of all Pullman railway cars, crippling railroad traffic nationwide. To break the strike, the federal government dispatched troops to Chicago, unleashing a wave of riots that resulted in the deaths of more than a dozen workers. In the wake of this massive unrest and in an attempt to repair ties with American workers, Congress passed an act making Labor Day a legal holiday in the District of Columbia and the territories.More than a century later, the true founder of Labor Day has yet to be identified.
Many credit Peter J. McGuire, cofounder of the American Federation of Labor, while others have suggested that Matthew Maguire, a secretary of the Central Labor Union, first proposed the holiday.Labor Day is still celebrated in cities and towns across the United States with parades, picnics, barbecues, fireworks displays and other public gatherings. For many Americans, particularly children and young adults, it represents the end of the summer and the start of the back-to-school season.
From: http://www.history.com/topics/holidays/labor-day

Outdoor Patio Furniture

Your Home - Shopping for Outdoor Patio Furniture

Maybe you have just moved into a new home or just expanded your outdoor living space, either way if you are shopping for new patio furniture you have likely seen the brand Hanamint in you search. Hanamint sells nationally from coast to coast and is in almost every patio furniture store. But why is it so popular?

Over the past few decades, as patio furniture has evolved, one frame material seems to have moved to the forefront in popularity. That material is cast aluminum. Cast aluminum is a process that molds the most maintenance free material into beautiful pieces of patio art. Casting processes enables unique old world styling to become a standard feature in the furniture.

No one comes close to the value that Hanamint provides in their cast aluminum patio furniture. You could shop other brands but would probably be wasting your time. Hanamint has many different sets including; Grand Tuscany, Tuscany, St. Augustine, Mayfair, Berkshire, Stratford, Bella, and St. Moritz. If you want it for your patio, Hanamint makes it. Chaise lounges, dining sets, deep seating sofa arrangements, bar stools, bar height tables, counter stools, counter height dining tables, benches, fire pits, sectionals and bars.

Typically, the most desired finish is Desert Bronze but they also offer some sets in Black. Desert Bronze is a great finish because it looks great with most exterior home colors and patio color schemes. In the daylight, desert bronze shows a rich bronze color with many textures or layers in the finish. At dusk or in low light, desert bronze almost appears black. Desert bronze is that dark.

Hanamint offers an unbeatable amount of high end fabric to complement their beautiful frames finishes. Sunbrella is the industry leader in outdoor fabrics. Hanamint will buy many Sunbrella fabrics to offer as options on their cushions. Sunbrella became synonymous with quality after being one of the first to offer 100% solution dyed acrylic fabrics. An acrylic fabric will last and last because the sun can only fade the fabric one percent per year. Do yourself a favor and only buy acrylic fabric on your Hanamint cushions.

Hanamint recently introduced a 2014 collection called Stratford. Stratford appears more contemporary in design with straight line cross design.

No matter what Hanamint collection you choose, you will be making the right choice.

4244 Slifer Drive

How to repair my credit and improve my FICO credit score!!!

How to repair my credit and improve my FICO credit score

It's important to note that repairing bad credit is a bit like losing weight: It takes time and there is no quick way to fix a credit score. In fact, out of all of the ways to improve a credit score, quick-fix efforts are the most likely to backfire, so beware of any advice that claims to improve your credit score fast. The best advice for rebuilding credit is to manage it responsibly over time. If you haven't done that, then you need to repair your credit history before you see credit score improvement. The tips below will help you do that. They are divided up into categories based on the data used to calculate your credit score.

1. Check Your Credit Report – Credit score repair begins with your credit report. If you haven't already, request a free copy of your credit report and check it for errors. Your credit report contains the data used to calculate your score and it may contain errors. In particular, check to make sure that there are no late payments incorrectly listed for any of your accounts and that the amounts owed for each of your open accounts is correct. If you find errors on any of your reports, dispute them with the credit bureau and reporting agency.
2. Setup Payment Reminders – Making your credit payments on time is one of the biggest contributing factors to your credit score. Some banks offer payment reminders through their online banking portals that can send you an email or text message reminding you when a payment is due. You could also consider enrolling in automatic payments through your credit card and loan providers to have payments automatically debited from your bank account, but this only makes the minimum payment on your credit cards and does not help instill a sense of money management.
3. Reduce the Amount of Debt You Owe – This is easier said than done, but reducing the amount that you owe is going to be a far more satisfying achievement than improving your credit score. The first thing you need to do is stop using your credit cards. Use your credit report to make a list of all of your accounts and then go online or check recent statements to determine how much you owe on each account and what interest rate they are charging you. Come up with a payment plan that puts most of your available budget for debt payments towards the highest interest cards first, while maintaining minimum payments on your other accounts.

To view the full article from myFICO.com, visit http://www.myfico.com/crediteducation/improveyourscore.aspx.

What Does 540 Calories Look Like???

What Does 540 Calories Look Like?

By Tammy Parkinson
CPT, ACSM, NASM, Nutritionist
Body Firm Personal Training & Nutrition

Each month I get a newsletter from a company called "Health Watch".  Every now and then they pass on some information I find very useful, and I'd like to forward this on to you!

What's 540 Calories?

Here's a little perspective:

One McDonald's Big Mac contains 540 calories, 29 grams of fat, and more than 40 grams of highly-processed, blood-sugar-spiking carbohydrates.  And that doesn't even count the fries and soft drink that you KNOW you're going to order with it.

At the same rate, here are a few alternative food choices and amounts that will land you at the same 540 calories:

140 medium strawberries
5 medium bananas
1 QUART of plain Greek yogurt
14 oz of grilled chicken breast
17 cups of broccoli
6 and 1/2 cups of blueberries

Better yet, go ahead and eat ALL of this in one sitting:

4 oz of grilled chicken (120 cals)
3 cups of broccoli (90 cals)
1 medium banana (100 cals)
8 oz of plain Greek yogurt (130 cals)
10 medium strawberries (40 cals)
1/2 cup of blueberries (40 cals)

So basically, you have an OVERFLOWING plate of chicken and veggies and then a HUGE dessert of yogurt and fruit. I mean, that's a massive quantity of food right there. In fact, most people wouldn't even be able to finish it.

And guess what? It still contains fewer calories than ONE Big Mac and it's WAY healthier.

Adding on to Health Watch's spin...here are a few more "foods/meals" which add up to about 500 kcals

• 2 small slices of pizza or 1 large slice of meat lover's pizza
• 3 chicken wings dipped in 1/4 cup of ranch dressing
• 20 oz big gulp
• 20 oz mocha drink with whole milk
• small margarita
• 2 cosmos
• 3 handfuls oil roasted nuts (small handfuls)
• 2 big chocolate chip cookies

I can go on and on...but I think you get the drift.  We can load ourselves up with non-nutritious calories which give us lots of sugar, fat and salt...but no real nutrients; or we can eat an abundance of amazing nutritious foods which heal our bodies, give us energy, clean our minds and support out health.  You be the judge!  (note...not to say a little cookie here and there isn't fun....but note it's "here and there"!)

Enjoy your health ~!

Young Adults Disappearing From Home Buying Market

By Gino Blefari
President & CEO
Intero Real Estate Services, Inc.
 
There was a time when many homeowners bought their first house in their 20s. It's not hard to see that trend has changed quite a bit in markets across the country.
 
Ten years ago, the homeownership rate among young adults under age 35 was 43.6%, according to Census data. Today, the rate stands at just over 36%.
 
But while some homeownership critics have tried to say in recent years it's because young people don't value ownership as much as they do experience and freedom, the underlying economics tell a much different story.
 
It's not that America's young adults don't want to buy homes. Instead, there are a number of factors at play: fewer jobs (or jobs that pay enough to afford a home), delayed marriage, higher debt, and poor credit scores.
 
Eric Belsky, managing director of Harvard's Joint Center of Housing Studies, told a crowd at the National Association of Realtors' conference in Washington, D.C., last week, "There really are serious issues in the first-time buyer market."
 
Belsky estimates that nearly 3 million more young adults live with their parents today compared with 2007, before the Great Recession kicked into gear. This no doubt points to underlying problems with debt, the job market, and increasing housing costs in many areas.
 
The average college graduate is already carrying a large debt load as soon as he steps off campus. Student debts collectively add up to $1.1 trillion. And the Federal Reserve Bank of New York says student loan default rates climbed to nearly 12% last year (up from 6% in 2003).
 
Of course, millions of young adults are already affected by these numbers. But what happens to the housing market when first-time buyers become more and more delayed by circumstance? At some point, many markets may start to feel the missing buyers just as much. For instance, who buys the empty nesters' homes when they're ready to retire and downsize? Who do the move-up buyers sell to when they outgrow their starter homes?
 
It's an issue that eventually impacts each stage of the housing chain. We haven't seen a lot of solutions being laid out – other than a few initiatives that aim to curb student debt or give those in some professions relief.
 
We'll be watching this area closely to see what new data impact home buying and selling.

The 80:20 Rule for Weight Loss

The 80:20 Rule for Weight Loss

First, we need to get one thing straight; you can't out-train a bad diet.

Honesty is the Best Policy for Weight Loss

For most of us a diet consistently filled with unhealthy choices like too many sweets and glasses of wine on the weekend isn't going to be cancelled out or negated through exercise.

Exercise is as necessary as breathing. Through exercise, you are going to make major changes to your mind - research has shown that the benefits of exercise make you:

• Happier
• Sleep better
• Gives you more energy through the day
• Promotes strong bones
• Promotes strong muscles
• Helps you live longer
• Helps prevent cancer

What You Put In Your Mouth

So what's the 80:20 rule? 80% applies to what you eat, so for most people, 80% of their current body weight is due to what they are putting in their mouths. 20% applies to exercise, toning up our bodies, improving our state of mind and improving our sleeping patterns.

The thing is exercise often creates favorable feelings in your brain, which makes you feel more likely to want to eat healthily. Once you know that your hour hard exercise session will be cancelled out by two slices of pizza, then you can say to yourself, "Hey, I worked hard on that session, I sweated a lot and I could tell that my muscles feel the benefits so I want to keep that going with eating the foods that help and not hinder my body".

Calorie Count for Exercise

Below is a rough calorie count for certain exercises, based on a 139 pound woman. Adjust the figure accordingly based on your gender and weight.

Calories burned per half-hour of exercise:

• High-impact training - 400 calories
• Swimming - 190 calories
• Surfing - 95 calories

At best, you can eat a slice of pizza for your half-hour's exercise session, but if you want to lose weight, you need to be burning more calories than you are taking in so exercise helps to create that calorie deficit.

So challenge yourself. Make some small tweak to your diet; swap a biscuit for a piece of fruit, stop adding sugar to your coffee or add in some lean protein in the form of fish, poultry (without the skin), eggs or tofu. If you can keep that change for a week, you're on the way to making it permanent.

Finances - Tax Deduction Checklist

Finances - Tax Deduction Checklist

Tax deductions are what get you bigger refunds. If you itemize your tax return you need to have a good idea of what you can deduct. This checklist covers most of the major tax deductions.

Tax Deduction checklist

Form 1098 or your mortgage statement: if you purchased a home in the previous tax year and prior tax return or if you refinanced in the prior year and are deducting points on that loan over its life.

Investment interest expense: Brokers' statements showing any margin interest paid and loan statements for loans taken out to purchase investments.

Losses due to theft: include a description of property and insurance reports showing reimbursement or any cancelled checks showing value of property.

Charitable donations: bills, receipts or cancelled checks for cash donations, mileage records for charitable purposes, receipts from charitable agency with estimated value in the case of property donations, prior years' tax returns for any unused charitable contributions.

All work related expenses : Reimbursement check stubs or reports from an employer, union dues, receipts, bills or invoices for supplies, gifts to clients, any uniforms or special clothing, seminars attended, professional publications and books. Travel information including invoices or receipts for transportation, lodging, restaurants and parking. Any job search expenses and job related educational expenses.

Misc. deductions like Tax preparation fees, cost of income tax return preparation software and books. Safe deposit box rental fees from bank. IRA custodial fees, investment advice costs.

Last year's state income tax return, W-2 and any cancelled checks for state estimates you've paid.

Medical and dental expenses including Form SSA-1099, year-end pay stub for premiums paid through your after tax wages, mileage records for trips to the doctor, clinics, etc.

Real estate tax collector bills or cancelled checks and Form 1098 or closing statement if you bought, sold, or refinanced property in the tax year.

Any tax bills or cancelled checks for personal property like automobiles.

Employee SSN and wages paid during tax year to any household employees.

Records showing any estimated tax payments or overpayments for prior years.

You could save huge in tax preparation fees by being a bit organized. You can also save a lot of time by getting all your required documents in order before you go to a tax preparer or start your tax return online.

This communication is for information only. Please consult a tax professional regarding tax deductions.

Home Affordability vs. Cost of Living

Home Affordability vs. Cost of Living

By Alain Pinel
General Manager of Intero Prestigio international
Intero Real Estate Services, Inc.

Are the most expensive cities in the world in which to buy a home also the most expensive to live in?
The short answer is No. Not too surprising really. One factor depends mostly on qualified supply & demand; the other depends largely on what the town –or the country- can provide in terms of goods, resources & services (with a hefty dose of taxes). Believe it or not, only a handful of the priciest cities when it comes to real estate are also in the top 15 most expensive places to live. Double jeopardy, you might say. Usual suspects like Paris, Tokyo are on that short list.

As you might guess, if you have a lot of money, either or both of these high cost aspects are not likely to be a deal-killer. I mean, the wealthy homeowners -or soon to become homeowners-, in Paris for example, are not very likely to be overly concerned about the rising price of a gallon of milk. The shopping bill, however, can impact less fortunate “locals”. Many are progressively pushed out of the up-town districts and into more affordable suburbs (if not other regions, states or countries), while more fortunate buyers/consumers, predominantly foreigners, are taking a bigger share of the golden territory.

That’s the picture that we see, a little more clearly every year, in metropolis like New York, Los Angeles, Miami, San Francisco, London, Paris, etc. Nothing new, although the trend is accelerating, as plenty of new money from many emerging countries is looking for a better & safer refuge, often contributing in pushing prices up in the process.

Let’s look at the Forbes/Savills list of the “Most expensive cities for luxury real estate”, and compare the results with another list, published by the Telegraph in the UK, showing the ranking of the costliest world cities, as far as cost of living.
 

 

If you are looking to purchase a pad somewhere on the planet, be aware that, everything being equal, the highest price tag will be found in Hong Kong. The Chinese island territory is not getting any bigger and buildings compete for the little space they can find, even on vertical slopes. A year ago, high-end housing averaged about $11,000 per square foot. As prohibitive Hong Kong is on the real estate side, it does not make the list of the priciest cities to live in. How nice. You can always stay in a hotel and enjoy playing tourist rather than going for broke buying a condo!

Tokyo is number 2 in the world for real estate. Forbes mentions that an opulent mansion-sized home totes a market value of… $121.6 million. Life is far from cheap either in Tokyo. Japan’s capital city ranks at the sixth place, tied with other renowned towns like Geneva, Caracas and Melbourne.

Next is London. On the list established by Savills and published by Forbes, we can read that the average billionaire abode, around 7,900 square feet, costs $42 million. A terraced house recently traded for close to $120 million. Interestingly enough, the price of everyday goods is OK.

Paris is #4 on the real estate list. If you cannot afford Hong Kong, or Tokyo, or London, now you know where to go! Don’t look for a deal though, as thousands of foreign nationals from Russia, the Middle East… and everywhere else, are fighting for a piece of the City of Lights. When it comes to the cost of living, be ready for another hit on the wallet: Paris is the most expensive city in Europe, and the second most expensive in the world, behind Singapore.

According to the list of the most expensive cities for luxury real estate, Moscow comes next. A bit of a surprise, although Forbes is telling us that Moscow has the largest community of billionaires in the world. So much for buying a cheap vacation home on the Moskva River!

And then, there is New York! The Big Apple does not seem very affordable when you consider large ticket purchases close to $90M for a penthouse over Central Park, but you still can get great real estate and a good life for the money.

As for the top “cost of living cities” in the wide-world, the list goes like this:

• N.1 & N.2, as we mentioned already, we find respectively Singapore and Paris
• N.3 is… Oslo, a town of only 650,000 in booming Norway. Who would have thought?
• N.4 is Switzerland’s business mecca, Zurich, with a population half the size of that of Oslo
• To round up the top 5, we go Down-Under to Sydney, where the dollar does not go very far.

Your turn to test the real estate market around the globe, and enjoy your stay, however expensive it may be, in all those fascinating cities!

Mortgage Credit Certificate

10 Markets Where Housing Equity is Going Strong

By Gino Blefari
President & CEO
Intero Real Estate Services, Inc.
 
For quite a few years during and after the economic downturn, negative equity – when more is owed on a mortgage than a home is worth - was a real problem for homeowners. And while some markets in the U.S. haven't quite crawled completely out of the situation, others certainly have.
 
In fact, the National Association of Realtors this week released datashowing the 10 markets in the U.S. where equity has improved the greatest since the fourth quarter of 2010. They are:

1. San Jose, Calif.
2. San Francisco
3. Anaheim, Calif.
4. Los Angeles
5. San Diego
6. Boulder, Colo.
7. Honolulu
8. Riverside, Calif.
9. Cape Coral-Fort Myers, Fla.
10. Sacramento, Calif.

 It's true that in Silicon Valley and San Francisco, we've seen some of the largest increases in home prices in the last year alone, boosted by a soaring tech economy and an overall lack of inventory.
 
This is great news for homeowners and the local economies that inevitably benefit from a strong housing market. But what many watch with caution is the long-term impact on housing affordability – especially for first-time home buyers and other classes of workers that are at risk for being priced out.
 

 
 The interesting thing about these markets is that many of them are concentrated in the hardest hit areas from the housing downturn. For instance, Los Angeles, Riverside and Sacramento were all hit hard by the market decline, but have since seen sharp improvements in the last four years.
 
On the other end of the spectrum, NAR says in a blog post about the report, a number of markets that were in the bottom 10 for equity appreciation in 2006 did not see the same strong appreciation. These included Reno, Nev., Las Vegas and several Florida markets.
 
This is sort of telling about some of the ultimate truths about real estate – location and jobs are and always will be inextricably tied to the long-term health of local markets.
 
It will be interesting to see where these numbers lie at this time next year.
 

The 5 Worst Things You Can Do Before Buying a Home

Cynics may scoff, but getting under contract on the right home can turn even the most stoic shopper into a bit of a dreamer. From paint colors to planting a garden, picturing yourself in that property is critical for many buyers.

But leave a little room for pragmatism. Remember that getting pre-approved for a mortgage and even under contract isn’t a guarantee. That prefix is there for a reason. Loan pre-approval is not loan approval.

You’ll have more hurdles to clear before a lender legally commits to funding your home loan. Buyers who don’t know any better can inadvertently add obstacles to that path ? or even kill the entire deal ?between contract and closing day.

Some missteps can be costlier than others. Here’s a look at five of the worst things you can do before buying a home.

1. Go Credit-Crazy

It’s almost become cliché in the mortgage industry, but the warning still bears repeating: Don’t buy a truckload of furniture until after your loan closes. The prohibition goes beyond sofas and settees ? avoid obtaining credit for any major expense, such as a car, a boat or, yes, a new bedroom set.

Be careful with even minor expenses. If you absolutely need to obtain new credit or accrue debt before closing, talk with your loan officer as soon as possible.

New payments are going to affect your monthly debt-to-income ratio (and residual income on a VA loan), and not in a good way. Hard inquiries on your credit report could also lower your credit score. That might hurt your interest rate if you haven’t locked or even knock you out of qualifying range all together.

2. Shuffle Dollars and Cents

Lenders will scour your most recent bank statement as part of the pre-approval process. It’s not like they forget about it after that. They’ll take another look at your assets and bank records again during the underwriting process.

You’ll need to explain any unusual deposits or withdrawals. Lenders will require clear documentation and a paper trail if you’re putting gift funds toward a down payment or closing costs. Stuffing a wad of undocumented cash into your account is going to raise some red flags.

3. Get Behind on Bills

Having a late payment hit your credit report before closing can devastate your deal. Payment history comprises about a third of your credit score.

One solitary 30-day late payment can clip 60 to 110 points from your credit score. Maybe not a huge deal if you had an 800 score, right?

Possibly. But if that 30-day late blemish is a mortgage or rent payment, some lenders will boot your application altogether. Many will require at least 12 consecutive months of on-time payments to qualify for a home loan.

4. Co-Sign on a Loan

Co-signing a loan is arguably a bad financial move whenever you make it. But it’s especially risky during the mortgage lending process. It means you’re financially liable for someone else’s debt.

Yes, that someone else might be the most responsible person on the planet. Lenders will still need to factor that new monthly obligation into your overall affordability profile. Adding one more debt to the list could stretch too thin your debt-to-income ratio and assets.

5. Changes in Employment

Probably goes without saying, but losing your job is going to be a big problem. Even job-hopping can present some major hurdles. Lenders crave stable, reliable income that’s likely to continue.

Lenders are likely to slam on the brakes if you take a new job in a different field. Or if you decide to start your own business. Or even if you get a promotion but see some or all of your income shift to a commission basis.

The bottom line: Any change to your employment is significant. Keep your loan officer in the loop, and ask questions when in doubt. The last thing you want is to waste time and money on a home loan you’re never going to get.

Throughout the mortgage process, it can also be helpful to monitor your credit scores for changes so you can know whether you need to address any problems. To do that, you can use a free tool like Credit.com’s Credit Report Card, which updates your credit scores and an overview of your credit report every month.

Meritage Home Preview

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Have You Mastered the Art of Listening?

Have You Mastered the Art of Listening?By Margaret Heffernan

Many people in the business world take classes in the art of verbal communication: how to give a speech, make a presentation, chair a meeting. But the other half of the equation -- listening -- gets scant attention. At least until now. Sheryl Connelly, a futurist who works for Ford Motor Co., spends a lot of time talking and giving presentations. She's also a regular visitor to the TED conferences, where it is no surprise she likes to listen. And it was at TEDGlobal in Edinburgh this week where she talked about listening well.

1. Focus closely on the person speaking. Don't half-listen while you check your messages and schedule conferences. At any meeting -- a conference or a departmental review -- be there in full. Otherwise, you are likely to miss something.

2. Listen carefully for things you don't know. Our brains home in on what's familiar because it's easy and comfortable, and it reassures us of our intelligence. But that's no way to learn anything. Listen for new information, discontinuities, things you didn't know but could learn from. If there's nothing to be gained from this strategy, you may be in the wrong meeting.

3. Challenge yourself and what you hear. Don't just nod and accept it as a given. Ask yourself: What do I know that confirms this? What do I know that contradicts it? Let your head play an active role.

4. Be prepared to change your mind. Sherry Turkle used to think everything about computers was wonderful; now she isn't so sure. If we listen hard and ask ourselves good questions, we may travel to places we didn't expect.

5. If you find sitting still difficult, then either take notes or doodle or both. Connelly is a fantastic artist and illustrates her notes beautifully. She has volumes illustrating all her past TED attendances. Some of us aren't so gifted -- but we can doodle. All the evidence shows that both help you focus. And if you aren't focused -- why are you there?

The skills of listening, Connelly argues, are really life skills: treasuring the precious and always limited time that you have. Why waste it?

2013 CBS Interactive Inc.. All Rights Reserved.
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505125_162-57588909/have-you-mastered-the-art-of-listening/

5 Things Successful People Do After 5p.m.

5 Things Successful People Do After 5p.m.By Amy Levin-Epstein

(MoneyWatch) You may have read the popular post by Forbes writer Jennifer Cohen about five things incredibly successful people do before 8 a.m., which highlighted smart suggestions like visualizing their day and making their schedule top heavy. But that's not the only outside of work window in which you can pump up your productivity. Recently, I spoke to some career experts about things you can do after 5 o'clock that can help rejuvenate you and get you prepared for a top-notch tomorrow. Here are five they suggested trying:

Wrap up your dayThis includes responding to every email you received during the course of your day, says Julie Morgenstern, author of "Time Management From The Inside Out." "Do this, even if just to tell the sender that you've received their email, and will get back to them within the next day or so with an answer."

Plan for tomorrowTake a look at the rest of your work. "See what's on their schedule for the next day (and two beyond that), pull necessary prep documents and files, and have everything set to hit the ground running the next morning," says Morgenstern. And prioritize that massive To Do list. "Name your top 3 (to 6) priorities for the next day-to ensure you proactively complete those priorities, no matter what else flies at you unexpectedly," says Morgenstern. Don't forget to do the same for your team. "Plan your team's next day's priorities, and send out instructional emails or check ins."

Take time for friends and familySuccessful people invest intentional time in their personal networks, says efficiency expert Andrew Jensen. "They recognize that success at work is empty without success in their home and with their family," says he adds. The key is to make it quality time. "They actively exercise listening, while restraining from dominating the conversations," says Jensen.

They take care of themselvesInvesting in your health is always a smart personal, as well as business decision (if you're constantly sick, or even just tired, you won't function at your peak). "[Successful people] eat a healthy dinner, understanding the value of nutritiously investing into themselves and the corresponding returns they can expect. They exercise, channeling away pent up stress while strengthening their bodies and helping ensure a better night's sleep," says Jensen. While you're taking care of your body, don't forget to keep your personal finances healthy, too. "Don't let it pile up and become an increasingly stressful distraction," says Jensen.

They sleep for 8+ hoursThink staying super late is great for your career? While there are some circumstances that warrant it, in general sleep is a good career choice. "A good night's sleep is the secret weapon of highly successful people," says Alex Doman, CEO of Advanced Brain Technologies and author of "Healing At The Speed of Sound." "In the short term, a lack of adequate sleep can affect judgment, mood, ability to learn and retain information, and may increase the risk of serious accidents and injury," says Doman, adding that over time the effects may be even more grave. "In the long term, chronic sleep deprivation may lead to a host of health problems including, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, depression, and obesity."

Make these five behaviors after-hours habits, and you might find that you become efficient -- and successful -- over time.

2013 CBS Interactive Inc.. All Rights Reserved.
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/5-things-successful-people-do-after-5-pm/

Lower Your Electric Bills

Electric bills are getting more expensive every year. While switching electric suppliers might help people save money this is not always an option, especially in smaller communities. There are things you can do around the house to keep your electric bill low. 

Closing the curtains and lowering blinds on the sunny side of the house will help keep the house cooler on hot days. In the winter, it will also prevent heat from escaping out of the windows. If you like looking out your windows during the daytime, window film can filter the sun in the summer and dual pane windows will retard heat from escaping in the winter. You can also consider getting outdoor awnings and painting the house a light color to reflect the heat.

Air conditioners are the biggest user of electricity, along with heaters in the winter. A heating and cooling system accounts for more than half of your electric bill. You can increase your heating and cooling system's efficiency by having annual cleanings, checkups, and changing out the filter every month.

It is also important to keep the greenery trimmed around the air conditioner to allow air to flow efficiently. The less your heating and cooling system has to work, the less electricity it will use.

The US Department of Energy recommends all window air conditioners be placed toward the center of the room on the shady side of the house. They also need to be the right size for the room. If the unit is too small, they will not cool the room efficiently causing them to run more often. If a unit is too big, it will also have reduced efficiency causing higher electric bills, uncomfortable temperature fluctuations, and excessive wear and tear.

Raising or lowering the temperature in your home can save as much as $100 a year. When at work or asleep, turn it up so the air conditioner does not click on as often and conversely turn it down in the winter. A programmable house thermostat is a great option to control the temperature. If your house utilizes a heat pump, it is best to manually set the system to be electrically efficient.

Lastly, replace light bulbs in the house with CFL bulbs, or even LED lights if they come in the correct size for the socket. These bulbs are expensive at first, but worth the investment. A single standard incandescent light bulb can cost the same amount as it costs to run six to ten CFL bulbs, which last ten times longer.

Inspiration

 Inspiration is the basis of any creative endeavor. When you create a piece of art or poetry, or come up with a new scientific theory, inspiration is at the core of this activity. Often times, inspiration comes from external factors like listening to music, reading a book, or watching a movie.
We are inspired when our internal receptivity connects with another object, whether it is a sound, feeling, thought, or anything that is experienced through our senses. In order to find inspiration, we have to be receptive and have an open mind. It is difficult to 'a rigid mind, so mental flexibility and relaxation is important if you need to find inspiration and remain hyper creative.
When you actively seek inspiration, you will find it. It's almost like seeking the truth about life and reality. An artist or photographer derives inspiration from the beauty of a sunset, the contours of a majestic landscape, or the multitude of expressions they can find on someone's face. A simple angle from which a photographer views their subject can 'certain creativity. Inspiration itself is a creative process as our mind actively changes a simple object into an inspiration.
Inspiration is also deeply connected to our imagination. Almost anything can trigger our imagination. Our imagination allows us to envision things that do not exist yet, a car or a painting or a type of flower, a new planet with yellow sky or people with red eyes. These visions can become the source of inspiration for a movie or a book. Our imaginations have no limits.
What inspires some people doesn't 'others. It is believed by many psychologists that our personal circumstances and preferences, our childhood experiences and our subjective tastes, attitudes, personality will play a role in what we find interesting or inspiring. Our level of knowledge and understanding of a certain aspect of life can also determine the extent to which we are inspired by internal or external objects.
Scientists speak of inspiration coming from a sudden moment of enlightenment. They may work for years on discovering the perfect chemical components of a drug. Then suddenly, out of nowhere, some chemical equation comes to mind. Some of the most brilliant minds have told of having dreams the night before coming up with a musical masterpiece, an innovative invention, or an exquisite piece of art.
The source of inspiration is something unique for all of us. If you want to be inspired, surround yourself with sensory input that gives you the greatest stimulation, whether it's music, nature, art, poetry, or just plain solitude while watching the sun rise or set.

Reduce or Eliminate Your Debt

Reduce or Eliminate Your Debt

Debt in its simplest form means you have more to pay than you have money to pay it. Let's assume that you borrowed $150 from your best friend. You bought a lawn mower, gas can and gas to start work. Then you spent the day cutting grass and made $100. You bought more gas, some food and drink and paid your friend $50. At the end of the day, you are $100 in debt to your friend. 

Most folks purchase large ticket items like houses, cars or boats using a lending institution to borrow the funds. And then, pay the loan back over time. If your paycheck stopped coming tomorrow would you be in debt? Could you sell your boat, car or house for at least what you paid for it? Rarely will a car or boat be sold for more than you paid for it. In a down economy, even a house may not sell for what you owe on it. 

Getting into debt can happen suddenly; something unexpected happens. Or it can happen by choice; perhaps a choice made a year or so ago. But you can protect yourself by following this guideline. 

There are 3 categories of spending: Needs, Wants, and Desires. 

When you consider your spending (or borrowing) ask yourself the question: "Do I really need this?" Ask it again... Do I Really NEED this? What you really NEED is air to breath, water to drink, basic clothing to stay covered, basic housing, and basic transportation (and that doesn't necessarily translate to a car). 

Let's assume you NEED reliable transportation to get to work. No bus service there and to walk or ride a bike would be simply ridiculous considering its 30 miles away. 

Do you NEED a pre-owned VW Beetle, a mid-range vehicle, or a brand new BMW? You may NEED at least a VW Beetle to get to work. You would like or "WANT" a mid-range vehicle for more comfort. But your "DESIRE" may be a high-end BMW, Audi or Jag. 

Quite simply, if you make your decisions based on NEED it will help you reduce or eliminate your debt. In other words, you will quit overspending on wants and desires and be able to use your extra income to pay off your debt. 

There is a whole lot more to reducing or eliminating debt, but if you follow this simple rule, you will be on your way to becoming debt free.

~Why do success and punctuality go together?

Why do success and punctuality go together?

As a young ambitious TV producer, I once sat on the advisory board of an international television festival. Arriving late for a meeting one evening, the colleague I sat next to commented, "Yes you must be very busy." I was producing a massive internationally co-produced series. But he ran a national network. His comment was a subtle but unmistakable put-down I've never forgotten.

High-achievers are punctual.

Are they so successful because they are also so punctilious -- or does being so make what makes them achieve so much? I don't know but I can't help but be struck by the fact that the most successful people I know share the following habits:

They turn up on times
They reply to emails swiftly
They remember peoples' names, no matter what their status
They are reliable
We tend to think of leadership and excellence as residing in standout qualities: Mathematical genius, aesthetic dazzle. But these smaller traits contain profound messages. At the least, they signal self-discipline and good organization. More deeply, they imply a concern or at least respect for other people. Being punctual means you don't waste other peoples' time -- or think it is more important than your own. Replying swiftly allows others to get on with their work; you aren't their roadblock. Remembering names requires effort and that they do so implies they believe you matter. Being reliable frees their peers and colleagues from worrying about whether they'll deliver on promises.

All of these habits build trust -- and trust hugely reduces the friction and costs of doing business. So these habits are profoundly efficient for both the long and the short term.

Consider the opposite behaviors. Being late, ignoring or delaying emails, forgetting other people and being capricious in honoring promises sends a loud message: I matter more than anyone else. To get away with this attitude requires power -- so the caprice is also a demonstration of status. It also leaves other people feeling or being helpless. No reply to an email means other people can't progress with their work. If you aren't reliable, it means nobody can be quite sure of what is happening around them. You render others powerless while exhibiting your own status. Such wayward behavior in small things can look powerful while being insidiously costly and destructive.

This all seems so self-evident. And yet over the last few months, I've found myself repeatedly in meetings where key people are late, or working with colleagues who are unreliable. They're all senior, successful people and they get away with it. But I wonder if they fully understand or control the very clear messages that they send. I also can't help but wonder just how much further they'll get. 
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2014 CBS Interactive Inc.. All Rights Reserved.

By Margaret Heffernan Money Watch January 27, 2014, 11: 27 AM
www.cbsnews.com/news/why-do-success-and-punctuality-go-together/

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Your Budget for 2014

Like most people, you've probably overextended yourself by spending more than you had budgeted for the holiday season. Now that it's the beginning of the year, a budget has never been more important. 

Before trying to establish your budget, you need to start with the basics and understand what you are currently spending your money on. In a month how much do you spend on groceries, gas for the cars, heating, electric and water, cable and internet? You should also look at your expenses for going out to lunch or dinner, and extra-curricular activities for the kids. 

After you have determined what your monthly expenses are, it's time to sit down and begin planning your budget. First, list out on a spreadsheet how much you are spending on each of your monthly bills. For example:

• Electric: $100
• Internet/Cable/Phone: $200
• Groceries: $250
• Gas: $120
• Water Bill: $35
• Mortgage or Rent: $1500
• Car Payment: $350

Once you have listed your monthly bills, calculate what you are spending per month on other expenses, like entertainment expenses. List them out on the spreadsheet as well:

• Son's baseball camp: $250
• Daughter's gymnastics: $100
• Family dinner nights out: $250
• Weekly lunches out: $50

Don't forget some of your bills come on a quarterly, semi-annual, or annual basis. It's best to begin saving for those bills now, so when they come due, you will already have money set aside. Add these onto the spreadsheet as well.

• Tax Bills
• Life Insurance
• Homeowners Insurance
• Car Insurance

Once you have a full listing of your month-to-month bills, entertainment expenses and non-monthly bills, you are now ready to create your family budget. 

Let's assume you get paid twice per month. For your quarterly, semi-annual, and annual bills, figure out how much you need to save each paycheck in order to have enough money saved when the bills comes due. 

For example, if your life insurance policy has an annual renewal amount of $300, that means you need to save $25 per month in order to have the $300 available each year ($300/12 months). If you get paid twice per month, you need to save $12.50 per paycheck in order to have the $300 available at the end of the year. 

Now do the same with your monthly bills and entertainment expenses. Figure out what you need to save each paycheck in order to pay the bill at the end of the month. For example, your $100 per month electric bill, you need to save $50 per paycheck and for the $1500 per month mortgage; you need to save $750 per paycheck, and so on. 

Once you have all your monthly bills, entertainment expenses and non-monthly bills listed and broken down to what you need to save per paycheck, add up your total expenses and compare the total against the gross amount of your paycheck. Are your expenses greater than, less than, or equal to your gross pay? 

If your total monthly expenses are greater than your gross pay, by building a budget you are now able to clearly see where you are spending and where you might be able to cut back. Since your rent or mortgage is probably a non-negotiable monthly payment, you'll need to find other expenses that you can cut back on, such as entertainment. By making the change now, you can start to plan for a secure financial future.