Kirillss Blog

If there were anything more difficult than the transitions of the triathlon race then swimming would be it. Truly an endurance sport, swimming in triathlon races can actually dig the life out of you, especially when your body is not well adapted to the conditions that it requires.

You may have some basic backgrounds in swimming since it is known to be the most popular pastime sport Americans have. But you, when you’re seriously into the game of triathlon then backgrounds are no longer enough to let you know the feeling of reaching the finish line.

Your triathlon training in swimming can cover all or most of the strokes. And you may choose to use them during the race, after all no one says that freestyle stroke is a guarantee to get through the swim stage. Nevertheless, as we might have observed most racers are comfortable with freestyle stroke because it provides speed.

But competitors, at one time or another, can be seen using different strokes for whatever purpose they deem necessary. The problem with this though is that they have to break the momentum and start with a new stroke over again once they gain their speed. Somehow, this creates the struggle and that is what we want to eliminate. You have to get through this junction as smoothly as you can be.

You can get this through training. If you cant cross the pool straight for now, you never have to worry since practice will always create more perfect ways to achieve what you first set your mind to achieve.

Swimming is not only an activity of endurance, it also requires you tons of patients to get the proper technique and strength. Thrice a week practice will do you best, other than that you may over-exhaust your self or lack training.

While the swim part is not actually the longest stage, it still garners the longest training to master. After all, swimming is nearly a hundred percent technical.

On the general view, swimming should not be taken as the speed game. You only have to get through it to be able to reach the 2nd and last lap. It must not tire you, it only has to warm you up. It will prepare your muscle to flex during the last two legs of the race. The trick lies in the efficient use of energy so there will be more for the run and the bike stages.

You can’t expect to see yourself swim but you can trust an eye from a good trainer. He will show you the details of your flaws and will help you work on them.

This content is provided by Low Jeremy. It may be used only in its entirety with all links included. For more information on Triathlon & other useful information, please visit triathlon.articlekeep.com http://triathlon.articlekeep.com .

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As a book marketing guy and book publicist it’s imperative for me to keep up with all of the great books and magazine articles being published on the topic of book marketing.

I’ve read dozens and dozens of books on book marketing and usually have found a morsel or two of useful information in each one. Here’s a list of my favorites. By the way, I’ve personally met or have spoken to each author and can attest to the veracity of the material they present and their credentials to discuss these topics.

PyroMarketing. Book marketing professionals know the secrets of success that drove the sales of Rick Warren’s The Purpose Driven Life to a chart-busting best-seller and Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ” into a huge cinema phenom. Those of us in the business understand that sales of both blockbusters were driven by techniques outlined in a book called PyroMarketing by Greg Stielstra who gained fame in book publishing circles when he served as the marketing director for The Purpose Driven Life, the best-selling hardcover book in history.

PyroMarketing embraces an idea that really has been in use for some time - niche marketing. That tool is well-known and used every day by book promoters but Stielstra lays out the niche marketing principles with a new, crystal clear message that is so compelling that it is a must-read for anyone who wants to promote an idea, service or product. Read my in-depth review and watch a short entertaining video on the concept at: www.westwindcos.com. Buy it at: www.pyromarketing.com.

The Web-Savvy Writer: Book Promotion with a High-Tech Twist

This is an excellent “how to” book on the ins and outs of online book promotion and publicity focusing on the latest technology. Author Patrice-Anne Rutledge is a bestselling author, successful technology journalist, and online book promotion expert who has utilized online marketing techniques extensively to promote her books and writing career. Patricia plows new ground filling the gap in the book promotion marketplace with her highly focused book on bringing technology to the forefront in a book marketing campaign. “Web-Savvy Writer” is a MUST read if you want to utilize the most cost effective and viral methods in promoting your book like blogs, pay per click advertising, online reviews, ezines and more. After reading a few chapters you’ll soon realize what you don’t know about online marketing could fill volumes. She’s truly brilliant. Buy the online version of the book as it has hundreds of clickable links at: www.websavvywriter.com

John Kremer’s “1001 Ways To Market Your Books”

His 6th Edition published in 2006 describes more than 1000 ideas, tips, and suggestions for marketing books - all illustrated with real-life examples showing how other authors and publishers have marketed their books. John, who is a walking encyclopedia about book marketing says, “Eighty percent of all books are sold by word of mouth, but it’s publicity that primes the marketing pump. Remember that you cannot do everything, so hire the right persons to do the things you can’t do. If you’re not comfortable doing your own publicity, then hire someone who does it for a living. I could not have said it better. Be sure to check out his seminars on book marketing held around the U.S. too. Find out about that and his book at: www.bookmarket.com

Author! Screenwriter! How to Succeed as a Writer in New York and Hollywood

I always enjoy talking with Peter Miller, President, PMA Literary Film and Management, Inc. He’s one of the “big” agents in New York City. Known as ‘The Literary Lion,’ he has successfully managed over 1,000 books and dozens of motion picture and television properties. From big names like Vincent Bugliosi to the “next big star” he’s had eleven New York Times bestsellers and eleven produced films that he has managed or executive produced. He likes to do “three book deals” once he gets a writer he likes. In addition, he has a substantial number of film and television projects currently in active development. He divides his time between New York and Los Angeles, and frequently tours the country to speak at writers’ conferences and workshops. His insight into the publishing world and Hollywood is priceless. Buy his book, but if you can see him in person do it and tell him I said hi! www.pmalitfilm.com.

I strongly recommend the purchase of MAXIMUM EXPOSURE Marketing System Book Marketing Training Program for Publishers and Authors by Tami DePalma and Kim Dushinski. This is a very well written resource that teaches authors all about marketing their book. For example they have a complete list of reviewers you can send your book to, sample timelines, lists of distributors and much more. You can stay on top of the changes in the market too as they keep it updated on their web site and blog. Believe me, if it’s not in here it’s not important. Buy it at: www.MX-TheMatrix.com.

Since understanding all of the money making opportunities with your book can be a daunting task, I also recommend that you purchase Jim Donovan’s How to Write, Publish & Sell Your Book and Turn it Into a Never-ending Money Machine. His system will teach you the inner workings of the book business and how to leverage your books so they generate substantial multiple streams of income long after they’ve been published. Jim Donovan’s books have been published in eighteen countries and are being read by hundreds of thousands of people throughout the world so he knows what he’s talking about. www.writepublishsellyourbook.com

Free Book! That’s right, Midpoint Trade Books, a major book distributor has published an excellent handbook which features seven keys that are important for independent publishers to understand and master. If you want a quick read on everything you need to know about publishing, printing, editing, marketing and distributing your book then this is the one. The importance of using a book marketing professional is stressed by author Eric Kampmann, President of Midpoint Trade Books. Says Kampmann, Of course, there are many reasons why a book might become a success or even a bestseller, but we believe that the single best investment for you is an effective publicist. The 7 Keys To Publishing Success can be downloaded at no charge at: www.midpointtrade.com

Here’s a Very Expensive Book… but well worth the price. Its called “The Insider’s Guide to Large Quantity Book Sales.” Quite literally exactly what the title implies. BTW, we’re talking thousands of books at a time! Do I have your attention? You’ll be very impressed by the insight provided in the material about selling your book in large numbers. You have useful contact information for book club buyers and more importantly how to pitch and position your book for consideration. It also has sample contracts and agreements which are easily worth hundreds of dollars in saved legal fees alone if you had your attorney draft the documents. Written and published by the Jenkins Group Inc, this book is the result of years of the author, Jerrold Jenkins, publishing and selling massive quantities of books. If you are serious about selling large quantities of books and want the inside tips from a publisher who does it every day, then make the investment and download the book at: www.specialmarketbooksales.com/ http://www.specialmarketbooksales.com/

Author 101 Bestselling Book Publicity: The Insider’s Guide to Promoting Your Book–and Yourself. One thing about the book marketing and book promotion business is that there are so many nice people in the business. I rank Rick Frishman as one of the top publicists in the U.S. not to mention he’s a nice guy too! His book, co-authored by Robyn Freedman Spizman and Mark Steisel, offers advice and insight about every stage of the publishing world. Using testimonials and commentary, this book lets authors, agents, and publishers alike show you the things you should and shouldn’t do in promoting your book. Buy it at Amazon

Brian Jud’s “Beyond The Bookstore” is a terrific book about selling your book to everyone else other than a bookstore. I met Brian while co-presenting on a panel at a Learning Annex seminar in NYC on the topic of book marketing. I covered the topic of book publicity, he covered selling books. Brian Jud says since more than half of all book sales come from outside bookstores it’s important to target these markets. Mass merchandisers such as Wal-Mart or Costco, gift shops, airport stores, home-shopping networks, book clubs, libraries, network-marketing companies, catalogs, associations, government agencies, corporations, educational markets, retail stores and military branches all buy and sell books.

Brian walks you through creating a special sales plan, where to find the people you need to contact to make your pitch. If you really want to sell books outside the bookstore market then buy Beyond the Bookstore at: www.bookmarketingworks.com

Book Marketing A-Z by Francine Silverman. More than 300 authors, marketers and publicists, including yours-truly tell about their best promotional strategies with regards to book marketing. You’ll undoubtedly find several good ideas to implement. While you’re at it, check out Fran’s Book Promotion Newsletter which for $7.50 a year is the best value in book marketing in the USA. Buy her book here: www.bookpromotionnewsletter.com

There are many books out there on the topic of book marketing, book publishing and just plain everyday business marketing in general. You can read the ones I’ve described above but unless you want to spend days and weeks learning about book marketing, you might find it useful to retain an expert on book marketing or hire an experienced book publicist. I am sure that after you read two or three of these you’ll seriously question the idea of self promotion.

Why? The reason is that today’s book market is extremely competitive. The world is awash in books. Bowker (The keeper of all ISBNs) says that in 2005 more than 172,000 books were published in the United States, plus 206,000 published in the UK. How can Borders, Barnes and Noble, Amazon, your local library or anyone else effectively sell or showcase that number let alone the millions of previously printed titles? The answer: They can’t.

Furthermore, I do not recommend self-promotion, for the same reason you don’t cut your own hair. You can do it, but it’s not going to be that good. Book marketing and book promotion requires special skills and most authors simply do not know how to market a book nor do they have the time or, more importantly, the patience. A publicist develops and nurtures relationships with writers, editors and producers so they trust us when we give them a story idea about a book or author.

The bottom line: While I do recommend these books as a basis for understanding the book marketing and book promotion process a wise author would be even wiser to retain a book publicist to market and promote their book. If you come to the same conclusion please by all means give me a call!

Scott Lorenz is President of Westwind Communications, a public relations and marketing firm that specializes in book marketing and author publicity. His clients have been featured by Good Morning America, FOX & Friends, CNN, ABC Nightly News, The New York Times, Nightline, TIME, PBS, Los Angeles Times, USA Today, Washington Post, Family Circle, Woman’s World, & Howard Stern to name a few. To discuss how Westwind Communications helps authors get all the publicity they deserve and more call 734-667-2090 or email scottlorenz@westwindcos.com scottlorenz@westwindcos.com . For more information visit www.westwindcos.com/book http://www.westwindcos.com/book

The Christian Science Monitor - Sir John Templeton was many things to many people.

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One of the key roles of management is to build business through relationships. A common way to build relationships is through referrals: with, for and through banks, attorneys, employees, peers, and anyone else who has something that someone else wants or needs. The better you are at managing the referral, the better off you and those in your organization will be. Unfortunately, even though most referrals start with good intentions, they’re conducted haphazardly and don’t yield the results people expect. It’s often the reason that referrals are not offered. Who wants to be burned? The tips in this article should help you control the outcomes and get what you want.

Everyone has been embarrassed by their association with another person at one time or another. How about that cousin you wouldn’t want anyone to know about? But what happens when the embarrassment happens in a business situation: more specifically, when you refer one person to another and one of those parties is unprofessional or just plain screws up? Making a bad connection could cost you money or something more valuable and much harder to recoup-your reputation.

We once stepped into an awkward situation when we referred a business peer, seeking a specific product, to one of our clients, who just so happened to offer that very product. We thought we were doing a good thing, a win-win-win thing…until we received a phone call from our client explaining that the referred person made a vulgar offer to a woman on the client’s staff when she said she couldn’t go any lower on her price. We were shocked. Our client ended the conversation with, I’m not sure what to do, but what he [the business peer] did was disrespectful to my staff and to you. I’m going to let you handle this. The outcome was hardly the one we were shooting for. All we could do was apologize and hope our reputation didn’t take too big a hit.

The referral is part of Business 101, and it’s a valuable way to extend your business connections. Typical referrals involve three parties: the person who wants something, the person who has something to give, and the person who connects the two. Sounds simple and clean…but as our bad experience shows, sometimes things get messy. So what can you do to facilitate successful referrals? That depends on which of the three roles you’re playing. Here they are.

The person who wants something. If someone connects you to another party, remember to:

1….respect relationships that others have developed. Consider it your way of saying “thanks” to the person who made the connection.

2….stay professional and avoid being too casual or friendly. A referral ONLY opens a door of opportunity. You’re still responsible for building your own relationship.

3….conduct yourself in a way that honors the “referrer.” Your actions represent yourself AND the person who gave you the referral.

4….leave foul language at the door. Everyone has a different tolerance point.

5….keep ethics above board. To do so will net you a double win. To fail will curse you with a double loss at the very least. Good news travels; bad news travels faster.

6….check the ego. Don’t believe that your credentials, awards, accomplishments and the referral impress everyone so much that you can leave your manners at the door.

The person who has something to give. If someone sends business your way, make sure you:

1….deliver what you promise, and promise only what you KNOW you can deliver. If you find that you can’t help out, be honest about it and say thank you.

2….make good on any mistakes that occur. People understand that errors happen. Keep both of the other two parties’ interests in mind when taking responsibility for those errors.

3….if you want to keep the referral business pouring in, make sure you meet or exceed the expectations of the person doing the referring. Hint: they’re expecting you to make them look good.

4….never “bad mouth” the person who referred the business or the one providing the service. What you say will almost surely get back to them.

The person who connects the two. Before you connect one person to another, make sure you:

1….know whom you’re dealing with. Only connect people who will show you in a good light…that goes for the person who wants something as well as the one who has something to give.

2….aren’t connecting people for the soul purpose of getting reciprocal referrals. A client in Boston complained about giving out referrals but rarely getting them in return. Instead of expecting referrals, he learned that the real value came back to him in the form of strengthened business relationships with others.

3….kick off the transaction in a professional fashion. Whether by telephone, email, or in person, set a tone of respect by introducing each person as a respected professional.

4….butt out when you see the relationship blossom. Chalk up the connection as another success and move on.

Referral etiquette is basically pretty simple. Behave yourself, respect others, and do the right thing. Then make sure you deal only with those who do the same. The combination is a winning formula for building new business relationships and strengthening old ones.

© David and Lorrie Goldsmith

David and Lorrie Goldsmith are managing partners of a firm that offers consulting and speaking services internationally.David was named by Successful Meetings as one of the “26 Hottest Speakers in the Industry. More information at www.keynoteresource.com http://www.keynoteresource.com

AP - Myanmar’s cyclone-devastated Irrawaddy delta and Indonesia’s Sumatra island face high risks of arsenic contamination in groundwater that could cause cancer and other diseases in residents, according to a new study.

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With the low carb fashion that has hit the nation beef jerky is again very popular. One of the main reasons that beef jerky is healthy is the fact that to make the jerky last for so long the fat needs to be neat or the beef will go bad unless a lot of salt and preservatives are added.

Considering that there is much more of the beef than the fat in jerky it makes it very high in protein and without a lot of carbs. This is good news to the legions of people that follow the Atkin’s diet. Also many people that are conscious about their health prefer marinating and then smoking their own meat because it affords them the knowledge of exactly what they are consuming.

If you are looking for a healthy and suitable snack to take anywhere, this is it. It is especially great for camping as it is compact, gives needed nutrients, tastes great, and does not go bad. Many people that backpack carry beef jerky just for these reasons. It is also light and easy to carry. It is often put in vacuum preserved packaging to pack in the freshness so no matter how long you carry the beef jerky for it stays fresh.

Even though its origins are thought to be from South America during the 1800’s, Americans love their beef jerky. The Quechua tribe of Indians made a product similar to beef jerky which they called ch’arki which is where the name jerky came from. They used elk, deer, and buffalo meat and added salt to them before drying it out or placing the meat over the fire. This made for the preservation of meat that was needed when food was not as available for whatever reason.

The Spaniards took to making this popular snack as well when they inhabited parts of South America and then introduced it worldwide. American cowboys and the early pioneers took to it as beef jerky became a stable of their diets on the border. The early explorers of the country would construct smoke huts and then they would cut strips of meat to be smoked, dried, or put over a fire. The real beef jerky came along when the meat was first flavored. By adding spices the meat became better tasting.

With more people being wary of what they are eating and at the same time looking for low cost healthy foods, beef jerky is seeing something of a rebirth. It’s a great snack for adults and kids alike and everyone has to admit that eating a stick of beef jerky is much better for you and better tasting than a high fat treat.

James L. Paleta provides readers with up-to-date commentaries, articles on www.articles-on-food.com http://www.articles-on-food.com and other helpful www.allhealthcarearticles.com http://www.allhealthcarearticles.com .

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Removing stains could be a tough and frustrating job. Before you work on a stain, you need to know the stain type and fabric type. Read these simple stain removal rules to know more.

1. Remove stains as soon as possible. Removing a fresh stain is much easier than an old one.

2. Instructions are written for a reason. Make sure you follow the instructions on the stain removal products you use. Also, follow the instructions on the washing labels on the clothes. Instructions help you to avoid ruining the clothes.

3. Remember to test any stain remover on a hidden place first. Make sure you will not have color fastness problems before using the product on larger areas.

4. When working on a stain, apply the stain treatment on the back of the garment. Put a clean white cloth under the stained part. Change the place of the clean cloth under the stain while garment soaks up the removal product.

5. Bleaching usually works on white fabrics. However, bleaching one tiny stain on color fabrics can result in an uneven color patch. Check the washing label before you consider using bleach.

6. Everything takes time, and stain removal is no exception. It is required sometimes to repeat the treatment if stain persists. Just make sure to check if the stain is still there or not before the garment dries out. Drying only helps to fix the stains.

How to Get Rid of Stains?

There are two main types of stains: water-based stains and oil-based ones. For example, tea or coffee stains are water-based. Most food stains are also considered as water-based. Oil-based stains include cooking oil, butter and grease stains. Other stains such as paint and lipstick are classified as solvent-based. Make sure you identify the kind of stain you have, and use the correct stain removal product for it.

Oil-Based Stains

The key to remove grease and oil stains is to wash clothes in the hottest water that is safe for the fabric. Gently rub liquid stain remover into the stain and let stand for 1 to 3 minutes. A citrus solvent based liquid stain remover, helps break down tough stains, leaving the clothes smelling fresh. Wash in hot water as indicated on the garment tag. If stain persists, re-apply and re-wash.

Water-Based Stains

Remove the stain excess with a clean cloth. Get a natural solvent to dissolve water-based stains it works well even in cold water. This kind of product will not cause fabrics to shrink or fade. Apply the stain remover spray to the soiled part, and allow it to sit for 1 to 3 minutes. If the stain is removed, wash as recommended. For tough stains, repeat the treatment and wash before drying.

Stain Removal from Non-Washable Clothing

To remove stains from non-washable clothing, sponge to remove any excess. Remove the stain by using a product made especially for dry cleanable clothes , while placing a clean cloth under the stained area. When cleaning the stain, work from outside to the center, to avoid the clean part from leaving a mark.

Vincent Platania represents the Stanley Home Products. Stanley Home Products has been in business since 1936, and offers high quality home and personal care products to keep your home and your body clean. Visit www.stanleyhomecare.com http://www.stanleyhomecare.com .

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Working near your home can certainly be to your advantage. It can really be convenient if you have a dog. Working close to your home allows you to walk your dog during your lunch hour. This minimizes the possibility of finding an unpleasant ’surprise’ left by your pet. But it can be a bit more complicated if your work place is a long way from home. If you don’t happen to have the good fortune of working near your home, you will find the Johnson pet door very useful.

Johnson pet doors are considered to be the best in the business. It’s preferred by countless dog lovers all over the country. Hop online to read more about how satisfied owners are of the reliability of this brand. The variety of styles and color, safety features, and easy installation place it well ahead of the competition.

You might think that buying it from a store would be easier than going through the World-Wide -Web. Take it from me; purchasing your own Johnson pet door through the internet is a whole lot better than getting it from the store. For starters, the prices offered online are a lot cheaper than those you would find at pet stores. Don’t worry shipping expenses are not as expensive as you may think. Overall you can save at least 15% off the price offered at local stores. And you wouldn’t have to worry about loading your Johnson pet door into your car.

Believe me your dog will definitely appreciate the freedom made available by the Johnson pet door. Mine was installed weeks ago and it works perfectly. It’s just what I wanted. I can now enjoy longer weekend trips and avoid the hassle of having to rush home from work everyday to walk your dog. All of it made possible through the amazing Johnson pet door.

Morgan Hamilton offers expert advice and great tips regarding all aspects concerning pets. Get the information you are seeking now by visiting www.petsnewsonline.com/pets–animals/pet-news/a-review-of-the-johnson-pet-door.html http://www.petsnewsonline.com/pets–animals/pet-news/a-review-of-the-johnson-pet-door.html

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In my family, we have camping lovers and camping haters. My husband, kids, and I love to go camping. My mother just stares at me every time I talk about an upcoming camping trip and asks why I want to leave my brand new home that has a brand new bed with a brand new mattress so that I can go sleep in the woods on a mattress I fill with air. Being the articulate person I am I say, “Because it’s fun.”

It’s hard to explain to a non camper how relaxing it is to be out in the open air all day at a campground with miles of trails to hike and bike; or by a lake to go swimming, boating, or fishing in.

I tell my Mom how it’s fun to explore the area trails; looking at the views, the vegetation, and the wildlife. For example, during a recent camping trip an evening bike ride brought me within 10 feet of a baby deer out with its mother. It’s hard to explain how fun it is to be able to see something like that.

But instead my Mom asked me how bad the bugs bit and if I got sunburned during that day’s hike.

Then I try to explain to her about how much fun it is to sit around the campfire at night. It’s a great time for casual conversation and to have a beverage and maybe a few toasted marshmallows or S’mores. I love watching the flames and listening to the wood crackle and pop. My mom asks how we keep the mosquitoes away (lots of tiki torches and mosquito repellant) and says, “Doesn’t it get boring after a half hour?” Again, being the articulate person I am my answer is, “Ummmm, no.”

I try to explain the food cooked outdoors just tastes better. Campfire coffee along with bacon and eggs is hard to beat. And those little S’more makers you can buy in the store are nothing like the delicious S’mores you make over a real campfire. And if you’ve never had a pudgie pie made over a campfire, you’re missing out on one of the best camping foods there is! But when I explain to my Mom how good camping food is, she wonders if the bugs buzz around the food we’re trying to eat and asks if I miss my dishwasher. Thanks Mom! My pop-up camper doesn’t have hot water so I have to do things the old fashioned way and heat the water I need to wash dishes.

When it comes to camping though, most non campers could deal with sleeping in a tent or a pop-up camper and wouldn’t mind cooking their food outside. But the one sticking point for many non-campers is the bathroom and shower facilities at campgrounds (unless you’re lucky enough to have a camper with its own bathroom and shower facilities). Camping is not like staying at a 5 star hotel. The bathroom and shower amenities take a little getting used to. Some people will wait as long as possible to go to the bathroom because they want to avoid using the pit toilets at the campground any more than necessary. My sister-in-law doesn’t mind the pit toilets as much as she minds the spiders that are usually in them.

Camping is what you make of it. Nobody says you have to like it. My Mom doesn’t but I sure do. It’s a way to get away from the daily stresses of your normal life, kick back, relax, and enjoy yourself for a few days. You’ll have responsibilities no more taxing than deciding what clothes to wear that day, what to eat, and whether you want to go for a walk or a bike ride or just sit in a chair and relax by the campfire.

D Ruplinger shares her camping experiences and advice at www.campingearth.com http://www.campingearth.com . Make sure you get her outstanding camping newsletter for great camping tips and campfire recipes - www.campingearth.com/newsletter/ http://www.campingearth.com/newsletter/ .

AP - A judge sentenced a woman to three years in prison on Friday for helping her fiance flee from London after he failed in an attempted suicide bombing.

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Home-made Christmas presents make lovely gifts. They are special because the person who makes the gift puts a lot of time and thought into the present. This Christmas plant pot present is stylish, funky, and easy to make and celebrates the religious element of Christmas time, the birth of Jesus Christ.

All you need is…

A terracotta plant pot, of any size you choose. Some black gloss paint or another night sky colour. Gloss or silk emulsion paint is great. A mini tester pot would be ideal or leftovers from the shed.

A small amount of metallic or white paint.

No Nails glue.

A selection of coloured glass stones.

Firstly, paint your plant pot in the night sky coloured paint. You may wish to apply two coats to get a nice finish. Use the paint in accordance with the directions on the paint tin. Only continue once the paint is completely dry.

Using metallic or white gloss paint, paint a star onto the plant pot. The star should have four points or arms, and it should look a bit like a crucifix. This is the basis of the focal point of the plant pot. This is the star that shone down upon the stable at the nativity, and which led the three wise men and the shepherds to the place where Jesus was born.

Allow the star to dry.

Using no nails glue, stick on a glass stone at the centre of the painted star. Now stick other glass stones on the pot to give the appearance of a starry sky. You can sick on actual star formations, the plough or the great bear or any others that you know. Don’t forget to decorate the back of your plant pot too.

This festive plant pot would make a super Christmas present just as it is, or you could plant it up with some springtime bulbs.

Santa’s helper S. Roberts is great at coming up with Christmas gift ideas, check out more christmas ideas at www.santaspostbag.co.uk/christmas-fun-stuff.html http://www.santaspostbag.co.uk/christmas-fun-stuff.html If you publish this article there is a image at www.santaspostbag.co.uk/christmas-night-plantpot-christmas-make.html http://www.santaspostbag.co.uk/christmas-night-plantpot-christmas-make.html save it to your server do NOT hotlink and please link back to www.santaspostbag.co.uk/christmas-fun-stuff.html http://www.santaspostbag.co.uk/christmas-fun-stuff.html - Thanks!

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I know very well what it’s like to have family who live far away. When I was growing up, my grandparents and aunts/uncles and cousins lived across the ocean. When I had my own kids, their grandparents and aunts/ uncles lived on the other side of the country. Now that my sister has 2 small children, the youngest of whom I’ve never met, this being far away has hit me again. How can we show far away family, especially when children are involved, that we want to be close and stay connected?

We could design a gift basket for family members who live far away, just to say we care. We would put into it several mementos that make the distance between us seem smaller.

If we have young children, we could send grandparents a digital picture frame. In case you’re wondering what a digital picture frame is; it is a device about the size and shape of a picture frame that has a LCD screen. The screen displays multiple photos in a slide show format, and it connects to the Internet via the phone line to download new pictures and information to display. You use your computer to upload photos to a website and every day the frame uses the phone line to connect to the website and download any new photos. This is an ideal way to send digital photos of the family to grandparents who lack a computer and/or the skills to use one.

We could also include a DVD, or a video depending on the equipment we and they have, of some recent activity; perhaps our child scoring a goal at soccer or performing in a recital, or even just a family picnic or something like that. Photos are great, certainly better than nothing, but they just don’t show you what the child is really like as well as video does. They don’t give you as much of a feeling of being there as a movie does. We could also include a tape (either audiotape or videotape) of our child giving the recipient a special message.

Of course we could always send regular photos too. One idea to make a photo special is to cut out the shape of the children (the important part) and have it glued onto a plastic block so that it stands upright by itself. Another idea is to frame the photo in a magnetic frame that is suitable for the holiday so that it is easy to put on the fridge. I have one on my fridge right now that is a heart frame for Valentines Day. You can often get these at places like Target. We could include a picture the child has drawn or painted, or even a small thing the child has made himself if the child likes to do crafts.

Of course, most of these ideas are not just for children and grandparents, although I know that the time when you feel the farthest away from your family is when either you are a child away from grandparents, or you are away from a small child, especially a grandchild. These ideas can be applied to any faraway family members. When family members move away is when they most need to know that we’re thinking of them. A gift basket would be a great way to reassure them of this.

Tracy Crowe loves to feel connected and closer to her family.

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Here’s a Proven Method to Target ‘Sales Skill Training’ to Resolve Sales Performance Issues

Sales training programs encompass a variety of necessary components; things like company policies, sales paperwork, CRM/sales force automation orientation, sales processes, company services, sales skill training and product features and benefits.

But when I ask Sales executives and Sales trainers how their current sales training program is aligned with their sales performance issues I get the look of “No speak English’.

Let’s first categorize ‘Sales performance issues’. There are (4) distinct sales performance silos that will effect the overall outcome of any sales team, year in and year out. They are:

% of Sales reps to Quota
Average New-hire Ramp-to-Quota in months
Sales Employee Turnover rate
Time spent versus Result achieved

This is a good place to start in determining what sales skill training to implement to achieve a measurable return on investment. But here’s what will set you apart when you walk the request up to the front office. Start out with the NUMBERS.

That’s right. Take a diagnostic view of your current sales performance silos, one by one.

Let’s look at a real sales performance issue example of ‘Average New-hire Ramp-to-Quota’. I recently conducted a ‘Sales Performance Improvement Blueprint’ web-cast for this sales organization.

The company was hiring 155 sales reps per year. The ultimate objective of any new-hire sales training program is to ramp the new sales rep to Quota. Simply, give them everything they need to effectively reach their monthly sales goal.

So how was this company doing? They were obtaining this ultimate sales training program objective in 7 months. So how does one determine if that training outcome is a ‘Sales Performance Issue’? Let’s take a look.

Step 1: ‘Run the Numbers’ for any realistic ROI opportunity

Each new-hire rep had an ultimate quota of $3500
Sales Cycle was 17 days
Average customer term agreement of 36 months
Average ‘Sub-Quota’ revenue per month during ramp of $1300 (This number reflects the average monthly revenue a new-hire achieves before they achieve quota attainment)

Step 2: ‘Run the Numbers’ hypothetically for a 1 month improvement

In this case, I showed the sales management team what return on investment they would get by helping just 1 sales rep achieve full sales quota in 6 months versus 7 months. Based on their numbers my diagnostic system showed them a ROI of $79,200 just by trimming off 30 days. If they did that for all 155 of their annual new-hires, they could realize $12,276,000.

And that got their attention. So, is it now a worthy sales performance issue to attach pin-point sales training to? Not quite yet.

Step 3: ‘Run the Numbers’ for a Reality Check

The most successful businesses - and certainly, sales departments - have identified their Key Performance Indicators (KPI); individual gateways that directly effect the outcome of a particular process. Then they measure the competency ratios in line with them.

A good KPI example in the sales process might be how many times you advance the first sales appointment to the next phase, whether that’s a demonstration, a site visit, a survey or a proposal. Another KPI is how many times you gain a new customer once the first gateway is passed. And when you do gain a new customer, what’s the average revenue you achieve? And how long does it take to gain a new customer on average; i.e. sales cycle?
How about how long it takes you to gain 1 new sales appointment, defined by sales prospect ‘conversation’? And as a by-product of all this, how many new appointments are needed each week?

We ran these numbers in the system to see ‘if and where’ there were some leaks in the ‘KPI ship’. And here’s what we discovered; not a leak, but a big ‘ole fire hose.

Two ‘KPI issues’ were apparent. First, why does the ramp-to-quota for a new-hire take 7 months when the average sales cycle is 17 days? Second, they were only setting 3 new appointments per week when they needed to set 6, based on their other KPIs. So their sales appointment ‘activity barometer’ was only running at 50%. And that will dictate a longer ramp-to-quota.

Dig a bit deeper in the system and out popped a 6% conversation-to-appointment ratio; they had to conduct 15 prospect conversations to get 1 new appointment.

OK, back to the ‘Reality Check’. Is it realistic to focus on reducing the new-hire ramp-to-quota from 7 months to 6 months for a sales training ROI of $12,276,000 or $79,200 per rep?

You bet it is. These folks needed to address the front-end of their sales process; setting targeted sales appointments. To do that, they needed (1) establish an activity standard to reach quota by month six and (2) develop a sales prospecting methodology and supporting system to spend less time in achieving it.

Then they needed to plug their sales prospecting ’system’ into their current sales training program and work to a weekly sales appointment activity goal to assure a monthly revenue result by month 6.

Step 4: Set the Goal and ‘Train to It’

A sales training ROI goal of $12,276,000 or $79,200 per rep is for sure a worthy one. And the diagnostic system showed us they would meet this goal just by setting 3 additional sales appointment per week per rep; 6 appointments versus 3.

Actually, I lied. The system showed an even brighter picture if the sales appointment activity standard of 6 new appointments per week was met. If they could support their new-hires with a sales prospecting system that could help them achieve 6 new sales appointments per week, they would actually cut their new-hire Ramp-to-Quota by 4 months; from the current 7 months down to 3 months.

And that sales training ROI would be $316,800 per rep or a whopping $49,104,000.

One of the reasons why sales training fails is a failure to define a useful objective. In this case, our diagnostic method has defined a single useful objective for them to train to. And this same diagnostic method can be utilized if you have a ‘Sales Performance Issue’ of an unacceptable percentage of Sales reps reaching Quota each month.

In Part 2, we will take a look at (2) other sales performance issues, ‘Sales Employee Turnover rate’ and ‘Time spent versus Result achieved’ with this same sales management team and see what our diagnostic method to sales performance improvement and ROI turns up.

Jeff Hardesty is a National sales speaker, Sales performance improvement consultant and the Developer of the X2 Sales System?, a blended sales prospecting training system that teaches sales professionals the competency of setting targeted C-level business appointments.

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