general information: Shh … We’re Eating; Mindfulness Meditation in the Dining Room
- 05/03/12 12:54 PM
Most of us would agree we need a break from our fast-paced lifestyles. But would eating in silence be carrying it too far? Mindful meditation – a technique to slow down and be in the moment – is moving from the yoga mat to the dining room table in hopes of restoring calmness to the process of nourishing our bodies. Once the preserve of Buddhist monks, mindful meditation is now seen as a powerful tool by the scientific and medical communities to combat stress, depression, anxiety and other lifestyle diseases. Mindful eating is being touted as a way of bringing a … (2 comments)
Ultrabooks are the new and smarter versions of laptops - thinner, lighter, just as sturdy and often offering the same system performance as your run-of-the-mill laptop.They're also just slightly more expensive with an average price tag of about $1,000.They're great as a business investment, even if you're not always on the go.New business ultrabooks, including the Dell XPS133 and HP Folio 13, offer the same benefits as space-consuming desktops.Executives benefit from high-quality webcams, secure software, reliability and portability.Ultrabooks continue to thrive, with a recent Consumer Electronics Expo showcasing … (5 comments)
general information: How to Prepare for the Spring Housing Market
- 02/15/12 12:09 PM
Spring is just around the corner. It is the time of year when sellers and buyers gird up for what has traditionally been the most important season for buying or selling a home. The following are some ways to prepare: Sellers Sellers should be aware that there's a lot of competition for buyers in the spring. That means sellers should do everything possible to differentiate their home from others, including the following: Polish windows and floors, rake the yard, mow the lawn, and add flowers in containers. Wash blinds and curtains and have carpeting cleaned. If a seller has spent the … (0 comments)
general information: How to Hire the Right Bookkeeper
- 02/10/12 02:01 PM
You cannot win a band competition without instruments, and you cannot succeed in business without a bookkeeping system. Hiring a bookkeeping service is normally the best choice for every business that isn’t large enough to have a bookkeeper on staff. Attempting a shortcut by assigning bookkeeping to an untrained employee as a side duty is a recipe for disaster. A sound bookkeeper is identifiable as conducting the work using the right processes. Reliable bookkeeping services create a system of verification and reconciliation. This ensures data integrity. Bookkeepers accomplish this by comparing your accounting to statements and reports from financial institutions. Good … (3 comments)
general information: 5 Tips for Losing Weight After the Holidays
- 12/27/11 07:39 AM
After weeks of parties, baking, extravagant dinners and holiday-themed cocktails, many people wake up in January to find they've added a few extra pounds. According to several studies from the last 10 years, the average adult gains at least one pound during the holiday season. A study by The New England Journal of Medicine indicates most people don't ever shed that weight. Following are some tips and tricks to help you sensibly shed the holiday weight: Trade Sugary Juice and Soda for Water: Drinking water will help your body flush out toxins and can stop you from overeating. If you overindulged … (1 comments)
general information: How Smaller Resolutions Can Get You Bigger Results
- 12/26/11 02:20 AM
On Jan. 1, many people pledge resolutions of titanic proportions. By the time February rolls around, though, about 75% of those people will have given up.People fail on resolutions because big goals aren't realistic. So instead of making big goals, make smaller, more realistic goals that are not only doable but also rewarding. For example:Play More: Get involved in a fun recreational activity like a cooking class. Try out a new hobby or rekindle an old one. That way you'll be carving out more time for yourself and doing something relaxing. Stepping away from what you normally do most of the … (3 comments)
general information: How to Use Those Weird QR Codes
- 12/13/11 01:35 PM
Confused about the black-and-white boxes that seem to be popping up in the corner of every poster, flyer and billboard? Welcome to the world of Quick Response (QR) codes. People can scan the codes with their smartphone cameras and receive video, photos, text information and more. The one at the top of this article will take people to www.google.com when scanned. As a way to bring people into an online space, QR codes have great potential for small businesses. They’re inexpensive and easy to use, and they’re an interactive and fun way to engage an audience. Following are four ways to … (5 comments)
general information: 7 Tips for Surviving the Holiday Road Trip
- 11/23/11 04:16 AM
The holidays are a time of candy canes, presents, and, of course, long car trips to visit family and friends across the country. Surviving a road trip can be a challenge even for adults - but with kids? Well, you just have to prepare ahead. Following are some tips to get you started: 1. Smile through the "Daddy I have to go," moments by packing toilet paper and bringing a potty chair. 2. For babies, attach colorful mobiles that are out of reach but within visual range of their car seats. They'll be happily occupied for hours. 3. Encourage toddlers … (1 comments)
general information: Simple Food Ideas for a Jolly Holiday Season
- 11/22/11 04:34 AM
It's difficult to believe that the holidays are upon us once again, but it's time to start the preparations. You can make this year's festive season stress-free and memorable with some simple food ideas. The holiday season should be about having a good time with your friends and family and not about feeling stressed or overwhelmed. Take some pressure off your gatherings by preparing dishes ahead of time that only need to be reheated before serving. Do you have friends and family who also like to cook? Ask them to bring an appetizer or side dish to give you more time … (0 comments)
general information: Why it Pays to Use a Buyer's Agent
- 11/22/11 01:38 AM
These days, a click of the mouse can open a world of dream homes to you. But when you're facing down a determined seller or trying to figure out what to offer, it literally pays to have a buyer's agent on your side. Real estate is all about negotiation. On one side there's the seller and his or her listing agent, who is bound by a legal agreement to represent the seller's interest. On the other side is the buyer - you - who wants to walk out a winner, having paid a price you're comfortable with for a home you love. … (0 comments)
The best businesses always have something bigger than the pursuit of profit...they have an idea behind them.
The unfortunate passing of Apple's Steve Jobs rekindled what it means to be a visionary. For Apple, it was superb design and flawless functionality. They then turned an idea into an empire worth more than the U.S. Treasury. All businesses can benefit from a vision statement. It keeps your business plan focused and it helps set you apart from the competition.
Coming up with the big idea can be tough. To develop your vision statement, consider what led you to … (0 comments)
general information: 5 Ways to Make Good Use of the Holiday Lull
- 11/19/11 01:50 PM
If you're not working in a retail environment, chances are the holiday season is a slack time for you.This annual slowdown can be a good opportunity for you to catch up, evaluate the past year and prepare for the one ahead.The following are five ways you can make the holiday slowdown work for you and your business:Update Processes and Install New Software: This is a great time to identify new processes and programs that can help you work better, faster and more efficiently. Take advantage of the December lull to research what's new and to train yourself and your staff on new … (4 comments)
general information: Trying Turducken This Thanksgiving?
- 11/05/11 04:37 AM
If you’re looking for something different to serve this Thanksgiving, perhaps a little turducken may be in order. Turducken was popularized by NFL analyst and announcer John Madden during a nationally televised football game. It is a variation of a dish that was served by wenches in 18th-century England. But now, the deboned chicken stuffed into a deboned duck stuffed into a deboned turkey with bread stuffing in between has achieved fame. It generated more than 700,000 results in a search on Google in September. With plans for Thanksgiving celebrations now under way, it might soon double that. For all the … (2 comments)
general information: Serve Up Some Gratitude This Thanksgiving Holiday
- 11/04/11 03:47 PM
Former President John F. Kennedy once said, “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” As we approach Thanksgiving, we may want to remember those words. As Kennedy implies, it’s living in a grateful way that has meaning. Not in speaking the words of gratitude. Too many of us wait until Thanksgiving to remember the good things in our lives. But it needn’t be a one-day wonder. The power that gratitude engenders can be a great force for good in this world. As such, it should … (0 comments)
general information: Surprise! You Can Get More Done When You Nap
- 10/15/11 04:42 PM
It might surprise you to know that taking a catnap during the day is actually a good idea.Daytime rest has been shown to improve health, mood, efficiency and even job satisfaction.Sleep experts say that naps are not just physically restorative, but also good for perception, motor skills, information retention, reaction time and alertness. There is plenty of medical evidence to back up these assertions.Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, confirmed that napping can improve the brain's ability to retain information, especially after sleep deprivation.A study done at the University of Haifa in Israel showed that naps helped accelerate long-term memory … (3 comments)
general information: Should You Make Those Repairs Before Selling Your Home?
- 10/15/11 04:28 PM
Just how much should you invest in repairs to sell your home?It comes down to how desperate you are to sell and what changes are needed.Significant structural problems or major electrical or plumbing repairs must be disclosed to potential buyers. If you are unaware of these problems and they are discovered during the home inspection, they will have to be fixed at your expense or you'll have to hand over an equivalent amount to allow the buyers to fix them themselves.So if you are aware of significant repairs that need to be made, why not avoid the hassles and fix them … (7 comments)
general information: How Wi-Fi Can Help Landlords Attract New Tenants
- 10/12/11 02:17 PM
With our increasing dependence on Internet access, commercial landlords have the perfect opportunity to attract new tenants. Offering Wi-Fi access is a relatively inexpensive and easy way to attract new tenants and retain high-quality existing tenants. Wi-Fi is attractive to all levels of commercial tenants, as it has benefits for tenants as well as their customers. When first looking into setting up a wireless network for a commercial building, the landlord must ensure that the infrastructure is in place. The size of the structure will determine the cost of the system required to offer a stable Wi-Fi network for tenants. The … (4 comments)
general information: Choosing the Right Location for Your Business
- 10/11/11 03:41 PM
For property and business owners alike, the location of a property plays a key role in the success of the business. Industrial property owners want areas with additional hydro and water access, retail outlets desire more foot traffic, and office owners want access to public parking and the amenities that attract professional clientele.The best locations often have a premium cost, depending on the local market, and those costs need to be carefully weighed against the benefits. Following are three criteria to help with location selection:Assess the Business Requirements of the Development Carefully: Every property owner has a wish list of what he … (3 comments)
general information: Proper Real Estate Investing Starts with a Plan
- 10/05/11 01:50 PM
Whether you’re a seasoned investor or just exploring investment opportunities, you won’t get very far without a plan. Successful investing starts with thinking about a goal, then mapping out a route to get there, leaving room for the inevitable obstacles that get in the way. Your Plan Ask yourself why you want to invest in real estate? Is it passive income? Do you want to be a full-time real estate investor? One way to get clear about your wants is to visualize your future and write out what it looks like. Following are a few things to think about:
… (1 comments)
general information: Time to Check Out Google’s Rival to Facebook – Google+
- 10/01/11 03:05 PM
Watch out, Facebook! After only four weeks of active use, Google+ had 25 million users from around the world. With a fast-growing audience and a focus on sharing items, brands and businesses have begun eyeing Google+ as a new way to connect with consumers and clients. On July 21, Google removed profiles set up by companies, explaining that the Google+ platform is not yet ready to accommodate businesses. Google manager Christian Oestlien hinted that a profile option for businesses would be announced in the coming months. In the meantime, business owners can prepare their businesses so their debut on Google+ … (5 comments)
Most of us would agree we need a break from our fast-paced lifestyles. But would eating in silence be carrying it too far?
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