How Do Ski-in, Ski-out Developments at Blackcomb Compare?

Whistler is known as a resort with extremely extensive terrain and the highest vertical drop in North America (over one vertical mile from the top of the Blackcomb Glacier down to Whistler Village. It is also known for a wide variety of ski-in, ski-out accommodation. However, potential visitors should be aware that not all ski-in, ski-out accommodation is created equal. For those who do not know Whistler well, here is a brief overview of the major slopeside developments on the lower slopes of Blackcomb Mountain.

On the Blackcomb side, the largest lodge is The Aspens. Over 300 one and two-bedroom apartments, a large swimming pool and several outdoor hot tubs, plus a large and comfortable lobby, a ski rental/tuning shop and several other onsite facilities comprise the Aspens complex. It is right on the edge of the slopes and just a 20 second ski down to the Blackcomb Base. For easy access to skiing, there is nowhere better than the Aspens. However the apartments in the Aspens are fairly small (the two-bedroom units are around 850 sq. ft.) and often furnished in a Spartan fashion. One or two have been extensively upgraded, and these are the ones to go for.

Next to the Aspens, and also equipped with a pool and hot tubs, is Greystone Lodge. Some people prefer Greystone Lodge since it is smaller and less like staying in a large amorphous hotel, and its proximity to the slopes is almost equal.

If you need a larger unit, a little further up the hill is Woodrun Lodge. This is a cut or two above the Aspens, and has units of up to 4 bedrooms and 1800 sq. ft. Go for one of these if you are a larger group and want to all be in the same place. However, the truly premium building on the North side of the Wizard run is Cedar Creek. A beautiful building, with very few units in the rental market, this is the crme de la crme of multi-unit ski-in, ski-out complexes in Whistler.

At the bottom of the Wizard are a couple of popular buildings which are very convenient: the Le Chamois Hotel: really a glorified apartment building, and Glacier Lodge. These contain a variety of accommodation right at the Blackcomb Base

On the other - southern - side of the Wizard lies Pinnacle Ridge. Pinnacle Ridge is a townhome with over 40 units, some of which are a lost closer to the slopes than others. Also, some have been extensively upgraded (sometimes to the tune of over $1m in renovations), while others are totally original (read: cheap fittings and drab décor). Further over again, and a little lower, are Cedar Ridge and Cedar Hollow. Of the two, Cedar Ridge is somewhat closer to the slopes (but they are both pretty close), whilst Cedar Hollow has the edge in design and interior space. Cedar Hollow and Cedar Ridge have the great advantage that you can ski down to the top of the Village, not just to the base of Blackcomb: this gives you the option of skiing up Whistler as well as Blackcomb mountain.

Further down from Cedar Ridge and Cedar Hollow lies Snowy Creek, often considered the best location in Whistler, since uniquely in Whistler it combines ski-in, ski-out with just a two-minute walk to the Village. Again, the Snowy Creek homes vary greatly in attractiveness, since the ones which haven’t been renovated are fairly grim. However, due to their proximity to the Village, these are some of the most sought-after units in town.

So if you are looking for ski-in, ski-out accommodation in Whistler make sure you understand exactly what you are getting.

Henry Schlee is the owner of SkiWhistler, a rental agency in Whistler with a great choice of Whistler chalets. You can also talk to him about any aspect of Whistler property management if you are thinking of investing in the Whistler property market.

Give Them Diamonds!

Everyone Loves Diamonds…
When they said that diamonds are a girl’s best friend, they weren’t joking. Women love diamonds for their brilliance and for what they represent, and men like diamonds for the elegance and class associated with the gems. No matter whom you’re shopping for, especially if it’s yourself, you can’t go wrong with diamonds. A diamond watch is a gift that anyone would love to own.

How to Decide Where to Buy and How Much to Spend
If you need to keep the time anyway, why not do it in style? But shopping for diamond watch is never easy. Every jewelry store is competing with all the others, and you hear so many horror stories about this jewelry store and that. You hardly know which store to go to when they all make each other out to be crooks. When every jewelry store advertises that the competition doesn’t know what they’re doing, who are you supposed to trust? And diamond watches are so expensive, many of the prices found in the jewelry stores are just too much to pay.

A little Internet shopping might be the first thing you’ll want to check out, because even if you don’t buy you can get some different prices to comparison shop with. In most locations, the Sunday edition of the newspaper is filled with ads for jewelry stores. It is always easier to buy something when it’s on sale, and the Sunday sales ads offer great bargains. The colorful displays will give the casual shopper a good idea of what’s being offered, also.

The Right Diamonds for You
Diamond lovers talk of clarity, carat, and cut, but in truth the best diamond to buy is the one that you absolutely love. If it sings to you, and you can afford it, then you should take the plunge. What’s the point of having something attractive if you don’t completely adore it? A quality diamond is the one that looks the best to you. After all, a beautiful diamond watch is an item that can be passed down through generations, and will always be treasured. The right diamond watch to pick is the one that you love, because either way you’re going to be stuck with it for a long while yet.

The setting, the stones, the watch itself all must combine in just the right way. When all these different pieces come together to form the perfect whole, you will know it right away. The watch that strikes you the most is the one you’ll want to buy. Worrying about the cut and shape of the stones, the perfection and size, is less important than the general appeal and effect of the whole piece.

If you’re buying diamonds for someone else, try to put yourself in their shoes. Think about their taste and style in other jewelry that they’re worn or purchased, and mimic this as much as possible. In any case, a diamond watch is a gift that anyone will cherish for a lifetime. A beautiful diamond watch will be cherished all the more, and buying someone a gift that they would have picked out for themselves, if they could have, is a gesture that will never be forgotten.

The Gift They’ll Always Remember
Large or small, diamonds are always fashionable. A diamond watch is a great gift to give to yourself or someone close to you, and it should last you a lifetime. After all, doesn’t everyone love diamonds? Some can afford to buy the very best, and that’s always to be encouraged. Others must live on a budget, but that doesn’t mean everyone doesn’t want to buy elegant things or give precious gifts. Doing a little shopping around will help you determine what kind of watch you can afford to purchase, and at least you’ll have done your homework before you venture inside your local jewelry store. Giving someone a beautiful piece that will last them a lifetime is a gesture that won’t soon be forgotten, and if you’re shopping for yourself then you’ll have something you can always cherish. The best purchase you can make is an educated one, so be sure to do plenty of shopping around before you commit. In any case, diamonds are going to be an expensive purchase, but they are considered to be something of an investment. You’ll want to spend your money wisely, and come away with something that best suits you.

Zai Zhu is a watch connoisseur and a watch dealer. Visit http://www.discountwatchstore.com to learn more about wristwatches. You will also find a collection of over 800 fine watches including hundreds of Citizen Watches and Invicta watches, as well as brands like Mido, Orient, Luminox, Croton, Wenger, and Vanceur. Fine authentic watches for less - that is our philosophy.

Oral Thrush in Newborns - Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Oral thrush is an infection caused by the yeast fungus known as Candida albicans and is a common illness in newborn babies. The fungus is also referred to as candidosis and moniliasis, but generally these terms describe the appearance of candida albicans in adults. This article will focus on the causes and symptoms of oral thrush in newborns as well as methods of treatment.

It may be helpful to first understand some background information on exactly what oral thrush is. Microorganisms exist everywhere in our environment and usually bacteria, viruses and fungi form a symbiotic relationship with the human body. These microorganisms are beneficial to the health of babies and adults alike and the body allows them to remain present. The fungus that causes oral thrush does not have a symbiotic relationship with the human body. Candida albicans usually works its way into the body when the immune system is in a diseased or weakened state. In their first few days of life, newborn babies are especially at risk from infections such as oral thrush.

Two specific causes of oral thrush are a reaction to antibiotics and transmission from a mother with a yeast infection. The mouth of a postnatal baby undergoes certain changes following a dose of antibiotic medication that create a breeding ground for a fungus to develop. It is also possible for a mother to pass on a yeast infection to her child in the form of candidosis. The transmission occurs from exposure in the birth canal and oftentimes results in infection when the baby is from two to ten weeks old.

Diagnosing babies is usually done using the clinical picture. This means that doctors are generally able to diagnose the infection on sight alone. Oral thrush manifests itself in the form of painful white lesions on the inside of the baby’s mouth. These patches appear on the gums, insides of cheeks, palates and tongue. It is also possible for thrush lesions to work their way into the esophagus. Doctors use throat cultures, endoscopic examination and barium swallow to help diagnose an oral thrush infection that has progressed to this degree.

Nipple damage due to breastfeeding can lead to an elevated risk of Candida infection. Although the nipples and areola may not show signs of an infection certain symptoms can help indicate that one is occurring. One or both nipples may be experience stinging pain or itching. Visible signs that a mother has a Candida infection include nipples with white dots, a skin rash with small fluid filled blisters, swelling and cracking of the skin.

If a doctor has reason to believe that an infant has oral thrush, he or she may send a cell sample from the baby’s tongue to a lab for analysis and confirmation. The use of a lab sample can help ensure that there are no other illnesses causing complicating a thrush infection.

When oral thrush or a yeast infection has been diagnosed, both the mother and her baby should be treated simultaneously. Coordinating care for both the mother and child helps avoid the risk of the infection being passed back and forth.

Medications for yeast can be systemic (internal) or topical (external). Often physicians will begin curing a yeast infection with a topical drug, followed by a more powerful systemic if necessary. Fluconazole is antifungal cream used to treat a mother’s breasts that have come into contact with a baby experiencing oral thrush. Some examples of commercially available anti-fungal drugs include Nystatin, Lotrimin and Itraconazola. Oral thrush is often treated with Nystatin by application to the inside of the infant’s mouth several times daily. For complete treatment information speak with your pediatrician.

By paying close attention to the warning signs and symptoms of an oral thrush infection, mothers can reduce the complications caused by this illness. As with all concerns related to the health of your newborn, always rely on the suggestions and information provided by your pediatrician. With treatment time and concern you and your child can overcome the challenge of an oral thrush infection.
Copyright © Safe-Baby.net 2006.

Rebecca Lee is a mother of four children. She is a retired midwife and author of articles about childbirth and newborn care. This is her first article written for Safe-Baby.net. Safe-Baby.net provides information on common baby illnesses.

When You’re Negotiating, Money isn’t as Important as You Think

Let me tell you about my pet subject: When you’re selling your product or service, money is way down the list of things that are important to the other side.

First, we’ll talk about something that you may find hard to believe but it’s something of which I’ve become convinced-that people want to spend more, not less, and that the price concerns salespeople more than the people to whom they sell.

Then I’ll teach you all the things that are more important to people than money.

Finally, I’ll teach you some techniques to find out how much they’ll pay.

People Want To Pay More, Not Less

After almost two decades of training salespeople, I have become convinced that price concerns salespeople more than it does the people to whom they sell. I’ll go even further than that-I think that customers who may be asking you to cut your price are secretly wishing that they could pay more for your product. Hear me out before you dismiss this as being imbecilic.
I was the merchandise manager at the Montgomery Ward store in Bakersfield, California back in 1971. Although Bakersfield was not a large town, the store ranked 13th in volume in a chain of more than 600 stores. Why did it do so well? In my opinion, it was because head office left us alone and allowed us to sell to the needs of the local population. For example, we did a huge business in home air conditioners because of the outrageously hot summers. In Bakersfield, it’s common for it to be 100 degrees at midnight. In those days an average blue-collar home in that city cost around $30,000. The air conditioners that we would install in these homes might cost $10,000 to 12,000. It was very hard for me to get new salespeople started selling in that department because they had a real resistance to selling something that cost more money than they had ever made in a year. They simply didn’t believe that anybody would spend $12,000 to put an air conditioner in a $30,000 home. The customers were willing to pay it, as was illustrated by our huge sales volume, but the salespeople weren’t willing to support these decisions because they thought it was outrageously expensive.

However, if I could get salespeople started to where they began to make big money and they installed air conditioner son their own homes, suddenly they didn’t think it was so outrageous any more, and they would dismiss the price objection as if it didn’t exist.

Beginning stockbrokers have the same problem. It’s very hard for them to ask a client to invest $100,000 when they don’t know where lunch money is coming from. Once they become affluent, their sales snowball.

So I believe that price concerns salespeople more than it concerns any customer. This is demonstrated by the experience of one of my clients who is a designer and supplier of point-of-purchase sales aids and displays. He tells me that if three products are on a shelf in a store-let’s say three toasters-and the features of each are described on the carton, the customers will most frequently select the highest price item-unless a salesperson comes along to assist them with the selection. When that happens, the salesperson, who is probably working for minimum wage, is unable to justify spending money on the best and manages to talk the customer down to the low-end or middle-of-the-line toaster.

The important element here is the description on the carton. You must give customers a reason for spending more money, but if you can do that, they want to spend more money, not less. I think that spending money is what Americans do best. We love to spend money. We spend six trillion dollars a year in this country, and if we could walk into a store and find a salesclerk who knew anything about the merchandise, we’d spend seven trillion dollars a year. And that’s when we’re spending our own hard-earned after-tax dollars. What if you’re asking someone who works at a corporation to spend the company’s money? There’s only one thing better than spending your own money, and that’s spending someone else’s money. If that weren’t enough, remember that corporate expenditures are tax deductible, so Uncle Sam is going to pick up 40 percent of the bill.

So, I believe that we’ve had it all wrong for all these years. When we’re trying to sell something to somebody, she doesn’t want to spend less money; she wants to spend more. However, you do have to do two things:

1. You must give her a reason for spending more.

2. You must convince her that she could not have gotten a better deal than the one you’re offering her.

That second point is where Power Negotiating comes in because everything I teach is designed to convince the other people that they won the negotiation and that they couldn’t have done better. Let’s face it, does what you pay for something really matter? If you’re going to buy a new automobile, does it matter if you spend $20,000 or $21,000? Not really, because you’ll soon forget what you paid for it, and the slight increase in payments is not going to affect your lifestyle. What really matters is the feeling that you got the best possible deal. You don’t want to go to work the next morning and have everybody crowded around to admire your new car when somebody says, “How much did you get it for?”

You say, “I worked out a terrific deal. I got them down to $21,000.”
“You paid what?” he replies. “My friend bought one of those, and he paid only $20,000. You should have gone to Main Street Auto Mall.” That’s what hurts-the feeling that you didn’t get the best deal.

The objection that every salesperson hears most is the price objection. “We’d love to do business with you, but your price is too high.” Let me tell you something about that. It has nothing to do with your price. You could cut your prices 20 percent across the board and you’d still hear that objection. I trained the salespeople at the largest lawn mower factory in the world. You probably own one of their products because they manufacture most of the low-end private label lawn mowers that discount and chain stores sell. Nobody can undercut their production cost on lawn mowers. They have it down to such a science that if you bought one of their mowers at Home Depot and you tipped the kid who carries it to your car a dollar; the kid made more on the lawn mower than the factory did. That’s how slim their profit margins are. However, when I asked them to tell me the number one complaint they hear from the buyers at stores, guess what they told me? You got it. “Your prices are too high.”

You hear that complaint all the time because the people you’re selling to study negotiating skills too. They meet in groups at their conventions and sit around in the bars saying things like, “Do you want to have fun with salespeople? Just let them go through their entire presentation. Let them take all the time they want. Then when they finally tell you how much it costs, lean back in your chair, put your feet up on the desk and say, ‘I’d love to do business with you, but your prices are too high.’ Then try not to laugh as they stammer and stutter and don’t know what to say next.”
Instead of letting this kind of thing work you up into a sweat, adopt the attitude that negotiating is a game. You learn the rules of the game, you practice, practice, practice until you get good at it, and then you go out there and play the game with all the gusto you can muster. Negotiating is a game that is fun to play when you know what you’re doing and have the confidence to play it with vigor.

The next time you’re trying to get somebody to spend money remember that they really want to spend more money with you, not less. All you have to do is give them a reason and convince them that there’s no way they could get a better deal.

Things That Are More Important Than Money

A reporter at a press conference once asked Astronaut Neil Armstrong to relate his thoughts as Apollo 11 approached the moon. He said, “All I could think of was that I was up there in a spaceship built by the lowest bidder.” A cute line, but he was falling prey to a popular misconception that the government must do business with anybody who bids the lowest price. Of course, that’s not true, but it’s amazing how many people believe it. I hear it all the time at my Secrets of Power Negotiating seminars: “What can we do when we have to deal with the government? They have to accept the lowest bid.”

I once found myself sitting next to a Pentagon procurement officer on a flight to the East Coast, and I raised this point with him. “All the time I hear that the government has to buy from the lowest bidder. Is that really true?”

“Heavens no,” he told me. “We’d really be in trouble if that were true. Cost is far from the top of the list of what’s important to us. We’re far more concerned with a company’s experience, the experience of the workers and the management team assigned to the product, and their ability to get the job done on time. The rules say that we should buy from the lowest bidder who we feel is capable of meeting our specifications. If we know that a particular supplier is the best one for us, we simply write the specifications to favor that supplier.”

Of course, that is the key to selling to government agencies, whether it is the city, county, state, or federal government. If you want to do business with any level of government, you should become known as the most knowledgeable person in your industry, so that when the agency starts to prepare bid specifications, they welcome your advice on what they should specify. Fortunately, the trend is away from this type of direct bidding and toward the government agency hiring a private sector project manager to supervise the work. By inserting this middle person, they avoid the obligation to let bids and instead let the middle person negotiate the best deal.

So even with the federal government, price is far from the most important thing. When you’re dealing with a company that doesn’t have legal requirements to put out a request for bids, it’s far from the top of the list. Just for the fun of it, review the following list of things that are probably more important than price to buyers.

Wine Rack Storage: Simple Guides on Choosing The Right Rack for Your Wines!

When you hear the word “wine”, most probably the thing that
pops-up to your mind is “celebration”. Most, if not all, are
using wines as symbols of merrymaking and festivities; most
celebrations, gatherings and special occasions include wine.

When a friend visits you at your place, wine will be poured;
when your children got awards and honors at school, the elders
drink wine to celebrate; and when you’re promoted, surely,
there’s wine. There are even households that include wine in
their meals. Indeed, wine has become part of some people’s lives
over the years that they even make collecting wines as hobby.

And if you’re among those some who enjoys collecting wines, you
must be in need of wine rack storage; you’ll need wine rack
storage especially if your collections are getting big. If this
is the case, you can get wine rack storage; there are dealers
who offer wine rack storage for different needs. Whether you
need wine rack storage for business, at the office for clients
or simply at your personal wine bar at home; there are wine rack
storage that will surely fit your preferences.

Wine rack storage mostly comes in different designs and you can
use them whether in decorative purpose or utilitarian. But, all
wine rack storage comes to one common ground; that is to hold
wine bottles to free up space in your bars or cellars.

* Some wine rack storage are designed to; o Safely store bottles
o Or simply to display wine

* A wine rack storage can o Add ambience to a room o Protect
wine in a cellar o Or keep wine handy at the counter of your
personal bar

In choosing your wine rack storage, determine if you’re going to
need it in your cellar or in your wine counter or bar.

* There are wine rack storage called cellar style wine rack
storage o These kind of wine rack storage can be modular or
stackable thus you can buy as few or many as you need o These
wine rack storage are usually made of wood; most often made of
pine o Cellar style wine rack storage are rectangular in frames
and without front or back; usually stand on a wide foot o The
wine rack storage in this type have frames with vertical runners
that forms small square compartments o A small modular wine rack
storage normally holds 10 bottles of wine

*If you don’t have cellars and only need wine rack storage for
your bar counters or tables, there are ornate wine rack storage;

o Most of these wine rack storage are available in materials
like wrought iron o These wine rack storage are mostly crafted
in various designs, e.g a ribbon that is gracefully wrapping
around it; this can hold a single bottle of wine. o Most of
these wine rack storage are used as purely decorative wine rack
storage on counters or table for a romantic dinner.

Simple wine rack storage like wine cabinets is also available.
They come in various types and sizes. These wine rack storage
may come as small as 4′x7′ or as large as 7′x10′. Wine rack
storage are also available in varieties of purpose, décor and
personality; the latter referring to your personal choices.

Some types of wine rack storage available in the market are: *
Grid wine rack storage * Short wine rack storage * Diamond cube
wine rack storage * Wine tasting table wine rack storage * Wall
wine rack storage * Tree wine rack storage

These are just among the many innovative wine rack storage
designs that are available. Wine rack storage is mostly
available at department stores and other specialty shops. You
can also avail wine rack storage on online stores; you can
browse their catalogues of various wine rack storage.

More on Difficult Discussions at Work: Planning Your Approach

There’s a lot to think about when you need to initiate a difficult interaction — the kind of discussion that is required when a colleague is taking credit for your ideas, is not delivering on their part or is just plain making you look bad.

Before proceeding you might want to check out my article on helping to “get your head in the right place,” which is a process to help you get to a place where you can compassionately express your concern and remain open to the other person’s side of it.

Once you’ve gotten yourself in the right frame of mind, it’s time to plan the actual discussion. For the purposes of this exercise, we’ll call the colleague that we’ll be interacting with, Jackie. Keep in mind that the goals for this process include: a) learning more about Jackie’s perspective (even if you don’t like it), b) approaching her in a way that is respectful of you both, and c) for the troubling behavior to stop.

1. Request time and attention.

Rather than just drop by and ask Jackie, “Can I talk to you?” it can help to first to ask her for 15-20 minutes of her time. This way she knows you want to have a substantive conversation and you know Jackie is willing to invest the time in this conversation. If she says yes, but seems rushed or preoccupied, ask if there is a better time, and nail down a time/day for an appointment. If Jackie says that this time is fine, you can reflect to her that she seems preoccupied, and that you’ll just make an appointment. You can make choices here. Even if she insists that you stay, you can defer the conversation at any time, if you are feeling you do not have her attention. You deserve it.

2. Come from curiosity and humility.

The interaction I just described in tip #1 can escalate quickly if you come across as demanding, accusatory, condescending or defensive. It is important to balance your right to express your concern, and respect that Jackie perhaps has a valid point of view too. If you want to increase the chances the relationship will be preserved, you will want to approach the reconciliation process in a way that does not create more tension.

3. Express your positive intention.

Tell Jackie why you are there, and give her a reason to want to be there too. For instance,

“Jackie, there something that has been happening between us that has been bothering me. I value working with you and want to continue to make that work. So, I didn’t want to draw any conclusions about what I’ve experienced, without talking to you.”

4. Describe the troubling behavior specifically.

“Jackie, I notice that after I agree to a particular task at a project meeting, you ask me the next day if I’ve gotten started on it.”

It’s important to use neutral, not loaded, language, so the interaction isn’t intensified unnecessarily. Describe facts, not opinions or interpretations at this point.

5. Check your assumption.

This is the time to offer your interpretation. At the same time you want to give Jackie room to offer an explanation and/or save face. This step might go like this.

“It’s happened more than once and I’m left feeling like I’ve done something that makes you think I can’t be counted on to follow-through. I don’t want to assume that though. I thought I should check it out with you. Can you tell me about this?”

6. Listen.

This is important… stop speaking for a few moments. Endure some awkward silence if you really want to hear an answer. You may hear just about anything, such as,

a. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

b. “I’m so sorry I’ve left you feeling that way. I guess I’m just feeling under the gun given this is a high-visibility project.”

c. “You’re right. I do feel like I have to keep after you to get things done.”

Here’s where tip #7 comes in handy.

7. Own what is yours, no more, no less.

Reminder - be curious and humble!!

(Below are potential responses to guide you, which correspond with Jackie’s responses above.)

a. “I’m glad that you consider me someone you can count on then. Is there some other reason you check with me regularly?”

b. “I appreciate you sharing that with me. What can I do to relieve some of your concern?”

c. “What is it that I do that makes you feel that way?”

More for item c. Listen. If necessary, follow with, “Is there a specific experience that brought you to that conclusion?” Listen more. Then if appropriate, “What can I do from now on to remedy that?”

You don’t have to get her to admit that she is micromanaging. Consider instead what you are learning from the exchange.

8. Use a backup plan if necessary.

If the discussion just continues down the path of Jackie’s responses 6a or 6c, without producing anything helpful, you can always wrap it up with something like this.

“Our relationship is important to me, and I needed you to know I was feeling this way. I would rather share this with you than keep it from you, to increase our chances of working together better. Thank you for your time.”

Though not completely satisfying, at least you more clearly know what you can expect from Jackie. And, don’t give up all hope. I have found that even when someone like Jackie will not acknowledge anything is amiss, that she will stop the behavior, particularly if I check in with her occasionally over time, regarding the same concern.

9. Make plans to move forward.

If it IS a fruitful interchange, suggest how you can go forward. Possibilities include:

Ask her what she would like you to do differently from now on.

Offer what you are willing to do.

Express what you would like her to do.

Only agree to what you really are willing to do.

Don’t be afraid to offer a counter-proposal.

Tell Jackie you need time to think about a particular request, if necessary.

Plan to regroup together at a later time.

10. Solidify agreement and offer thanks.

Be sure to summarize. This may include articulating:

Agreement on how to go forward, including what actions each of you will take as a result of this discussion.

Agreement to not let an issue exist between you for so long next time.

Your appreciation for the other person’s honesty, willingness to be open, and time.

If you feel Jackie is just “going along” with you to avoid what might be an uncomfortable exchange for her, and she does not follow through with her agreements, you can always follow up with tip #8 eventually.

Though these comments may feel awkward or sound silly at first, remember that it takes time to change your behavior. Practice your response - in front of a mirror, with a friend or even into a tape recorder - until the words, and the feelings behind them, seem natural to you. The point is to be able to approach the situation in a way that is mostly likely going to result in a mutually agreeable resolution, without allowing the other person’s potentially resistant responses to derail you. We can all use practice doing that!

Copyright 2002-2006, Mary C. Schaefer, all rights reserved.

Mary Schaefer is President and Lead Consultant for Artemis Path, LLC. She holds a Master’s in Human Resources Management and is certified as an HR Professional (PHR). Mary’s 20 years of experience in industry, most recently as an HR manager, allows her to effectively coach you as a supervisor, small business owner or employee, on how to get along better at work! You can find more information about how Mary can help you at http://www.artemispath.com

While you are there, check out how the expanded, 14-page eworkbook version of the Ten Ways to Survive Your Current Job can help you!!

Kings Bay Georgia Real Estate - An Amusing Tale About a Real Estate Agent

This story is true and not meant to hurt anyone, but the more that I think about what happened, the more it makes me laugh. I hope that you not only get a chuckle from it as I did, but take your time and look for a professional real estate agent.

Sometime back I was handling a tranaction for a client that was buying a home. A situation arose that was beyond anyone’s control. I am a get involved and make it work type mortgage lender, so I jumped right into the problem looking for a remedy. I quickly thought of a way to make this real estate transaction work in the best interest of all parties. However, the closing date was going to be delayed a few days during the process. I informed all parties of the problem. My client of whom is most important to me, had no problem with the delay and was happy that I had found resolution to the problem. Well, I am feeling good about what I had done and moved quickly to get the tranaction toward the closing table.

The next day I spoke with this Realtor and they told me they would bring documents, amendments, etc. to me the next morning. When they arrived, they had nothing that I really needed, so we talked a little and I told this agent what I needed. They said they would have it later that day.

I went to a neighboring city on business after that. Early that afternoon, I received a call from an interested party saying this agent was angry with me and that I was a liar. Well, I considered that this agent was new in the business and didn’t seem very bright, so I decided to call the agent and set the record straight. I called, no answer, so I left a message on the agents voice mail to call me>

The agent called back and this is what the agent said: I am typing the words just as they were pronounced: I said Hello, how are you? The agent said I aint doing wurf a krap, you done told me 3 or 4 lies and I am sick of it. I quickly said, calm down, I haven’t lied to you, there is obviously a misunderstanding here. The agent didn’t hear a word I said, as the agent was yelling the whole time.The agent said I am sick en tired of dis shit! I am going to come up er and kick yo ass! Then the agent said you aint nuttin but an ole drunk, Ima coming up er and whoop yor ass. Then they hung up on me!

Well, I was kind of angry at first. Then I thought about Hee Haw and it made me laugh. At the same time I was laughing I thought about how unprofessional this real estate agent was and how scary it is that someone obviously that ignorant could pass the real estate exam. Not to mention, who did the hiring here? You have to qustion their professionalism as well. I can’t imagine anyone buying anything from this person that wasn’t handed out the window of a drive-thru! Geez!

Well, it takes all kinds to make the world go round. But, if you are going to select a real estate agent to help you make the biggest monetary decision in your life, by all means interview them. HEE HAW!

Glenn Keller is a mortgage professional and decided to write this article so homebuyers to be will take the time and search for a professional real estate agent. I feel that it is good to find humor in everything.

Warning - This Lease Might Explode Any Minute

Mike Caringi, owner of a small New Jersey business that sells pumps, found himself facing a gut-wrenching dilemma last summer. Should he continue paying $ 1,500 each month for essential telecommunications services he no longer receives and for leased equipment he claims was never installed? Or, should he stop making payments and face a potential lawsuit from the firm that financed the equipment under a ‘hell or high water’ lease? Mr. Caringi’s company is one of several thousand small companies around the country reeling from the bankruptcy of Norvergence, a reseller of telecommunications and Internet services. At the core of the quagmire facing Mr. Caringi and others is that Norvergence succeeded in getting customers to sign separate lease and service contracts that provided its services.

When Norvergence abruptly shut its doors, it left thousands of its customers scrambling to replace telephone and Internet services while they were obligated to shell out over $ 200 million in lease payments to Wells Fargo Financial, CIT and 30 other leasing companies over the next five years.

How can you protect your company from being victimized in a similar situation? Certainly, most transactions involving equipment leased in connection with a related service carry some degree of risk. You can reduce that risk by taking certain precautions. First, where possible, avoid leasing equipment when the equipment is proprietary to a service. The chances are that you will be stuck with the equipment if the service provider fails. Make sure that the leased equipment has an underlying value that justifies the lease. By doing a present value calculation of all payments owed under the lease agreement and comparing that value to the fair market value of the equipment, you can see whether the lease value is reasonable.

Check to see whether the equipment is used by similar service providers, in case you need to switch services. Finally, make sure you can resell the leased equipment in the after-market, if necessary. As a last resort, you may be able to cut your losses by having the ability to buy-out the equipment from the leasing company to be resold to someone else.

Perhaps, one of the best protections against getting stuck with service-related leased equipment is to thoroughly evaluate the service provider before proceeding. Make sure the service provider is financially sound and has a long track record of providing excellent service. If possible, ask for and review financial information on the service provider. Do an Internet news search to make sure there are no troubling stories about the service provider. Be partial to services that offer equipment under contracts that tie service and use of the equipment together, such that your obligation to pay is conditioned on the service being provided.

Lastly, since these transactions always carry some risk, make sure that an abrupt interruption in the service will not have a material negative impact on your company or cause financial hardship.

George Parker is a Director and Executive Vice President of Leasing Technologies International, Inc. (”LTI”), responsible for LTI’s marketing and financing efforts. A co-founder of LTI, Mr. Parker has been involved in secured lending and equipment financing for over twenty years. Mr. Parker is an industry leader, frequent panelist and author of several articles pertaining to equipment financing.

Headquartered in Wilton, CT, LTI is a leasing firm specializing nationally in direct equipment financing and vendor leasing programs for emerging growth and later-stage, venture capital backed companies. More information about LTI is available at http://www.ltileasing.com.

Sex or Love: What Happens When We Get the Two Confused

When I was 15, filled with hormones, I was lucky enough to go on a 3-week, 19-country whirlwind tour of Europe with 24 high school girls and 11 other high school boys. Our eyes burned from the excess pheromones as natural adolescent attraction filled the bus, plane, train — whatever the mode of transportation.

The oldest girl on the trip was having a little “thing” with the French tour guide. We didn’t know if it was sex, but we knew they were always together and she got very special attention. We imagined all kinds of things. But all we talked about was sex.

I was very nave. All I knew about sex was what I’d gleaned from stolen glances at my uncle’s Playboy, and the stories (or lies) told by my other friends.

Sex seemed to be really important. “If you really loved me, then you’d . . . ” That seemed to be boys’ favorite lines with girls. “If you really loved me . . .” And the pressure was on. Sex became inextricably entwined with love in my 15 year-old mind.

Sex is great, but it ain’t love. Man, did it take me a long time to figure that out, even when it was clearly demonstrated in front of me on the that trip.

While in Frankfurt, Germany, we had some free time. A few of us guys found the red light district immediately. We walked and gawked at the women sitting in the storefront windows selling sex. Our eyes couldn’t take it all in. What a concept: Sex for sale in the open on the street like a pair of shoes. As we walked by a sex mall (of sorts) called Crazy Sexy, I watched a young woman dressed provocatively get out of a car, lean in, kiss the man driving and the kids in the back seat. She walked into Crazy Sexy. So did we.

It was one of the strangest moments in my life.

Crazy Sexy was a large room, kind of like a warehouse, with women sitting on stools near pillars, on display. There in the middle of the room sat the woman I’d seen earlier in the street. It was more than my little 15 year-old mind could handle. Is sex love or is sex business? How can she do that? Judgments flew.

Where I came from sex was verbotten. It was something to be shared with someone special. But then again, if the opportunity arose. . . It was so confusing.

As I get older, I’m learning that love isn’t so complicated. It’s constant unlike those feelings I associated with sex that were so manic. Love is spending time with your chosen mate, listening, supporting, enjoying, sharing. It’s understanding the priority in life — love of spirit, love of spouse, love of family.

And there’s such peace that comes with love.

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Balancing Act

The art of balancing work and play is difficult in today’s society. If you are like me - a woman who has dreams, passions and a creative side stifled during the day to earn a paycheck, you have to be extremely organized and use time management, priorization, and lists and planning to balance work, home and time for yourself.

Time Management and Multitasking

Three nights a week, there are TV shows that I can’t miss. I use this time to iron, fold laundry, check my emails. If I really need to get to use my creativity, I use the time to make beaded jewelry, paint or make greeting cards.

Writing Lists and Making Priorities

As an avid notetaker from my past school days and as a writer, I already carry at least one “brillant idea notebook” in my purse and in my car. This enables me to write down (Web) article ideas, words or license plates that make me laugh. One example is a hearst bearing the license plate “RUNext”.

Seriously, lists serve as a reminder to achieve tasks that need to be done on a daily (short-term) and when I get to it (long-term) basis. At times my lists are too optimistic with several items. I ease up by crossing off what I’ve done and starting two new lists: one for short-term (today) and long-term (this week) projects on separate pieces of paper.

Prioritization involves decision making - “do we have clean underwear for tomorrow?” and must-do items that pop up including “the cat threw up again”. These may not be on the list, and that’s OK. The list is a guideline, not set in stone.

The key question I ask myself is, “how important is it”? I use short- and long-term lists to achieve my daily and weekly goals. I’ve found that writing down “relax”, “play” and “exercise” remind me to take the time that I need for myself.

Work and Commuting

The average person may spend at least 60 hours per week working outside the home and commuting. I’ve begun listening to audiobooks during my commute and doing errands during my lunch hour. This increases the time I have during the week to do household chores or freelance work for clients or updating Web sites.

Focus

If you are not doing a project that involves multitasking, focus on the task at hand and see it through to completion. For example, while I read incoming newsletters/ ezines, it’s very easy for me click on Web links that take me off into the adventures of Web Design and copywriting and other interests.

Don’t do this => I have learned that if I get on the computer after 9 PM, I won’t get off until after midnight, and this woman needs her beauty sleep! I try to cut myself some slack on the weekends.

Or this => I can also get sidetracked while cleaning by going through the magazine rack where I find pages from the newspaper that I’m saving to write about.

On this topic I’ll conclude with “do as I say, not as I do” since I’m still working on mastering it.

Weekends

On weekends I am often up until 2 AM writing, reading or blogging. I usually nap on the weekends, giving myself permission to rejuvenate my body, mind and spirit. Frequently, in private or group meditations, I sing or chant, fulfilling my need to be connected to the Universe and unplugged from normal weekday activities.

One goal that I have is to take spiritual time, even if it’s 15 minutes to start, during the week also.

Spiritual Time

This can be praying or meditating individually or in a group, observing nature and the Universe around me. For me, it’s important to belong to a community of like-minded people, so I attend weekly religious services and spiritual meetings.

Nutrition and Exercise

Yoga and Pilates reduce my stress level and doing it with a friend results in laughter at attempting poses that experts
have been doing for years.

Recently, instead of eating ice cream or popcorn for lunch or dinner, I’ve been eating salads, vegetables and trying to eat more meat than dairy.

So, you might be thinking, “what’s the plan for this weekend”?

• Working on our income tax returns and
• Playing with the cats and spending time with my husband are the priorities.
• At least one nap
• I might even do some laundry and cleaning in between.

It all depends on what my spirit guides me to do.

Linda Blatchford is an experienced editor/proofreader an writer and Web designerchic at LinorStore.com. She has a Basic Web Design Certificate and is hungry for new Web knowledge. She is currently working on three Websites; proofing her recently completed book, “Cats Are People Too”; learning to make beaded jewelry and other craft projects and increasing her knowledge of spirituality.

Linda loves chocolate, cats, ice cream, laughing, crafting and shopping.

Linda is a member of the Society for Technical Communication, the National Association of Women Writers and listserves for Chicago Women in Technology, copywriters and writers and spiritual ideas.

Linda Blatchford
Etailer, Web Designerchic, Writer
LinorStore.com