With more and more companies wanting to integrate their products into the lives of

celebrities, now seems like a good time to take a closer look at Celebrity Product

Placement, describe three common approaches, and outline what steps can be taken

to guarantee results.

The term “Celebrity Product Placement” is used to describe several related

techniques, but its definition applies to each: free products are distributed to

celebrities in expectation of a promotional benefit. Unlike the more overt, paid-for

endorsement, it offers a distinct advantage. It can appear like a product choice

made on individual preference.

Most marketers are unaware of their options in this category (one form features

contracts with celebrities, guaranteeing performance and allowing marketers to

actively leverage celebrity patrons in the media) and therefore many overlook a very

powerful influencer-marketing technique.

In this article, I will describe each of the three main approaches and discuss their

relative merits by listing their pros and cons. I also hope to quash any

misconception that Celebrity Product Placement has to be a gamble, and show you

how best to secure a return on investment (R.O.I.).

But first, a little history…

Celebrity Product Placement (sometimes called “Celebrity Seeding”) has been with us

since the dawn of marketing. Centuries before Arnold Schwarzenegger stepped into

his first Hummer, an 18th century potter named Josiah Wedgwood began supplying

his wares to England’s Queen Charlotte. Being given the title “Potter to Her Majesty”

led to a huge amount of publicity for Wedgwood which he took advantage of using

the term “Queen’s Ware” wherever he could.

It wasn’t until the 20th century that marketers keyed-in on America’s “royalty”:

Hollywood. But more often than not they met with disappointing results. Some

companies responded only to occasional requests for products (“gifting”), while

others made half-hearted attempts to distribute them without first devising a means

to guarantee results (“seeding”). In the end, most companies seeded product “to the

wind” and failed to grow anything of value.

Those efforts that did succeed, however, were so successful that independent

specialists emerged to help companies achieve better results. But the services they

offer vary and so do the results.

What’s It All About?

Marketers have long known the power of celebrity to influence consumer-

purchasing decisions. The term “borrowed equity” has been used to describe how a

celebrity endorsement can bestow upon a product special attributes and cache it

might not otherwise have.

The same concept applies to Celebrity Product Placement. But unlike celebrity

endorsements, where a highly compensated personality appears in commercial

advertising, Celebrity Product Placement offers marketers a more subtle and highly

effective means of reaching the public – via the media they consume by choice.

Indeed, Celebrity Product Placement is as much about placing products with

celebrities as it is about getting stories about those relationships into the press.

Regardless of the approach, Celebrity Product Placement strategies have a common

aim: to tie celebrities (thought-leaders, influencers) with consumer products in the

public consciousness.

Three different techniques offer three different levels of control over that placement:

gifting-the-talent (this usually involves supplying products for gift bags at live

events); product seeding (products are distributed more widely in hopes of securing

a promotional benefit and kicking off a trend); and, barter relationships (individual

celebrities agree to participate in custom programs in exchange for valuable

products).

Let’s take a look at each one in greater detail.

GIFTING-THE-TALENT

“Everybody” knows that celebrities own all the coolest stuff, and well before

everybody else. Celebrities travel the world and every minute detail of their daily

lives pervades the media. As style-leaders, they are perhaps our most powerful

influencers. It’s no wonder then that companies are lining up to give them the latest

gifts and gadgets for free.

One method to do this is called “Gifting-The-Talent.” This generally involves

supplying free product for insertion into “goody bags” which are handed out as

‘thank you’ gifts to celebrity presenters and award nominees at the now-countless

awards shows and charity benefits that dot the entertainment landscape.

At last year’s Academy Awards, for example, one of two Best Actress gift-bags

featured Gucci sunglasses, a Sprint PCS phone, Christian Tse 18-carat gold Iris

earrings, and more. The Best Actor bag featured Gucci eyewear, a Maurice Lacroix

Swiss watch and assorted other goodies. According to news reports, the retail value

of one such group of bags at the Oscars exceeded $110,000 each!

But how effective is this practice? If the goal of Celebrity Product Placement is to get

press coverage, can we measure the value of gift-bag placements? What types of

products are suitable and which are not? And what level of control does this strategy

offer marketers both in terms of demographics and reach?

There is no denying the value of being associated with these glitzy events, and by

extension, the celebrities who populate them. On the plus side, they offer a rare

opportunity to get close to the biggest stars in the world. On the minus side, the

marketer has no control in matching up celebrities who hold sway over their

particular demographic. They have to play the cards they are dealt.

Gifting-the-talent at award shows virtually guarantees mentions in the celebrity

press at the time of the event; but without permission to associate the celebrity’s

name and likeness with the product, marketers don’t have the leeway to truly

leverage those relationships in their own press activities.

Gifting-the-talent in this way has other limitations: first-movers snap-up desirable

categories and, of course, not all products are deemed appropriate. You won’t find

an energy drink in these bags.

PRODUCT SEEDING

Product Seeding offers marketers more control over whom to place products with

but, conversely, less control over how (or if) those products get used. And, while

virtually any product – from bottled water to consumer electronics – can be seeded

with celebrities, marketers are playing the odds here. But the payoff can be huge if

the seeding is supported by a creative strategy.

Product Seeding is the oldest form of Celebrity Product Placement. Products are

distributed more widely. They can be aimed at celebrities who are most compelling

to your demographic. And they can be delivered directly to the celebrity without the

filters imposed by events. Of course, working with a specialist who can get your

product directly to celebrities becomes paramount here. Film and television product

placement agencies are NOT set up for this practice.

Taken by itself, Product Seeding is a gamble. If you send enough freebies to

Hollywood but you don’t have a creative strategy, a celebrity might be photographed

using your product or evangelizing it on a talk show. But if one looks at Product

Seeding as one tactic in a larger Celebrity Product Placement effort, it can pay big

dividends – particularly in identifying celebrities who have a true affinity for your

product.

Energy Brands, makers of the Glaceau Vitamin Water line, discovered this in 2004.

As a result of its long-time strategy to “home deliver” the vitamin-enhanced drink

to celebrities (including Sean “Puffy” Combs and Tom Cruise), the company gained a

fan in 50 Cent. Having mentioned his preference for the product in a series of

interviews, the Hip Hop star – who is well known for his fitness-centered lifestyle –

became an obvious choice for brand spokesperson.

Speaking to Ad Age magazine, Energy Brands’ VP of marketing, Rohan Oza, said

“We’ve seen that when 50 Cent incorporates [Vitamin Water] into his daily routine …

the brand gets on the airwaves and we create a lot of trial.” Making vitamin water a

visible part of the rapper’s healthy lifestyle worked so well the company launched a

new “Formula 50″ variety named for the artist.

Such “organic” relationships can grow from Product Seeding. Not only can marketers

benefit from press mentions, but the process can be used to uncover promotional

opportunities and, in some cases, identify the most ideal product endorsers.

Product Seeding remains a gamble but, if executed properly, one well worth taking.

Relatively speaking, it is a very low-cost marketing program. And the return on

investment – though difficult to forecast compared to barter relationships discussed

below – can be big. But what if your goal is limited to getting press mentions? Can a

publicist hedge his or her bets in this category?

One of the great things about Product Seeding is how creative you can get. For

Trident White chewing gum, the company commissioned a Harris poll asking the

public to vote on the best “celebrity smiles.” My company, which specializes in

celebrity product placement, delivered gift baskets of the product to the Top 6

winners, allowing Trident to plug the celebrities in their press materials.

On another occasion, Electrolux – maker of a new high-end, super-quiet vacuum

cleaner – wanted to align their product with celebrities. We identified 6 celebrity

moms who had recently given birth and – touting the fact that these vacuums would

not wake a sleeping baby – made gifts of the product to each. Here again, the

company was able to use celebrities to draw press coverage for its product. And

they were able to reference these celebrities because they were stating facts (a gift

was made to…).

But what if you want tighter integration with celebrities? Suppose you need to

forecast a return on investment in order to get approval for a Celebrity Product

Placement campaign? And what if you want celebrities to provide feedback about

your product and authorize use of their names and likenesses as part of your press

campaign?

BARTER RELATIONSHIPS

Barter is, perhaps, the only way to guarantee performance on the part of the

celebrity. Unlike other forms of gifting, this is a quid pro quo relationship whereby

the celebrity agrees in advance to participate in the marketer’s promotional activities

- in exchange for valuable product.

Celebrity Product Placement campaigns of this type work best for big-ticket items

such as consumer electronics and (the loan of) cars. But with creative approaches,

special product questionnaires and generous “Right of Publicity” agreements,

marketers can use the celebrity’s name, likeness and opinion as part of their public

relations campaigns.

Celebrity Product Placement – via barter agreements – is also among the most

affordable ways to use celebrities. For the price of a few products, and sometimes a

token honorarium, companies can integrate testimonials into their PR materials and

create customized celebrity content for their websites.

They can involve numerous stars in a press campaign for less than the cost of a

single paid celebrity spokesperson. It is one of the most under-exploited tactics

available to marketers today.

A Case Study: Sony Electronics

The Sony CD Mavica – at the time, the only digital camera offering a built-in CD-

Rom – had failed to penetrate the increasingly crowded market for digital imaging

products. This was troubling for Sony because the CD Mavica offered clear

advantages over its competitors; namely, freedom from wires. But that message had

failed to reach the public.

Sony wanted to involve celebrities with their products and for that involvement to

influence the public in a meaningful way. They wanted a high-profile event –

preferably benefiting charity – upon which to launch a yearlong press campaign in

time for the Christmas shopping season. The focus: to promote the simplicity of

CD-based photography.

The budget was limited. But, having learned that the latest Sony products could be

made available to gift the talent, The Hollywood-Madison Group proposed a

Celebrity Product Placement campaign. Each celebrity would be asked to take a

picture of what “Freedom” means to them, and those photos would be auctioned off

for charity.

Such an artistic challenge, coupled with the prospect of receiving free Sony product,

not only served to induce celebrities to participate, but offered us an extraordinary

opportunity: to frame these pictures and mount an exhibition which raised money

for charity. Indeed, the charity component attracted higher-caliber celebrities and

provided the “hook” to draw media attention.

We successfully placed the Sony CD Mavica digital camera with fifteen top stars

including Eric McCormack, Alyssa Milano and Dennis Hopper. The photographs were

then offered for sale on eBay as part of Wired magazine’s annual charity auction,

and put on display at a star-studded event in Los Angeles.

Fifteen top celebrities demonstrated the practical use of Sony’s product and

authorized the use of their names, likenesses and opinions about the product for

press and marketing purposes (for one year). Sony received free advertising for its

product in print and online for three months (worth an estimated $100,000), as well

as 3.6 million webpage impressions (auction as a whole) and national press

coverage including Entertainment Tonight.

You can read more about this project on our website>celebrity_projects>influencer

campaigns.

Conclusion

Celebrity Product Placement offers marketers an exciting way to influence

consumer-purchasing decisions. Properly executed, it can be a low-cost, high-

return proposition. As such, it should be part of every consumer-marketing

program.

Three different approaches offer three different results: gifting-the-talent (narrow

focus); product seeding (broad focus) and, barter relationships (one-on-one focus).

But, as we have seen, a tightly integrated celebrity product placement campaign,

combining elements of each, can improve results and deliver an impressive return

on investment.

Jonathan Holiff is president and CEO of The Hollywood-Madison Group – the leading recruiter of celebrities for endorsements, appearances and press campaigns. Visit the website at http://www.Hollywood-Madison.com

Starting out in internet marketing is almost always overwhelming

to e-business newcomers, even if they are seasoned business

professionals or marketing experts. Internet marketing is truly

original and quite different from traditional marketing. The

complexity is compounded for those who do not have vast

experience operating or marketing a business. Whatever the

circumstances, many new internet entrepreneurs ponder the idea of

hiring an internet marketing expert to get their internet-based

business off the ground.

There are different types of internet marketing experts who

provide various levels of support and services. Hiring or

contracting to a full-service internet marketing expert can be

quite expensive, but using limited services of an internet

marketing expert can be both cost-effective and advantageous for

a new internet business. Another option to hiring an internet

marketing expert is to pursue training and educational

opportunities in internet marketing that will prepare you to

become an internet marketing expert yourself.

Some services offered internet marketing expert firms include:

1. Preparation of marketing plans

2. Internet marketing

consulting services

3. Management of specific internet marketing

campaigns

4. Full-service planning and management of the internet

marketing program

Having an internet marketing expert craft a marketing plan that

is specific to your business is a good way to gain an

introduction to internet marketing and to realize your internet

marketing potential. A marketing plan prepared by an internet

marketing expert should contain an analysis of your business and

your industry as well as identifying and evaluating your

competition and recommending a niche market for you to target.

The internet marketing expert should also outline internet

marketing strategies for you to use to reach your target market

and to drive targeted traffic to your website. Specifics of your

planned internet marketing campaign should be included in the

marketing plan along with milestones and an internet marketing

budget. Using an internet marketing expert in this capacity will

provide you with a clear internet marketing plan that will serve

as a guide for your internet marketing program.

Internet consulting services provided by an internet marketing

expert can be provided one-on-one, through classes or through

coaching. Generally, such consulting services accomplish the same

thing as a marketing plan prepared by an internet marketing

expert, but they are less formal and more intended to condition

you to prepare and administer your own marketing plan and

program. Working with an internet marketing expert on a

consulting basis is a great way to learn about internet marketing

and to prepare yourself to manage your own internet marketing

program.

Sometimes you may find it beneficial to hire or contract an

internet marketing expert to manage a specific area of your

internet marketing campaign that is time consuming. Search engine

optimization and pay-per-click management are examples of these

specific activities that may benefit from the use of an internet

marketing expert. Both require ongoing monitoring and adjustments

to be continually effective and cost-efficient. Linking campaigns

are also ongoing, time consuming tasks that you may want to

consider outsourcing to an internet marketing expert.

A full-service internet marketing expert generally provides a

wide-array of internet marketing services. Among them are the

marketing planning tasks of reviewing the industry, identifying

the competition, analyzing the market, pinpointing a target

market, developing a unique selling proposition, identifying

marketing methods, and planning the marketing budget. Once the

marketing plan is in place and approved by you, the full-service

internet marketing expert actually launches and manages your

internet marketing campaign.

Considering all of the levels of service that an internet

marketing expert can provide will help you to decide whether or

not to hire an internet marketing expert. The main advantages of

using the services of an internet marketing expert are access to

expertise and freeing up your time. The disadvantage, of course,

is the cost associated with the use of an internet marketing

expert. In making that crucial decision for your unique business,

a cost-benefit analysis can provide guidance to ensure that you

make the best decision for your business.

Copyright Christopher J. Enders. Are you at the end of your rope, fed up and confused by all the scrambled internet marketing advice you’re getting? Whether you are new to internet marketing, or a website owner who wants to make more money from your website, learn the proven strategies that will sky-rocket your internet business at http://BiznessTips.com

Every current and future member of your college community should understand that a college exists to serve its students. Therefore, the Vision, Mission and Value statements of your college or university should reflect that goal and be known to and supported by everyone.

If a college is to continually move closer to the Vision (produce students who will thrive in the outside world), many factors need to be addressed and monitored. They include the following:

1. The College’s Vision, Mission and Value Statements should accurately represent the core values of the college. These statements should then be used to guide all critical decisions and actions associated with the college.

2. College Leaders, Faculty, Staff Members and All Employees should be expected to fully support the college’s Vision, Mission and Values.

3. The College’s Reward Systems should be tied directly to the Vision, Mission and Value Statements. All college leaders, faculty, staff members and employees should be held accountable for their performance and be rewarded and recognized based on their success in achieving and supporting the college’s vision. Performance, Innovation and Changes that move the college closer to its Vision must be consistently recognized and rewarded.

4. Alumni can support their college and the Vision a variety of ways. Not all graduates can contribute financially. However, all alumni can help current students by coaching, mentoring, guiding, tutoring, inspiring and hiring them or helping them find jobs.

5. College Trustees should support the college’s Vision, Mission and Value Statements by making decisions and acting in ways that enable the college to continually move toward the fulfillment of the Vision. To do this effectively, they must be visible, active and heard.

6. Performance Assessment Instruments should be used to evaluate how well each person’s performance matches up with their job requirements and the college’s Vision, Mission and Values. Everyone must be held accountable for their efforts to support the Vision.

7. College Leaders should:

a. Demonstrate the Courage, Desire, Capability and Determination to achieve the Vision.

b. Set The Example for others to follow.

c. Immediately deal with employee Behavior That Discourages, Punishes or Prevents other members of the college community from supporting the Vision.

d. Establish, encourage and lead Events and Traditions that support the college’s Vision, Mission and Values.

8. Tenure should only be granted to Professors who consistently achieve results that confirm that they are in sync with the college’s Vision, Mission and Values and are acting in the best interests of the college and its students.

9. Employment Requirements for all employment candidates (top to bottom) must include past examples of their performance and commitment to the principles described in the college’s Vision, Mission and Value Statements. College leaders will actively seek Professors, Instructors and Adjuncts who take a genuine interest in the success of their students and take pride in their ability to transfer information to students in a variety of interesting, innovative, inspiring and effective ways.

10. Union Contracts must be carefully negotiated so as not to include provisions that infringe on or restrict the college’s Vision, Mission and Values. College leaders should not agree to anything that limits the college’s ability to pursue and achieve the Vision, Mission and Values or negatively impacts the colleges ability to produce the largest number of students who can thrive in the outside world.

11. Student Organizations of all types (Sororities, Fraternities, Clubs, Teams and Groups, etc.) should be expected to respect, support and work toward the college’s Vision, Mission and Values.

12. Operating Procedures and Processes include instructions, statements and methods that make it easy for everyone in the college community to work toward the Vision, Mission and Values of the college.

13. The Personal Priorities and Goals of College Leaders, Professors, Instructors, Adjuncts, Staff Members, Employees and Students that contradict or interfere with the college’s Vision, Mission and Values should be addressed, prevented, stopped or discouraged and not rewarded or encouraged.

14. Successes That Support The Vision should be publicized and celebrated to recognize, reward and encourage behaviors that move the college closer to the Vision.

15. Adequate and Appropriate Resources should be provided so as to enable the Vision to be actively pursued by members of the college community.

The factors described above must be addressed by college leaders who hope to give their students a brighter future. In fact, colleges that disregard these factors, only address a few of them or choose to maintain the status quo are destined to see a very different future. That future includes gradual institutional stagnation, loss of quality in all areas and students who are neglected and shortchanged.

“It is ironic that so many college leaders would choose to maintain the status quo or pursue other goals rather than strive to create an institution that exists to serve its students.” — Bob Roth

Changes and improvements are difficult, especially at the top of an organization. Only the most courageous and determined leaders can withstand the expected and unexpected challenges and the cries of injustice and outrage. Therefore, there is an important question for members of every college community: “What can you do to help your college better serve its students?”

Bob Roth, a former campus recruiter, is the author of four books: The College Student’s Companion, College Success: Advice for Parents of High School and College Students, The College Student’s Guide To Landing A Great Job -and- The 4 Realities Of Success During and After College. Known as The “College & Career Success” Coach, Bob writes articles for College Career Services Offices, Campus Newspapers, Parent Associations and Employment Web Sites. Bob has created The Job Identification Machine™, a system that colleges use to identify thousands of employment opportunities for students. He has been interviewed on numerous radio programs across the country and by many publications, including U.S. News & World Report and The Wall Street Journal. http://www.The4Realities.com. Bob’s Blog- http://collegesuccess.blog.com

Pet supply stores are getting better than ever. They are now more than just a dependable source of all basic pet needs such as pet food, pet medicines and pet accessories – they offer a whole “lifestyle” experience for your pets, as well.

Walk-in stores. Most pet supply stores now allow you to bring your pet in the store to try out products. There’s no more need to guess. Bring your pet to make sure that the accessories fit and look good and also to see if your pet likes your selection.

Pet spas. Now, you can get your pets groomed and cleaned right in some pet supply stores. Some stores give free dog shampoos or cat nail clipping when you their grooming products and/or reach a minimum amount of purchase.

Value-added service. Some pet stores go the extra mile of tracking your pet’s needs so that you don’t have to. Just sign up for their free complete care packages and the store will send you pet foods and supplies on a regular schedule, before they run out. Having trouble keeping track of vaccinations and regular checkups? Let the pet supply stores do it for you. They will give you a call or send you mail when your pet needs to be taken for health checks.

Online presence. Most pet supply stores now have Web sites from where you can shop. Say goodbye to traffic, heat or cold and long checkout lines. Just log on, order, and your pet supplies will be delivered to your doorstep. Best of all, shopping online lets you quickly check out several pet supply stores and compare prices and brands in just a few clicks. Prices of online pet supply store products are also very competitive – they are competing, so they are forced to offer the lowest price they could to get your business. Most of them even provide free shipping when you meet minimum order requirements.

Pet Supplies provides detailed information on Pet Supplies, Pet Supply Stores, Discount Pet Supplies, Online Pet Supplies and more. Pet Supplies is affiliated with Wholesale Pet Products [http://www.i-PetProducts.com].

Childcare is often one of the main responsibilities and concerns for the young parents. There are formative age groups of children from babies to small children that need the proper care and attention of their parents. Moreover, in case of the absence of children, there is a need for a professional care and nurture paying attention to their safety and dietary requirements.

The above facilities can be availed from childcare providers that are there in the UK as well as in the other countries of the world. These are trustworthy and professionally trained organizations that are capable with proven standards. This is ideal for working parents and for those who wish to be reengaged to their professional life after pregnancy and childbirth.

In addition, if the parents are working there are childcare vouchers that their employers can provide them to help them make the arrangements easily. A system for tax benefits comes with the vouchers that can save on tax credits for the employees especially those who are parents of small to very small children.

These are ways of saving on your total tax credits on the entire salary or the gross salary amount. Here is how it works. There are deductions that are made from your salary of an amount up to 250 pounds a month for childcare. These vouchers can be redeemed for the services of any childcare provider that you deem fit for your little one. You can also make a weekly deduction of the same.

Now, the tax that you are paying for your salary every month will be on the amount after the deductions of the childcare vouchers. There are certain tax benefits in this for your employer as well.

Benefits in Tax Credits

The fact that childcare provider services are very expensive seems an attractive option to have been excluded from taxable incomes of parents. There are benefits that employers have in the exemptions from national insurances as well as certain other forms of taxes.

For parents there is a saving that comes in the form of one of the most important expense of their life. Acquiring any childcare support service like hiring a nanny, childcare centers and even workplace nursery among other options available is an important responsibility.

Childcare vouchers help them to provide the best there is available for their child’s age group and healthy benefits.

It is often a matter of concern among young and new parents that childcare providers are usually very expensive in the UK and in other countries as well. Thus, one of them opts to be at home to take care of the child.

However, child vouchers that come with a tax saving are seen as very helpful benefit that helps them to get the best services for their child while saving on taxes amounts. This has been a serious encouragement for parents to return to their professional life.

For more information on childcare vouchers, check out the info available online; these will help you learn to find the tax credits!

I have found that some steelhead flies work better on some rivers but don’t work so well on other rivers. Several instances come mind that helps to point out this fact. One happened about 15 years ago when I was in Northwest Washington State fly-fishing the Stillaguamish River for steelhead. My friend Gordon who lives in the area and I arrived at the mouth of the North Fork early one morning and I asked him, “Well what fly should I start out with this morning?” His reply was “try this one” as he gave me a fly from his fly box that looked like a fluorescent orange wooly bugger. In about 15 minutes I was into a nice fish of about 10 lbs. To this day, that is the only fish I have ever caught on that fly, I have fished it on several other steelhead rivers here in Oregon without success. The Red Ant is another pattern that seems to be a one-river fly. It’s a great fly on the Rouge River, but for me, that seems to be the only river where it catches fish.

Another curiosity about steelhead flies: A fly pattern may catch fish one year, and the following year, it just doesn’t seem to work Therefore, if you’re going to fly fish a new river for steelhead, better check with a local fly shop or the local fly fishing club and find out what steelhead fly patterns are catching fish for that particular river.

I happened to be a firm believer in confidence that you have for a particular fly pattern. For example, when you tie a fly on the end of your leader that you feel good about, and you get that special “feeling” that it will catch you a fish, chances are, it will work. Also when fishing gets tough because of fishing pressure and hot bright days, stay with the time tested fly patterns that have caught fish over the years.

Needless to say, one of my favorite Steelhead Flies is the Green Butt Skunk. I tie it un-weighted in sizes 4 & 6, on a black finish up-eye fly hook. I consider this a good morning and mid-day fly and have also caught fish on it with bright sun on the water. Second is the plain Skunk with an all white wing, I tie it in sizes 2, 4, and 6 on nickel-plated down-eye hooks. I like the size 2 for winter fish and the 4 & 6 during late low light afternoons and evenings for summer fish. The number three and number four favorites, would have to be the Umpqua Special and the Orange General Practitioner, both of these flies are tied un-weighted on size 4 up-eye hooks. I like to fish these patterns early in the morning on the edges of fast currents using a sink tip fly line and a short leader. Pattern # 5 would have to be the Black Wooly Bugger size 6. I usually tie this fly weighted on a 4x long 2x strong down eye hook with a long black marabou tail with a few strands of pearl flashabou and a black cactus chenille body with a black hackle wrap. The # 6 fly and one of my favorites because of its versatility, is the Muddler Minnow and I tie this fly on a #6 down eye, 6x long hook. This fly can be fished wet with a trimmed cone head or it can be fishing dry or skated with a trimmed ball head using a riffle hitch.

I use both weighted and un-weighted steelhead flies. However, I feel that an un-weighted fly has more movement in the water because it is affected more by the different current flows than a weight fly. Some sections of fly-only waters prohibit the use of weighted flies, so check the fishing regulations for those waters. However there are times when you just have to get the fly down on the bottom and a weighted fly may be needed.

The on line source for more fly fishing information and tips on steelhead fly fishing, steelhead flies, rods, reels and fly lines, http://www.oregon-fly-fishing-with-stan.com/tips/fly-fishing-tips.htm

Stanley Stanton: Oregon Fly Fishing Guide and McKenzie River fishing guide, Visit: http://www.oregon-fly-fishing-with-stan.com For trout fly fishing tips, how to fly fish information, plus guided Rainbow Trout Fly Fishing, Steelhead Fly Fishing, fly fishing lessons for beginners and Oregon Salmon Fishing

Are you wanting to try your hand at hiking and camping? Does the sound of the great outdoors, the smell of fresh air, the smell and sound of a campfire under the stars sound appealing to you? Will this be your first camping trip? Well then maybe this article can be of some useful information.

First of all, one of the most important things to do before planning your camping or hiking trip is to let someone know at home or at work details of where you plan to camp or hike, how long you will be gone and any other details about your trip that you can leave that will be helpful in the event of an emergency or you fail to return when you said you would.

So now plan your trip. Where will you go? How do you learn about the area you plan to hike and camp into? Where can I get a map? Make sure you get a map for the area you plan to hike or camp in. Most U.S. Forestry Centers carry free maps of wilderness areas. You can also find maps online and at most outdoor stores. You will also want to check the weather of your camping location and plan accordingly.

So what will I need? What kind of equipment will you need?

Camping requires equipment, and the basic equipment is the same for seasoned experts or those just starting out. While there is plenty of high-quality camping equipment to make your stay outdoors a lot more comfortable, most of these items aren’t necessary, especially for beginners. Choose good quality equipment, but don’t blow your budget buying the most expensive gear. Remember that costly doesn’t always mean top quality.

Here is some basic gear you’ll need for your trip:

Tents: Decide how many people will be sleeping in one tent. You may want to have one tent for adults and one for children if you will be camping with the whole family. For a more comfortable arrangement, purchase a tent that will hold two more people than the number you expect to have sleeping inside. See my Article on camping tents for more information.

Sleeping bags: Sleeping bags are graded for temperature and come in different shapes and sizes. Choose sleeping bags that are appropriate for the season and that have a comfortable size. See my Article on tents and sleeping bags for more information on these pieces of camping gear.

Cooking and meal equipment: A small, portable propane stove is very handy and makes mealtime as easy as if you were cooking in your own kitchen. You can also purchase a barbecue or find a stove that has both burners and grill. Choose washable dishes and utensils to be environmentally conscious. Don’t forget two plastic bins for washing up!

Coolers and food storage: Choose coolers big enough to allow for blocks of ice. It’s a good idea to have two separate coolers in different sizes as well, one for frozen foods and one for refrigerated foods. Select coolers with a snap-lock lid and handles. Purchase plastic bins to hold food that doesn’t require refrigeration.

Luggage: The best luggage for camping is a cloth bag like as a hockey bag. Stiff-sided luggage doesn’t hold as much clothing and takes up space.

Extras: Buy two tarps – one to use as a ground sheet underneath your tent and one to shelter the tent in the case of rain. Bring some rope for a makeshift clothesline. A nighttime lantern is always handy, especially for trips to the bathroom. You’ll also need a basic survival kit, a cell phone, and a flashlight in case of emergencies. If you’re going on a trip that lasts more than two nights and three days, bring biodegradable soap and shampoo.

When considering extra items to bring, try to think of functional items that fit your lifestyle like as sunscreen, bug spray, a pair of extra sandals, and a doormat for entry to your tent. Browse the aisles of the sporting goods section to determine what other items would be good to bring along.

Don’t get caught up with gadgets and unnecessary items. They’ll just take up space and probably won’t be used more than once, if at all.

Clothing and Packing

Determine how many days you are going camping, determine how many sets of clothes you will need for that period, and then cut that number in half. Pack only the necessities, minimal lgear is key to a great camping trip experience. Hauling, packing, storing, and trying to fit everything in the car before you leave for your trip and when it’s time to come home and unload it all is no fun at all. When you pack, fold each piece of clothing – and then roll it up. Rolled clothing takes up less space than stacked, folded clothing.

Food

Camping involves plenty of planning, and that goes for food planning too. Prepare your menu ahead of time, and have a menu for each meal that includes every item you’ll need. The more detail you have on your menu, the better prepared you’ll be to shop for exactly what you require, no more and no less.

Choose supper meals that you can prepare ahead of time and freeze, and freeze as much as you can in plastic bags to save space. The advantage of freezing food is that you will have “ice” ready for your cooler and not have to buy as many blocks of ice, and the food can safely defrost in the cooler. If it’s frozen tight and you’re planning on eating it that night, transfer the food from your frozen food cooler to the fresh produce cooler. Alternatively, thaw it out by placing the plastic bag in a bucket of cold water.

It’s a good idea to prepare food you can freeze a couple of weeks ahead of time and the rest of the food the day before you leave. Remember, the more you can prepare at home, the less time you’ll have to put into cooking while you camp.

There are tons of other camping tips for beginners, but most camping trips involve common sense, creativity, and keeping calm when things get stressful. Camping is experience you have to try at least once. If all goes well, you will probably want do to it year after year!

A camping trip can be a fun and educational vacation for the whole family. However, for that to be a reality, it’s essential for every family member to be aware of some general and useful rules to follow. Camping tips can keep you from getting frustrated and will make the experience more fun for everyone, especially if you have smaller children. Here are some camping tips you need to consider before you leave:

1. Choose your tent wisely

When choosing a tent the most important things to keep in mind are size, weight and weather rating.

2. Consider pitch position.

When you pitch a tent, one of the best tips to remember is to choose the location very wisely. If you can, try not to sleep on a slope. Think about where the sun comes up, and goes down. Think about some shelter in the day, it’s often useful to have trees on one side of you to provide some natural protection from the heat, or any foraging animals that may decide your tent looks interesting enough to explore. If you plan to have an open fire, be sure that the flames won’t reach any overhanging canopy of branches that could trigger a fire. Take note and follow any posted warning signs and look for animal tracks on the ground. Do not disrupt mother nature.

3. Rent the instructions!

An obvious but often overlooked camping tip is to read the instructions to learn how to put your tent up before you even go off on your camping trip. If you have a new tent, which you haven’t used yet, and are unfamiliar with how to put it up, it’s a good idea to pitch the tent in your back yard for practice. When you do this see if each pole is marked and if not, take some masking tape and label each piece in a manner that it is foolproof. Mark pole 1 a-b, pole 2 b-c, pole 3 c-d and so on. Also if you return from your trip and your tent is wet, it is a good idea to set it up in the back yard and let it dry out before storing for your next trip.

5. Deal with your food needs appropriately.

You may not know the area you will be camping in very well and therefore not know what shops if any are in the local vicinity. If this is the case, try to take some basic food items with you, so that if you are unable to obtain any extra food, no one will go hungry. If you are planning on cooking all your own meals, make sure the gas cylinders are full, and you have packed everything you need to make meals from scratch. Don’t forget the matches and remember to keep them dry! When you leave your campsite, make sure that all food is out of reach of wildlife. They will rip open boxes and climb trees to reach food if they really want it! It’s a good idea to carry your food in a plastic container so that it will be kept safe, especially if you’ll be camping in areas where there are larger animals, like bears. Keeping the food out of site (and smell) will prevent these dangerous creatures from being lured to your campsite. If you are camping in a location where there are bears it is imperative to use bear boxes. Bears can rip a car apart looking for food and can easily open a cooler and eat its contents if left out overnight.

6. Stay organized.

Be neat, tidy and organized inside of your tent and outside on the campgrounds. Although too much of a routine can be bothersome, having a few general rules is one of those camping tips which prove invaluable in the long term. Simple things such as not allowing dirty shoes inside the tent will not only make the camping trip a cleaner and more enjoyable experience, but also protect the tent’s material making it last longer than it otherwise might. Assign everything a place inside the tent. Also have specific places where things that are often needed can be found so that you aren’t fumbling in the dark and waking others looking for a flashlight or spending hours hunting for the matches.

7. Leave no trace.

Once your camping trip is at an end, make sure you tidy up after yourself, leaving no trace you were even there. If using a private or public campsite, this is essential, since people arriving will be arrive to use the same spot after you’ve left.

8. Prepare for next time.

You should be preparing for your next camping trip from the moment you end the current one. This means packing away all your equipment, including the tent in a way that makes it easy and simple to start the next camping trip. Make sure the tent goes away dry (if it’s raining as you pack up, air the tent out once you get home) and clean so that it’s suitable to use without any fuss in future. As you pack away, make a note of any equipment you may need to buy, such as new pegs or a replacement gas bottle. Also make a note as to items that need to be repaired.

Camping Code of Ethics

While traveling to your favorite camping spot, stay on designated roads and trails. It is a good idea to follow best practices for negotiating terrain for your type of travel. Don’t disturb the natural habitat by creating new routes or expanding on an existing trail. When you come to a stream, only cross at fords where the road or trail crosses the stream. When you come to a posted sign, comply with all the signs and barriers, they are there for a reason. It is always a good idea to go camping with two or three campers. Traveling solo can leave you vulnerable just in case you have an accident or breakdown. Always leave details with someone at home before leaving as to; where you are planning to go camping, how long you plan to be gone, and any other details that could be helpful in the event of an emergency or if you do not return when you planned. Respect the rights of others including private property owners and all recreational trail users, campers and others to allow them to enjoy their recreational activities undisturbed. Be considerate of others on the road, trail, or campground.

Keep noise to a minimum especially in the early morning and evening hours. Be considerate of other campers’ privacy, keep your distance and avoid traveling through their campsites.

Camping supplies in natural colors blend with natural surroundings and are less intrusive to other campers’ experiences.

Leave gates as you find them.

If crossing private property, be sure to ask permission from the landowner.

When driving yield to horses, hikers, and bikers.

Educate yourself by obtaining travel maps and regulations from public agencies, planning for your trip, taking recreation skills classes, and knowing how to use and operate your equipment safely.

Obtain a map of your destination and determine which areas are open to your type of travel.

Make a realistic plan, and stick to it. Always tell someone of your travel plans.

Contact the land manager for area restrictions, closures, and permit requirements.

Check the weather forecast for your destination. Plan clothing, equipment, and supplies accordingly. Carry a compass or a Global Positioning System (GPS) unit and know how to use them. Prepare for the unexpected by packing emergency items. Avoid sensitive areas such as meadows, lake shores, wetlands and streams, unless on designated routes. This protects wildlife habitat and sensitive soils from damage.

Other sensitive habitats to avoid unless on designated routes include cryptobiotic soils of the desert, tundra, and seasonal nesting or breeding areas. Avoid disturbing historical, archaeological, and paleontological sites. Avoid “spooking” livestock and wildlife you encounter and keep your distance. Motorized and mechanized vehicles are not allowed in areas designated Wilderness. Do your part by leaving the area better than you found it, properly disposing of waste, minimizing the use of fire, avoiding the spread of invasive species, restoring degraded areas, and joining a local enthusiast organization. Pack out what you pack in.

Carry a trash bag and pick up litter left by others.

Repackage snacks and food in baggies. This reduces weight and amount of trash to carry out.

Whenever possible, use existing campsites. Camp on durable surfaces and place tents on a non-vegetated area. Do not dig trenches around tents. Camp a least 200 feet from water, trails, and other campsites. For cooking, use a camp stove. They are always preferable to a campfire in terms of impact on the land. Observe all fire restrictions. If you must build a fire use existing fire rings, build a mound fire or use a fire pan. For campfires, use only fallen timber. Gather firewood well away from your camp. Do not cut standing trees. Let your fire burn down to a fine ash. Ensure your fire is completely extinguished. Do not wash in steams and lakes. Detergents, toothpaste and soap harm fish and other aquatic life. Wash 200 feet away from streams and lakes. Scatter gray water so it filters through the soil. In areas without toilets, use a portable latrine if possible and pack out your waste, otherwise it’s necessary to bury your waste. Human waste should be disposed of in a shallow hole (6″-8″ deep) at least 200 feet from water sources, campsites, or trails. Cover and disguise the hole with natural materials. It is recommended to pack out your toilet paper. High use areas may have other restrictions so check with a land manager.

Hopefully this was useful camping information. Enjoy the great outdoors and please leave it the great outdoors when you pack up and go home.

You can read more of my Ezine articles on camping and also visit my “Your Summer Ideas” site below.

[http://www.summerfunandtravel.com]

Not just horses like to “giddeeyup”. Fledgling riders at kids horse camps get the hands-on experience of true horseback riding. The new age of experience-it-all growing up runs the gamut of choice…now includes skill and fun-intensive horse riding camp choices that offer western style riding and animal care skills to competition oriented rodeo riding along with dressage and equestrian summer camps. Kids from ages 4 to 16+ can ride and gain skills and confidence.

Overnight Horseback Riding Camps. A multi-day teen horseback riding summer camp gives kids the sort of time and location necessary to acquire all the horse back riding fundamentals. Think of it as an entry into the world of riding, but also learning how saddles are designed and fitted on each horse…what sort of food and water and grooming a horse needs…learning how to control a horse’s direction, going forwards or backwards, or how to canter or go to a full-gallop while staying in control.

Girls Horse Camps. Horseback riding camps for girls are located around the country…from Maine and New Hampshire in the Northeast to Virginia, Texas, or out West in Montana, California and elsewhere. Young girl teens…or even younger girls from age 5 to age 16+ can select from a range of girls horse camp skills curricula…from ranch style pony riding focused on work-riding for managing cattle and property…to rodeo event-riding skills that eventually could lead to full-fledged competition riding, cattle roping, obstacle course riding…onto jumping competition and dressage associated with Olympic event riding. Most horseback riding camps for girls are 5 to 7-day programs.

Western Horse Camps. California horse camps compete with Texas horse camps as popular destinations for a full range of riding skills. Most programs offer coed horseback instruction. Kids learn how to mount and dismount a pony…how to size a saddle to the right horse, and tie down the straps and horse blanket…how to move forward, canter, ride open ground pastures, how to ride in singles or pairs. Most Western horse camps breaks up the day, in order to include “play time”, swimming, hiking, simple chores and things to keep kids’ minds stimulated. Horseback riding might occur on alternate days, unless a boy or girl is competition oriented, and then daily riding instruction is offered…obstacle course riding, jumping, onto dressage.

States Offering The Best Kids Horse Camps. If a boy or girl wants to do a mixed-bag of cool “stuff” during the summer, then the best camps will be those overnight horse camps offering riding, hiking, swimming, arts and crafts, games and practically any conceivable fun activity in a structured program of events. In addition to Texas and California locations, families in other regions can get outstanding programs with Michigan horse camps along with horseback riding camps in Virginia, Maine, Montana and even New York and New Jersey.

Enrollment Tips And Cost Estimates For Teen Summer Horse Back Riding Camps. Adventure…fun…new skills in riding, camping, hiking, fishing, swimming are part of the “package”. The rest? Families sorting out “what to do this summer” need to qualify the horse camp in terms of quality of instruction, years of operation, whether the camp has been involved in any civil litigation suits alleging misconduct or accidental liability, and assess the quality of their insurance protection covering potential accident or illness of campers.

* Costs? There’s no one set fee or pricing formula for horse back riding summer camps, but as a financial guide consider a budget of $150/day as “base costs”…next add your transportation costs including time away from work, gas, hotels both to and returning from camp…throw-in “incidentals” or pocket money for food, soda and entertainment and you’ll get near to the actual costs for a typical horseback riding camp program.

Bottom Line. What could be cooler, and offer more adventure that’s completely out-of-the-ordinary than a horse back riding camp? Kids get hands-on skills, learn about animal ecology and care, plus reach out to connected outdoors activities during this special time in their life.

Learn More About Horseback Riding Camps.
Please go to the following links for additional details on teen horseback riding summer camps for your familyÂ’s needs.

Horeseriding Camp Information: http://www.wise4living.com/kidsport/horse.htm

Summer Camps for Teens: http://www.wise4living.com/kidcamp/

Author Robin Derry is publisher for http://www.wise4living.com/ a specialty knowledge site that gives insights and solutions into specialty summer camps programs, auto tire and wheels technology trends, medical spas, home and gardening projects such as decks and deer fencing, technology trends, unique gift designs, HDTV and home entertainment systems, technology gifts, tips for families committed to youth summer camps, body health, household, sport, travel, footwear, education, spendthrift trusts and family law legal needs, and much more.

Due to the great variety of skis available, the beginner can easily become confused as to what equipment to get. Instead of buying a set of ski equipment right away, renting is a good option to consider. Here are some tips to help the beginning skier aong either path.

Renting Ski Equipment

Beginning skiers are usually better off renting their ski equipment, for the first season at least. It can be an expensive mistake to buy boots, poles and a full set of skis, when you don’t yet have the experience to choose the proper equipment.

Ski resorts usually have very knowledgeable staffs in their rental shops. They can be very helpful in choosing appropriate equipment for each skier. They will take into account height, weight, skiing ability and skiing style, as well as the current snow conditions. The rental shop staff has no interest in pushing one brand over another, because once you pay the rental fee you have your choice of any equipment in the shop. Of course, the staff does have an interest in making the skiing experience as enjoyable as possible. If you enjoy yourself, you are more likely to come back and rent from them again.

Renting is a great way to enable you to try out various types of skis and boots to see which you prefer. If you start with short skis, try a slightly longer pair each time to see what the difference is. Experimenting with skis from various manufacturers and skis made of different materials will help when it comes time to buy your own equipment. By then you will know exactly what works for you.

Buying Ski Equipment

After a couple of seasons of skiing, you will probably want your own equipment.

Information you’ll need to tell the sales person:

- how the skis will be used — on or off trail, groomed snow or powder, speed or stability

- your skiing ability

- your height and weight

- preferred length of skis

- for woman or man.

The staff in the ski shop, usually seasoned skiers, will help you make a good choice in your purchase. Be sure to give them as many details as possible about your skiing ability and style. This will enable them to guide you toward a suitable pair of skis for your needs.

Due to modern ski technology, skis can be designed so that one pair can suit a variety of conditions and styles. Of course, there are still specialized skis for specific purposes. The beginner to intermediate skier should probably get a pair of skis that can be used almost anywhere to try out different types of skiing as you progress.

Visit Ski snow to learn more. Ron King is a researcher, writer, and web developer visit Author Articles. Copyright 2006 Ron King.

I was traveling around St. Patrick’s Day and while I ate dinner and enjoyed some Irish music I saw a promotional T-shirt for Guinness beer announcing the holiday. It was a very stylish T-shirt, but it was the tagline that I loved the most. It read:

Celebrate like you mean it.

I haven’t been able to get that phrase out of my mind since.

Organizational leaders think about celebrations a lot. Maybe not the type Guinness was thinking about with that tagline, but they definitely think about them. They think about what, when, where and how to celebrate. Sometimes they get it right. But far too often they don’t.

Celebrations are important, but even more important is handling celebrations appropriately.

Of the four points mentioned above (what, when, where and how to celebrate), what to celebrate and how to celebrate it are the most important for you to consider. But first, let’s start with an underlying principle – why to celebrate in the first place.

Why to Celebrate – Consider the Underlying Purpose

There are at least three great reasons to celebrate in your organization:

to commemorate results and efforts.

to recognize people accomplishments and contributions.

to appreciate people.

When you think about these purposes, especially in an organizational context, it makes it easier to think about when to celebrate.

But before we get more specific about that, think about the last five times you arranged or participated in a celebration, and what the expressed purposes were. And, perhaps more importantly, what are the situations when you didn’t celebrate that, using the purposes above, you could have?

When to Celebrate – Consider your Reasons

Read any book on team building, employee engagement or project management and you will read that celebrations are important. You can easily find lists of reasons to celebrate that usually include things like:

Celebrate when you . . .

Reach a goal.

Achieve a milestone.

Gain a major Client.

Release a new product.

Win an award.

These are probably obvious times to celebrate (in part because so many experts have reminded us). Most organizations do something at these types of “big achievements.” And yet when you consider the stated purpose above, there are so many other situations when you could celebrate. What if you celebrated when:

People worked exceptionally hard?

People delighted a customer?

People lived your organizational values in a unique or important way?

People deserved thanks?

People reached a milestone, even if the project isn’t complete yet?

Each of these lists could be longer – but please notice a critical difference. The first list is about completion and success, the second is about people. The first list is the obvious times to celebrate; the second list might be more of a surprise and have greater meaning to those being celebrated.

Successful celebrations occur in part when you are celebrating for the right reasons, and when those reasons are perfectly clear to those involved in the celebration.

How to Celebrate – Consider Your Attitude

Ever been to a celebration that flopped? Chances are it wasn’t about the cake, punch or surroundings. The single biggest reason why celebrations flop is because people are just going through the motions.

Like when the leader arrives late, makes a proclamation then rushes back to his or her meeting.

Or the purpose for the celebration isn’t clear.

Or it has been postponed three times.

These are all examples of celebrations becoming perfunctory and without any passion. And in the end, these “celebrations” hurt engagement, morale and energy more than they help.

If you want successful celebrations you must be real and genuine about the reason for celebrating. You must be gracious and thankful for those involved. Your comments must be heart-felt, and you must be present – really there in the moment – sharing in the celebratory feelings of the event.

There is another article that could be written (and I”ll probably write it) about the ways to do the celebration, because not all celebrations are (or should be) created equally.

However you do it, in the end, the biggest key to any celebration’s success is all about the slogan from that T-shirt. If you want your celebrations to be meaningful, celebrate like you mean it.

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Potential Pointer: It isn’t about the venue, the theme, the budget or even the food. When celebrating events and accomplishments in your organization, what matters most is that you clearly want to celebrate! So, celebrate like you mean it.

Kevin Eikenberry is a leadership expert and the Chief Potential Officer of The Kevin Eikenberry Group, a learning consulting company that helps Clients reach their potential through a variety of training, consulting and speaking services. To receive your free special report on Unleashing Your Potential go to http://www.kevineikenberry.com/uypw/index.asp or call us at (317) 387-1424 or 888.LEARNER.

A career is the sum total of all of your work-related contributions to society in a lifetime. This includes time and effort spent to provide goods, services, or benefit to others. A career includes paid, un-paid, volunteer, part-time, and full-time positions. Your career includes many life roles you may not think of: student, homemaker, babysitter, office worker, doctor, lawyer, etc. A career encompasses all the roles you play and duties you perform. You may have many jobs or positions that make up your career, but you only have one overall career. There are various career options in the modern world of work: Self-Employed, Organization Employed, or Project-Employed.

By definition, career development is the interaction of psychological, sociological, economic, physical and chance factors that shape the sequence of jobs, occupations, or positions a person may engage in throughout his or her lifetime. Career development is an ongoing process that includes the aspects of planning and strategizing your career based on information about your self, the world of work, the match between them, and the action you will take to create your life’s work. Formal career development occurs in high schools, colleges and universities, adult education programs, business and industry, military, community and government agencies, trade and technical schools. Consider all the places you have developed your career with either academic or work experience. Where can you go next and what can you do to further develop your career?

You have the power to create what you want, whether you wish to be self-employed, change career fields entirely, hold a certain kind of position, or volunteer your time. Smart career development requires you to be self-reflective, resourceful, motivated, flexible, and able to keep your skills and competencies up-to-date.

Contemporary Career Concepts

Statistics say that we will experience many job transitions throughout our life. For example: the U.S. Department of Labor says that the average person will have 3.5 different careers in his lifetime and work for ten employers, keeping each job for 3.5 years.

From the 1995 National Association of Colleges and Employers Journal of Career Planning, “The average American beginning his or her career in the 1990s will probably work in ten or more jobs for five or more employers before retiring.”

In the mid 1990s, Richard Knowdell said, “Career planning in the 1950s and 1960s was like riding on a train. The train remained on the track and one could quite possibly stay on that track until retirement day. In the 1970s and 1980s career planning was like getting on a bus. One could change buses and it was a little closer to driving than on a train. For the 1990s and beyond, career planning is more like an all-terrain vehicle. The worker gets to drive, has to read the map, and has to be attuned to the terrain, which could change from moment to moment.”

When I attended a recent California Career Development Conference, I heard several other metaphors to describe the career development process. One person said, “The old career was a marriage. The new career is a date.” And someone else mentioned, “A career is like going to an amusement park, where you go from one ride to the next.”

Obviously, the concept of climbing the career ladder is antiquated. Rather than “moving up” in one organization, you will find yourself moving up, down, and even off the ladder. It could, in fact, seem more like a maze, with many twists and turns, stops and starts.

My own concept of career is like a wardrobe, where you “try on” different outfits throughout your lifetime, and continue to check the mirror to see if it still fits and matches your current style and taste. In the modern world of work, you will need to find work that is “suited” to you. Think of your life’s work as your wardrobe. It is ever-changing as you move through life, changing as your styles and interests change. Throughout the process, you will be tailoring yourself to fit different roles, and to meet changing work styles and expectations.

Thus, today, the way in which we go about planning and strategizing our work life is constantly changing. We are taking a more proactive—therefore more exciting and challenging approach— to managing which way our career takes us. People are daring to walk their unique paths, and ignoring traditional routes. In fact, tomorrow’s jobs are relatively unknown to us at this time, as there will be new titles and new career fields that will develop. If a modern career is like a wardrobe, you will wear many kinds of outfits throughout a lifetime, sometimes mixing and matching ensembles, but always checking to see that it still reflects your current style and remains a good fit. It has been said that clothes make the man–what you are displaying to the world through your choice of clothing is how you express yourself. Similarly, how you express yourself and what you value is reflected in the work you choose to perform.

As Mark Twain said, “There is no security in life, only opportunity.” Given today’s changing times, we cannot hold onto one idea for very long—there is so much good work that must be done to help us evolve to our fullest potential. We are multi-talented, multi-faceted beings with many gifts to share. We cannot lock ourselves into any one job or job path. We must walk our path, but remain flexible and open to new experiences. We also need to learn our lessons along the way. Each job, no matter how small, is meaningful and is part of our career plan in that we are always building onto our careers. Today’s work will prepare us for tomorrow’s opportunities.

**Excerpt from the book, Get Smart! About Modern Career Development (2001). all rights reserved—Michelle Casto.

About The Author

Michelle L. Casto is a whole life coach, speaker, and author of Get Smart! About Modern Romantic Relationships, Get Smart! About Modern Career Development, and Get Smart! About Modern Stress Management. Her coaching practice is Brightlight Coaching, she helps people come up with bright ideas for their life and empowers them to freely shine their bright light to the world. Contact her for a free 30 minute coaching session: www.getsmartseries.com and www.brightlightcoach.com

coach@getsmartseries.com

Whether we like it or not, the truth is that the lives of celebrities are scrutinized with magnifying glass-curiosity by the paparazzi, the media and fans alike. In fact, celebrities rule the airwaves and gossip columns today. Every little detail of a celebrity’s life is usually big news among the public at large, and one such aspect is the celebrity wedding rings flashed by our favorite star couples. Among the ardent fans of celebrities, are couples who would love nothing more than to own and wear celebrity weddings bands, as similar as possible to the ones worn by their celebrity heroes.

The fact remains that today many couples wish to be different in terms of their wedding styles, themes and even their wedding rings. It is specifically such couples who are also choosing celebrity wedding rings. If you and your partner wish to own and wear celebrity wedding bands as close as possible to those worn by your favorite celebrity couples, there are some simple ways to do this. For a start, you may color-copy, or scan the designs of the celebrity wedding rings worn by the particular celebrity couple from a close-up of the same, published in any glossy, celebrity magazine. If you succeed in getting a reasonably, legible scanned picture or laser color-copy, you can get an experienced designer of celebrity wedding bands to come up with a more detailed, illustration.

There are several jewelers who can come up with prototypes of the final designs you present to them. Such jewelers can then easily make your celebrity wedding bands at a cost far cheaper than the originals of your favorite star couple. On the other hand, there are also several certified, jewelers who have a range of celebrity wedding rings that are identical to the ones worn by top celebrities, although not necessarily of the same precious metal or gemstone authenticity. The advantage here is, that you will not only have celebrity wedding bands that are virtually identical copies to their celebrity-worn originals, but at a price far less than their originals.

Perhaps, why many young couples are desirous of having look-alike, celebrity wedding rings, is that it gives them a sense of confidence, style, sophistication, and, above all, the satisfaction of being different. Thankfully, with the widespread interest among people in the lives of celebrities, coupled with the power of the media, the opportunities to find actual photographs of the celebrity wedding rings and reproduce them have become extremely easy. While it’s true that original, celebrity wedding rings or celebrity wedding bands, cost enormous sums of money, inexpensive, copies of such wedding rings can be made by any experienced and professional jeweler, using cheaper grades of metal and gemstones.

In the final analysis however, celebrity wedding rings will certainly reflect your sense of style, personality and taste and that of your partner’s, as well as give the overall atmosphere of the wedding you’ve planned, a degree of sophistication. However, what matters most is, the love that you and your partner share. After all, the real celebrities … are you.

Wedding Rings
Celebrity Wedding Rings To Die For!

Starting with affordable Internet businesses is one of the best small business ideas.

Establishing a small Internet business is much easier than any traditional business. Internet brings equal play fields for anyone who wants to start a small business, home business or simply want to work on an Internet job to earn extra income during spare time-regard as a “part time job Online”.

Do you know what will likely go down as the most colossal, most lucrative goldmine in mankinds’ history?

It is the Internet.

The Internet has become a worldwide revolution, radically changing the way the world communicates and gets its information.

E-commerce and shopping on the World Wide Web is already a multi-multi billion dollar industry… soon to be in the Trillions.

Broadband usage in the United States was predicted in 2000 to reach 22.3 million by 2002. The actual figure turned out to be 17.2 million. But by the end of 2003 however, 24.2 million US homes had high speed access.

What if YOU can share in the profits of this incredible global explosion?

Here’s perhaps the most surprising statistcs: At the peak of the “dot com frenzy”, Jupiter Research predicted the world’s online population would reach 498 million by 2003. According to eMarketer, because of rapidly surging growth in countries like China, India, and the Pacific Rim, the global Internet population last year jumped to over 633 million.

The Internet offers you the best financial opportunity. Anyone with commitment can succeed if they choose the best online businesses, follow clear marketing plan with good marketing tools.

There are a lot of advantages and benefits for the starting online business:

1. You can start affordable Intnernet businesses with LITTLE capital and have potential to make MILLIONS. Build an income well above what many conventional businesses.

2. You can build Online business and run it from anywhere in the world. Even when you are on vacation. The only tool you need to carry around is the laptop. If you don’t have a laptop, you can use computers in libraries or “Internet Cafes’” to check on your business (assuming your email is accessible remotely).

3. You can reach millions of visitors if you have websites! How many people visit the Mom-and-Pop corner brick and mortar store? You have the global market.

4. You can start and run your best Internet businesses at home office. You need just a small room or desk where the computer can sit on, and an internet connection from your home. You can reach the world from your home.

5. You do not need to hire anyone, but yourself. You can earn while you learn. Do not try to master everything at one time. It will cause frustration. You apply what you learn, and learn from what you’ve done. Gradually you will master the internet world.

6. You can do your business in your spare time. You do not need to quit any daytime job when you start your business. It is the best for those working moms and dads. You can work when your kids sleep. You can work anytime of the day or night. It is also good part time job opportunity for college students who can apply computer skills and make money for their tuition.

7. You can let your automatic system do the work for you. Run your business on autopilot

Plus TAX Advantages.

As a home business owner, you can huge take advantage. You can deduct the cost for your business travel, meals with business partners, and home office cost like your computer, internet connection, telephone, and other tools related to your business.

As you can see that there are a lot of potential from best Internet businesses and the leverage is enormous. But you need to act sooner than later before everyone in this world knows the secrets.

Starting your online business should not put you in debt. Hundreds of internet business owners who are making $100,000 more per year started for less than $200! You can be successful with your own business without investing much money, as long as you do the right things.

Take advantage of every free and low cost resource. Like free trial for 90 days, free bonuses, free eBooks, and more.

All you need for starting your best Internet businesses is the following:

- A good computer – An internet connection – Choose best Online businesses – Build your business and follow a good leader – Marketing your business with effective marketing resources

Once you find good online business model, with good leader’s help, and right promotional method, you are on your way to earn a good income online.

Note: Feel free to publish it with the resource box and content unchanged

Julia Tang publishes Smart Online Business Tips, a fresh
and informative newsletter dedicated to supporting people
like you! To find out the best online business opportunities,
and to discover hundreds more proven and practical internet
marketing secrets, plus FREE internet marketing products
worth over $200, visit: http://www.best-internet-businesses.com

PHP or Hypertext Preprocessor Programming is a server-side Script based programming language. Server-side script means the script that the server possesses before the HTML file containing those scripts are transferred to the browser of the client. Scripts PHP Programming is software programming that is used for web hosting and web developing. However, all web platforms and web servers do not allow PHP programming to be executed in them. Win32 platform is one such web platform where PHP is not possible. Programmers having knowledge of PHP programming have a demand in IT Community.

PHP is popular amongst most web-scripting program present today.

The reason for the popularity is as follows:

The roots of PHP Programs are in C & C++ and finds similarity with C++ and C syntax. It is easy to manipulate and learn for all programmers. The back-end tool for PHP is My SQL. The interfacing property of My SQL, an online database, matches properly with PHP. Webmasters, who want to make their web sites automated, look for My SQL and PHP as the best option for making their website dynamic. Operating System like Windows and Unix supports PHP Programming Language. The output buffering of PHP language is very powerful and helps in increasing output flow. The rearrangements of buffer in internal PHP programming helps the header to be arranged before the contents of the web page.

PHP has a dynamic property and works combined with HTML to display elements dynamic in nature on the web page. PHP has the property to parse codes within its own delimiters. PHP did not parse anything outside of its delimiters and all those elements left are sent into the output.

Varying types of Relational Database Management Systems can combine with PHP programs and run on different popular web servers. The combination also works for different O.S. as well. PHP Program provides quality assurance and is a secured, fast, reliable and a cheap option for developing and hosting applications on the web.

PHP Programming is free and simple to use than their .net-programming counterpart. However, .net-programming allows use of crystals for report creation and a complex system can be easily executed by using .net.

Even SAPI or a command line interface is provided by PHP for desktop applications and shell improvement, parsing of log, daemons etc. it is increasingly being used on command lines which have been conventionally used in shell scripting, Perl, Awk or Python.

The principal focus of web designing using PHP programming has now shifted to server side scripting from the initial focus which was to create dynamic web pages. The PHP program can take out input from different streamed files containing different PHP instructions and can output them or display them in another stream of data.

PHP programming is the new revolution of the world!

Mansi Aggarwal Recommends that you visit www.discussweb.com [http://www.discussweb.com/] for more information on PHP programming [http://www.discussweb.com/] and .net Programming [http://www.discussweb.com/].

Small engines are used on many types of outdoor power equipment including lawnmowers, snowblowers, tillers, trimmers, chainsaws and blowers. From time to time these engines require service. When this happens, should you attempt to fix the problem yourself or should you instead take the machine to a local repair shop?

There are some good reasons to consider repairing your own small engine. Most repair shops charge a fee just to look at your machine. At fifty dollars or more per hour of labor plus the cost of parts, your bill can quickly add up. During busy seasons a repair shop may take weeks to repair your machine. Before any of that you must load the heavy equipment into your car or pay expensive pickup/delivery charges. Will they fix it right the first time?

With some basic mechanical ability and a few common tools you can often do the job yourself, saving money and time. Start by reading the machine’s owner’s manual. There you’ll find important safety and warranty information, operating instructions and maintenance procedures. If the solution to your problem isn’t found there then find the machine’s make and model number. Often these numbers are stamped directly into the engine’s cover, or they may be located on a sticker or tag attached to the engine. There may be separate model numbers for the engine and for the chassis or “body” of the machine.

Use your machine’s make and model number to obtain the correct service manual. Many of the same service manuals that professional small engine mechanics use are readily available via the Internet and are quite inexpensive. Some online stores offer a wide selection of service manuals in a number of formats including paper, downloadable electronic PDF, VHS video and CD-ROM. These manuals are quite detailed yet are written at a fairly basic level. They contain important safety information, adjustment procedures, troubleshooting tips and specifications in addition to step-by-step repair instructions. The service manual will easily pay for itself on the first job.

After using the service manual to diagnose your machine’s problem, decide if it is something that you can repair yourself. Some problems require specials tools or are covered under the machine’s warranty and these repairs are best left to a professional. Many common problems however are easy to fix yourself. Replacing a clogged air filter for example is quite simple and takes just minutes. Replacement parts are available online and at local dealers that support your brand of equipment.

So the next time your lawnmower won’t start, don’t run to the local repair shop. If you’re the least bit handy, consider trying to fix it yourself. Not only can you save money and time, but you’ll also get the satisfaction that comes from repairing your own power equipment.

Dan Batrams is a professional mechanic at M&D Mower and Appliance, the Web’s leading retailer of parts and accessories for power equipment. He is certified to perform factory-authorized warranty service for many popular brands of outdoor power equipment and power tools. Visit http://www.M-and-D.com for free technical help and expert customer service.

Research suggests that as many as 8 out of 10 employed adults are in the wrong job or career! They are in poor career-shape or have little or no career-stamina.

If you are one of the 8 or your goal is to shape up, it is important to have a good understanding of some basic career management principles for a healthy career workout and to help you make the best decisions about your career on a day-by-day basis.

Career Fitness Tips

Here are 10 proven tips to maximize your career-workout:

1. Set Goals You Know You Can Reach. Keep your goals realistic. Unrealistic goals leave many people feeling like a failure even after a career success. Rather than feeling good about what has been accomplished, many feel dissatisfied because they have not yet attained their dream career. To manage your expectations, set reasonable goals that can be worked on and achieved.
2. Divide your career goals into manageable pieces. Bite off only what you can chew at any given moment. Resist the urge to multi-task when working on your career goals. If you overdo it and push yourself by trying to accomplish everything at once, you will become discouraged and lose your motivation.
3. Work On Your Goals One At A Time. Prioritize your career goals and then work to achieve the first one. Continue to tackle each subsequent goal by completing it before starting the next one. Before you know it you will have accomplished all of your career objectives.
4. Make Modest Changes To Your Work Habits. There are a number of “baby steps” you can take to advance your career. Instead of fantasizing about the perfect career, apply creative thinking and implement a few “quick wins” to boost your career.
5. Develop A Career Roadmap. A career roadmap helps you find the best route or direction to take to achieve your career objectives. List the actions you will take to ensure an interesting, challenging and rewarding career that uses your best strengths and natural talents.
6. Increase Your Focus. To stay challenged and to progress towards your ultimate career goal, gradually increase the intensity and focus your efforts as you follow your Career Roadmap.
7. Make It A “Whole-Person” Experience. Your career is more than just one or a series of jobs. A well-rounded career includes a balance of healthy personal relationships, work, and recreation (fun). To avoid boredom, make sure you include others who have a stake in your career and activities you truly enjoy.
8. Celebrate. Whenever you achieve a goal, do something nice for yourself. Make sure it’s more than just a pat on the back or verbal acknowledgement; make it worthwhile.
9. Consult A Career Management Specialist. If you’re serious about advancing your career, hire a professional to help you get the most from your career activities and to motivate you to stick with your plans.
10. Get A Career Fitness Partner. Find a mentor or colleague who is willing to be your career fitness partner. Choose someone who will motivate and challenge you when you want to quit. Or, form a support group with co-workers who share similar career interests.

As you begin to use these tips, they may at first feel burdensome. However, with a little effort and continued use, they will become second nature.

Althea DeBrule, entrepreneur and seasoned human resources executive, has focused for more than 30 years on helping people achieve their career goals. Creator of The Extreme-Career-Makeover™ and a founding partner of RADSGroup Organizational Consultants, she is recognized for her bottom line and practical application of career development and management strategies in a way that penetrates hearts and compels action. She speaks and teaches with inspired talent, humor and contagious zeal at management conferences and leadership retreats nationwide, and has been featured in CFO Magazine, Strategy@Work, Human Resource Executive Magazine. Althea is the author of Bosses & Orchards, a compelling and candid book about how to make your work relationship with your boss succeed. To discover how you can take your career to a new level, visit http://www.extreme-career-makeover.com/

To have proper ski maintenance is one of the most importance things you should not forget if you love snow skiing. There is nothing better than skiing your way down every challenging slope on your newly-waxed skis.

Waxing has two purposes, first, it makes the ski glide better on the snow; second, it will help you to have stronger grip while you ski your way down on the snow.

While there are different weather conditions, types of snow and skiing style, these are the ones which determine the type of ski wax to use. Basically, there are three types of ski wax a skier has to know; the base, the grip and the glide ski waxes.

The Base Wax

Professional skiers would tell you to protect your new skis with base-conditioning wax. This type is usually used as a primer for the grip wax. It is also the most common ski wax used by amateur skier. Usually, base wax comes in a tin. When applied, it should be heated with an iron then rubbed into the base of the ski. An aerosol may also come with this wax which can be sprayed to your skis.

The Grip Wax

This is a sticky type of ski wax which is usually used in cross-country skiing. It is applied in the center of the ski so that when the skier presses down, it grips on the snow pretty well. There are two types of grip wax:

• Hard Kick – it also comes in a tin and is commonly used for newer snow. Mostly, it is rubbed directly into the skis until the wax becomes smooth film, but others use cork to rub it to the skis.

• Klisters – this one comes in a tube and is stickier than the kick and it is used on icy conditions.

The Glide Wax

Amateur skiers could easily understand the purpose of each type of ski wax that’s why most of them used just one type of wax. For those who are more advanced, they also use just one type of glide wax–the general-purpose glide wax. However, experienced skiers use the color coding for this type of wax to attain optimum performance on the snow.

• Red – it is commonly used during slushy conditions.

• Blue – this is for hard-crusted and dry snow.

• Violet – it works best on a mushy snow.

• Green – best used on a powdery, cold and dry snow which most of the skiers dream of.

Although it is advised to glide wax frequently, you don’t have to do it every time you ski.

Whatever type or style of skiing you want to perform on the snow, proper preparation of your skis is a very important requirement which includes waxing; this is not only done for better performance but also your own safety.

About the Author

I have been teaching skiing for a local ski area for 20 years. I was the assistant ski race coach for Fairfield University 1995 to 2001. Skiing tuning for Ski Wiz Precision Ski and Snowboard Tuning and Bicycle racing. I ski raced as a kid from 1975 to 1985. started when I was 11 years old. Started skiing at 4 years old.

Planning a thru-hike of many weeks or months on one of the major trails adds some extra challenges to ultralight hiking. Physical conditioning and resupplying are key ingredients to a successful lightweight hike.

Even before you start putting together your resupply packages, you need to start conditioning your body. If your feet and legs are in good shape, your chances of success are much higher. Remember that about 40% of thru hikers stop before they complete their planned trip, so do your best to eliminate the common causes for not staying on the trail. The best way to prepare for hiking is to hike. Seems simple, but while you’re busy with everyday life, carving out enough time to get in trail shape will be difficult.

You can do cardio and the stair master at a health club, but that’s not the total answer. You need to hike and hike a lot in the shoes you’ll be using for your long-distance hike. If you plan on hiking the full length of one of the major trails, remember you may need to break in two or three pairs of shoes. When moisture drips down into your shoes, it’s the same as if you forded a creek, so it’s good to get your feet in shape by hiking when they’re wet. Start your hike with socks that give you plenty of padding because your feet will tend to swell and even lengthen on long trips.

It’s bad planning to think you’ll get in shape as you start hiking. Since you won’t have a lot of recovery time as you begin your long-distance hike, you need to be in shape when you start. Hiking shorter mileage days at the beginning of your trip may be more reasonable, but it’s not the easy answer. Before you start your long hike, your training hikes can prepare you better if they have lots of ups and downs. Older hikers are in danger of having knee problems especially on steep descents.

Staying hydrated and well fed is probably more important than you think as you begin your hike. If you’re like most hikers, you’ll lose weight anyway, so eat well and drink well from the beginning. Drinking a lot will tend to keep joints lubricated and your muscles won’t be as sore. Start out with extra ibuprofen and hope you won’t have to use too much as the days progress.

If you’re planning this hike with a partner, remember that they might drop out while you want to continue. Make sure you take all the equipment you need and don’t rely on anyone else. Your pace may be faster or slower than a partner, so being independent will give you peace of mind if you’re behind or ahead on the trail.

Your training hikes are a good time to test all your equipment. Desert hiking at the beginning of the Pacific Crest Trail will require different gear than the Sierras or Northern Cascades. Test everything that you’ll use. You may enjoy not using a tent in the desert. Know how much room a bear canister will take in your pack if you’re hiking the Pacific Crest Trail. Be comfortable with your rain gear on the Appalachian Trail. Sharpen your map using skills on the Continental Divide Trail since it’s not as well defined. If you use permethrin to keep insects off your clothes, remember to treat all the clothes you’ll have your support person send during the hike.

Have access to your money, and remember that nothing will cost less than you expect, but there will be lots to spend your money on, especially in trail towns. When you get to a town, you’ll probably want to treat yourself to restaurant meals, a warm bed, and other things that drain your budget. If you’re lucky, you’ll be enjoying the rhythm and feel of the trail, and want to get out of town as soon as possible. Most thru hikers carry a paid-up credit card or debit card, or both. Remember that paying your credit card is something your support person should be able to help with, so leave a few signed checks behind. Most hikers carry a phone card with plenty of minutes. And it’s always good to have some cash for times when a credit card won’t work.

You may wish to carry a camera or journal even though you don’t normally take them on shorter hikes. Both can be great for recording one of your life’s great adventures. One of the great preparation tools for your hike can be the journals of other hikers. You’ll get fired up for your hike and gain valuable insights at the same time.

Resupply points and how to use them will be one of the most important parts of your planning. This is a good place to learn from others. If you Google the name of your trail, you’ll find a list of resupply points and the ins and outs of using each one. You may wish to skip some resupply stations that are too far off the trail. Some are post offices while others are post offices in stores or resorts. Others are resorts or businesses that have agreed to be resupply points. Post offices will be closed on weekends and holidays. Some small towns will have very few services. Always include your approximate date of arrival and a return address on the packages you send.

It may seem very difficult to hitchhike into some towns, but asking for rides at the trail heads or campgrounds might be easier than you think. People like to hear about the adventures of long-distance hikers, especially other hikers. At times like this, it’s good to clean up as much as possible and have a bit of deodorant in your pack. Asking for a ride while you’re still near the trail gives female hikers a chance to be more selective in choosing rides

Many long-distance hikers don’t like to send all their food to resupply stations. You may like the taste of something at the beginning of your hike and grow tired of it. Freeze dried food is expensive. Learning good alternatives could pay for much of your adventure. It’s very expensive to mail heavy packages to each resupply point. With the amount you pay for priority mail, you could buy much of your food. That’s another reason to experiment a lot with food before your hike. Become an expert of what you can buy even in small and medium-size grocery stores. Read more on what other hikers have done. You may carry a little more weight, but you can leave each resupply point with exactly what you have chosen at the time, and not be locked into what you planned months ago. You need to be realistic. You may be in that group that doesn’t hike the full length of the trail. Your mind may be strong, but your knees may be weak. If you’re carrying a credit or debit card, you’re sure of being able to buy food. If you mail a number of resupply packages, some may not be waiting for you, even if you or your support person does a perfect job of mailing them.

You can choose to eat the things that are heaviest and most perishable first after you resupply to balance your diet and keep your pack light. Some hikers like to have cereal and powdered milk for breakfast so they can get hiking quickly in the morning. You may choose to have zip lock bags as one of the items mailed ahead in your “bounce ahead” box. That way, you can measure your individual meals. Some hikers don’t like to stop for lunch, so they have snacks or energy bars. Some people use energy bars for other meals to save cooking time although these meals aren’t as nutritious and balanced as you might think.

Try to have a well-rounded diet when you’re thru-hiking. Your body will not be as strong if you’re not getting a complete diet. If your endurance is low, your positive outlook can be affected. You may feel like ice cream when you reach a trail town, but if you’ve been missing your vegetables, it may be time for a salad or veggie platter. On weekend hikes it’s not as important to have a balanced diet. You can adjust when you get home. It may be good to make your weekend hike a bit of a diet and consume less calories than you burn. But on a long-distance hike, you need to adjust and consume plenty of good, natural foods that are dense in nutritious calories. Of course, you’ll burn far more calories than normal. As always, you’ll want to drink lots of water, and remember to drink before you’re thirsty.

Plan to send the personal items you need that might not be on your regular backpacking gear list. For instance, you’ll want a pair of nail clippers so your socks don’t get worn out. In this box that always gets sent ahead to your next resupply station, you’ll want to include tape, a felt pen, and postage for all the times you need to forward the bounce ahead box. If you mail a package using priority mail and don’t open it, you can forward it for free. If you need to open a package or your “bounce” package, it’s fairly inexpensive to mail it forward since you will always mailing it within the same zone.

Here are some specific pieces of gear that may change as you hike, or need to be resupplied. You may need to change sleeping bags if you’re hiking north or getting into the fall season. A sleeping bag liner may give enough extra warmth, and you could just send it to one of your first cooler-weather stops. Some people change stoves as they get into colder weather. It’s always easier to find denatured alcohol than it is to find butane/propane cartridges. The cartridges can’t be mailed. You may use different water purification methods as your hike progresses. You may start with a water filter on the southern end of the Pacific Crest Trail and use iodine tablets or nothing at all as you get farther north.

You’ll want to treat yourself to new socks at intervals along the trail. You may start out with a pair of water repellent shoes on the Appalachian Trail and switch to breathable shoes as the days get warmer. You’ll want to add more cold-weather clothing if you’re hiking north. Your rain gear needs may diminish in mid-summer and then return in fall. You may want to send an umbrella ahead or send it home. There may be parts of the trail that require a mosquito head net.

For your first aid kit, you may find that only band aids and moleskin need to be sent to resupply points. Insect repellent, soap, and sunscreen can be sent in small containers. Small amounts of tooth powder and deodorant can be included.

Flashlight batteries and bulbs can be bounced ahead. Don’t forget camera film and batteries. If you forward the various sections of the guidebook that describes your trail, you never have to carry more than a few ounces for a very complete map.

Careful planning can keep your pack light for your entire trip. Plan ahead. Have more fun every day of your hike by hiking light.

About the author: Steve Green of http://www.hikelight.com is an avid hiker who has enjoyed trimming his backpack weight for over 40 years.

Secrets Of A Professional Dog Trainer was put together by leading professional dog trainer Adam Katz. He states that this book is his attempt to bring together all of the latest tricks, tips and crafts of the dog training profession, and make them accessible to the ordinary dog owner. In doing this I believe he has created the best do-it-yourself dog training system available today.

Secrets Of A Professional Dog Trainer is the most complete dog ownership and obedience training resource I have come across. This book and the bonuses that come with it have changed the way I think about dog training – and no doubt for the better. If you follow Adam’s cutting edge techniques, like I have, you’ll come away with so much more than just a “well trained dog”.

What You Get In The Package

Secrets Of A Professional Dog Trainer Book

This is the main book in the package, when downloaded it’s 151 pages chock full of the

best dog ownership and obedience training information I have seen in any one book. The

book isn’t slick or glossy with lots of pretty pictures, it’s just a great resource of

the latest cutting edge and useable dog training techniques. There is so much to take in and

understand that you will probably need to read through the book at least a couple of times (I still find new things each time I flick through my copy).

The book covers in precise detail every imaginable aspect of dog ownership and is presented

in a no-nonsense, take it or leave it style. Adam gets away with writing in this syle because he has an absolute confidence in his training methods which is based on years of experience and proven real-world results.

I can’t go into too much detail and give away Adam’s secrets, but I’ll just highlight some of

the many topics which are covered. These are just some of the principles I found to be crucial when working with my dogs:

• How to achieve a proper relationship with your puppy or older dog, based on trust and
  respect.

• The overriding principle of this package it to praise or reward your dog when he does something you like, and correct his behavior when he does something you don’t like (sounds simple but you need to know the right way to do this).
• Shows you how to work with the natural drives and instincts of your dog (this is crucial to understand and follow).
• Explains the 3 keys to successful dog training and behavior modification – the first key is “timing”.
• Details the three phases of dog training or the dog learning process.
• Shows you how to communicate with your dog so that your dog understands your commands and those same commands have meaning.
• Explains the top four way to effectively communicate with your dogs. You achieve this
  through replicating how dogs communicate with each other.

• Explains why you the dogs owner are the best person in the world to train your dog.

Dog problems are universal – the good news is so are the answers to these problems.

If you read, understand and then apply the above principles you are pretty much set. All of

your dog training needs can be addressed by adapting these methods to any situation, whether

you are trying to correct a behavioral problem or teach a new trick.

Some of the specific Lessons and Topics discussed within the book – again I can’t go into too much detail here but let me assure you Adam leaves his readers in no doubt about what to do and what not to do in all of these scenarios:

• How to choose the right puppy or older dog for you and your family.
• What your puppy needs at each crucial stage while growing up.
• Tells you how professional trainers raise their own pups.
• How to take any dog for a walk on a loose leash.
• How to perform and hold a perfect down-stay.
• How to prevent or fix canine aggression.
• Stop your dogs excessive barking.
• Five secrets to quickly housebreak (potty train) your puppy.
• The truth about crate training.
• Stop your dog jumping forever.
• The problem with clicker training.
• Which collar is right for your dog.
• Stop your dog digging.
• Stop your puppy biting now.
• How to stop your dog running away from you.
• How to fix separation anxiety.
• How to teach your dog hand signals.
• Socializing your dogs.
• Training with and electronic collar.
• How to give a motivational correction.

The above list of common dog problems barely scratches the surface of what’s included in this book. You’ll find the book addresses all area’s of dog ownership including building a strong relationship with your dog, obedience training and correcting any behavioral problems.

What Adam is really doing in this book is training us the reader, so we can then go and bond with and train our dogs – the right way.

Bonus 1 – Eight Secrets To Becoming The “Alpha Dog”

This proved to be the most beneficial part of the package for me and my dogs. Once I learned and applied the techniques covered in this bonus book everything else I did with my dogs seemed to become easier. Whether I was teaching them a new trick or correcting a behavioral problem, the process seemed to be easier and quicker after we established that I was the Alpha Dog. As Adam outlines in the book (you can also listen to it as an audio file) when you become the Alpha Dog your dogs do these four things:

• Quickly respond to you.
• Respect you in any situation.
• Bond with you in the proper way.
• Really want to please you.

This occurs because dogs naturally love to have a leader (you the Alpha Dog). They are

happiest when they’ve got a good strong leader, who they know will take care of them and that

they trust.

Bonus 2 – How To Fix Aggression Problems In Dogs

Again this section is available to learn in printed form or as an audio file (I actually

learned these lessons on the train, on my way to work listening to my ipod). This section of

Secrets Of A Professional Dog Trainer clearly defines the four main causes or types of dog

aggression. Adam really digs deep into how to correctly diagnose and fix these aggression

problems. He reveals one simple technique that he has used to fix 90% of the aggression

problems he encountered at his dog training school. What I learnt in this section is that it is the way we communicate with our dogs that is essential to correcting this problem – we

must be on the same page as our dogs.

Bonus 3 – How To Teach Any Dog To Walk On A Loose Leash In Less Than 10 Minutes!

The title says it all really. Adam spells out exactly what to do to stop your dog pulling

on the leash. These techniques work a treat. I’ve got to say it did take me and Pocky (my

whippet) a little longer than 10 minutes to master this skill, but we got there before long.

Bonus 4 – Free $25 E-mail Consultation With Adam

This is a great bonus. if you do decide to go ahead and purchase this package be sure to use

this service. Any specific problems you come across when training your dogs you can get the

answer to here. Also be aware that you will receive free access to heaps of training tips and

advice on Adam’s website. This includes an active forum you can read and participate in (there’s some brilliant tips to be found on this site).

Bonus 5 – How To Choose A Veterinarian

Unfortunately, as dog owners there will be times we need to call on the services of a good Vet. This book outlines some important factors to consider when making this decision. These points are general and apply to all dog owners, regardless of what part of the world you are in.

Bonus 6 – Where To Buy Dog Products At Wholesale Prices

Lists some very cheap suppliers of dog care and training products. This part of the package is most useful to residents of the U.S.A.

Bonus 7 – Dog Training Internet Resource File

This is another good little bonus. It’s an exhaustive list of dog training related web sites,

registries, mailing lists, breeders, kennels, products, articles and information. You’ll find

some real gems amongst this lot.

My Experience Using Secrets Of A Professional Dog Trainer

When I first set out to find a suitable do-it-yourself dog training system, this system is really what I hoped to find. It took me a while to wade through lots of the junk products out there, but it was worth it.

Of all the products I have tested, this one is clearly my personal favorite. It is by far

the most comprehensive and insightful product of its kind. Every stage and thinkable

situation of a dogs life is expertly addressed by Adam.

What Type Of Dog Owner Would Benefit Most From Secrets Of A Professional Dog Trainer?

I’ve recommended this package to many friends who are first time dog owners, I’d be just as

comfortable recommending it to Professional Dog Trainers. All dog owners (and their dogs)

would benefit from learning and applying Adam’s cutting edge training methods. He is the

leading authority on how to properly bond with and obedience train any puppy or dog.

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Train your dog the right way yourself at home. You may just strengthen the bond you share with your dog in the process.

You would be loaded with options if you are looking for someone to teach you gourmet cooking. You need to gain all the education that you desire from gourmet cooking also in instruction. You can learn gourmet cooking through workshops or from any of the culinary art professional schools easily without any hesitation.

If you are planning to teach gourmet cooking then you need to acquire fundamental understanding about the history, skills and techniques of gourmet cooking that are required in every process. You may also need to learn the best and effective way to communicate with the students. If you combine all these requirements, you would be able to understand the process in a better way.

Some of the gourmet cooking strategies that would assist you in teaching gourmet cooking are as follows:

1) Use of demonstrations is the best way to provide education to students in gourmet cooking classes. There are many students who can learn in a better way when they see, touch and smell the recipe along with lecture. More the senses involved, better are the chances that students can understand you easily and quickly. Such practical classes also help students to remember the lesson for a longer period.

2) You need to explain the reason behind every act. For example, you should provide reasons as of why are you using this technique when several alternatives are available. Provide difference between the effectiveness of techniques. This would help the students to understand its importance in true sense and help them remember the technique more easily.

3) You should ensure that there is a positive environment where students can be taught gourmet cooking. Once you are able to establish a positive environment in the class, learning would be an enjoyable experience for your students and you would not feel any task a chore that cannot be achieved. Your students would take it as a challenge and try to excel in that. Such attitude is itself a key to successful training and successful students.

You can join variety of classes or invest in workshops to learn skills that are required to teach gourmet cooking. Once you are delivered with right kind of training and educational foundation, you would be able to cook in a specific style of expertise. It is upto the student that he or she uses, loves it, pick it up or not. Still, teaching gourmet cooking properly would divert them towards the right way to prepare a recipe and learn good cooking skills. Therefore, it is important for an instructor to learn all these fundamentals of teaching gourmet cooking before starting his or her teaching career.

Abhishek is really passionate about Cooking and he has got some great Cooking Secrets. up his sleeves! Download his FREE 88 Pages Ebook, “Cooking Mastery!” from his website http://www.Cooking-Guru.com/770/index.htm. Only limited Free Copies available.