Want To Enjoy A Great Outdoor Living Space? Learn How To Create Balance According To Feng Shui

Want to learn a little about how to easily create balance in your outdoor space according to basic feng shui principles, to help you start off in the right direction on creating a peaceful and desirable outdoor living space? This article will give you some easy to follow feng shui tips.

When you digest and follow these tips you'll find that almost subconsciously you will start to understand what needs to be done in your specific space to start moulding it into a truly beautiful outside living space, by achieving balance.

Feeling And Creating Balance Balance in the environment and home is central to practising feng shui, regardless of the school of thought. Some people have a natural ability to feel this balance, whereas others through understanding and practising it, can hone this skill over time.

In fact one interesting example of this is estate agents. Many estate agents, the vast majority of whom are not trained Feng Shui practitioners, have developed this natural ability. Think about how often they manage to present average properties in brochures and website photos so well that they seem far more attractive than they are in reality.

Some Important Questions To Ask It is not possible to achieve balance in a cluttered outdoor space, so the very first step is to de-clutter it. Once this is done take a look at it again, asking the following questions:

-Does it feel like there are too many hard surfaces? -Does it seem barren or lack in life? -Is there a heavy silence in the air?

If you can answer yes to any, or all of the above questions currently your outdoor space has an imbalance and has too much yin energy. Yin energy is the nurturing, feminine energy. It is passive, silent, moist, soft and slow. Too much of it can lead to the feeling that energy cannot manifest properly; kind of like a frustrating lack of completion, like a person who interiorises too much and doesn't create in real life according to their potential. A build up of negative yin energy will lead to blockages and obstacles for you and the other residents in your property.

A Simple Solution However the good news is that this imbalance is easy to correct. Once you have de-cluttered, introduce colourful plants which are fresh and flowering. Tend to these over time also, ensuring that they are kept fresh and lively, and this small change will have an immediate positive effect on the outdoor space. A home which has a garden or outside space where the plants and flowers are lovingly tended will reflect a healthy energy. This energy resonates with vibrant, happy and prosperous chi (energy).

Lucky Enough To Have The Wood Element Already? According to Feng Shui principles, there are five elements, very much in the same way as there is in traditional Chinese medicine. These five elements are fire, earth, metal, water and wood. These elements can work together productively or destructively. More about that later on in our series of articles.

Wood is unique in so far as it is the only one of the five elements which has a life of its own. This means that the wood element represents growth and happiness. Are you lucky enough to have the wood element in the outdoor space already, could be in the form of a tree or a smaller example would be a bonsai tree?

If you don't, introduce it to bring the energy of happiness and growth. Have fun implementing these tips and enjoy the positive effecs in your outdoor living space. Check out the next article in our series which examines the importance of light and some easy ways to achieve great results.

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How Much Does Long Term Care Insurance Cost and Why Does It Vary?

The issue about how much does long term care insurance cost and what it can really give to its policy owners have been circulating around the insurance industry for quite some time now. This is one of the usual questions that insurance providers and agents get from new applicants or curious individuals.

The benefits that an LTC insurance policy can give its policy owners have been proven efficient and beneficial for so many years now. As a matter of fact, there are numerous studies and surveys that show how necessary owning an LTC insurance plan is to each and every individual in the United States.

One study confirmed that an average person who is 60 years old and above would require receiving LTC services at least once in their lifetime, and that the average stay in a nursing home facility usually lasts from one and a half to three years. Any confinement longer than three years may mean that the person has more serious or major health concerns that need to be properly addressed and given extensive medical attention and treatment.

LTC insurance plans provide services and facilities that are essential in helping the insured individual to be at ease or even surpass the burdens of some illnesses and diseases brought about by old age.

As for the question how much does long term care insurance cost, the answer depends on some factors that most insurance companies usually consider when obtaining or determining the rates of monthly premiums that would be given to a specific type of LTC insurance policy.

Bear in mind that the costs of LTC policies and services vary but the quality and effectiveness of the benefits it provide are almost the same. The insured person, as well as his family, can be assured that they would only get the best and highest-quality of services and facilities being offered in the country.

One of the major factors that determine the price of a policy is the age of the person when he applied and purchased his policy. Insurance providers prefer those who acquire their plans at a young age and as a move to attract these kinds of people, insurance companies grant lower and cheaper monthly rates for people who are younger, healthier, and have stronger financial resources.

The present health status and medical background of the person also affect the cost of his possible policy. This is important so that the insurance company knows beforehand and can anticipate the diseases that the individual might have in the future and to give policy quotations that are suitable to his LTC needs.

Aside from these, the exact region or area in a state where the person opts to spend his retirement days and receive his policy benefits will also be considered. Some states and regions offer more expensive monthly premiums than some of the other locations in the country so it is important to advise the insurance provider of this pertinent detail when asking for plan quotations.

There are still other factors that insurance companies favor to know how much does long term care insurance cost it will grant an individual. To know more about these, one can directly contact their insurance agent or check out some websites that provide important details and information.

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Is 30 Year Term Life Insurance the Best Protection for Your Family?

You want the best protection for your family. Protection of their financial security so they can continue to pay the mortgage or rent if you die...continue to pay for food and clothing and all the day-to-day necessities...continue to pay credit card bills...continue to contribute to your children's college education fund. A 20 year term life insurance policy or 30 year term policy may offer just the right combination of excellent protection at an excellent price.

You want the best protection for your family. Protection against the high costs of end-of-life medical care that you may require before your death...and that may not be fully covered by health insurance. These costs can easily exceed tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars!

You want the best protection for your family. Protection against the high cost of a funeral and burial or cremation. These costs can run into the tens of thousands of dollars. You don't want that burden to fall upon your family, especially when they are grieving and at their most stressed and vulnerable.

You want the best protection for your family. But you don't want to spend all of your money doing it. The whole idea is to protect your family's financial security. Not spend all your finances looking for protection. The fact is, you may be able to find 20 year term life insurance and 30 year term life options with a benefit worth tens of thousands of dollars but a premium that costs just pennies per day...or a benefit worth hundreds of thousands of dollars but a premium that costs about the price of a cup of coffee per day...or, for a higher premium, a benefit worth millions of dollars! Whatever your budget, you can find an excellent option...if you do a little comparison shopping.

You want the best protection for your family. But you don't want to make the process of finding that protection a time consuming hassle. That's the way it used to be. Shopping for 20 or 30 year term life insurance meant going from one company to the next, filling out one application after another, talking with agent after agent, trying to get as many quotes as possible. But now, things are different. You can get quotes from many different companies, all at one time, all in one place, and all in just seconds. The key is to use a no-cost, no-obligation online quoting service that helps consumers find the right coverage at the right price...in no time at all!

You want the best protection for your family. Good for you. Life insurance is one of the smartest forms of protection you can find. It is also one of the most affordable...if you do a little shopping. You can find 20 year term life insurance and 30 year term insurance at surprisingly low rates.

You want the best protection for your family. You just might find that a 30 year term life insurance policy offers exactly the type of protection you need at a price you can afford. And to find the best coverage, more and more people now use a free online comparison-shopping service such as 30YearTermLifeInsurance.biz. Try it for yourself...and your family.

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Insurance Sales: Personal Stories and Examples

Personal Examples Help Your Prospects Understand the Need

I think most insurance agents and financial advisors spend too much time and effort illustrating projections, and explaining policy features.

Because that's not what really "sells".

The most compelling reason for "buying" insurance coverage is neither the features nor the provisions of the coverage. The reason most people buy insurance of any kind, is to prevent a "bad" event - like a traffic accident or a heart attack - from becoming a "worse" event - like losing their income or their assets.

People buy insurance to protect their financial security from the "cost" of bad events.

That's why it's so important (critically important) to "sell the need" or sell the potential "pain" of financial loss and the practical consequences of that loss.

And one of the best ways to do that is with "stories" that provide examples of such losses, and the consequences of those loses - with or without insurance coverage.

Every journalist knows that people are engaged and intrigued by "stories"- even short stories or anecdotes - especially what they call "human interest" stories. Because people relate to stories about other people - especially those in similar situations to themselves.

And it's been proven that people read or listen to a well told story much more carefully than they do to any other form of information. More importantly, people learn better when told a "story" in the form of an example.

That's why stories can be one of your most effective "selling" techniques...

And why sharing personal examples with your clients and prospects is one of the best ways to establish your sincerity and credibility - while influencing their decision to buy.

Here are a few of the "stories" I have personally used:

- My son in law (the eldest of four children) lost his father to ALS when he was 14, and helped his mother raise 3 younger siblings - without life insurance.

- One of my high school buddies died of cancer when we were only 31 - leaving a young widow and 2 very young children - but with enough life insurance to pay off their home and leave them without any debts.

- I once had a business partner who collapsed from a massive heart attack during his regular morning jog - before he had completed the medical exam for key man insurance. It cost our company over a million dollars - which ultimately resulted in bankruptcy and dissolution.

- Another high school friend was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in his early forties - but without disability insurance. He struggled for as long as he could, but ultimately he could no longer work - first as a restaurateur, then as a realtor, and finally as a mortgage broker. And because his illness got progressively worse, even when he was working, he couldn't earn enough to raise three children - even with his wife's income as the office manager for a law firm.

- One of my best childhood friends was a manic depressive (and off his medications) when he jumped to his death from the Golden Gate Bridge, when he was only 35. He left one child and a pregnant wife - again, without life insurance. Of course, these are only a few abbreviated examples of my own "stories" - but do you see how they were of interest to you, and got you thinking of your own experiences?

That's the power of examples in the form of "story telling".

Some of the most successful insurance sales professionals use this technique with every client or prospect - because it's honest, it's engaging, it's compelling, and it works.

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Four Tips for Overcoming Your Cold Call Anxiety

If you have ever sat down and just started calling people out of the blue to try and make a sale, you know how nerve wracking it can be when the potential client picks up the phone on the other end. Some sales people get sweaty hands, cold chills and experience anxiety just at the thought of picking up the phone and calling strangers to make a sale. But it doesn't have to be that way. Here are some ways you can overcome the anxiety and nervousness you feel when making cold calls so you can be more successful in turning those calls into actual sales.

1. Get over the mental fear of making a cold call. What is the worst thing about making a cold call? The absolute worst case scenario is that you will get rejected and the person on the other end of the line will hang up on you. They might even be a little annoyed. But don't let that affect you. It's not like they can punch you in the nose over the phone or anything like that. So when you start feeling nervous about making those initial phone calls, ask yourself: "What's the worst thing that can happen?" Then get over your fear of rejection and start dialing those numbers.

2. Set a goal. One way to get over your fear of making those cold calls is to make it a game for yourself. By setting a goal, you are more focused on achieving that goal rather than thinking about the fear of rejection. For instance, make a goal to make 15 cold calls each hour or set a daily goal. Also, set a goal for the number of sales you want to make. Make these goals small and treat yourself with a coffee break or some other reward each time you reach a goal.

3. Rethink your purpose. If you are just making cold calls in hopes of making a sale at that time, you will probably be disappointed. Think of these calls as a way to introduce yourself to potential clients and to get your name in their minds. They may not want to purchase your insurance products today, but they will have your name in their head when they do decide to purchase your products.

4. Gradually make your pitch better. If you are new to cold calling, you aren't going to be perfect at it right away regardless of how much you practice beforehand. Being a successful cold caller takes experience that you can only get by making those calls. Once you are comfortable introducing yourself to the potential client, work on your sales pitch. Try to make it better with each call that you make. After a few days, making cold calls will just be like second nature to you and you will see your success rate increase.

These tips will help you decrease your fear of making those all-important cold calls while increasing your rate of success. Utilize them today and see how much easier this dreaded task can be.

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46 Clues Your Partner is Having an Affair

Some of these signs of a cheating spouse are "tongue in cheek" while others are tell tale signs that commonly appear with a cheating husband or cheating wife. There is no copyright. Feel free to forward to those who might be interested. But please don't change anything.

Signs of a Cheating Spouse:

1) You find birth-control pills in her medicine cabinet, and you've had a vasectomy.

2) Mutual friends start acting strangely toward you. (They either know about the cheating or have been told stories about what a horrible wife or girlfriend you are.)

3) Your cheating husband or wife stops confiding in you and seeking advice from you.

4) Sets up a new e-mail account and doesn't tell you about it.

5) He leaves the house in the morning smelling like Irish Spring and returns in the evening smelling like Safeguard.

6) She joins the gym and begins a rigorous workout program.

7) She buys a cell phone and doesn't let you know.

8) He sets up a separate cell phone account that is billed to his office.

9) The cheating husband carries condoms, and you are on the pill.

10) Begins to delete all incoming phone calls from the caller ID.

11) Deletes all incoming e-mails when they used to accumulate.

12) He becomes "accusatory," asking if you are being true to him, usually out of guilt.

13) Raises hypothetical questions such as, "Do you think it's possible to love more than one person at a time?"

14) He buys himself new underwear.

15) He insists the child seat, toys, etc., are kept out of his car.

16) The cheating wife stops wearing her wedding ring.

17) Has a sudden desire to be helpful with the laundry.

18) Has unexplained scratches or bruises on his or her neck or back.

19) Suddenly wants to try new love techniques.

20) He/she fairly suddenly stops having sex with you.

21) He/she suddenly wants more sex, more often.

22) Supposedly works a lot of overtime, but it never shows up on the pay stub.

23) Picks fights in order to stomp out of the house.

24) You find out by accident he or she took vacation day or personal time off from work - but supposedly worked on those days.

25) Shows a sudden interest in a different type of music.

26) Spouse's co-workers are uncomfortable in your presence.

27) Has a sudden preoccupation with his or her appearance.

28) Spends an excessive amount of time on the computer, especially after you have gone to bed.

29) He throws up a lot because he just ate at his mistress's house and had to eat the dinner you prepared when he got home.

30) Your spouse is away from home, either nights or on trips, more than previously.

31) His/her clothes smell of an unfamiliar perfume or after-shave. You see lipstick on your husband's shirt.

32) The amount of money being deposited into your checking account drops off.

33) You find items of intimate apparel or other small gift-type items that you did not give your spouse.

34) Your spouse seems less comfortable around you and is "touchy" and easily moved to anger.

35) You get calls where the caller hangs up when he or she hears your voice.

36) He/she loses attention in the activities in the home.

37) Your intuition (gut feeling) tells you that something is not right.

38) He/she has a definite change in attitude towards everyone in the home.

39) She uses a low voice or whisper on the phone or hangs up quickly.

40) She has a "glow" about her.

41) Atypical erratic behavior.

42) He sneaks out of the house.

43) She sleeps with her purse by the bed.

44) She goes to the store for groceries and comes home 5 hours later.

45) He tells you that you can get hold of him at a different telephone number.

46) The telltale sign of a cheating spouse? Having to ask that question in the first place.

46 Clues Your Partner is Having an Affair   46 Clues Your Partner is Having an Affair   46 Clues Your Partner is Having an Affair