Author Archives: schatzi

Home School – 5 Steps to Leadership in Action With High Value Education

Posted on by

Homeschooling, a sleeping giant of the American Education system, increases leadership ability in children. Using critical thinking options missing in public school arenas, home schoolers have succeeded in bringing leadership to the front in educational options.

1 – Students perform all tasks possible for self care from an early age.

As young as 9 months, babies begin moving around enough to start doing their own thing. Once they begin to move, moms encourage them to pick up their toys. By making this process a game and showing them how it’s done, children begin to learn that picking up is just as much fun as playing and the process becomes a part of their actions. As soon as a child is old enough to perform a task, they begin performing that task regularly. Even a toddler can help with laundry by folding wash cloths.

2 – Reading to children is the first step to education.

Reading all kinds of books to children from the womb to teenagers, improves their interest in reading. Instead of movie night, what about a book night, where the family sits around the living room or dining room table and reads a good book. After children have learned to read, encourage them to read a paragraph or a chapter. The ability to read out loud improves the desire to read. Promote reading by actively participating in it as a family.

3 – Give up the control issues and encourage your children to take responsibility for an activity.

On long trips, hand over the map to a child. Better yet, set a budget and hand over the planning to your child. Require a written budget and details you can check over before you leave, but encourage your children to plan and confirm your family vacation. By checking prices with no credit card in hand, they have to check with you and you will have to actually make reservations, but the price checking is done for you. It’s better than a personal travel agent. This can apply to any event.

4 – Education can be child’s choice.

Is your child interested in the structure and building of dams across America? Why not encourage your child to study them in depth. Building charts, graphs, reports and ultimately if possible a visit to one of the many dams across the continent would be beneficial. Incorporate history, sociology, math, English, science and many other incremental studies. By finding an organization where your child might be welcome to present his findings (Corp. of Engineers might be able to help with this topic), your child gains leadership experience firsthand. Any topic can have diverse learning opportunity, just look for the options.

5 – Become active and involved in community activities.

City Council? Your teen may have remarkable ideas for learning and education. Some teens run for office. Your teen may improve your community. Church and youth interests can be more than fun. A missions trip planned by teens with appropriate leadership can be a skill builder as well as a leadership experience. No matter what your teen is interested in, there is a group or organization somewhere that would welcome his interest and involvement.

Making the right choices for your family may mean home schooling and balancing child centered interests as well as adult influence. Bring the educational system to life by incorporating a learning lifestyle in your home.

3-Step Process to Writing Better Queries

Posted on by

It seems the most challenging part of being a writer (with income desired) is selling yourself and your work in a query. For some reason, writing a query or proposal seems hard. We’re not quite sure what to say or how to say it.

Writing a great story or article takes talent that can be obtained through training and practice, studying the craft, and taking it seriously. The good news is: it works the same way with a query.

Here are three steps to help you write a better query*:

Step 1: Read Books and Articles

The first step to learning how to write a query is to read books and articles on how to write one. Moira Allen’s The Writer’s Guide to Queries, Pitches, and Proposals is a good one. The authors (usually writers, agents, publishers, and other publishing experts) will give examples of queries as well as offer commentary on why the queries worked and why they didn’t. Once you have studied the rules and guidelines set by the publishing experts, move on to Step 2.

Step 2: Use Samples

Your next step is to study examples of queries and come up with your own ideas on why they work. Find sample queries on the Internet or in a writer’s market guide.

When reviewing the sample queries, type one of them word for word and then note the type of information provided and how it’s presented. Typing it out helps you learn how to write your own query since you’re going through the process of writing one.

This technique applies to other forms of written documents as well. If you want to learn how to write a better chapter, type one out, word for word, from an existing book in your genre. If you want to write your author biography, study those of other authors, pick the style that suits you, and then type it out.

Step 3: Practice

As you read the books and study the samples, write a practice query using the information you’ve learned. You won’t improve if you don’t practice, so put your knowledge to good use through action to help improve your writing skills. Just the act of writing your own query will give you greater confidence that you can write a query that sells your story.

Keep a copy of your practice queries and the queries you send out to editors and, after a month, read through your old queries to see how much you’ve improved.

*This works for any written document – brochure, sales page, case study…

Happy Writing and Querying!

Internet Marketing Training – What Should You Look For?

Posted on by

Starting an online business can be completely overwhelming because you’re faced with so many companies and products offering training and services it can be difficult to know where to begin. One essential thing to bear in mind is that you need to investigate any internet marketing training program before making a hasty decision and spending your hard earned money.

So what sort of things should you look for and what are some of the pitfalls?

Tools and Techniques

The ideal internet marketing training program or system should provide you with all the tools and techniques you need to start and run an online business. You need to be sure that all techniques and training are the latest available and will help you to achieve your online goals.

How can you achieve this?

Do Your Due Diligence

Doing a bit of research on the internet should be your starting place. See how many people are talking about it, or if there’s a lot of reviews and articles. In other words how much buzz has it created.

Structured Training

The training needs to be structured in a logical and easy to follow fashion to get you up and running quickly, even if you’re completely new to online marketing. It should have step by step training and you need to check that it is updated regularly so you’re not getting information that worked six months ago, because of the fast pace of the internet it could now be outdated.

Trainer Interaction

Something else that is worth it’s weight in gold is being able to interact with trainers and ask them questions on webinars and live calls. That by itself can be worth the price of your membership fee.

Something that is lacking in most internet marketing training programs is comprehensive support for their members. So check for an active community or forum that only members can access. You also want to make sure within the forum or community there’s no promotion or advertising so the information you get from the community is purely information based to add additional value to your internet marketing training program.

A community is vital as it’s where members can interact with each other and ask questions of other members, and if all members have a common goal they will help each other make money online together.

Mastermind Groups

An additional service you might want to check out and something that very few training programs have today is a facility where members can form mastermind groups and meet up with other like minded members, exchange ideas and socialise with each other. This would be a huge advantage because working from home can often be a lonely and frustrating experience unless you’ve got someone you can turn to for assistance and motivation.

Transparency

To find out if an internet marketing training system meets all the above recommendations you should be able to easily contact whoever runs the training site, or members of the training site to give you that information. If you’re searching for internet marketing training and all you get is hype and vague ideas of what it contains, then it’s probably best to steer clear of it. Look for a company that is completely transparent and willing to discuss the benefits with you.

Careers After 50: The Value of a Temp Job!

Posted on by

Careers after 50: developing appropriate experience to qualify for a planned career.

You’ve researched and studied a variety of proposed new careers. After speaking to others working in the field you’ve narrowed your list down to one or two possible new careers. However, you’ve found both require specific experience that you need to acquire.

Other qualifications for a new career after 50, for example, can be learned through self-study, distance learning, formal education and working with mentors. However, now you have the dilemma of getting the necessary experience to qualify for new career.

Let’s suggest a way to put you in a position to successfully compete for job in the new changed career. You might want to consider working for a temp agency, to get some desired experience or to discover if the suggested career is right for you.

Ask around for referrals to the right temp agency. Some temp agencies are specialists only working with specific careers and industries.

Re-draft your resume to put your best foot forward depending on the career and job. For each career you might want to restrict only signing up with two or three temp agencies. As you progress and learn more about specific temp agencies you can adjust your focus so you are only working with the best agency relative to the planned career.

Make it a point to see the temp agency recruiter, have a face-to-face interview and learn all you can about their services. Don’t forget this is a job interview and you want to show the recruiter how you would present yourself to a prospective employer.

Find out in advance if you are required to show specific technical skills at the temp interview and spend some time brushing up on the required skills prior to the interview.

Do some research regarding prospective wages you might expect. You’ll probably be asked what wage range you would accept. Also, you should learn what possible benefits might be available.

Many times temp assignments can last six months or longer. Be sure to tell the temp agency the length of assignment you would accept.

If the temp job is in a career you wish to qualify for, you may leverage yourself into being offered a full- time position. Or you gain enough relevant experience to qualify for a full-time career with another employer.

Don’t expect that you’ll be immediately moved into a desired temp position. Continue to contact the temp agency, at least once a week, to let them know you’re available for placement.

So the value to you using a temp agency in qualifying for a new career after 50 is: (1) Gaining required work experience, (2) Possibly being offered a job in the desired new career, (3) Bringing in some income while you prepare to change careers, or (4) Finding out the new career is not for you so you can research additional opportunities.

Coaching Certification – It’s Not Important, But What Is?

Posted on by

In the coaching profession it is not necessary to get a coaching certification. In other words just about anyone can begin coaching without prior certification from any school or institution. Although there are some places that are making moves to regulate the profession, getting a coaching certification is not a requirement to be great at what you do.

What makes a great coach?

Having a coaching certification is not the basis for one to be considered an amazing coach. If you have prior experience in your field of expertise and you have the zeal and passion to support others then you may have what it takes to be a successful professional coach. You know the ins and outs of the business because you’ve been there done it. Anyone can start their own coaching business with virtually zero training or certifications.

However there is one “training” activity all successful coaches partake in consistently. They are always being coached themselves by a coach who is ahead of where they want to be. It makes sense right? If a coach wants to help their clients grow they must be growing themselves. This is where the true learning comes from. Being coached regularly is the best way to improve as a coach and a mentor.

But in case you’re wondering why there are people who want to get certified, they were indoctrinated by coaching organizations and schools. They believe it’s essential and that’s why these institutions exist to certify them.

Many people want to get certified because they want a validation that they are good coaches. But the truth is, it is highly possible to be certified even if you are not that good of a coach. In the same way that there are many great coaches that exist out there without coaching certification.

There is nothing wrong with getting a coaching certification, but then again there is no guarantee that a certified coach can deliver better results than an uncertified one. In fact, anyone with a printer can claim that they are certified coach-and I mean anyone who may not even have experience in business or in other fields. Who knows right?

If a coaching certification doesn’t matter then, what does?

Experience, ability, a great system-these are just few of the elements that matter when it comes to choosing a business coach. Clients want to invest in people who can help them; a person whom they believe in. And coaches must have a solid background in business or in other fields in order for them to gain the respect and trust of their clients.

Experience in their field can speak for itself. Bill Gates, for example, does not need to be certified in order for him to become a successful business coach. Ask yourself, does he need a certification?

What’s also important is whether or not the he or she was able to deliver desirable results for her or his previous clients. Was she or he able to improve a business, achieve goals or improve relationships? This is an effective way to measure whether or not a coach has a system that works for their clients.

The most important reasons why certain coaches succeed in their field is their irreversible passion for what they do. Coaches can make a great difference in people’s lives only when they have a heart for coaching. And having a coaching certification cannot replace passion, experience, real and raw skills.

3-Step Process to Writing Better Queries

Posted on by

It seems the most challenging part of being a writer (with income desired) is selling yourself and your work in a query. For some reason, writing a query or proposal seems hard. We’re not quite sure what to say or how to say it.

Writing a great story or article takes talent that can be obtained through training and practice, studying the craft, and taking it seriously. The good news is: it works the same way with a query.

Here are three steps to help you write a better query*:

Step 1: Read Books and Articles

The first step to learning how to write a query is to read books and articles on how to write one. Moira Allen’s The Writer’s Guide to Queries, Pitches, and Proposals is a good one. The authors (usually writers, agents, publishers, and other publishing experts) will give examples of queries as well as offer commentary on why the queries worked and why they didn’t. Once you have studied the rules and guidelines set by the publishing experts, move on to Step 2.

Step 2: Use Samples

Your next step is to study examples of queries and come up with your own ideas on why they work. Find sample queries on the Internet or in a writer’s market guide.

When reviewing the sample queries, type one of them word for word and then note the type of information provided and how it’s presented. Typing it out helps you learn how to write your own query since you’re going through the process of writing one.

This technique applies to other forms of written documents as well. If you want to learn how to write a better chapter, type one out, word for word, from an existing book in your genre. If you want to write your author biography, study those of other authors, pick the style that suits you, and then type it out.

Step 3: Practice

As you read the books and study the samples, write a practice query using the information you’ve learned. You won’t improve if you don’t practice, so put your knowledge to good use through action to help improve your writing skills. Just the act of writing your own query will give you greater confidence that you can write a query that sells your story.

Keep a copy of your practice queries and the queries you send out to editors and, after a month, read through your old queries to see how much you’ve improved.

*This works for any written document – brochure, sales page, case study…

Happy Writing and Querying!

Coaching Tips for the Office

Posted on by

As is the case with most companies, one of the toughest issues, if not the most difficult, is getting optimal performance from employees and teams. When you have employees who aren’t living up to their potential, what do you do? How do you address the high potential employee or team who just can’t seem to get started? The person who knocks it out of the park, but leaves bodies in his wake? Do you take a mentoring approach, or is coaching more appropriate?

The clearest distinction I can make between coaching and mentoring is this: Mentors often show you how to do something, and Coaches work together with people to “git-r-done.“ The “git-r-done” part is usually a skill or behavior that needs some tuning. At the very core of the tuning, is the real ability to help someone achieve without directing. You can help them discover answers to their own questions rather than telling them what to do.

There are many areas where people want to improve or focus. Work relationships, utilizing strengths, career direction, success on their own terms, and drive or will to succeed are just a few. Let’s focus on Coaching someone who has had some performance challenges, and said she wants to “git-r-done.” Now, put on your Coaching hat.

The reason I often favor Coaching is that each day, you are in the trenches with your team. You are talking to them constantly. A really interesting statistic from a psychology journal said that “Managers often spend 60% to 90% of their time in face to face communication.” When you’re talking this much, you have to be asking questions. In Coaching, well thought-out, open-ended powerful questions help to shape focus and direction. Here’s a Coaching tip from a Coach – don’t ask “why” questions. “Why” questions put people on the defensive and make them retreat. “Why” questions make you feel as if you’ve done something wrong.

Here are 6 that will help you get there:

1. What steps are you taking to achieve your goals?

2. When are you going to do it?

3. How do these steps help you “git-r-done?”

4. What might get in your way?

5. How can you remove those obstacles?

6. What support do you need?

There are more questions you can ask or variations on the questions listed, but these will give you a good foundation. The ability to Coach makes you more valuable to your team and organization. We don’t always need people to tell us exactly what to do or how to do something, but most of us appreciate encouragement and support. Successful businesses are headed up by leaders that understand the importance of Coaching.

How does it make you feel when someone tells you exactly what to do? What about when someone asks you “why….?” What does your body feel like? The answer is that your shoulders start to tighten, your face becomes tense, and you feel as if something awful is about to happen. You are bracing yourself for something bad. On the flip side, when someone offers encouragement and helps coach you, your psyche is that much better. You feel stronger and have optimism. Practice the questions.

Great Film Schools Locations

Posted on by

Whenever one particular considers of Movie Schools the state of Texas is most possibly not the top place on your list. Such other places like Los Angeles, CA, New York, NY, or maybe actually Chicago, IL are more possible to be considered.

Texas is working in order to become considerably known for film making. Within the last couple of years, the Texas State Legislature has changed the financial bonuses to be able to encourage filmmakers that the Lone Star State is a place that welcomes the film business.

Consequently if you live in Texas and want to learn the particular art of film making, how do you go about doing it? However, there are a number of choices. You can enter into a State University like Southern Methodist University, or even the particular University of North Texas. (These are only a couple locations that have Movie School courses) You are able to also go in order to a Technical School. There are also alternative Texas film schools which take the alternate tactic.

What shall you find out in Film School?

It depends upon exactly what Film School you enter. There are just three primary kinds of Film Schools. Film Editing, Film Directing, and Movie Production. Along with the a number of schools which provide focused courses aimed in order to train these kinds, some other schools involve all necessary methodologies.

Let us consider with one by the 3 predominant genres of Film School.

First, is the particular Film Editing – College students can find out acquire the best suited way to go about editing the movie, from beginning to end, that is. Incredibly much of today’s movie as well as video productions are being edited with the usage of several computer softwares. Students shall find out the particular latest digital methods for editing.

Next, Movie Directing – There is certainly available this distinct ancient joke between actors. What most of them assert is which the wish to do directing instead. When Mel Gibson won the Academy Award for Directing Braveheart, (1995) he quipped, “Now which I have Golden Boy here, like most Directors what I really want to do is act!”

People have a concept of a movie director shouting “Action!” as well as “Cut”. They do, but a director does consequently much more. These types of schools for Film Directing offer the particular student regarding how to do directing, how to do casting, to possess the setting for production schedule, as well as the film making procedure also.

And lastly, as for Film Production – Students shall know much more about the business part of the film making like a whole. Movie Production has more to do with money, and making sure how it can be spent on a film or video.

As mentioned, other schools shall combine each of the ones mentioned above. Students shall also learn basic cinematography, writing for movie, and documentary production. They are going to know also sound editing, as well as design, and also to add, how to develop and direct the particular actors.

In Texas, you are able to find schools in Dallas, Houston, as well as Austin. However, there are also choices in several of smaller cites located within Texas.

Texas film schools is a great location for filmmakers. Wings (1927), the movie which received the initial Academy Award for top-quality Picture was made in the mentioned venue. Listed here are some some other motion pictures and television exhibits created from the Lone Star State.

Giant (1956); The Last Picture Show (1971); The Sugarland Express (1974); Dallas (1978-1991); Terms of Endearment (1983); Barney and Friends (1992-present); Dazed and Confused (1993); Apollo 13 (1995); Office Space (1999); Spy Kids (2001); Secondhand Lions (2003), Prison Break (2005).

663EB589-C1D0-C0E2-C5F9-E9138A3C5127
1.02.28

Golf Course Types by Ownership

Posted on by

One of the things that a newcomer to the World of golf would probably like to know is what the difference is between different types of golf course. This question is more complicated than you may first imagine as there are really three different ways to express what category a particular golf course fits into.

The first is by setting and categories a course by whether it is set in heathland, woodland or by the ocean etc. The second type is by length, where the course is categorized essentially by the length of time it takes to play a round, so these types will be pitch & putt, full length or executive, so called because executives may not have time to play a round on a full length course of 18 holes. Most executive courses are only 9 holes.

In this article though we are going to look at how golf courses can be categorized by ownership. The above two types of categorization allow you to know what to expect when you turn up to play. However, this third type of categorization determines whether or not you will be allowed access to the course at all.

The following is not an exhaustive list of course types but these are the most popular types of course that you might come across.

Private Golf Courses are courses which are owned by a golf club and they only allow play by members of the club. If you aren’t a member of the club then you can’t play, unless of course you are lucky enough to be invited to play by someone who is already a member.

Public Golf Courses can be courses owned by private organizations or individuals or by other organizations such as local businesses. The key here is that the owner charges a fee for playing. Essentially this means that the course is open to be played by anyone who can afford to pay the fee.

Courses also exist which are essentially a combination of the above two. Club members can play at any time. The public are allowed to play but usually only on specific days of the week, or times of day.

Municipal golf course are owned by the local government. They operate like public golf courses but the money paid for the green fees goes to the them as opposed to a private individual or company.

Some residential areas have their own golf course which is designed to be played by the local residents only. They tend to be run by the community itself and as such are not open to the public.

Finally there is the resort golf course. Resort golf courses are owned and operated by a holiday resort or a hotel chain for the pleasure of their guests. Play may not be restricted to resort guests however, and so you may find some resort courses are open to the public in return for a fee.

Should You Take an Online College Course for Personal Growth?

Posted on by

When most people think about taking an online college course, it is often thought about in combination with earning a college diploma, but this isn’t always the case. College courses are available in an almost unending choice of topics, and this presents you with a great opportunity for personal growth and enrichment. With the wide range of colleges and universities available both nationally and internationally, you will have a wide range of topics to choose from, as well as the convenience of a flexible schedule that is ideal for those looking for personal enrichment. How can you find the right online college course for your own interests?

While not every college and university will offer online degree programs, most do offer at least a few online courses. So if you are just looking for an online college course for your own interests, you will have a wide range of options to choose from. So you should have no problem finding a course or two that will interest you. Keep in mind you may still need to apply for admission to the school, so you may want to apply at a community college or smaller school that has a less involved application process. Many community colleges cater to those looking for an enriching educational experience and offer a variety of topics to choose from.

Before you go through the full application process, you want to take a look at the school’s course catalog and make sure they have a course or two that will interest you. Often the course catalog can be searched online or you can get a hard copy directly from the school. An online course is a wonderful way to learn more about the world around you and even bring your professional knowledge up to date. The world is always changing, and it can be fun to learn about new, exciting things. And there is no better way to learn about things you find enjoyable than with an online course that you can take from home.