The LuxMob Info Tags

Do you start the year off with phenomenal intentions and
suddenly find yourself facing December 31st with little to show
for it? Do you have a mental wish list of things to do, places
to visit, or home improvements to make that’s a mile long and
getting longer? Are you feeling kind of ho hum about your career?

Your problem may not be a lack of self-discipline or an
over-booked day planner, but simply an inability to set the
right targets…goals that sizzle. Walk through the following
eight steps and say good-bye to chaos, overwhelm, and
unfulfilled wishes.

SPECIAL OFFER: receive a copy of “SMART Goals 101,” a complete
worksheet filled with examples and a step-by-step game plan on
how to set goals using the SMART method by sending an email to
goals@readytoevolve.com.

* STEP 1: Connect to Your Desire This is the first and most
critical step in creating successful goals. If you can’t answer
the question, “Why is this goal important?” get ready for an
uphill battle. If you are setting work-related goals that are
not your choosing, ask, “How does this goal impact me? Does
planning the company picnic for my boss earn me a fantastic
performance review, the recognition of my peers, or the
satisfaction of creating a memorable event?” Dig around and find
a nugget of passion that you can relate to the goal at hand. *
STEP 2: Plan Ahead “Vision without action is a daydream. Action
without a plan is a nightmare.” -Japanese proverb. Once you’ve
pin-pointed an undeniable desire for this goal, develop a
written plan of action. One of the most widely used methods of
goal planning is the SMART method: Specific, Measurable,
Action-oriented, Realistic, Time-framed. Take the time to
satisfy in detail each of the criteria in writing. * STEP 3:
Become Either a Visionary or a Task Master Are you are fantastic
list maker who gets easily overwhelmed by a towering to do list?
Take a step back from the nitty gritty and look farther ahead.
Write a vision statement by looking at the big picture. Or are
you a dreamer who has trouble getting focused? Break the big
goal into the tiniest possible tasks. By listing the
easy-to-manage smaller steps, you will see that even baby steps
help you reach your goal. * STEP 4: Make Two Promises Make
yourself accountable for both the tasks and the ultimate goal.
First, make a promise to others: your family, customer, or
business associates. A study showed that salesmen hit their
targets consistently if their projections were made public. So
promise others you will deliver. Secondly, make a promise to
yourself based on the desire you identified in step #1. Write
your goal with a specific deadline and post it where you are
bound to see it several times a day. * STEP 5: Make It Active
vs. Passive Don’t fall prey to the “if/then” mentality: “If I
win the lottery, then I’ll get in shape. If I get a new job,
then I’ll be happy.” You will only succeed if you make your
participation mandatory. Don’t rely on fate to save the day. *
STEP 6: Cultivate Flexibility Even though you have an
outstanding goal with a task list carefully crafted down to the
tiniest detail, remain open to change. Those who hold fast to a
prescribed outcome are less likely to roll with the punches and
often quit whenever things don’t go as planned. Remain open to a
myriad of possibilities. * STEP 7: Engineer a Supportive
Environment Don’t believe that reaching any goal is necessarily
born out of massive self-discipline and painful sacrifices.
Consider creating the right environment to support you in your
efforts. If you struggle with exercise, you might draw up a
workout task calendar. However, a more supportive environment
can include hiring a personal trainer or, better yet,
volunteering to coach the local youth soccer team on a weekly
basis. * STEP 8: Have Faith Believe in your success. If you
believe that you will fail, you will prove yourself right
without even trying. Banish doubt and embrace every failure as a
clue leading you one step closer to success.

If you’re searching for a vacuum cleaner it
may seem like a pretty simple process, overall it is. But like
any consumer product you have options so it’s important to
become informed about vacuums before you make your purchase.
First of all you should become familiar with the various types
of vacuum cleaners, such as, upright, canister, stick vac, broom
vacuum, handheld vacuums, wet/dry, hepa vacuums and even
robot vacuum cleaners.

First off there is the basic upright vacuum cleaner. If you are
looking for a vacuum cleaner to clean up dirt and debris on
carpets this the vacuum for you. Uprights are quite powerful,
the reason being is that they draw air through a much shorter
pathway than canisters. The drawback to upright vacs is that
they are clumsy to vacuuming carpeted stairs, hand held or
canister vacuums work better for this. However they are more
powerful that then more versatile canister vacuum cleaner, it
really depends on your preference. Upright vacuum cleaners are
the most popular type of vacuum in the United States.Eu
reka vacuums as well vacuum cleaners from Hoover are both
great uprights worth reviewing.

Canister vacuums are much smaller than the upright type.The
drawback however is that since they are smaller in size they
have less suction and power than upright vacuums. If you need to
clean tiled or hardwood floors, carpeted stairs, carpets, drapes
and ceilings, then this type of vacuum cleaner system is for
you. Check out Shark vacuums, they offer a huge selection of
canisters vacs that are reasonably priced.

Handheld vacuum cleaners are small and lightweight. Handheld
vacuums are usually cordless vacuums that operate on battery power. Perfect
for a variety of duties including cleaning those hard to get to
places such as between sofas, cleaning dirt from your car and
small spills on the kitchen floor. This style of vacuum doesn’t
need a cord and can be easilt stored. If you own a small
apartment or townhouse then this is perfect for you. Black and
Decker Dust Busters are very popular cordless hand vacuums.

If you have problems with pet hair then you need an vacuum that
specializes in animal hair. Dog and cat hair is extremely hard
to get rid of if you don’t use the right machine. Cats and dogs
not only leave hair in your carpets and on your floors but they
also leave dust particles, mites and pet dander to name a few of
the dangers of not cleaning up after your pets. To rid your home
of all the hazards of those cute furry animals you need to find
a hepa vacuum cleaner. Hepa vacuum cleaners are designed to
clean your carpets of all the problems that lead to asthma. Dyson vacuum cleaners are the best vacuums to rid your
house of pet dander and dust mites, that cause allergies and
breathing problems.

If you have had wet spills in the basement or need a quick way
to clean up dry debris around the home such as leaves then you
will want to get a hold of a wet/dry vacuum. You can choose
between a variety of sizes that range from 1 gallon, all the way
up to 22 gallons. Craftsman and Dewalt are the leaders when it
comes to wet dry vacuums.

And if you are exhausted just thinking about the labour involved
in cleaning your home then you need a robot vacuum. Robotic
vacuums can clean all types of surfaces from hardwood floors to
shag carpets all while you watch. These battery powered maids
are truly amazing, never lift a finger again as long as you have
on of these babies. Roomba vacuum cleaners are leaders when it
comes to robot vacuum cleaners.

Whatever vacuum system you choose, make sure to do your
homework, read online reviews and compare vacuum cleaner ratings before you buy.

Simple fact or a cruel joke, but as men age, they get less hair where they want it and more hair where they don’t. Excessive, patchy or ill-placed body hair can be the bane of any man; fortunately today’s average guy can add hair removal to his regular grooming routine. De-foresting options abound, the most popular of them are listed below:

Shaving
A centuries old process common to virtually every man on earth, hair removal is immediate, but grows back almost as quickly.

Waxing
Hot wax is spread on, capturing the hair, when cool it is removed with a yank of a fabric strip. Cold wax or hard wax does not require the fabric strip and is best on shorter, thinner hair in smaller sensitive areas. Waxing is fast, efficient, immediate and provides longer term results than shaving.

Electrolysis
An electrical current is emitted from a probe that is inserted into every hair follicle to permanently destroy the root. Electrolysis is the most effective process for removal of unwanted hair. Look for a certified and very experienced Electrologist when considering this option.

Laser Hair Removal
Lasers destroy hair follicles by targeting the melanin within. The light beam passes through skin into the hair while energy is transformed into heat disabling the hair follicle. This Procedure should only be performed by a licensed plastic surgeon, or dermatologist. Maintenance visits may be required.

Intense Pulsed Light
This next generation of technology promises better results than lasers by using concentrated bursts of wide-spectrum, multidirectional light. The manufacturers claim it is suitable for a wide range of skin types and hair colors.

Chemical Depilatories
If you can’t stand the thought of yanking your hair out by the roots, shocking or burning out your hair follicles, then depilatory creams and foams offer an alternative. Hair-removal creams are composed of acids that actually dissolve hair just below the surface, but the strong chemicals can irritate skin, especially if you leave the stuff on too long.

Sugaring
An ancient method of hair removal that originated in Egypt; sugaring is an alternative to waxing for highly sensitive skin. A sugar paste is applied at body temperature and removed with cotton strips or directly with the hands.

Threading
Another ancient hair-removal method still used widely throughout the Middle East to remove unwanted facial hair. 100% cotton thread is used to entwine the hair, which is lifted from the follicle. The practice, while not as common as other methods in the U.S., is effective and precise.

Epilators
Early models used coils of wire that grabbed indiscriminately, and as subtly as a tractor. Newer models like the Silk-Epil use rows of tiny tweezers, which cause (relatively) less pain, and at least one model actually includes an ice-pack attachment to numb your targeted body parts.

Only you can decide which process works best for you!

© August 2005 Jolene Schwartz

Jolene Schwartz is a grooming specialist for over 20 years; as a master barber and licensed cosmetologist in her own men’s salon. She launched http://appearancesformen.com e-com site; writing monthly columns about men’s products, lifestyle, and offering the finest in men’s grooming products.

Losing website sales and traffic is sometimes simply a case of web usablity - your website just isn’t clear to your visitors. By fixing these simple mistakes, you’ll easily increase your conversion rate and make more online sales.

Mistake #1: No Clear Web Navigation System

Is there a clear navigation system of links both at the top and bottom of each of your web pages?

Does your visitor scroll down to the bottom of a web page only to find one or (even worse) NO links there? Do they have to scroll all the way up to the top of the web page to continue browsing your website?

Guess what - your customer is out of there. So many websites make this mistake and needlessly lose traffic.

Another mistake websites make is putting the navigation system in an out-of-the-way place that makes it difficult for the user to find. Maybe it blends in with the background. Maybe the font is so small, visitors easily miss it.

Don’t assume your visitors are web savvy or automatically know where to look to navigate your website. Make it easy for them by having a clear, easy to find navigation system. They’ll stay on your website longer, which increases the chance that you’ll make the sale.

Mistake #2: Ignoring the WIIFM Principle (What’s In It For Me?)

Does the home page state clearly and concisely what your website can do for your visitor?

Forget about telling your visitor how wonderful you are, how much experience your company has, how many years you’ve been around or how many awards you’ve won.

They don’t care. They want to know what you can do for them - and they want to know it now. In the fast-paced, hectic world that is the Internet, you have about 3-5 seconds to convince your visitor that your website is worth their time. That’s it (and that’s being generous).

Your website should have one clear statement - in an easy-to-find place - about exactly what you can do for your customer. It should state the major benefit of doing business with you or the major benefit of your product. Your web visitors shouldn’t have any questions about your site’s purpose after reading that statement.

For example, instead of, ‘Welcome to our web site about affiliate programs’, how about ‘Complete reviews of over 500 different affiliate programs. Find out who has the highest payouts and the best selling products for your website.’

Mistake #3: Overloading Your Visitor’s Senses

Have you ever gotten eye strain from the first 10 seconds of reading a website? You know the ones I’m talking about - bright red font on a bright yellow background. Or dark purple font on a midnight black background.

What was the webmaster thinking (or smoking)? Quick fact: If your visitor has to work to read your website, they’re already gone.

While your website may not be this bad, take a second look: Is there an overload of bold font? Is the web font so small you have to squint to read it? Are there tons of blinking images all competing furiously to capture your readers’ attention?

Make sure your website isn’t turning visitors away because it strains their eyes or overloads their senses.

When all else fails remember that the old standby is best: black font on a white background is the easiest for everyone to read.

Mistake #4: ‘Am I Still On The Same Website?’ - Having an Inconsistent Layout

If you want visitors to remember your website, nothing says ‘professionalism’ more than a consistent layout throughout your website. Keep your navigation bar in the same place on all pages. Keep the colors consistent and the logo in the same spot if you have one.

There’s nothing more confusing than clicking on a link and feeling like you’ve entered a completely different website. Trust is a big factor when it comes to making sales online. To keep that trust, give your visitor a feeling of always knowing where they are and which website they’re visiting!

So there you have it - 4 simple website mistakes that cost you traffic and sales. These mistakes may seem obvious, but you’d be surprised at how many webmasters make them. Steer clear of them and you’ll automatically put more money in your pocket at the end of the day.

Kate Fox is a contributing writer to Web Conversion: How To Sell More With Your Website

For more free tips and articles on how to improve your web conversion rate and make more sales, visit: http://www.web-conversion.com

Weight Loss Day by Day Diary:

Day 1: Sunday February 5, 2006.

In response to an email I received from a reader I have taken up her suggestion to share my next weight control program by publishing my weight loss diary in article form for everybody to follow.

I’ll start with a few personal details that will give you a guideline to make comparisons with your own progress.

- My height is a fraction over 6 feet. (1.83m)
- My current weight is 197 pounds (97.5 kilos)
- My target weight is 180 pounds (89 kilos.)
- My age is 65.
- My physical condition is basically sound but I do suffer from osteo-arthritis in both ankles. The left is severe the right isn’t much of a problem.

I guess the reason for coming clean on those personal details is to make the point that age or physical condition is a factor. Younger, fitter people will find this easier.

I have used this system to control my weight for close to thirty years now and it has never let me down. I use a very scientific measuring gauge known as a waistband. When it gets tight I need to lose some weight, when it goes slack I go back to my normal routine. Usually I only allow my weight to go over by 10 pounds (4.5 kilos) before taking action. This year it has soared due to a very busy January that flew past so quickly I barely noticed it leaving my Christmas weight gain to get worse. Now I have to lose 17 pounds (7.65 kilos) and that is what makes it more interesting and worth sharing the experience with you.

You will notice from the above paragraph I have no doubt that I will lose it and this is an important part of the weight loss mindset. If this is the first time you have attempted this system you will have to complete the first few goals to prove that you can do it; after that you will have the same degree of confidence that I have.

The first thing I must do is set goals. Adherence to and achievement of goals is the basic difference between winners and losers. Here I must be honest and tell you that 17 pounds seems like a mountain to me and I know that it will take me 17 weeks to successfully dispose of it. Hence I will not even look at losing 17 pounds as my initial goal. My goals are listed below:

- At the end of week 1 I will have abided by my goal of dropping one item of food from my diet each day without cheating. I will lose one pound (450 grams)

- By the end of week 2 I will have increased my walking/exercise periods from 10 minutes on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday to 12 minutes each session. I will have lost 2 pounds.

- By the end of February I will exercise Monday, Wednesday and Saturday for 15 minutes each time. My weight will be 194 pounds (96 kilos)

That is enough for now: I will update my goals as I go along. As you can see my weight loss goals are simple and within reach without too much effort. Why? Because we must all start training our minds to achieve our goals. If I set a goal to lose 10 pounds in one week and I only lose eight I will look upon myself as a loser and soon give up. To be of use goals must be achievable or they will soon cease to function for us. - I have entered my first three goals in my diary and tomorrow we start in earnest.

You can follow this diary via RSS, your favorite article site or at my website in the news blogs section.

This article is copyright © David McCarthy 2006.

David McCarthy takes up the challenge of a reader and shares his weight loss diary as he attempts to lose 17 pounds in the next 17 weeks. You are invited to join him in this quest and compare your results. Other articles by this author can be published in their entirety with no additions from:
www.recipesmania.com/newsblogs.html

Do you ever wonder when to discover best friend gift ideas and refresh or recharge your relationship? It’s that time of the year when the holidays are right around the corner and you need to think about all the people who have been special for you this year. Familiars are not always best friends and as much as you show them that they matter, every now and then it really is smart to give a best friend
gift to your intended just to proclaim, “You are worth a more effort.”
Do you ever need to have your fuel cells “re-charged”, or you may need a boost to your self-worth. You might be facing a very scary situation–like turning another year older with a BIG zero behind the number–and need a steady and solid presence.

How about having a open mind to vent your stress to and get answers, but only if it is required. On a pleasant tone, you may want to take a fun filled vacation and spend countless hours talking, watching the birds and catching up on the day. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to find–and then hold on to–a beautiful mind, the one that fits these needs, plus much more!

If you not sleep-walking, we’re speaking about best friends! It is all so important to identify and cherish one of the best unique gifts on our earth–best friends! They are truly invaluable and can save you literally hundreds of dollars in doctor’s bills. Once identified, this person can serve as “counselor” on everything from kids, spouses, religion and social issues.

Now, it is also worthwhile to realize that these best friends are a trusty parachute and resource, and not to be taken for granted. You have a responsibility to safely shield them.

Make sure to honor not only their time, but also their outlook option when you ask for their opinion. Treat your best friends like the precious stone they are, and guarantee their safety. After all, it’s hard to discover and keep good friends–much less best friends.

Finding a great best friend gift is always a good idea. Best friends are great to have around to stave off loneliness. Just a text message away your best friend is an remarkable resource to call upon. It is like they say, “A best friend does not bail you out of jail, they are sitting on the chair in the cell next to you.” Click Here for all your “unique best friend gifts”.