Personal assistant, or PA, has evolved through the years. When it comes to the job description, it has gone a very long way. It is someone who aids and assists individuals in business and personal matters. He attends to what his superior can’t attend to.

The people who often hire personal assistants are CEOs, celebrities, executives, VIPs, business tycoons and entertainment moguls. They need their assistants to work on their daily needs. You often see that the assistants never leave the side of their employers. They make sure that the work to be done will be efficient and easier.

An assistant doesn’t require attaining a specific education and job track in order to get this job. However, a more experienced assistant is calm under pressure. They can also think under their feet.

A lot of individuals seek the help of an assistant in order for them to do other things. Other individuals hire assistants to help them in doing difficult tasks, even though they feel like they can do it on their own. Hiring an assistant, for both business and personal matters, can help you find time to spend with your family and friends. They are closer to you, as they give you extra hour everyday.

If you are thinking whether you can hire an assistant or not, you will be surprised to know the answer. Yes, you can hire an assistant.

A lot of assistants offer services and charge fees according to your requirement. You can also hire assistants on part-time basis, if you are not so capable in paying them for a fulltime capacity. Through that, you can only call them during certain days and schedules. In the long run, if they prove to be competent and reliable, you can hire them even in your absence. With that, you can have your work done even you’re out.

One can also hire virtual assistants. They are becoming popular nowadays. They are like PA’s, yet, they don’t work on site. Tasks that are given to the virtual assistants are tasks that don’t need on-site work. They can check your emails, plan your schedules, organize your day and plan meetings. They can definitely do administrative work.

A lot of small businesses take advantage of the VA’s because these assistants perform work outside the normal working hours. Hiring a VA can reduce your work stress.

If you can’t find one, you can use companies that can hire one for you. They will look for the best assistant that can really suit your needs. You will find that these companies can help you a lot.

Personal assistant is always there to assist an individual who needs their assistance. One of their effective duties is time tracking, which helps a lot in terms of managing tasks and schedules. If you want an extra hand and hour, hire an assistant.

What is a Variable Interest Rate Home Loan?

A variable interest rate home loan (sometimes also referred to as a “floating” or “adjustable” rate home loan) is a very popular product in the lending market and a very competitive product offered by most of the lenders/credit providers.

Who is Suited to a Variable Interest Rate Home Loan?

This type of home loan is a perfect fit for:

>> First-time home buyers who just want a home loan product that is simple and not confusing to manage

>> People who just want to stay settled and are not willing to move whether in their work, home, personal life or they are not willing to move to another lender

What Should I Consider When Choosing the Loan?

When choosing it, you should always research and consider the following terms & conditions, being offered by the many lenders/credit providers:

>> Treat any “honeymoon” interest rate offers with caution, and remember to always check whether the discount rate applied to the variable rate is a set amount below whatever the standard variable is

>> Remember that low rate home loans are not always the best choice

>> Try to pick a loan term that suits your finance

>> Decide on what matters most to you (e.g. does it meet your financial goals?)

What are the Features of a Variable Interest Rate Home Loan?

You must know all the below mentioned features of the loan package so you can maximise the benefits:

>> Take advantage of falling “interest rates” when the Reserve bank decides to drop their official rates

>> Make unlimited “extra repayments” each month so you can pay off your home loan faster

>> Take advantage of “redraw facilities” so you can withdraw any extra payments you have made on top of your normal repayment amounts if you need the cash

>> Take advantage of a 100% offset account

What are the Advantages and Disadvantages?

There are many advantages of choosing the loan package such as:

>> Flexibility: It has some flexible features like having options of making additional payments, low introductory interest rates or redrawing facility.

>> Lower repayment option: As the interest rate varies with that of the market index, if the rate falls, the amount of repayment also becomes lower.

>> Ability to pay off the loan faster: This loan type also has the option of enabling you to pay an extra repayment as advance towards the loan. Thus, every month, if you pay an extra amount in addition to your minimum payment amount, you can repay the loan faster.

>> Helps in Budgeting: As this loan gives you the option of weekly, fortnightly or monthly repayment, you can maintain your budget accordingly.

>> Redraw Facility option: This loan type gives you the option of redrawing the additional amount you have made towards the repayment, in addition to the minimum repayment amount.

While the loan has a lot of upsides, it does have some disadvantages, such as:

>> Variable rate is subject to fluctuations: The interest rate is subject to fluctuations and can either rise or fall at any time during the period of the loan. Changes in the interest rate are at the discretion of a lender and they are meant to be broadly in line with market conditions

>> Repayment may become more: So if the interest rate rises, the amount of monthly repayment also becomes more and it may become more than the amount you can afford.

>> Redraw facilities can be subject to limitations, including minimum withdrawal amounts allowable and may also include redraw fees

>> You cannot arrange a rate lock

>> You cannot pay Interest in Advance in some circumstances

>> This loan type offers fewer features than the general loans

What are the Benefits in Making Extra Repayments?

The benefits available to you in making the extra repayments towards your variable interest rate home loan are best illustrated in the following example. The example assumes that you are willing to contribute an additional amount of $200 towards your weekly repayments:

Loan Amount: $530,000

Normal Loan Term: 30 years

Interest Rate: 5.00%

Repayment Frequency: weekly Normal

Weekly Repayment: $656

Extra Weekly Repayment: $200

Interest saved by making extra repayments: $217,815

Time in years saved, by making the extra repayments: 11 years 10 months

Now that you have thorough information of the variable interest rate home loan, you can discuss about it without your finance broker and find the perfect home mortgage loan.

One of the reasons why only 5% of the traders are successful and the majority of the 95% fail in the Forex market. Besides that, a lot of people lack a mindset that is essential for successful Forex Trading. Below are the 4 factors that most people lack of:

1. Discipline – This is a very important factor. Whether you are able to maintain successful Forex Trading in the long run will depend on this. As a disciplined trader, you have to follow the rules of a Forex Trading system and you do not break them. But on the other hand, you do not react to any signals appeared in the trading system blindly, you have to also understand the Forex market conditions. E.g. You may not want to go long on GBP/USD, when there are weak economic concerns about the U.K. market.

2. Trading Psychology – The inability to control the greed factor could lead to a downfall of your trading career. Always be satisfied with the profit target that you have planned and forget about the losses that you incurred in a failed Forex trade, there will always be more trading opportunities. Another bad habit of trading psychology is the Fear of losing a trade, meaning people may cut losses earlier or later. Leave it all to the target profit and stop loss that you have set, which means that you are consistent in everything you trade.

3. Money Management – Forex Trading is also about how good you manage your money. Do not trade all your capital, but only the amount that you can afford to loose. Plan on how much are you willing to risk per trade. I would recommend trading on 1% to 5% of your trading capital per trade. This ensures you have enough money to trade Forex when you loose some.

4. Consistency – If you can be consistent in the above 3 factors, then you should be making profits in Forex Trading, and consistently. A Forex trader can make a huge sum of profits in a short period of time, but if he/she lacks consistency, I can guarantee that the trader won’t make a successful trader in the long haul.

I understand that as a newbie trader, you may find it tough to follow the above 4 points. I have gone through that too. This is why Forex Trading is not as easy as one may think. But by learning to abide those rules and following my Forex Trading guide, which teaches Forex system trading, I can be sure that through hard work and determination, you can be one of the successful traders as well.

Submitted by: Milo Stroup

Valuable Recommendation For Any Person In Search Of Cosmetic Surgical Treatment

Despite the fact that plastic medical procedures is a huge choice, you might have determined you desire to go forward with it. Now what else is there to consider? You will find a lot of conclusions being manufactured. It can require an excellent cope of preparation if you might be thinking about cosmetic surgical treatment. These suggestions really should assist you to pick the very best way to generate it occur.

Make sure any medical doctor you interview features a portfolio of previous consumers to take a look at. Be confident that each just before and immediately after snap shots are incorporated in the portfolio. Inquire about as a lot as you desire to when it can come to your cosmetic surgery treatment. You should also make an effort to question prior individuals about what their happenings ended up like too. This can give you a greater understanding of the good results price within your health practitioner.

Determine if you’ve to try and do something to alter your visual appeal prior to you may have your process. Ensure that you choose to get data on what haircut is optimal in your procedure.

Be sure that you are contemplating the total array of remedy alternate options which will offer you the effects you search for ahead of submitting to surgery. You might be able to search out a answer with your issue without the need of creating permanent modifications on your look or spending a whole lot of money. Dermatologists, special cosmetics and particular residence treatments can present sufficient enhancement that surgical treatment may not be required following all.

Usually request about hazards related on your medical procedures; discover how your doctor plans to tackle them. Additionally, you must not just take your medical doctor’s phrase for it. It truly is very best to accomplish some of one’s own analysis to ensure you have been supplied all pertinent facts.

You must thoroughly analysis your potential surgeon. It is an important selection method so choose it seriously and check out each and every surgeon you meet with towards the suitable certification and background encounter. Speak for your pals and colleagues to learn if they know of a good plastic surgeon.

Any surgical treatment includes chance, and you might have to do not forget that. Be certain you go around the attainable difficulties using your surgeon so which you’re informed. It is prevalent to overlook the possible challenges when taking into consideration plastic surgical treatment.

If you’re taking into consideration moving to another country to acquire your cosmetic surgical treatment performed, you need to know that the health-related specifications might not be as stringent as individuals closer to property. Think about the level of time it’s possible you’ll should commit inside a overseas place to obtain appropriate stick to-up care.

Be guaranteed to consider which the cost of the surgery may perhaps change. It depends upon whether or not you receive anesthesia, whether that you are having surgical procedure in over one particular area, and other expenses. Use a seat and discuss how much it is going to price tag, in all. Do not agree for the medical procedures till all fees have already been totally disclosed in composing.

Whether or not you happen to be producing a tiny change or possibly a complete image overhaul, plastic medical procedures can have an incredible impact on your own future. So as to obtain one of the most out of plastic surgery, you’ve got to produce intelligent choices and realistic options all through the process. Use the data furnished right here that can help you reach your goals.

About the Author: There is a lot of information and facts relating to mechanical engineering training plus it addresses a lot of job descriptions. I will provide you with tips by this site here.Figure out more about :

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By Troy Charles G. Burton

Every day, month, or even year, people are spending more money by buying things and personal necessities. This event led us to feel the burden of financial commitments on our budget plans. There are times that most of us only think about saving money than performing it seriously. The effects of the global financial crisis and the slow growth of the economy push us to do some serious financial managements. It is a trend now that failure to meet his or her financial planning objectives means huge debts and sleepless nights thinking on how to pay the said debts. To help you manage your finances, this article offers tips and suggestions on how to make your personal financial planning more systematic and effective.

The first move you should make is to make an achievable budget which is allocated to all your daily and basic needs. This budget is also designed for some extra money intended for your savings account. The budget plan should not only be put on a piece of paper or spreadsheet, rather it should be put in practice and follow what is stated on the diagrams and budget charts. You should monitor all your expenses for your basic needs such as electricity, credit card costs, cellphone loads, and fuel for your automobiles or vehicles. You can make payments by way of direct debit, which can help you ensure timely payments and establish a good credit score for you.

Following good management of personal finance needs some type of sacrifices and compromises, especially on the aspects of eating and drinking. When following a finance management plan, you should track your consumptions of unnecessary foods and alcohol drinks. These foods may include snacks, chips, and ice cream. Keeping away from these kind of foods will not only allow your to save hundreds of money, but will also help

It is advisable to make a list on priorities. You should include in this list your obligations on mortgages, loan repayments and bills on credit cards to avoid huge delay charges. You should always remember that failure to make regular payments on these priorities can lead you to face worst financial difficulties or in severe cases, bankruptcy and business failure. If in case you feel that the charges on your credit cards continue to rise, which can lead you to more difficulties of payment, don’t forget to go to expert. Financial experts can give you advice essential when solving your financial obligations. When making discussions with the expert, you can ask for solutions on easy payment scheme or on how to raise money to avoid further big charges.

It is also good to note the advantages of diversifying your investments on insurance, shares or stocks and other financial policies which are safe and provide your with good returns of your money. Always remember that making a wise financial planning can help you in various circumstances. It can help you out of huge debts and extending help to your loved ones who need immediate financial help. Following these simple personal tips is more than just a wise move of helping you achieve a bright future.

About the Author: Troy Charles G. Burton is a financial analyst who enjoys writing about

debt consolidating

and

credit card debt consolidation

as well as other financial services.

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Submitted by: Thompson James.

Is the thought of Phoenix kitchen remodeling worrying you? Do you often think about the need of remodeling your old fashioned kitchen?

Is the thought of Phoenix kitchen remodeling worrying you? Do you often think about the need of remodeling your old fashioned kitchen? With the growing popularity of Italian and European kitchens more and more people are remodeling their kitchens to make some much needed space at home. Kitchen is one of the most important spaces in your home and must never be neglected during remodeling. A stylish kitchen with best features can make working in kitchen ultimate fun. So are you really interested in giving your kitchen a new and wonderful look? There are many residential contractors which can aid in giving your kitchen the desired look.

You can chose a fabulous kitchen backsplash and brighten up your kitchen. You can also use tile as backsplash or can use them either in a traditional manner or diagonally. The choice is entirely yours when it comes to Phoenix kitchen remodeling. You can easily hire a professional to lay the tiles for you. Thus, as soon as the backsplash in kitchen is completed you can install professional countertops. For countertops you can use contemporary materials like granite. This material is really famous and you can add it in your home to give the kitchen a lovely style. In case, you are unable to do the kitchen remodeling on your own, you can take the service of a remodeling agency for the purpose. Phoenix kitchen remodeling can play a wonderful role in enhancing the value of your property. It is a lifetime investment which can give your kitchen the ultimate look.

On the other hand in addition to kitchen remodeling Phoenix, Phoenix bathroom remodeling is also becoming highly popular. Bathroom remodeling is greatly dependent on the kind of materials used in it for refashioning. You can make a few changes in your bathroom or remodel it completely. Every home owner?s wish is to have a sparkling clean bathroom where he or she can relax and be comfortable. You must have an exact idea of what you expect from bathroom remodeling Phoenix. You can talk to a remodeling company about your requirements and get a service quote. The quotes shall provide you a good idea about the changes which can be made in bathroom. You must talk to the company about your specific choices, tastes and quality standard that you would like to maintain. This will help in receiving the best quality work and avoid any frustration caused due to low quality work or mismanagement during remodeling.

Like bathroom and Phoenix kitchen remodeling many companies are also offer Phoenix Flooring services to their clients. These companies would give your home a completely new look and feel by changing the flooring. With the availability of a variety of flooring solutions to choose from, you can easily find the company that is perfectly suited for your individual needs. Flooring Phoenix will compliment the beauty of your home. So what are you waiting for? Start looking out for the best flooring and remodeling company which can cater to your requirements at a cost effective price range.

About the Author: James Thompson is the author of this article on Phoenix Flooring.Find more information, about Flooring Phoenix hereVisit

riseaboveremodeling.com/

for more information.

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Submitted by: Brett Well

Losing weight at this time of year can get many people down with summer fast approaching. Crash diets are unsafe as the weight rebound can be horrific! Extreme exercise can be time consuming and sometimes the thought of exercise can make you uncomfortable.

Eating sensibly and changing your eating habits are perhaps the most effective way to start losing weight. Do something 7 times and it is a habit, so for example everyday you grab a can of coke, on day 1 try swapping it for a bottle of water, you will have to use willpower for the next 7 days to grab that water instead of coke, but on day 8 you will grab water instinctively, go on, give it a try. Its simple Neuro Linguistic programming.

Discipline obviously comes into play also, you can have all the will in the world to shed that few pounds but ‘oh I will just have a Mars now’ can creep in and one thing usually leads to another and you are back to square one

This can be the hardest thing to master but give yourself a motivator, something to work towards, if you are going on holiday stick a picture on your desk and look at it and think ‘I want to lay on there comfortably’ etc, it can be a great help!

Training the brain can be hard but the rewards can be excellent. I have spent hours doing this and the results are fantastic

Learning about foods also helps, taking ten minutes to google ‘healthy foods’ etc will give you a whole host of information on which foods you should/shouldn’t eat. I have compiled some of these in my book. It is an eye opener, I never knew how unhealthy white bread could be, or how some ‘health food bars’ contained more sugar than Frosties! Did you also know that water quenched hunger also?

Weight loss is a huge business at the minute and one that people could actually do without forking out the big bucks! Simply go for a 30 minute walk everyday and eat healthy, books are available and they need not be expensive! We can however show a great way of losing 10pounds in 10 days and then 5pounds a week thereafte

For a great detailed book on the matter visit https://sites.google.com/site/lose10poundsin10days/

This neat little book gives great advice clearly and concisely and really helps. But remember , self discipline is key in the matter and that I am afraid is solely down to you!

Habits, good or bad, are formed by repetition. Do anything 7 times and it becomes habit. Eating habits are no different. If you are in the habit of nibbling when you watch TV, you were reinforcing that habit until finally it became a part of you. Other habits are formed in the same way. Some of these habits are: eating while reading, eating the minute you come in the house, or eating while cooking dinner.

We also find that certain moods and circumstances cause us to eat even if we are not hungry. For example: anger, boredom, fatigue, happiness, loneliness, the kids are finally in bed, our spouse is out for the evening or out of town, nervousness, anxiety, our spouse brings home candy or ice cream, etc… all may trigger an eating response. The list is endless. Habits are hard to break. We must not only break old habits, but we must make our goal to form new ones in the same manner through repetition. Make some daily commitments. Work to meet these commitments each day whether you feel like it or not. Your daily commitments will help you form good habits. Remember: “It is easier to act your way into a new way of feeling than it is to feel your way into a new way of acting.

Resisting temptation is difficult. However, if you succeed in resisting the first time, it becomes easier to resist the next time. Before long, you will have formed the good habit of resisting temptation every time it confronts you. If you yield to that temptation, you will find it easier to yield the next time.

Because of the human weaknesses mentioned, we must use what has become known among weight control groups as behavior modification. It simply means changing your behavior. These techniques work only if you consistently repeat them, so that they become a part of you.

About the Author: Obviously weight loss takes time. We can however show a great way of losing 10pounds in 10 days and then 5pounds a week thereafter. Visit

sites.google.com/site/lose10poundsin10days/

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Submitted by: Adrianna Notton

A new pet can make a wonderful addition to a home. They offer companionship and love unconditionally. One of the most popular pets in the world is the dog and there are many different breeds to choose from. Dogs are unique in that they range from being very small to being very large and there are no other pets with that sort of variety. Purchasing puppies always should take some consideration and thought, since your new puppy needs to be happy in its new home.

The best pet for you will suit your own abilities and schedule. You should, to begin with, be ready for a dog. Consider several things in order to work this out. One of the primary things that you will need in order to look after a dog is the money to take care of it.

This, of course, means the money to buy it, but it also means the money to feed it and fund its veterinary bills and canine insurance. A healthy dog should not be too expensive but it is good to work out whether you can afford it. You will also need to be sure that you can spend the time and energy that the dog needs.

Your new puppy will grow up and will live to be about twelve years old. It is good to keep this in mind when you are looking for a pet. A dog will also want space to move around in, so make sure that your home is of an appropriate size. Since canines do vary so much, you could think about a much smaller dog for a smaller house.

A bigger dog, however, will need a lot of space inside a house or in the garden. Dogs need space because they need exercise, and a dog will often need to be taken for a walk every day. Unlike other animals, dogs can get very lonely, so they will need somebody to look after them and spend time with them during the day. This is part of their appeal, though, as that loving nature is what makes people choose dogs to spend time with them.

If you can do all of these things for the duration of the life of the dog, then you can be a good dog owner. Next, what you need to do is choose your new pet. While the above guidelines are generally important for owning a dog, there may be some leeway. For instance, smaller dogs might not need to be taken for walks as often as larger dogs, as they have less energy to burn.

Outside of that, though, there are traits that you might like to consider. For instance, would you like a dog who is energetic or one that is relaxed. For those who like taking dogs for walks and who like the energy of having a canine pet, the former is probably preferable to you.

For those who might be a little busier, or who are unable to move around a lot, the latter might be better. It might also be that you have another pet and want an animal that will get on well with others. Whatever you want in a dog, it is a good idea to make sure you know what you are looking for before you start purchasing puppies.

About the Author: Having pets are wonderful for adding enjoyment to our lives. Find the best

pet stores Brampton near you and be sure to have enough pet supplies for your

puppies Toronto ready to meet their needs.

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“The Life Coaching professionals at the Life Coach Clinic helped me beyond measure,” says Dr. J. Jordan, a senior management consultant,” to achieve those overdue changes in my life and provided the foundations for successful new directions and personal fulfillment.”It’s for sure life isn’t static, and the one thing we can count on is change, but there’s so much talk these days about difficulty adjusting to the amount and rate of change these days, have you considered it as an exciting, fulfilling and proactive choice?I just got off the phone with a client in another country who has been asked to do a keynote address to an organizational group. It’s a professional conference for this group, but in the coming weeks, many of them are going to be transferred or given packages, as they downsize, a story that’s being played out in many companies around the world right now. She’s been asked to say something inspirational about change to these individuals who are about to have change forced upon them. Life Coach Victoria Butterell (http://www.LifeCoachClinic.com ) would have lots to say to a group like this. She knows all about the positive aspects of change. Not long ago she suffered a near-fatal car crash and was forced to retrain from her former position. “It changed my life,” she says, “and it changed it for the better. My car crash was a major wake-up call. I had ignored previous, smaller signs that I needed to change my life. The crash convinced me not to waste another minute of my life and, fundamentally, that I wanted to enable other people to make the most of their lives, too.” TRANSFORMATIONVictoria’s in an ideal position to help people awaken to the transformational possibilities in change, so much so she now advocates intentional change and helps other people make the changes they need and want to, or weather the ones they must.How about that? While most people are lamenting the constantly accelerating pace of change in today’s world, there’s a proactive position to be had: get out there and make change happen. More radical than that, try changing yourself. Dr. Jordan is one of Victoria Butterell’s former clients, and he now realizes the changes created in coaching in his life were “overdue.”How about you and your life? Are you overdue for a change? Have you thought about it that way?Life has a way of making us change, when we don’t get active and choose our own changes. SENIORS REGRET NOT HAVING MORE CHANGES When people over 65 were asked, in a recent survey, “If you could live your life over, what would you do differently?” they answered:1.I’d take more time to stop and ask the big questions.2.I’d be more courageous and take more risks in work and love.3.I’d try to live with purpose – to make a difference.THE CAUSE OF HAPPINESS IS … RISKThe wisdom seniors are sharing gels with recent research findings that the primary ingredient for finding happiness is being willing to RISK. Dr. Jordan, with the help of his coach, Victoria, has learned to embrace change. What does it take to embrace this “stressful” occurrence in your life and reap the benefits?Part of it depends upon the individual’s personal predisposition to change. This is ingrained is us because it comes from how change and ambiguity were handled when we were children. According to Holmes and Rahe, inventors of the now-famous stress scale which rates “life change units,” life is 44% more difficult now than it was 50 years ago. This means for all of us there was less change years ago when we were kids, so probably most of us need an adjustment in our predisposition to change. Changes are exciting when we choose them ourselves, and when we bolster our resilience – our ability to handle change and bounce back from adverse events. Some of the things we can do are learning and practicing a positive attitude, having a strong and supportive social network, and working with someone who’s experienced in transitions, such as a coach. Victoria’s philosophy is “Action from Adversity.” She would add these things to the list:1.Trust your intuition, completely. You’ll know what you need to do with your life while friends and family may not.2. Never give up. This is an inspirational quote from Winston Churchill – “Never give up. Never. Never. Never.”3.Be brave. “Change can be scary,” says Victoria. “Bite the bullet and go for it. Don’t regret the things you haven’t done in life.” Why “action from adversity?” You must take action. A useful metaphor is a cork in the ocean. We’re in the middle of our lives, like a cork on the ocean. The cork appears to move as a wave passes from left to right, but its position actually never changes other than a slight rotation. In other words, that cork is not going to wash up on shore eventually one day, it’s going to stay right where it is, forever. If you want to get somewhere, you have to TAKE ACTION.A COACH IS INVALUABLE AT SUCH A TIME“Completing the transition was tough,” says Victoria. “Most of my friends and family wanted me to “get over the crash” and “get back to normal” – my “life” as it had been before. I had to keep my determination and resolve, to change my life and keep changing it. I had to find the strength to take actions which were very scary, well out of my comfort zone and risky, but which would give my life greater meaning and fulfillment. A coach is invaluable at a time like this.”THIS ISN’T YOUR DRESS REHEARSAL“Life isn’t a dress rehearsal,” Victoria tells her clients. “Don’t wait for that wake-up call, make the most of your life, NOW.”IF THE SCRIPT ISN’T MEANT FOR YOU, RE-WRITE ITYou’re the star in the greatest show on earth, and all the world’s your stage!

Submitted by: Mike Consol

There s a big irony to the writing process, and it is this: While we seek to optimize our creativity while writing, the inert nature of the task works against the brain s ability to perform at its imaginative best.

It s become axiomatic that flashes of insight or even grand epiphanies come to us while showering, driving, walking, hiking through the woods and so on. In other words, breakthrough thinking comes during physical activity when the brain is charged with quicken blood flow and a higher dose of dopamine and other chemicals.

This is no mystery. We ve known for a long time that physical movement stimulates the brain. A stimulated brain is more creative. Yet almost all writing is done sitting in a chair with the body physically inert. No significant movement, as with showering or walking, and no significant visual stimulation as with driving a car and observing the rush of passing imagery.

Indeed, one of fiction s most prolific and respected novelists, Joyce Carol Oates, and one of the craft s foremost writing coaches, Julia Cameron, have both talked about walking as an essential part of their routines for keeping their writing sharp. Cameron s even written a book titled, Walking in this World: The Practical Art of Creativity.

I tackled this issue years ago when I bought a tiny hand-held digital recorder. Mine happens to be manufactured by Sony, though there are many different makers of the device. They re not expensive and they hold many hours of spoken content. The recorder permits me to write while I walk or drive or engage in other types of physical activity.

Ninety percent of this article was written during an afternoon walk through the rainy streets of Northern California. The walk lasted all of 30 minutes. There is even good software these days that will take your recorded text and turn it into printed type in your word processing document, so you don t have to painstakingly transcribe your recordings.

I was inspired to buy the recorder when I started taking walks and noticed better ideas springing to mind for the writing assignments I was working on. My recall was good but not complete, so when I got back to my word processor I d dash off as much as I could. What obviously made sense was to buy a recorder and capture those thoughts in their entirety in real time. It allows me to produce a high volume of content for my first or original drafts.

It wasn t easy at first. It seemed awkward talking into a recorder. I tended to walk streets, walkways and hiking paths with the fewest people and vehicles. Still, in short order I found writing aloud a more natural and less self-conscious activity.

I was further drawn to this concept of writing on the move after I read a book titled Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain. It was given to me by 24 Hour Fitness CEO Carl Liebert, who considered the book a breakthrough work on the comprehensive value of exercise and fitness.

The book s author, John J. Ratey a clinical associate professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, writes in the book s introduction: In today s technology-drive, plasma-screened-in world, it s easy to forget that we are born movers animals in fact because we ve engineered movement right out of our lives.

Ratey writes at length about how exercise floods the brain with neurotransmitters and other chemicals that stimulate the brain, enhance its learning capabilities and generally help maintain its overall health so much so that women who exercise are 50 percent less prone to dementia in their elder years.

Even the act of getting up from the desk and pacing in my living room would often give me access to the wordplay, turns of phrase or transitions I was searching for. Then it was back to the chair, back to a static posture and a gradual deceleration of the brain s electrical activity.

So what I m proposing is that we rethink our traditional way of writing, that we get off our seats and move, that we stimulate our brains and verbally narrate the document we re writing. Make writing a physically active process.

There s an additional benefit to this approach. Our writing becomes more conversational, a characteristic that enhances its readability. There s something about the formality of sitting in a chair, hunched over a keyboard, that encourages formality in our writing. Certainly there are times we want our writing to strike a formal tone. But more often than not that s a stilted way to communicate. It s less interesting, more difficult to read and lacking in personality. The less personality in our writing the less chance of people being drawn to it and feeling an emotional connection. That s key to producing powerful, influential writing.

So get on your feet and get moving. Make it a habit. It will make you healthier and more imaginative. Done consistently and earnestly your writing will blossom and take on some new dimensions.

About the Author: Mike Consol is president of MikeConsol.com (

MikeConsol.com

), which provides business writing seminars, PowerPoint presentation skills training, Web 2.0 strategies and media training. Consol spent 17 years with American City Business Journals, the nation’s largest publisher of metropolitan business journals.

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