mommymadnessdfw.com

After years of working in the executive staffing and recruiting industry, collaborating with countless hiring managers and human resource administrators across various industries, I acquired a thorough understanding of what these individuals were looking for in potential job candidates. I began to see patterns, consistencies, universal tendencies, and I began to see just how important a good resume really is.

As a point of fact, hiring managers only spend around 15 seconds perusing over a new resume and they are really only looking for a couple of things when they do. They’re on autopilot, for the most part. They want to know:

1) Who have you worked for?

2) Have you had steady employment?

3) What notable achievements and recognitions have you had throughout your career?

4) What do you have to offer which will meet with their specific needs?

An effective resume will answer those questions with a minimal amount of effort and, as with any effective marketing tool, it will also leave the reader wanting to know more. You want to give them just enough info to prompt them into action. That’s when they pick up the phone and call you for an interview!

So your resume is your professional introduction. It’s your only chance to make a memorable first impression and I can tell you right now that if you do not take your resume seriously, then your resume will never be TAKEN seriously. It really is that simple.

Now, if you feel you are capable and qualified to write a compelling and dynamic resume, then by all means give it a shot. However, if you’re not extremely confident in your skills as a writer and/or marketer, I would sincerely recommend you hook up with a professional resume writer to help you craft the perfect resume for you. A seasoned veteran in these matters can be an invaluable resource. After all, I trust my mechanic to work on my car because he works on cars all day, every day. Well there are people out there who work on resumes all day, every day…so trust us!

For those who are convinced they have what it takes, this article should help you with some of the finer points. Although job markets and technologies are always changing, there are some things which are fairly universal and constitute the basic principles of a winning resume. To guide you along, I have compiled a comprehensive list of resume writing Do’s and Don’ts, complete with secret tricks of the trade as well as a collection of common mistakes people make. So pay close attention, take my advice into consideration, and you’ll be on your way to landing that dream job in no time!

DON’T

Misrepresent the Truth – Lying on your resume is never a good idea. You don’t want to start a professional relationship based on the misrepresentation of facts. Just as you would hope the employer is not lying to you about the job requirements, salary, etc, they expect you are not lying to them about your background and/or skill sets. It’s the decent and respectable way to conduct yourself and there is no room for dishonesty in the workplace because, sooner or later, these things always have a tendency to come to the surface. Remember: The truth shall set you free!

Use Slang or Jargon – You need to be as professional as possible in the context of your resume if you expect to be taken seriously as a professional. For this reason, you should avoid using familiar lingo, slang, or jargon in your resume. The exception to this rule is when using very industry-specific terminology to describe your particular skills. This can actually help to lend you credit as a knowledgeable individual and an expert in your field, but your such terms wisely and tactfully.

Include a Picture – Unless you’re a model or in a professional dependent on physical attributes, I always advise against putting your picture on your resume. In my experience, it can do more harm than good. So keep the formatting of the resume simple and let the hiring manager use their imagination until they call you in for an interview. Plus, your looks should have nothing to do with your professionalism or the credentials qualifying you for the position. In the business world (even legally), your appearance should have no value as a selling point for you as a competent job candidate.

Include Irrelevant Info (AKA “Fluff”) – If it’s not important, don’t add it to your resume. If you were a cook 10 years ago but now you’re looking for a job in retail management, don’t clutter up your resume with irrelevancy. Try to put yourself in the shoes of the hiring manager and ask yourself what they would see as important. How does your background correspond with their needs as an employer? Anything else is fluff. Don’t add your hobbies to your resume. Don’t add your references (if they want them, they’ll ask at the appropriate time). And don’t include your high school education either. Finally, don’t be redundant and repeat yourself throughout the context of your resume. It’s OK to reinforce themes, but don’t push it. If your title has been Branch Manager at each of your past three companies, find a way to differentiate each of these positions and highlight your most notable accomplishments. Don’t just copy and paste the line “Managed a team of branch employees” three times. That will get you nowhere.

Include a Core Competencies Section – I find Core Competency sections to be fairly worthless in a professional resume and I’ll tell you why: It doesn’t matter if you’re a waitress, an administrative assistant, a nurse, a teacher, or a sales executive – it doesn’t matter what kind of background you have – anyone can describe themselves as “Self-Motivated”. Anyone can say they are “Goal Oriented” and “Results-Driven” and everyone has “Strong Verbal and Written Skills” when they’re applying for a job. I can say with some degree of certainty that the majority of hiring managers and HR administrators skip right past a Core Competencies section and with good reason. The key to a successful resume is in SHOWING a manager how you are “Results-Driven” and “Goal Oriented” instead of just TELLING them! Your accomplishments speak volumes, let them do the talking. If you are going to include a Core Competencies section, make sure it’s unique and adds value. Again, vagueness will often work against you here because it cheapens the experience of reading your resume.

Rely on Templates or Sample Resumes – If you are surfing the web and looking for a good resume sample or template to use as a guideline for your own resume, make sure the sample you settle on is appropriate considering your background, the industry you’re in, and your career intentions. Because when it comes right down to it, different styles of resumes should be employed in different industries. By way of illustration, a computer programmer’s resume will vary greatly from that of a sushi chef. They both have very different skill sets which need to be highlighted in very different ways in order to be effective. If both those individuals tried to write their resumes in the same format, it would be a disaster. Hiring authorities, respectively, each have their own expectations and some resume formats are better than others at addressing those individual expectations.

Write a Novel and Call it a Resume – I repeat: Do NOT write a novel and call it a resume. Too many people make this mistake. They want to write this wordy, drawn-out thesis outlining their life story and their career aspirations. They have all these skills and accomplishments and they want to include them all in there somewhere, but the problem is most people just don’t know when to stop. Don’t be afraid to leave out some of the details and explore those further in the interview process. My advice is to highlight only those aspects of your background which are most applicable for the job, or types of jobs, you are planning to apply for.

Limit Yourself to One Page – In contrast to the last point, you may not want to limit yourself to a 1-page resume. A common misconception is that a professional resume HAS to be one page. However, that’s not really the case these days. I while back, before the miracles of technology, I may have agreed. But now that most resumes are being read on a computer screen versus on paper, there’s no need to limit yourself in such a way. Those who try to cram all their info on 1-page resume usually resort to smaller font and zero spacing. When viewed on screen, this is not an attractive format and it’s hard to read. Now, I’m not saying you should write a 20-page catalogue of your experiences, nor am I advocating the use of size 20 font. Instead, I would say 12-14 size font should suffice and I recommend you keep it at two pages. That leaves plenty of room to say what needs to be said. Of course, if you have limited experience then a 1-page resume will do just fine.

DO

Use Bullet Points – When it comes time to explain your experiences in your resume, use bullet points to outline your accomplishments. It is much easier to read and even easier to skim, which is what hiring managers are doing most of the time anyways. Bullet points draw attention to important information. They are also visually appealing and make the information seem more accessible to the reader. So keep them short and meaningful. Some people opt for a short paragraph explaining their duties and responsibilities, followed by bullet points highlighting their most notable achievements. This too is acceptable, just make sure to keep that paragraph very succinct and avoid any redundancies as well.

Have a Strong Objective Statement – Although this is a matter of some debate these days, I firmly believe a strong, concise Objective Statement can go a long way. First off, it immediately tells the reader what job you are applying for. That can be a big deal when you’re submitting your resume to a HR representative who has their hands full with many different job openings. Recruiters as well. And if you’re a senior manager, you don’t want to get thrown in the pile with the mail clerks, right? Not only that, but an effective Objective Statement will briefly summarize your qualifications so a hiring manager can make an instantaneous decision whether or not to keep reading. They do that anyways, so why not address their needs in the intro and add value by showing them what you have to offer right off the bat. Remember, I’m only talking about one sentence here. One sentence to market yourself. Once sentence to spark their interest. You don’t want to give the reader too much to think about, rather you want them to proceed on and read the rest of your resume. So grab their attention, establish your professional identity, show them your value, and let them move on to the good stuff!

Choose the Right Format – One thing you need to remember is that there is not one universal formatting methodology because, in truth, there is no cookie-cutter way of writing a resume. What works best for one person may not be best for another. Some people will benefit from a Chronological resume whereas that format may be detrimental to someone who has jumped around a lot in their career. The only thing I can suggest is that you do your homework. Know the different types of resumes (Chronological, Functional, Targeted, and Combination) and know the distinct merits of each. Then make an informed decision as to which style is best for you. If you are surfing the web and looking for a good resume sample or template to use as a guideline for your own resume, make sure the sample you settle on is appropriate considering your background, the industry you’re in, and your career intentions.

Cut to the Chase – Don’t waste time…get to the good stuff. As I said before, a hiring manager will most often skim, scan, and glance over a resume. Keep in mind that they have specific questions in mind when they review a resume for the first time and they expect specific answers. One of the most important questions they are asking is: “Who has this person worked for in the past?” For this reason, I always suggest that serious job seekers highlight their experiences first and foremost. Right below your one-sentence Objective Statement you should transition into and Experience section. In this section you should list your past employers, the years you worked for them, your job titles, and a brief description of your duties there. Of course, this may not be the best approach for some people. If your background is heavily dependent on your academic experience, then you may want to jump into that first.

Focus on Your Target – My reasons for saying this are as follows: An unfocused resume sends a very clear message that you are unfocused about your career. And a hiring authority doesn’t want to see that. They want to see that you have career goals and that those aspirations correspond with their needs as an employer. So keep in mind that a customized resume, modified for a specific position, is always preferable to a generalized and vague resume. If you’re serious enough about a job then you should take the extra time and effort to tailor a resume to that job’s requirements. I assure you your efforts will not go unnoticed.

Be Articulate and Grammatically Exact – In my humble opinion, it’s of the utmost importance to be eloquent within the context of your resume and to make sure you’re using proper grammar and syntax. For your current job description, use the present tense. For past jobs, use past tense. This seems like a no-brainer, but again you’d be surprised at how many people make this mistake. Being articulate can go a long way as well. Most hiring managers will consider it a plus if you can convey your level of intelligence in your written communications. So don’t be afraid to break out the thesaurus and make sure you have someone else edit your resume before you send it out to potential employers. That’s imperative!

K.I.S.S. – A wiser man than me once made this bold statement and it’s extremely applicable when writing your resume: Keep It Simple, Stupid! Too many people make too much of an effort to “stand out from the pack” and in doing so they may unwittingly be hurting themselves. In some professions, such as the creative design field, it may be advantageous to show your originality and imagination, but in other business fields this kind of flamboyancy in a resume is unnecessary and can actually be injurious to your cause. In terms of formatting, the same holds true. I have found that people tend to have much more success when they opt for an uncomplicated formatting style. Some people still want to get all jazzed up with pictures and text boxes and funky font, but that’s just fluff. It’s noise. It is irrelevant to the purpose of your resume, which is to sell yourself through highlighting your skills and accomplishments. And hiring managers see right through that!

Take Your Resume Seriously – As previously stated, if you don’t take your resume seriously then your resume will not be TAKEN seriously. If you choose not to work with a professional, then at the very least have an impartial third-party edit it for you and give you some constructive feedback. This is for your own sake. What happens when you accidentally type “Manger” instead of “Manager”? Do you think Spell Check is going to bail you out? Whatever you do, don’t send it out to potential employers without having someone else look it over. Some people just need to swallow their pride because when it comes right down to it, you may be the best at what you do, but if you don’t write resumes for a living then chances are there’s someone out there more qualified to write your resume than you are. Please consider that if you’re serious about being taken seriously!

So there it is…everything you need to know about writing your resume. I sincerely wish you the best of luck in your endeavors and feel free to contact me if you ever need any assistance. I’m here to help!

About this Author

JR Hindman is a freelance resume writer and career counselor with an extensive background in executive staffing and recruiting. He is currently the President of BudgetResumeBuilder.com, a website for entry-level candidates and job-seekers with less than 10 years of industry experience, as well as ProResumeBuilder.com which caters to more tenured professionals and managers.

Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=JR_Hindman

The Pet Sitting business is booming internationally. In the

United States alone there are upwards of 63.2 million individuals who own a pet, or two. Reports tell us that in America there are roughly 64 million dogs and 76 million cats in households. These numbers support why the Pet Sitting Business is on an upward swing. It is fast becoming one of the best small business ventures that an individual can undertake. The Pet Sitting business has been ear marked by the U.S. Bureau of Labor as a small business industry that will thrive with the coming years, with Pet Sitting services located throughout the states.

Pet owners world wide are breathing a sigh of relief that they

have this option for their pet when they travel. In the past

when an individual would travel for business, or a family would

vacation, they would rely on grandparents or relatives to see to the needs of their pets. This is no longer an option for many people. Family’s don’t always remain in the same community. Statistics show that it is common for parents and siblings to live hundreds of miles apart. Once the family option for pet sitting evaporated, people turned to their neighbors. This was soon found to be a bad option for both the neighbor and pet owner. Neighbors felt used, and the traveller felt as if they were putting the neighbor out by asking the favor.

Some individuals tried to travel with their pets. They assumed

that it would be best for their pet to not be separated from

them. These good intentioned pet owners soon realized the folly of their ideals when they discovered that drinking water in some areas weren’t up to par, leash laws were different in each area, and the chances of finding a lost pet in a strange area were minimal. Extended car travel is not good for a pet, either. Animals can quickly become dehydrated and agitated when left in a locked car while the family is inside a restaurant, or mall. The chances that a pet could possibly get hit by an automobile rise every time a pet is taken into a public area, such as parking lots or the city. Pets do not like being kept in a crate in a hotel. They do not like being muzzled for barking or for snipping at strangers. Pets just generally do not like being away from home.

Air travel is not pleasant for a pet, either. The cargo holds on airplanes have erratic temperatures. There is no heat, and there is no air conditioning. The sounds in these cargo areas also frighten animals and make them skittish and nervous. Some pets even require medication prior to flight. Taking your pet on a plane should only be considered under extreme circumstances.

Pet owners soon realized that while they were comforted by the

presence of their pet on a trip, the pet was out of its comfort

zone and did not behave like its usual self. The route of kenneling a pet was soon taken and though it saved the day in a

tight pinch, pet owners tended to know from the start that this

was not a good option for their pet. Their pets were kept in

small quarters. They were only allowed out a couple of times a

day for a few minutes to do their business. Being crowded in an

area with other barking and whining animals would leave a pet out of sorts for days after their owner came home.

Options were limited for a traveling pet owner. Some people gave up and simply refused to have an animal if they were going to have to be away all the time. That was until the Pet Sitting business made its arrival into the small business industry.

True animal lovers were the first to recognize the need for the

Petting Sitting business. They were the ones who took it the

hardest when they were forced to see what their pets went through when they were forced to travel with their owners, or how they behaved after being picked up from a kennel after a week or more away from home. Truthfully, these individuals could not enjoy their trips for worry. These were individuals who hung a stocking for their pet at Christmas, and made them a birthday cake on the pets special day each year. These people saw the need and they stepped out on a limb. They started a Pet Sitting service. Word spread like wildfire and pet owners world wide started seeking these services in their own area.

The rapid growth and success of a Pet Sitting business come when the business owner realizes that it is a business. A love for animals is the foundation, but smart business sense is what will keep you operating. There is only a minimal amount of cost in starting up a Pet Sitting service. That is a major plus for anyone thinking seriously about going into this animal care

business. A budget should be laid out to meet the costs of the

outgoing business. Do not ever under estimate these expenses.

It is better to over estimate than to cut yourself short. Set

goals for six months, one year, three years and five years.

Try to stick to your plan to achieve these goals.

You should research other Pet Sitting services in your area.

Find out what their strengths and their weaknesses may be.

Learn what the going rate for Pet Sitting is in your area. Be

competitive in your rates. Just because you may be doing what

you love is no reason to do it for pennies. On the other hand,

no one is going to pay your Pet Sitting business a small fortune, either.

You have to be a people person. The reason you get into the Pet

Sitting business may stem from being an animal lover, but if you are not warm and friendly with people you can forget about your Pet Sitting business getting off the ground. Pet owners are particular about whom they let care for their pets. If they sense that you are uncomfortable around them, they will be wary of you. Try to develop your people skills if you lack self-confidence in that area. You don’t want your shyness to keep you from doing what you love. You don’t want to come off as a phoney, but maintaining eye contact and being able to carry a conversation with the pet owner without looking at your shoes will go a long way.

You should go out to the home and get acquainted with each pet

and design a list of duties that the client is wanting you to

perform while they are gone. The pet owner will familiarize you as to the habits, character and personality of each pet. You should know what they like to play with and what special

nicknames they have. You should also ask the pet owner for clues about their pet, or signs you should watch for in case of

illness. Some dogs may lay around and sleep all day. Others may not settle for a moment. You should know what to expect from each pet in the home. If they are not doing their usual

activities that should throw up a red flag to you. You should

make sure that the client gives you all the information on the

pets in the home. You will need history of illnesses,

vaccination records, veterinary information, as well as a place

to contact the pet owner if needed. It is important that you are given a key by the client and that you are not expected to

retrieve it from a hiding place. A possible thief could be

watching the home and may see you getting it and replacing it.

That is a disaster waiting to happen.

Besides walking the dog, feeding the bird, tending to the cat,

and playing with the pets, a client sometimes will want a Pet

Sitting service to do other things. The Pet Sitting business can offer many services for the traveler, besides pet care. The first one being home security. You can pick up the mail,

newspaper, water the potted plants, and do a thorough walk

through of the home to make sure that everything is as it should be for your client. Simply opening the curtains on one visit and closing them on the next will give the home a lived in look. These services are in addition to pet sitting. The possibilities are endless as to what a Pet Sitting service can offer the

client.

The Pet Sitting business is booming. Everyone is happy. The

small business owner gets to do what he loves for a living . . . being around animals. The traveler can enjoy their trip knowing that all is well on the home front. The pets get to stay in their own home, around their own things, eating their own food, and they get to go out and play like they usually would on their regular routine.

Copyright © 2005, Ian White

Author Ian White is founder of a target=”_new” href=”http://www.pet-sitters.biz”>Pet-Sitters.biz. http://www.pet-sitters.biz specializes in helping pet sitters and pet owners connect to each other. Find and screen a sitter for your pet or advertise your pet care business. Matching Pet Sitters with Pet Owners worldwide

In my youth, I observed that, in England at least, most people wanted to get out of their jobs. Their “career”, whatever it was, only existed to get a regular income. The millions of people who did the football pools, and later the lottery, were a testimony to the “let me out of here” dreams of the majority. “Win the pools, and retire.”

Times may have changed in general, but the fact that most people are not content with their jobs has remained unchanged. Career, employer or job change, or early retirement, are in the minds of tens of millions of people across the world. Only a small minority will ever actually go full out for a career change; it is far too easy just to plod along doing the same old things in the same old place.

However, some people are more serious. These are the people with “get up and go” who actually do get up and go. These are the people who really do change their working lives, sometimes drastically.

Why Do Some People Want to Change Careers?

There are many possible reasons for wanting a career change. The following are just a few of the more common ones.

1. To some people, being in the same job, or even the same type of job, for too long is just unthinkable. I certainly fall into this category, and personally think total career changes can be a vital contributor to a satisfying life. I always want to learn something new, and do something new, once I have mastered what I was doing before. New challenges are an essential part of every day life.

2. Midlife career changes might be the result of a sort of career midlife crisis. This can particularly be so for someone who has always done the same job, and suddenly realise their years are slipping away and they have really done very little with their working years.

3. Dissatisfaction with a current employer, either in terms of recognition, prospects or pay.

4. Boredom is a common cause of wanting a career change.

5. Lack of fulfilment in the current career or employment.

The above are some of the broad reasons people may seek a career change, but each individual is likely to have a different mix of reasons to consider changing their career.

Tips For Preparing for a Career Change

There are many sources of career change advice, both online and offline. Sometimes this can be given on an individual basis, or just in the form of written material which you can consume at your leisure. As a career is a personal matter, and all individuals are different, then pesonal consultation is better by far. However, advisors are individuals too, and the advice may vary from from career counselor to career counselor.

The quality and quantity of career change advice available to you offline will vary greatly between countries and localities, and you may find that some of the online advice is, at least in part, to one country, particularly the US. However, the following career change tips can apply to anyone, anywhere, and are based on my own experience; they may not appear anywhere else, might be considered unconventional, but are designed to get you thinking and planning well in advance for one or a series of career changes:

1. Travel as widely as possible. I do not mean go on vacation with a million other holidaymakers on a well trodden path, but broaden your mind, experience and understanding through travelling in other countries of various cultures. It is best to travel alone for maximum experience. With hindsight, I am sure that my travels as a 20 year old and younger helped to give me the flexibility and adaptability to make a sudden move from one life direction to another. When travelling freely, you can always go just where you want to go, and the same can be true of your working life, or careers, if you have that flexible attitude from the beginning.

2. Most people have interests and talents that are quite separate from their primary career ambition. Always try to develop those skills and talents in parallel to your existing or imminent career. The more skills you have, the more knowledge you have, the more likely it is that, when the time comes to make a career change, it will be that much easier.

3. When in a chosen career, always add new skills and keep up to date with developments in that career. The opportunity may come along for you to specialize within that career, or diversify from it.

4. Plan your life in 5 year blocks. It is amazing how much can be achieved and changed in 5 years. My own life and working life bear little resemblance to even 7 years ago, and has changed drastically in the last 4 years. Formulating a 5 year plan for yourself at 20, 25, 30 and so on can be a great help in getting your prepared for all sorts of changes and developments. When formulating that plan, consider your career options during that coming period, and what you can do over that 5 years to prepare yourself for a career change beyond that 5 year period.

5. Have a program of self improvement to increase your confidence and prevent or overcome fear. Many people stay in the same job far too long, because of fear of change. Using meditation and relaxation techniques can help in this area of your life.

6. Keep control of your finances, and develop a financial success system . Always budget effectively, and never spend beyond your means. Always think in terms of building your assets. Saving from your monthly and income, and learning to invest wisely, can help you build wealth while most of those around you are borrowing, overspending, and digging a financial grave.

Why is a financial success system important when it comes to career change planning? Poor finances can be an inhibiting factor in making a career change. If your finances are in good shape, and you have adequate reserves, you have more time to switch successfully to a new career, even a new way of life. Financial fear can be a big drawback to making a career change.

By adopting some or all of the above tips, you should find yourself better prepared in the future to make a career change. Hopefully, that career change will be one that has evolved from your own desires, your own plans. However, sometimes career changes are forced by redundancy, technical developments in your chosen career, companies being taken over or going bust, outsourcing or other change in your working environment. Be prepared.

This career development article article was written by Roy Thomsitt, owner and part author of the Routes To Self Improvement website.

NU U, an exciting devlopment in ezines. Our new Self improvement ezine in audio. Sign up now [http://www.routes-to-self-improvement.com/NuUSignUp.htm] for regular audios on subjects such as meditation, self esteem, shyness and many more self improvement topics.

Although the aroma of fresh popped popcorn and a darkened theater with a towering wide screen lures us to new released films, most of us still view far more movies at home than at the theater. With the introduction of online movie rental and movie downloads nearly ten years ago, the selections offered by the local video store are not the only options viewers have for their home entertainment.

Aside from the improved affordability, movie fans enjoy watching movies at home because of convenience. With busy lives that keeps us at work and on the road, time spent relaxing at home is at a premium and any service that allows us to enjoy that time without additional complexity or effort is highly prized. With this in mind, which of these movie services provides the most value for the home viewer?

Traditional video stores can be convenient for some last minute movie picks; or at least convenient if a person lives within a few blocks of the store. If someone suddenly decides at 5:30 pm. that there is time to squeeze in a showing of the most recent Harry Potter flick with the kids, then it is certainly easy to get to and from the store and be ready to view within a half an hour. This assumes of course that the store will have a copy of the DVD available in house at the time it is being sought.

If Harry isn’t at the local video store, then browsing through the remaining films and examining the DVD cases may provide a hint as to what the family might enjoy. After the movie, the viewer will then have at least a couple of days to shuttle back to the store and return the movie before incurring any late fees.

Movie downloads are one of the newer options. Certainly, downloading a movie can allow viewers to decide at the last minute to view Harry Potter, or some other movie, as well. Just a quick 5 minute visit to the download site on line to select and initiate the download allows viewers to remain at home throughout the process. Most films require approximately an hour to download depending upon connection speed. The good news however is that many movie downloads are capable of allowing viewers to begin watching the movie only a matter of minutes into the download process.

There is no worry about returning rented movies that are downloaded or any late fees. Upon download, viewers have a specified period of time in which to watch the movie before it expires. Movielink for example allows movies to be stored for up to 30 days. Perhaps the one drawback for many movie downloads is that they often must be viewed on a PC rather than a television unless viewers have a connection between their PC and TV. The future however, may provide greater flexibility as legal movie download services may be better positioned to allow burning movies to DVD as some of the digital rights management issues are being addressed with movie studios.

Online movie rental services can certainly ease the process of selecting and obtaining movies. Users can go online and select from over 75,000 titles, nearly five times the number of titles offered in a local video store. Here users can create a list of movies in advance that will automatically arrive at their door. Movies requested generally arrive within 1 to 2 business days after they are requested. Users merely stick the DVDs in an envelope for the mailman to pick up when they are ready to return them; and only when they are ready to return them. There are no due dates and no late fees either. The most evident drawback to this system is for those viewers who don’t decide they have the time to view a movie until earlier that same day. Mail delivery does not allow such last minute decisions.

Online movie rental services are evolving however to better accommodate those last minute choices. Netflix, the largest online movie rental service, announced in early 2007 their service can now provide a “Watch Now” feature which allows customers to stream movies directly to their PC rather than waiting for the DVD in the mail. Although not all movie titles are available for streaming at this time, it does provide a potential solution for the occasional last minute movie craving.

One of the final conveniences of online movie rental is that the sheer number of movies offered makes it more likely that a movie of choice will be available. In situations where viewers aren’t sure what they want to see, the Netflix service is even able to provide recommendations based on the comments and ratings of other viewers and the actual viewing pattern of the user. The accuracy of the Netflix recommendations has been applauded within the industry and certainly offers a better option than merely reviewing the information provided by production studios on the sleeves of a DVD.

Each movie service offers different convenience advantages for home movie viewers. Determining whether movie downloads, online movie rental, or use of the local video store is best, may be dependent upon the preferred viewing patterns of a user and their access to a computer or the proximity of a local video store.

The author and webmaster of http://www.homemedias.info, Christine Peppler invites readers to discover more information about home entertainment including, movie downloads, online movie rental, and satellite TV through information available on her website.

Almost people who tend to seek a job understand that resume is the decisive factor to whether you can make it to the interview round or not. Moreover, don’t forget that resume and resume is “two sides of the one” which show your outstanding capability. However, not everyone can know how to make his resume and resume become “decisive” to the employer. It is not about spending more time or providing more information in the resume that make that resume becomes well impressive to the employers.

The employers are very busy as they may receive hundreds of resumes and resumes each day from different candidates. So, think carefully before you send your resume and resume to an employer is a good way to win over other candidates. Don’t expect to win the employer when your resume and resume are common without any particularity. So, don’t waste time sending “imperfect” resume and resume to different employers because your chance of getting to the next round is not significant at all.

Following are some basic tips for you to make your resume perfect:

1. Understand what your resume is about to gain:

Resume is, in fact, an approach to market your own image. Your goal is to impress the employer to open the path to the interview phase. With such goal, your resume must achieve the following:

• Prove to the employer that you truly want to be employed and are willing to contribute your best to the job;
• Show the employer that you have good qualification and working experience that exceed other candidates;
• Show your personality and traits that are suitable to the job;
• Present your good achievements at work that you have gained;
• Show that you are ready to enter the interview.

2. Find out about the employers:

Don’t let your resume or resume in disorder or write a resume or resume in a certain available form. Resume and resume are one way to show off your personality and make the best explanation to the employers’ question why they are impressed at you but not at other candidates.

Before writing a resume, you should spend time find out carefully about the employer. The more you know about the job and the company, the more suitable your resume and resume may be to the job requirements and as a result, the more your chance will be. Nowadays, with the explosion of information technology and internet, you can easily sit at home or at the old company to research about the employer on its website or by asking friends and others (those who know about that company”. Don’t start writing the resume until you have any idea about the employer.

Also, you should remember this important point: you need to show the employers what you can benefit them but not what you may benefit from them. The perfect resume must focus on the strength in necessary experience and skills that the employer may require from you. You will score more point with your knowledge about the employers and understanding of what they expect from you.

3. Different:

Make your resume and resume differ from those of other candidates. As such, you should never start your resume with such general salutations as “dear sir,” or “dear sirs,”…

Normally, when a company posts publicly a recruitment ad, it will surely address the name, address and contact number so as the resumes may be sent to correct address. Don’t miss these important details and don’t forget to start your resume professionally with clear address of the company and even, the name of the responsible person. The employer will understand that you have researched carefully about them and correct your resume before sending to them, and, you have gained a good score then!

4. Make a professional resume:

A resume should start with short but clear and open sentences. Your goal is to show that how much you understand about the job, why you love that job and how much experience you have gained when doing similar jobs. Then, why don’t you put those in your resume and it in a professional way?

The strength of your resume depends on your confidence, but confidence here does not mean arrogance. Your resume must absolutely avoid words and phrases that may make the readers think that you are too sharp and even deceitful. Use the resume and resume to make the readers understand that you are sensitive, professional, politely and well qualified.

5. Focus on the most importance:

A resume or a resume both requires focusing points. You should go deeply into the most important points about your qualification and knowledge about the job and the company. You may make bold or italic important points (if printing). The length of your resume should not be more than 1 page and there must be a full name with signature at the end of the page.

Also, don’t forget that the content of the resume and it must not be “different” in information, especially important ones. However, it is neither a part nor a summary of your one. So, differentiate the it’s function and resume.

6. Check spelling and grammatical errors:

Even the smallest spelling or grammatical error may become the reason that eliminates your name out of the list of potential candidates. So, don’t forget to check carefully for any error before clicking the “send” button, or bringing the resume across a long way to the employer.

7. Finishing:

Don’t forget to end it with promising sentences that you are ready for the interview and if there is chance and will actively contact the employer before he or she contacts you. This way will help impress and smartly remind the employer of you. And also, don’t forget to put your name, address, e-mail and phone number at the end of the resume or resume.

You can use free materials about resume writing at:: Resume templates and How to write resume [http://howtowriteresumes.info/].

Why should you use hiking poles is perhaps the first question that may strike in your mind especially when you are a beginner. To get the right answer for this question you need to consider two things i.e. Safety and Comfort. Hiking poles are just balancing sticks which help you maintain good balance that is closely related to your overall safety and comfort. When you use two poles you move as you have four legs which allow you better comfort and safety. Experts say that by using hiking poles you switch to 4×4 mode of driving, using your two legs and two hands.

As far as safety is concerned, a pair of hiking poles helps you prevent frequent fall downs on uncertain tracks, avoiding aches in ankle or knee or even back; and here comfort is pointing towards the convenience in walking such as maintaining right walking posture and pacing using two extra legs.

Although it is personal preference and an individual decision to use hiking poles but they can prove to be very helpful for you during your hiking. You must use hiking poles especially when you are on your first hike. And, I think next time you will yourself carry these sticks with you by seeing their countless benefits.

Thousands of people who have already used (or still using!) hiking poles for years could not be wrong and this is the reason that poles are considered the traditional way to move on uncertain tracks while maintaining good stability. Although, hiking poles have countless benefits but below given are some significant benefits which enforce us to use them every time we go on hiking and trekking:

Safety- Safety is the main reason of using hiking poles. Hiking poles, in reality allow you the extra pair of legs to maintain good stability on the uncertain trails and when crossing fast streams or difficult terrains. Without having hiking poles you may fall down that may end up in injuries and accidents, and if you don’t fall even then ache in knees or ankles is a common mishappening you may face. When you have hiking poles with you, they keep you safe by preventing fall downs, bad steps which may cause of sprained ankle or knee.

Indeed, safety and convenience are the main reasons of using these hiking and trekking poles. Let’s see some other benefits/advantages of using them.

Weight Distribution- Hiking poles or staffs help us to reduce weight on our feet and legs. The modern design of the hiking pole distributes the weight evenly on the whole body instead of legs. According to one estimate poles can reduce 15% of weight from your legs by spreading it on the arms and other parts of body. As they act like your legs so they also bear some of the weight. Especially when you are climbing on a steep hill, the poles bear much weight than in normal walking so the percentage of weight may rise even further.

Pacing- When climbing on a steep hill, you will find your hiking poles more helpful for pacing yourself. I have personally seen their advantages to pace my steps. No doubt, hiking poles can easily speed you up by acquiring your weight and by allowing you to maintain good stability. You can maintain your speed without having so much huff and puff (needless to say more sweat!). And finally you will find that you have won over the trail without so much effort that really hurts. Certainly you will not feel pain in your back because poles allow you to walk in your natural position.

Comfort- Hiking with poles feels comfortable because you can walk in your natural posture while climbing on a hill or coming down. Your hands also remain in comfortable position; another better thing is that your hands remain above the heart which is also comfortable and beneficial as it improves the blood circulation that ensure less stressed body after the hiking. Many research studies and findings have clearly shown their cardiovascular, orthopaedic and other health benefits, as a result they advocate that not only circulation is improved but heart rate is also said to be reduced. A landmark study in this regard was published by Dr. G. Neureuther in 1981. Therefore, almost every seasoned and experienced hiker or trekker actually uses them and advises others to use them.

At last but not least using hiking poles for trail riding is not a wrong decision at all as they have countless benefits and uses, but that doesn’t mean that they don’t have any disadvantages. Experts believe that using poles may increase your total energy expenditure as your hands are no longer hands but will become two extra legs when you use them. Basically, your arms are not designed to prop up your body, nor to distribute weight, but to do certain other things that are expected to use your hands such as to open up the map, carry your drinks, eat a snack, wipe off your sweat, to grab branches of a tree to pull yourself ahead, to take a photograph, or occasionally to carry the hand of your partner. Undoubtedly, these things are not possible or comfortable when you have hiking poles in your hands and it will become relatively clumsy, time consuming, and sometimes even frustrating to carry them.

Well these were certain limitations of using hiking poles, but only an experienced hiker knows that these limitations in themselves are very limited. Of course these can be easily overcome as you grow and matured with them. However, most of the time it is generally seen that many people don’t actually know how to use them correctly and how to carry them properly. When they buy these hiking poles, they go for most stylish, fashionable and feature filled poles, but failed to recognize how to use them properly to reap their true benefits. For example, they buy adjustable hiking poles with compass fitted and with a camera mount, but don’t even know how to adjust them to a right length. As a result the majority of the people get little or no benefit from them except adding few extra pound of weight in their backpack to put more weight on their back.

But in actual sense, you must educate and familiarize yourself with your hiking poles and right techniques to use them. Then you will find that it only adds few extra pounds of weight to your packing but helps you in many ways. Actually pole less hiking is great for the slack packers who walks very short and come back their home in sunlight. But the hikers those who walk very long on the trails in day light as well in the night must use hiking poles. They are perhaps your best companions while climbing or walking on relatively difficult, snowy or muddy terrains. Specially when walking in after hours you should use poles to discover holes, stones and bushes in the absence of light.

I sincerely believe, by now, you may have understood yourself that why should we use hiking poles.

All the best!!

Mats Lundkvist
Trek Lightly!
http://www.hikinghelp.com/blog/

Are you are snow skiing beginner? Maybe you have been skiing once and are looking for ways to improve your endurance?

I’m here to tell you that to get the best out of your next ski holiday, it is crucial that you prepare yourself so you have the endurance to ski all day and enjoy the ski nightlife afterward.

The thing is that everyone realizes how awesome snow skiing is and how once you start you are hooked for life… it’s that addictive! However a lot of people take for granted just how much energy your body uses if you are skiing all day, not to mention the pressure on your muscles and joints.

When I was first introduced to skiing I fell in love with it, but I found that I had a problem with endurance and having enough energy to ski for the entire day. What I realized was that because I was only skiing for two weeks a year, my body struggled during those two weeks because I was simply not preparing myself prior to my ski holiday. I would always finish the day at 2pm or 3pm because I was too tired and sore and then sleep for 10 to 12 hours.

The thing is that if you are a snow ski beginner then in order to get the most out of each skiing day and have enough energy to enjoy the ski resort nightlife, then it is absolutely crucial that you undertake some kind of ski holiday fitness preparation.

I can say that when I started incorporating ski fitness preparation prior to my ski holiday, I found that it made a dramatic difference. Ski fitness can be incorporated into your gym routine or weekly fitness routine, it really is not that different. The key is to know what exercises to do.

I happened to stumble across an awesome ski fitness at home program that is specifically designed for snow ski fitness. If you are looking for the specific ski fitness exercises to give you all the endurance you will need then you must check out Avalanche Ski Training [http://www.skiing-made-easy.com/] as it is specifically designed for the snow skier.

Dog Training Ebook Review – SitStayFetch

We own and breed Staffordshire Bull Terriers and with a total of 5 dogs in what is a VERY small house, you might imagine that we have always been interested in dog training and dog training methods.

So being a Dog-lover I first came across SitStayFetch while browsing on Clickbank and SitStayFetch appeared to dominate the Clickbank Dog Training section! Its only major competition was from Dove Cresswell’s Dog Training Online – another quality dog training system, but Dove Cresswell’s system only had 30% of the Clickbank popularity!

And SitStayFetch is jam-packed with dog obedience training information, including how to solve over 25 dog behavior problems, real-life case studies, the best dog training techniques, an email consultation with the SitStayFetch team, and loads of photos that will help boost your learning

For the quite reasonable outlay SitStayFetch totally over-delivers with Bonuses! SitStayFetch extras include:

Bonus – SitStayFetch Audio Book

Bonus – A Quick Guide to Dog Aggression

Bonus – All The House Training Methods & Tricks

Bonus – Dog Grooming Made Easy

Bonus – Tips On Security Training Your Dog

Bonus – Secrets To Becoming The Alpha Dog

Bonus – Private Email Consultation to Help You

Resolve Your Specific Dog Problems

Do you have a generally disobedient dog?

Does your dog embarrass you in public?

Are you sick of excessive biting, barking, whining, etc?

Are you sick of dealing with dog aggression issues?

Do you want to know how to fix virtually any dog training or behavior problem?

Or, perhaps you just want the best relationship that you can possibly have with your dog…

SitStayFetch covers dog obedience training fully and even answers your dog training questions, covering specific dog behaviour issues, like how to deal with a dog eating poop or digging or a dog that is scared of the leash and much more! And SitStayFetch goes way beyond basic dog training:

The Chapters of the SitStayFetch Ebook itself cover:

DOG 101: It’s A Dogs Life

A. Dog Ownership and You

B. Selecting Your Puppy or Dog

C. Selecting a Breeder

D. Dog Groups

E. Responsible Ownership

F. Review of DOG 101

DOG 102: Caring for Your Dog

A. Bringing Your Puppy or Dog Home

B. Diet and Nutrition

C. Canine Growth Stages

D. Toys for Your Dog

E. Safe and Fun Toys to Buy

F. Choosing Your Vet

G. Review of DOG 102

DOG 103: Training Methods Revealed

A. Types of Training

B. Secrets to Training Your Dog

C. Crate Training

D. Obedience Training and Age

E. Selecting a Dog Trainer

F. Review of DOG 103

DOG 201: Secrets to Understanding Your Dog

A. Understanding Your Dog

B. Dog Senses

C. How Dogs Communicate Using Scent

D. Guide to Body Language and Signals

E. Guide to Facial Expressions and Vocals

F. Wolf Instincts

G. Review of DOG 201

DOG 202: Dog Problems Solved

A. Aggression Problems

B. Aggression: Treatment for Dominance

Case Study: Aggression with Strange Dog’s

Case Study: Food Bowl Aggression

C. Biting and Nipping

Case Study: Fear Biting

Case Study: Nipping and Hand Biting

D. Coprophagia (Poop Eating)

Case Study: Copropohagia

E. Chewing and Other Destructive Behavior

Case Study: Chewing and Destructive Behavior

F. Digging Problems

Case Study: Digging

G. Disobedience

H. Fear of the Leash

DOG 203: Commands to Start

A. Come (Recall)

B. Sit Stage I

C. “Okay” and “No”

D. “Hold” and “Leave”

E. “Sit” – Stage II

F. “Sit and Stay”

G. “Down” (Drop) – Stage I

H. “Down” (Drop) – Stage II

I. “Heel” – Stage I

J. “Heel” – Stage II

K. “Heel” – Stage III

L. “Stand”

M. “Wait “

N. “Seek” (Find)

O. Training Program

P. Review of DOG 203

DOG 301: Dog Whispering Uncovered

A. Defining Dog Whispering

B. Dog Whispering: About the Method

C. Dog Whispering: Interventions

D. Dog Whispering: Corrections

E. Dog Whispering with Common Commands

F. The Trouble with Dog Whispering

G. Review of DOG 301

DOG 302: More Dog Problems Solved

A. 2 Dogs in the House

Case Study: Introducing a New Dog

B. Allergies

C. A Death in the Family

D. Bad Breath

E. Cat Chaser

Case Study: The Cat and Car Chaser

F. Flatulence

G. Fleas

H. Hot Weather and Heatstroke

I. Jealousy

J. Jumping on Furniture

K. Jumping on People

Case Study: Jumping Up on People

L. Separation Anxiety

Case Study: Separation Anxiety

M. Worms

N. Review of DOG 302

DOG 303: Advanced Commands and Tricks

A. Advanced “Sit and Stay” Stage I

B. Advanced “Sit and Stay” Stage II

C. More “Sit and Stay”

F. “Beg”

G. “Fetch” (Retrieve)

H. “Catch”

I. “Shake”

J. “Climb”

K. “Crawl”

L. “Jump”

M. “Roll Over”

N. Review of DOG 303

I believe that SitStayFetch is probably one of the best basic dog training Ebooks on the internet today, I would even go as far as saying that SitStayFetch is one of the best advanced dog training Ebok resources! So I can highly recommend SitStayFetch to anyone looking to learn how to understand and have the best trained dog in the neighborhood!

Steve Gaskin is an author of Dog Training Articles – he and his wife own and breed Staffordshire Bull Terriers. For more information on dogs and dog training – for Ebook reviews and a FREE Home-made Dog Food Recipe visit: http://dogloverstoolbox.com

Picture that you’re dining out with a date at a fine French restaurant. The menu may as well be Greek to you with its a les crèmes and en sauses beurres; and all you can think about is how to lose weight when you don’t know what to choose. Well, when it comes to knowing how to lose weight while dining out, for most people the menu may as well be in French. You see, restaurants are in the business of money, even if it comes at the cost of your waistline. If you want to eat healthy while dining out, read on and take notes. This simple guide will let you in on some common practices restaurants use to sell you fatty foods and sneak you those hefty extra calories.

Fast Food: Fried Onions and Tacos and Burgers, Oh My!

When you’re at the office or on the road, sometimes fast food is a necessary evil. Aside from staying away from the tempting treats, here are a few things that will keep your waist shrinking as you order up. Before you take a bite of that Mexican Salad, know what you are eating and if it fits into your particular dietary regiment. As restaurants are required by law to show the content of the food that they provide, most fast food restaurants chains will have this data available on their websites. Usually fast foods restaurants will have healthy choices available that you can pick from, such as salads, wraps, or food that was grilled or broiled, instead of fried. Request that high-fat and high-calorie dressings and condiments be replaced with a healthier choice or left out entirely; requesting mustard instead of mayo for instance. Remember to always choose the diet drinks over their sugary counterparts. Opting for a diet coke rather than a regular one will end up saving you a whole whopping 210 calories!

The Fatty Truth of Fine Dining

When eating at a fine restaurant, there are a few things that you should know about food preparation. One of the most important things to keep in mind about restaurant dining is the portion size. Restaurants have found that by increasing the portion size they can charge exponentially more for the meal. To avoid being served too much, ask the server for the portion size of the particular dish, or better yet, simply order from your menu’s appetizers. A soup as your entrée is an excellent choice, as it is very filling. Just be sure to stick to broth-based soups, and avoid those that are cream-based. When ordering meat, such as steak or port, be sure to ask your server what cut of meat is being served. Restaurants generally prefer fatty cuts of meat to lean cuts, because not only are they cheaper, but they taste better as well, thus allowing them to charge more.

Always ask the server how the food is prepared. Frying foods, or butter and oil-heavy cooking allows the restaurant to charge higher prices while saving money on the preparation. Don’t be fooled; if you don’t notice it on the menu, request specifically for your food to be cooked in a healthy manner such as broiled, steamed, grilled, baked, or roasted. Limit yourself to one drink per meal. Alcohol is very calorie heavy, and it lowers your inhibitions, which is the last thing you want to do while dieting. Give yourself ten to twenty minutes before ordering desert for your food to digest, so that you will be fuller and order less. Offer to split a dish with your companion, or look for healthy choices such as yogurts, light sorbets, or fruit bowls.

Things to Remember

When you’re dining out, try to keep in mind your diet and how to lose weight. Be it fast food, or wining and dining out on the town, remember that you can still make healthy choices. Pick the grilled chicken sandwich instead of the triple bacon cheeseburger, or choose a grilled salmon salad with vinaigrette instead of filet minion. Plan ahead of time, and make sure your other two meals of the day are smaller to compensate for the increase in calories during your later meal. Avoid those tempting cheese cakes and mega surf-and-turf platters. Stick to your guns, and order yourself the small or kid size serving. Treat yourself to fresh fruits after dinner. Most important, remember that eating healthy and losing weight is far from impossible, because it is up to you.

Please make sure to check out my website for easy to follow fat loss tips as well as new and exciting ways to start losing weight today.

How to Lose Weight Fast Naturally

Good luck and I wish you all the success in your weight loss goals.

Jamie

Many people think their cat’s behaviors are because the cat was abused or neglected. I want to clear this up for you. Abused cats are rare. Most cats are just wary of strangers. Bad behavior is usually because they were never taught correctly or played with aggressively. So, how can you identify an abused or neglected cat? Let’s look at what cat abuse and neglect look like and then we can talk about the cat’s responses:

Cat Abuse can be intentional or unintentional. Usually, unintentional abuse is called “neglect” and is addressed by humane societies all over the world. There are actually three levels of abuse. Neglect, Over-Discipline (over use of discipline tools) and Intentional Abuse. This article addresses the Neglect, which is the most benign form of abuse.

Description of Neglect -

Neglect means not addressing the animal’s primary needs for survival – water, food, shelter, rest and hygienic elimination. Then there is the more severe type, where a cat is forced to live in filth, confined to a cage all the time, or denied companionship with people or other animals. Many times, this can be caused by not spaying or neutering your pet. Unwanted kittens, or too many cats, is the primary cause for almost all of this type of abuse. Sometimes, a person is too ill or has allergies. Maybe a person is trying to keep a cat in an environment that makes it impossible to properly care for a cat.

I remember many years ago, seeing a homeless man walking down the street with his belongings in a shopping cart. Homeless people were harder to find then, so he stood out. He was pushing the cart with one hand and had a carrier with a cat in it, in the other. I felt sorry for both, but being a child, I didn’t know what to do. The cat was experiencing neglect, but felt much love. The man, I’m sure, didn’t know he was doing harm to the cat. He just knew that he couldn’t let his beloved cat go into a shelter – at that time all the shelters I knew of were kill-shelters.

An older cat (over a year) has little chance of coming out of a kill shelter. Most people want a kitten. The grown cats are often given no more than 2 weeks to find a home and then euthanized. This heartbreaking situation often occurs when people lose their homes, develop allergies or find that they just don’t want to deal with the discipline and behavior problems that developed in the cat. The single biggest reason people give up a cat is inappropriate elimination. Next, come allergies, followed by death of the cat’s owner. Some cats are surrendered because the person moves and is unable to find pet-friendly accommodations.

I understood the man’s feelings of love and concern for his feline companion. I also understood that the cat couldn’t live in that carrier for long. There was no safe place for them. No homeless shelter would take a man with a cat. In this case, I think the abuse is unintentional – neglect, by description. However, I think the heart of both the cat and the man were in the right place, just that the situation was unfortunate.

In news reports, we sometimes hear of breeding farms where cats are bred to the point of exhaustion and kept in sub-optimal conditions. We hear of people who just keep bringing home strays until they are over-run and can no longer take care of them, and the cats become a neighborhood problem. All of these situations can produce neglect.

Now, let’s turn to the cat’s response to neglect. How does a cat respond? Why does it do that? By understanding the specific situation and response, we can address the resulting problem behaviors with love, patience and training.

Effects of Neglect

A cat left in a cage with other animals nearby is often skittish and afraid of people. It expects food and a clean litter box on occasion, but cuddles and attention may make it uncomfortable. These cats often have no privacy issues in the cage, but once free, they are very private about their litter habits. If the cat was kept in a small carrier, it may soil itself, or hold back elimination until it is very uncomfortable. It may be dehydrated and need medical attention. The cat will be overweight from lack of activity. It may be apathetic when play is offered, not knowing what is expected. Electric lights may be something that set off a fear response in the cat because it means that people are coming. In other cases, darkness may be scary at first. Once the cat’s eyes adjust to the light level, it will be all right, but when the lights are turned off or on, the cat may cry or hiss. In the case of a cat kept in the dark except when people are coming, it may be fearful the entire time the lights are on, while also expecting food, water and a clean litter box to be provided.

What Can We Do to Help These Cats?

These cats don’t do well with handling. The less you try to pet, hold or cuddle these cats at first, the better. Let the cat come to you. It will, given time. Be sure to care for it’s creature comforts – food, water, bed, clean litter box – but don’t expect a cuddly cat for a while. That will come when the cat feels that it can trust you. It may be afraid of the sound of your feet on the floor. It may run when you come into a room. As time goes on, the cat will stay and just watch you. Another time, you may be able to approach and offer a scratch behind the ear. Eventually, you will be able to give a full cuddle. Do not try to pick the cat up, but you can pet it and the cat won’t run away or feel assaulted. When the cat responds with a purr, an offer of a cheek or an ear, or you can stroke the spine and the cat isn’t trying to run away, then you have a cat that is only cautious of you. Continue until the cat comes for cuddles, which may already be happening. Still do not try to pick the cat up. If it wants your lap, it will come. This cat may still run from you if discovered in a windowsill, on a dresser or surprised in the litter box. Say your cat’s name in a conversational tone and the cat will eventually not run away and perhaps allow a stroke. In the case of the litter box, just say the cat’s name, but never try to cuddle a cat in the litter box. If you can provide a privacy screen, the cat may stay in the room.

These cats need socialization. They need to learn to live with others outside of a cage. They need gentle discipline and may not know the meaning of the word “no.” They will love feeding time but be afraid if you need to walk near their food bowls, and run from the food. Give them time, move slowly and talk gently in their vicinity. They need to learn what people are about in a good way.

Once your cat has learned to trust you a little bit, enough to not run away when you enter a room or even starts to come to you, then you can begin to bond with your cat. A tickler wand is your best friend for this. Gently shake the wand so that the end twitches. Your cat will be interested, but may only watch at first. If your cat goes for it, excellent! When your cat gets hold of the business end of the wand, allow your cat to feel the success by keeping the wand steady for a few moments. When the cat lets go, you can start to twitch it again. The cat will play with you in this manner for quite a while. When the cat tires, put the wand up out of the way so that your cat is forced to play with you, not just the wand. If your cat grabs the wand in it’s mouth and tries to run away with it, offer resistance and don’t let go of the wand. Some cats want to take the wand and hide it under a couch or in a corner so they can worry over it for a while. Don’t allow this – the cat needs to play with you, not just the wand. After about ten days of playing with the wand, you will see your cat become more accepting of its new circumstances. Your cat should assimilate into the household well. There may be people it does not accept, and those persons can also play with the cat to promote bonding.

Under no circumstances should you perpetuate the abuse or neglect! Any discipline needs to be done gently and with care. A squirt bottle, long a favorite tool for discipline, should only be used in the beginning stages of training, while the cat is learning the word “no.” After that, you should not need it. Redirection is your best training technique. When your cat gets into or expresses interest in something that you don’t want to see it getting involved with, redirect it’s attention to something that it is allowed to be involved with or have.

Some of these cats can be clicker trained, but the bond with the person needs to be present, first. Concentrated training to condition the cat to the clicker will be needed. Some cats may be so skittish that even the best treats will not condition the cat to the clicker. If your cat runs from the clicker after a week of conditioning, do not continue. Your cat will never be comfortable with the unexpected noise it makes. You are better clapping your hands and saying “no” to stop bad behaviors than trying to clicker train for positive behaviors.

These cats will be extremely grateful for good treatment. One expression of that love, biting, may not be acceptable – especially if the cat bites hard and uses the canine teeth. Push your hand or finger into the mouth instead of pulling out so that the cat will not be able to bite down and cause you injury. You can push in hard enough to cause the gag reflex, but never harder. Never cause the cat injury in response to an injury to your person. Hitting is never acceptable – but raising a flat hand so that the eyebrow whiskers can feel it is acceptable.

If you must pick up your cat, as in putting the cat in the carrier or removing it to another room, pay attention to the cat’s body. Be sure to pick the cat up by the ribs and the hind legs at the same time to minimize stress to the cat. If the body is stiff, don’t hold the cat to your chest. Allow the cat to struggle, but stay out of the way of the claws. When you place the cat down (don’t let it jump), stroke its back if you can. Talk to the cat. It will stop a few paces away and look at you. The cat may come to you for a scratch if offered. Always talk softly and lovingly to your cat.

In Closing -

With all these admonitions and dos and don’ts, you may think that a neglected cat is too much trouble. Not that much, really. They take some time getting used to people, but once they trust you and know you have their best interests at heart, these cats will come to love you very much. The early stages with a neglected cat are the most critical. After that, you may find a loving, caring, demanding cat. Demanding because it may never want to be separated from you. Demanding because whatever it was denied before it will crave from you. Moreover, you will be loved, very deeply. It will care about you in its fashion. If your are down or blue, possibly sick, the cat will worry over you and try to find a way to comfort you. These cats are very responsive to their people. Hypersensitive is a good description. Empathic is another good description of their behavior. Some cats even approach a symbiotic relationship with their people.

Give love and patience, and love and patience will be returned. Give concern and care and those are returned. A neglected cat is one of the best pets for a single, older person. The cat will be tuned to that person in short order. It will give love and affection to ease the loneliness and loss these people sometimes experience. When the person is ill, the cat will understand and be there to comfort, while allowing the person to care for him or herself.

Morgen Marshall, a cat whisperer, invites you into her world of cats. She created a website dedicated to making the relationship between cats and people harmonious and healthy. For the Love of Cats is a place for people who love cats to find answers from someone they can trust.

Owning your own home-based business is by and large a very rewarding, exciting endeavor. You can set your own schedule, and be where you want, when you want. You can oftentimes forego the commute to a “regular job” and save money on gas and other “niceties” that are expensive in the work-a-day world, such as lunches, parking fees, etc.

There are unexpected pitfalls and disadvantages, though, in the owning and operating of a home-based business. Some are psychological, some are emotional, and others are purely physical. The unexpected stresses of a home-based business are really one of the major obstacles that need to be overcome by business owners. Many new business owners are unprepared for just how much stress is involved, actually.

Home-based business stresses usually fall into three overall categories:

1. Psychological : Employees, Finances, Legal, and Operations

2. Emotional: Family, Friends, Change of Personal Routines, Personal Disruptions, Isolation

3. Physical: Sedentary Lifestyle, Poor Eating Habits, Overwork

Many business owners, in order to prevent the psychological stress will have plans in place for dealing with these particular stress factors, prior to their occurrence. This is a proactive approach that is infinitely better than having a reactive approach to these occurrences.

Each business owner should have a financial plan in place for the times when orders or clients are few and far between (slow times), as well as a good accountant to call when necessary. Each business owner should also have a lawyer who they trust and can turn to for advice if necessary (we do live in a very litigious society). And each business owner should have a plan for sickness among employees and hiring and firing protocols firmly in place. Machinery and replacement of business supplies should also be well planned in advance, and purchased according to well laid out plans for expenditures.

Leadership skills will need to be developed, as a new business owner who is used to being part of a team, will find working alone and “being in charge” a somewhat difficult transition at first. Books on leadership skills abound and it is a good idea to do readings on the development of these to proactively avoid the psychological stress that comes with this change in roles. Working alone and making decisions alone is quite different from the conformity and decisions made within a group.

If a proactive approach is taken, the psychological stresses of a new business can easily be prevented, or at least lessened.

The emotional stresses of a home-based business are usually a bit more difficult to ascertain and tackle when they occur. Some of these stress factors can come directly from well-meaning family and friends, unfortunately, and the approach is of course, much different. Since a home-based business is directly tied usually to the home life of an individual, there is less chance to escape these stresses, than with a traditional method of employment. A new birth in a family, a death of a loved one, illness, or simply a change of schedule of another family member, can greatly impact the daily workings and routine of a home-based business.

In addition, family and friends may view the business owner as “being at their disposal” all day now, as the business owner is now “home” much of the time. These well meaning individuals may call or visit all the time, and also expect the business owner to take care of their needs before the needs of the business. This is simple human nature, but is very distracting for the business owner. The only way this can be successfully overcome is to make plans well ahead of time for any changes in routine, if possible, and adjust the schedule accordingly as the changes occur. Well meaning family and friends need to be told with certainty that there are “business hours” and “personal hours” and a business owner needs to remain firm in their resolve in regard to these issues.

Stressing over emotional stress will just escalate an already stressful situation.

Another unexpected emotional stress comes many times from the feeling of isolation and loneliness that business owners may experience. Business owners many times are unprepared for the time they now find they spend alone within the parameters of their home-based businesses. A home-based business owner, while relieved to leave the workforce, sometimes does not realize that the workforce provided social opportunities that are now missing from their lives. Many hours may be spent alone each day, which can lead to loneliness and even depression in some cases.

The best approach to combating this type of isolation is to actively plan social opportunities. Planned outings with family and friends should be made regularly. Business owners may also join community groups that expose them to other business owners or others within the community. The local Chamber of Commerce and other volunteer groups are a great way to make connections for the business and also enhance the social experiences of business owners. No one can exist in a void, so the social aspects of a business can’t be ignored.

Finally, owning and operating your own home-based business brings with it some purely physical stresses. Like most office jobs, a home-based business can lead to a more sedentary lifestyle, as owners may spend most of their days in the running of the business, either slumped in an office chair, or hunched over a computer, depending upon the requirements of the business. Because of the long hours involved in any business, business owners may also eat “on the run”, grabbing whatever is at their disposal, rather than planning meals, which compromises their nutrition. The sedentary lifestyle and bad eating habits can lead to weight gain and other physical ailments associated with poor eating habits and sedentary lifestyles: high cholesterol, lack of energy, loss of muscle tone, and a deficiency of vitamin D from being indoors more than usual.

The sedentary lifestyle is the easiest however, of the stresses to avoid or to change. All it takes is a dedication to an exercise routine that includes some form of daily physical exercise, and an adherence to a diet that is well planned and nutritious. Just some planning is needed and some will power in order to stay focused on achieving physical activity daily and good nutrition. It would be beneficial, if at all possible, to join a gym or health club, as the physical and emotional stresses can be avoided by belonging to one, as a gym also provides social opportunities. Even a simple walk each day can increase exercise, exposure to sunlight, and create social opportunities.

A tendency to do too much each day, is a syndrome many business owners fall prey to also. Overwork can leave anyone run down, and open to many diseases as the immune system becomes compromised. A business owner is of course, very excited and energetic about the business, which can lead into this syndrome of overwork. A schedule should be maintained to combat this syndrome, with set hours for “doing business” and set hours for “relaxation” included in each day. Trying to do too much all the time just leads business owners into a decrease of productivity, rather than an increase of productivity.

As you can see, having a home-based business, while very rewarding in many ways, can have many deleterious effects on the physical, mental and emotional states of business owners. Many business owners fail to plan for these changes, and yet, if planning is done, the negative effects can be minimized to a great degree.

If a business owner takes care of themselves and their own needs, overall, the business will also profit from this positive behavior! A happy, healthy business owner means a happy, healthy business!

———–
Vishal P. Rao is the owner of Work at Home Forum, an online community of people who work from home.
———–

In a view of a sports car buyer, speed and looks are the most important aspects. However, both of these aspects need protection against the risk of damage and loss. The speed, at which a sports car is driven, increases the chances of an accident. A sports car has a stylish look and is embedded with expensive accessories that tempt thieves. Since qualified servicing and repairs facilities for cars are few and spare parts are difficult to source, maintaining such car can cost a fortune.

Car insurance saves money for sports car owners

1. A large portion of these ownership costs of a sports car can be eliminated by auto insurance. It may seem to be an additional cost but auto insurance is actually a timely investment for your car.

2. Car insurance shoulders the cost of repairs and loss that your sports can incur despite your best intentions while driving and your care for it. It covers the cost of repairs to the other car that has been damaged in an accident your sports car is involved in.

3. Medical costs of treating injuries in accident are also within the scope of the sports car insurance.

Car insurance premiums for sports cars

1. Be careful while choosing car insurance for your car as auto insurance policies differ for different vehicles. Since sports cars symbolize luxury and thrill, they are likely to be driven fast and thus, increasing the chances of an accident.

2. As discussed earlier, they are costlier to repair. Also, being an expensive vehicle, there are chances of its parts or the car itself being stolen. As the chances of an accident and the cost of loss or repairing damage are higher, higher insurance premiums are charged to offer coverage for cars.

3. Also, the difference between third party coverage and comprehensive coverage may be more as compared to other types of cars due to the inherent risk of damaging a sports car or losing it to theft.

But you can locate the best deal by looking up your options online or speaking with agents. It will help to bring up a clean driving record during such a conversation to strengthen the case for a favorable pricing of the car insurance premium. Also, the older you are, the easier it is to get a better deal on sports car insurance as you are perceived to be a safer driver. Some cars also have an owners club whose members have special privileges and discounts for auto insurance. Consider becoming a member of such a group. At the same time, make every effort on your part to ensure safety of your vehicle. This can be done by parking it in locked premises and fitting special gadgets that offer resistance to theft.

Whatever the premium is, car insurance is invaluable for a sports car. Remember, it will calm your mind whenever you see the speedometer rising!