Growing Pains in Children

Growing pains in children can affect up to a quarter of all children at some stage. The condition can be distressing, but is self limiting and goes away on its own eventually. The real concern about the diagnosis is that the term is often used as a throw away term for any leg pain in children and there are a few potentially serious problems that can be dismissed as growing pains.

The true syndrome of growing pains is a bad cramp like pain in the upper calf muscles just behind the knee that usually wakes the child from sleep and lasts around 20 minutes. It is most common in the 4-5 years age group, but can occur up to 12 years of age. The pain does not affect activities the next day. The pains do not occur during the day and if they do, something else needs to be considered. The pain is also not deep in the bone or in the knee joint and if it is, something else needs to be considered. There is also no specific tender spot, so if there is something else needs to be considered.

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If the symptoms do not match the classic criteria for growing pains (in the upper calf and at night), then the differential diagnosis needs to consider a juvenile type of arthritis in the knee joint; a pain referral from the hip; or a bone cancer if the pain is deep in the bone.

The cause of the problem is not known with a number of theories being proposed, including biochemical disturbances, hormonal imbalances and musculoskeletal fatigue. No evidence has been found yet to support any cause.

Parents and the child need to be reassured about the benign and self-limiting nature of this condition. When a child wakes with the pain, then simple rubbing or massage of the leg is usually all that is needed to get the child back to sleep. In severe cases, anti-inflammatory drugs at bed time can help. The condition is self limiting and will resolve on its own eventually.

Growing Pains in Children

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Patriotism is a Growing Concern

Patriotism is a growing concern in our nation today. One of the ways to teach children patriotism is to have them be in an informative play or program. Many schools and teachers are looking for programs to fit this description that are easy to put on and take very little practice time to present. With all the teaching and testing that teachers are required to do for the "No Child Left Behind" idea has left them with little time to do the creative programs for their students.

These programs also need to teach and educate students in a creative way about their country. The programs or plays show them just what a priceless gift freedom is for them to celebrate and embrace. Teaching them about respect for their flag, country and other patriotic symbols such as the Statue of Liberty, The Liberty Bell, The Washington Monument, and the Lincoln Memorial is important for patriotism to take root in young children.

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Some children learn about flag etiquette, learn what to do when taps is played. What should you do if you are wearing a hat? Some students have learned or know what the Statue of Liberty and other symbols are, but they have never heard or learned the story behind the symbol. We need to take time to teach the story of how these symbols of history came about and why they are so important to our country.

The first time that I had a man come into our school and play taps even the adults did not know what the correct protocol was. Many sat not knowing that they should stand and so even the adults were taught when the first person stood, which is the correct thing to do.

The flag being used in assemblies help the students know that they need to stand when a color guard walks by. They need to know where the flag should be placed in a room. They need to know that when they drive by a business that is flying 3 flags and have the middle flag being Canadian instead of the two American flags on the end that that is incorrect display. Students need to know how to raise a flag, fold a flag and that a flag can been cleaned. One of my Social Studies tests was that all my students had to fold the flag correctly. Yes, all! The girls thought only boys could do it because they were scouts.

Programs can teach about the symbols. Programs using the Bill of Rights help students remember what those rights are. Programs using all the wonderful music that has been written about our country gives them feelings of pride. Programs honoring those who have served our country are very helpful to teach the students that their freedom was paid for with sweat and blood. Having some of those service men come and talk to the students really help them see that there are real people that fight not just pictures on a game screen.

I have found that when my students participated in a program they learned a lot more than when it was just done in the classroom. The year we did all of the Amendments in the Bill of Rights in September they remembered those rights clearly until we studied them in January and February in our text book. The students need to feel that patriotic feeling when they sing a patriotic song because usually the feeling does not come when you read it in a text book.

Patriotism is a Growing Concern

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Growing Churches And Why They Grow

This article is intended for Bible believing Church leadership. As a conservative old school believer I used to say "we don't need user friendly churches; we need user deadly churches." (Romans 6: 6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. KJV) This is to imply that the church should be so structured to bring about transformation that means proverbial death to the old man and sinful behavior. While this is true one can not abandon wisdom in the name of conservativism, holiness or old time religion. A Church without a life transforming message that challenges the status quo and clarifies right from wrong is nothing more than a hymn singing social club. But that's another article; in this article I want to explore the wisdom of being a user friendly Church and what that means.

I have been inspired by Paul's writing to the Colossian Church: Colossians 1: 9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work. So what is His will? Clearly it is not His will that any should perish. (Matthew 18:14)

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With more than nine years as a full time evangelist I have had the opportunity to worship with some of the most successful Churches and ministries in the country. In recent years I have visited scores of Churches in more than half of the continental US states posing only as a visitor; in all of this I have identified 4 qualities of user friendly churches. I have shared these principles with Churches all over the country in much greater detail than is possible here; it is my hope that you will be inspired by these ideas and further explore the user friendly principles. Before I share them with you I want to define what I mean by "user friendly". A user friendly church is accessible, comfortable and conducive to visitor participation. Now here are the four qualities.

Visibility

User friendly churches are visible. This does not mean that you have to be in a prime geographic location. What it does mean is that the community needs to know you exist and why it would benefit them to attend.

To create greater visibility let's start with your immediate community. Obviously your property should have curb appeal. Simply a little manicuring of the lawn, landscape and parking lot will make a huge difference. Your property appearance should scream "we know you're looking and we welcome you to look closer." It would be a shame if hundreds or thousands of cars passed by your property every day and only a few noticed your church because it blends in with the surroundings. Of course you will want to check on zoning restrictions that restrict what you can do on your property. If restrictions are tight you can do things like folding signs and removable effects that can be placed at your drive access at the start of the service and removed as service begins walk lightly and you can get away with a lot.

Here is a checklist to get your maintenance staff started:

oClear easy to read signage

oClear easy to recognize lot entrance

oCleanliness

oInviting landscape (don't hide the building)

oPleasant lighting

oAttention grabbers (banners, flags, special occasion signs, inflatable mascot or seasonal displays)

The second visibility is what I call reference visibility. Reference visibility includes the yellow pages, internet and newspapers as well as a few other options that should be considered. When I arrive in a new city the first thing I do is find the phonebook and check for a UPCI church to attend. Upon surveying a substantial sampling it became obvious that the first place families go to find a new church upon moving is the yellow pages.

Your yellow pages listing should include your church name, defining statement of faith or organizational association, pastor's name, at least two contact numbers, address, service times, driving directions and web URL address. If you can afford the space you should also include ministries offered, a benefit statement, map and picture of the property and or pastor.

The reference visibility that is second only to your yellow page listing is the internet website. If your church doesn't have a web presence, make it happen within the next thirty days. Your church website doesn't have to be fancy or complicated; a free site management service is better than nothing. The following checklist includes the minimum information you should make available on your website:

oChurch name

oStatement of faith

oNames of ministries and ministry directors

oDriving directions and or map

oPhoto of the church

oArticles or audio sermon samples

oEvent calendar

oContact information (consider alternative contacts)

The third reference visibility is newspapers and periodicals. Obviously your church should run ads to announce special events such as revivals, public seminars and public services offered. Consider assigning the title of publicist to someone that will be responsible for running ads and getting free periodical, news and media space. If your church is offering a public service like gifts for the needy at Christmas send press releases to the area media. Announce available ministries, special events, new ministries, building programs etcetera.

Other possibilities that increase visibility might include billboards, highway signs, bumper stickers, T-shirts, radio spots and TV spots. Next I want to leave you with a couple of power tips for creating visibility.

New Residence Welcome Package

You can easily get information about new residents who move into your city or county. If you share your plan with apartment managers they may help you with distribution. Simply put together a welcome package that includes some home warming gift, some coffee and or tea a brochure and handwritten card of invitation from your assembly. (I like the idea of having the card signed by hand by each member. This can be done in advance.)

Hotel Church Directory

Organize and produce a nice looking church directory to be placed in hotel rooms. The cost of the directory can be shared by all of the churches you choose to involve. Most hotel guests that attend services while visiting your city will attend the church of their choice anyway you're just making your information available through one more media. May also consider an area attractions directory that would include only your church and other businesses; I have seen such directories that list only Christian owned businesses in the area.

Accessibility

Accessibility begins with your marketing pieces (Brochures, yellow page and media ads etc.) you should include clear directions that include popular area landmarks and highways, maps are nice. Once the visitor finds your property it is important that they know how to access your parking lot so have lot entrances clearly marked. The last thing you want is for your visitor feel frustrated or anxious this early in the visit. It is also a good Idea to have visitor parking reserved and marked with signs. Make sure the main entrance is marked clearly so the visitor knows exactly where to go. If you use alternative entrances or walks during bad weather have portable signs to put out to accurately direct the visitor. Greeters should be present to greet the guest; make sure they are trained to inform the guest about where the sanctuary, restrooms, nursery and Sunday school classes are located. A tour should at least be offered; if the tour invitation is turned down hand the guest a diagram of the property that clearly indicates the location of rooms that may be of interest.

Service times should be visible on signs and at all entrances. Greeters should be trained to meet ladies with children and the elderly at the car during adverse weather conditions to assist them into the building. Pathways should be well lit. Restrooms should be clearly marked and if they are hidden down some dark or hidden hallway mark the hallway and light it up. Ushers should ask the guest where they prefer to sit (front or back) and offer to escort them to a seat.

Friendliness

Now this isn't something you can plan and assign. Congregational friendliness must be learned and it must be sincere. The saints should greet the visitor with a smile and a handshake as well as some non-prying personal questions. These personal questions can help identify common ground to create personal relationships. Youth and children should be taught to get to visitors their own age; they may invite the guest to join them in the Sunday school class. I would like to think that someone in our assembly would extend an invitation to our guest to go out to dinner with them. I try to make this invitation myself when time and opportunity permits. If it makes you more comfortable most won't accept.

Someone in leadership should approach all visitors to explain how the service will be conducted, when the children will go to their classes and where those classes are. If an entire family visits find out the ages of the children and adults and inform them where they should go for breakout Sunday school classes. Once you know there ages it can be a good idea for either the Sunday school teacher or a representative from the class to personally greet and invite the visitor to join today's class.

Diversity of Ministry

Truly user friendly churches are aware of unique needs of their community and make an honest effort to meet those needs. If you have a large population of Spanish speaking people, and obvious ministry need is Spanish interpretation or Spanish specific ministry. Other considerations include young married couples, singles, senior citizens, college students, military etcetera.

Growing Churches And Why They Grow

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Electronics Landfill Ban Growing in the US - North Carolina Promotes Electronics Recycling

When most people think of recycling they imagine sorting through their trash to set aside plastic bottles, glass containers, and paper products donned with the classic triangular shaped recycle logo. While these materials have long been the most common to be recycled, there is growing awareness of the need to consider electronics recycling as a crucial part of green living. In fact, more and more states have banned disposal of electronics in landfills and are promoting electronics recycling programs.

Many household electronics can be recycled including; cell phones, TV's, computer monitors, computer hard drives, keyboards, telecommunications waste, servers, circuit boards, power supplies, cd players, digital cameras, and a variety of other items. This long list of e-waste products presents a new opportunity to drastically reduce the amount of waste modern society produces through the course of everyday living. While e-waste recycling presents a great opportunity, it also presents a huge potential hazard if we ignore it. For example, CRT display televisions (classic TV's) contain on average four to eight pounds of lead. When dumped in landfills the lead from these units can be absorbed into the ground causing soil and ground water to become toxic. This process causes irreparable damage to the environment as well as our own critical life resources.

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On July 1st 2011 North Carolina became the 18th state in the union to place some kind of ban on electronics disposal in landfills. North Carolina residents must now recycle their old TV's and Computers. This ban covers all computer components including; monitors, CPU's, laptops, printers, fax machines, scanners, mice, and keyboards. The ban also covers all TV's including; flat panel TV's, tube TV's, and projection TV's.

While the ban is aimed at preventing citizens from disposing of their e-waste in the garbage, the state is not looking to target individuals for non-compliance. The new law will be enforced at the landfills, and those businesses will be responsible for rejecting waste containing the prohibited items. The enforcement of this new law presents additional challenges for officials as the motivation for landfills to comply can only be judged on a case-by-case basis. Outside of landfill management taking the initiative to do the right thing; there is little keeping them from conducting business as usual.

Besides the benefits this new law presents to the residents of North Carolina and the rest of the United States, this law represents a growing trend of public awareness and action being taken by leaders in this country to bring the American people into a new age of environmentally responsible living. And while we are taking huge leaps towards reversing the damage we have done over the past 50 years, other countries like China and India are undergoing technological revolutions and will soon be presented with the same issues we are seeking solutions for in this country now.

It's our responsibility as technology leaders to show other nations there is a productive way to live responsibly, and that this way of living can go hand in hand with economic health and prosperity. As our recycling industry grows and contributes to the economic growth of this country, people's eyes are opening to new possibilities. People are steadily being given the chance to live responsibly while enjoying the many benefits of a technologically advanced lifestyle.

Electronics Landfill Ban Growing in the US - North Carolina Promotes Electronics Recycling

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Tips For Growing Spider Plants

Spider plants make excellent houseplants because they are very easy to grow, require little maintenance in order to thrive, and adapt well to the conditions of most homes and other indoor spaces. They are also used frequently in schools because they are easy to propagate and require so little care. Particularly if you are a beginning gardener, spider plants are excellent starter plants to add some greenery to your home.

Spider plants are happiest when grown in containers or hanging baskets, which will provide plenty of room for their shoots. However, you should not grow them in containers that are too large for the size of the plant, because they enjoy being a little rootbound.

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At the end of their long stalks, spider plants will begin to grow new baby plants. If you wish to grow more spider plants from your original plant, just cut these small plants off the ends of the stalks, and place their roots in water. When the roots of these new plants have grown to be an inch long, transplant them into containers filled with potting soil.

When you are growing spider plants, keep in mind that they like well drained, rich potting soil, although they can tolerate a wide range of soil conditions. You should water them at least once every week. Give them liquid fertilizer once or twice per month, but take care not to over water them or give them too much fertilizer. In fact, you may want to dilute the fertilizer to half its recommended strength, or skip fertilizer entirely if your plants are healthy and thriving without it. If you are over watering or over fertilizing, you will know it because the tips of your spider plant's leaves will turn brown. If this happens, remove the brown leaves, and adjust the amount of fertilizer and water. Your plant will soon grow new, green leaves to replace the brown ones. If this does not solve the issue, you may want to try distilled water, as some chemicals in tap water may be harmful for your spider plants.

Although your spider plants will do just fine in the low light conditions found in many areas of the typical home, they also enjoy some sunshine. You can place your plants in a sunny window once or twice per week, but you should not forget them there. If you leave them in direct sunlight for too long, the leaves may turn brown. Also be sure not to leave them near the window on cold nights, as they prefer warmer temperatures.

Caring for Spider plants are very rewarding to grow. If you take proper care of them and grow new plants by replanting the baby spider plants on the end of the shoots, you will soon have a whole house filled with beautiful spider plants. Keep in mind that plants can help improve air quality by cleaning the air. They also make wonderful gifts to help your friends and family begin their own spider plant gardens. Spider plants can be grown by beginning gardeners, and require only a little effort to help them thrive.

Tips For Growing Spider Plants

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Advantages of Growing Hemp

There are numerous advantages to growing industrial hemp on a widespread scale. These advantages come from both the physical act of growing the plant, as well as utilizing the yield for business and consumer products. Let's start off with how growing helps the environment.

The hemp plant is unique in that it grows in an incredible abundance. You can get over ten tons of hemp from only one acre of farmland, and since farmland is measured in the thousands of acres, you can imagine how much total hemp you can ultimately grow. When a plant is growing, it requires carbon dioxide to power photosynthesis; therefore, with a lot of plants, you take out a lot of carbon dioxide from the air. Growing large amounts of hemp will thus, over time, significantly affect CO2 levels and help fight global warming. Since climate change is one of the most dangerous issues we face in this time, this is certainly an important benefit.

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When most plants grow, they deplete the soil of vital nutrients and leave it with less vitality for the next crop. Hemp actually revitalizes the soil it grows in, both by aerating the soil and through the deposit of carbon dioxide in to it. This makes hemp ideal for crop rotation, and the crop that follows in the soil hemp grew in will develop better than if hemp had not been used.

These have been just the benefits from growing the plant, but there are even more for applying it. When hemp is used in the production of paper, fuel, and plastic substitutes, the resulting products are much cleaner and greener. For example, tree made paper requires the use of many harmful chemicals, both for the production and as preservatives. Hemp paper does not need these chemicals, and hemp fuel burns cleaner than gasoline or diesel.

With all of these uses for hemp, it is terrible that it is suppressed in this society. America is one of the leading nations of the world, and because it denounces hemp, many other countries follow suit, although they do grow it to some extent. If hemp were fully utilized, we could save this world and ensure an everlasting, sustainable future, and that is surely something to fight for.

Advantages of Growing Hemp

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How To Grow Hair Faster Naturally: Growing Hair The Safe And Cost-Efficient Way

It cannot be denied that for a long time now, long hair has always been the most fashionable way of wearing a girl's or woman's hair. No wonder girls everywhere aspire to have long, thick and beautiful shiny hair. If you do not have it, keep reading this article to find out the more practical solutions to your thinning hair problem.

Here are just a few tips on how to grow hair faster naturally without having to spend so much or having to suffer some side effects. Deliberate on each if they are suitable for you and thereby, accomplish your mission of learning about how to grow hair faster naturally once and for all:

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1. Stimulate hair growth. To do this, you will need some stimulus on your scalp. The best way to achieve hair growth is by getting a regular head massage of about thirty minutes or more. Deep head massage is actually a very effective technique to stimulate blood circulation which is very essential in growing hair. You may also consider simultaneously taking some folic acids which are essential vitamins for the scalp.

2. Use only natural products for your mane. Make sure you apply some Aloe Vera juice into your scalp all the way to the hair strands. Cut the Aloe Vera leaves from the plant after which peel, get the gelatinous substance then apply to your scalp. In fact, Aloe Vera is just one of the countless natural remedies that can resolve the problem of how to grow hair faster naturally. You will just have to find out which technique matches with your hair type. Other women even apply egg yolks to their hair since eggs are known to be very rich in protein.

3. Nourish yourself with a healthy diet and vitamins. Another tip you will also find effective is that of eating nothing but healthy foods. Get rid of all the junk foods in your cupboard or the sodas in your refrigerator since they will not help you resolve hair loss problems.

4. Know the right food groups to eat. Eat only those rich in proteins and omega 3 such as salmon and oily fish. Protein-packed foods include eggs, meat, fish, vegetables, fruits, whole grains, cereals, nuts and countless others. Do not forget to take in some biotin supplements as well. They are very popularly known to effectively boost hair growth in hair loss or hair thinning sufferers.

4. Get rid of appliances that can damage your hair. Last but not least, it is very important to throw all your electric hair appliances such as those electric curlers and straightening irons that will surely cause more damage than good to your tresses. Didn't you know that extreme heat actually spells T-O-R-T-U-R-E to your hair? Yes, too much heat will absolutely damage your mane; thus, development of split-ends and damaged hair. As much as possible avoid exposing your hair to extreme sunlight or you might just end up having dull, monotonous, limp and boring hair!

How To Grow Hair Faster Naturally: Growing Hair The Safe And Cost-Efficient Way

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The Organized Parent: 8 Tips for Getting Your Growing Family's Act Together

One child is a relationship. Raising two or more is a small business. To stay sane as the family grows, you need to organize and plan effectively.

What follows are 8 tips for keeping family life on track as school events, pediatrician appointments and errands multiply.

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*Keep a "Waiting For" file. My file currently contains: birthday invitations responded to, information on my girls' upcoming dance recital, and receipts for uniforms on order. Without this file, these papers would be on my desk.

*Read the school newsletter. Skip the newsletter and the school gods will get you. Your kid will arrive in uniform on costume day. You'll find out about the big pilgrim event after the turkey's been roasted. Note newsletter events - then look for them to change in the next newsletter.

*Get an electronic organizer. As the family grows, so do the number of regularly scheduled events. Kids' activities, PTA meetings - why record these by hand each week when you can program them to repeat? The best gift I got preparing for my second child was a Palm organizer.

*Keep spring open. Once the kids start school, May and June are as busy as December. Schedule a business trip during the last month of school and you risk missing an important event. Keep your calendar as clear as possible during this time.

*Create an inbox for your mate. You swear you left it on the counter for him. He hasn't seen it. Avoid conflict by giving your spouse an inbox. Put the roofing estimate job in the box and place flowers on the counter.

*Meet with your spouse. Plans made in passing don't always register. Men are lousy at multitasking. Women get overwhelmed at home. Sit down and compare calendars. Start by scheduling date night.

*Consider birthday parties optional. The more kids you have, the more invitations you get. Pass on those that don't fit your schedule. But RSVP so the busy birthday parent can plan.

*Preserve free time. My favorite days with my girls are the unscheduled ones. Set aside time to just hang out together. It's as important as anything else you'll do.

(c) 2006 Jennifer Bingham Hull. Reprint rights granted as long as entire article is published, including resource box and its live links.

The Organized Parent: 8 Tips for Getting Your Growing Family's Act Together

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Time Management Skills for Growing Your Genius Ideas - 7 Essential Steps for Creative Productivity

Time management skills are your keys to productivity. They provide you with opportunities to enrich your life.

So do your best ideas. But can you call back your favorite thoughts and insights at the end of a hectic day? You can learn right now, with 7 time-wise tips, how to translate your inspiration into success.

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7 Essentials for Putting Your Genius Ideas into Action:

What do you find most rewarding? Possibilities may include: Ideas spurred by books and articles Plans to transform your workspace Creative collaborations Developing strategies to find more time Locating markets for your creations or services Gather and store your best thoughts. Invent systems to record your inspirations at the time they arise for easy retrieval. By establishing these routines, you create pathways for dynamic improvements in your life. You can use any of the following portable tools to capture your spontaneity in the moment: A pocket-sized notebook, a small digital recorder, text-messaging, or a camera. Choose the tool you enjoy using. Sort through your seed ideas and decide which to cultivate. Set aside time at the end of every day to review your collection of ideas and consolidate them in a special notebook or file. You are far more likely to assimilate new ideas if you repeat your exposure to them. For best results, review in a day, then a week later, then in a month. Invest your time now for greater gains later. Make the most of the ideas that surfaced today by letting your mind play with intriguing options and implications. Your time is your greatest gift. By scheduling regular times to review your ideas, you affirm how creativity enriches your life. Let these ideas take root. Have fun! Journal. Jot down strategies to implement exciting plans. Translate your ideas into manageable action steps on a special To-Do list. Nurture your ideas. Your best thoughts deserve special care. Experiment on a small scale in a low-risk setting. Ask a friend for honest feedback about your new ideas. Take time to incubate them in a welcoming and supportive environment. Deepen your confidence in your commitment to succeed. Monitor their growth. Test your ideas where you want them to thrive. For example, if you have developed a prototype, display it to discerning buyers. Invite open-ended feedback about its marketability and about current buying trends. Identify your successes. Assess how you can build on the choices that help you reach your goal.

Then reward yourself! Validating your progress reinforces your motivation. And brainstorming how to move forward builds confidence and vision. The more you take time to listen, really listen to yourself and follow up with constructive action, the more vitality and enthusiasm you will feel for your life.

Celebrate what makes you unique and powerful. When you use your creativity to enhance your life, you will develop even more incentive for developing your best ideas and making them a reality.

What additional areas of your life would benefit from learning time management skills?

Time Management Skills for Growing Your Genius Ideas - 7 Essential Steps for Creative Productivity

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The Growing Trend of Planning a Wedding Online

Congratulations on your pending nuptials! You have a ring, a date has been set, and all is right with the world. If you are just starting to plan out your wedding day, you know that there are many steps you must take on the way to organizing your big event. Sure, you could hire the services of a wedding planner to do much of the grinding legwork for you, but likely you will want to be involved in making most of the arrangements yourself with the assistance of your future spouse, of course. So, where should you start? Online, of course! Yes, there are many terrific benefits in planning a wedding online. Let's explore what they are and how you and your intended can harness the internet to your advantage.

Savvy couples have discovered that an important part of successfully planning a wedding online involves doing some research. Click on Google, enter certain search words such as "wedding DJ" or "wedding photographer" and numerous results will pop up. By searching within these same results you can further narrow down the list by entering in your city and state. The final Google produced list should be much more manageable to sort through.

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Those wedding vendors who really want your business will have attractive and easy to navigate web sites listed in the Google results for your perusal. Planning a wedding online has never been easier as you can review a photographer's portfolio; listen to sample music clips; watch video clips; tour reception sites; uncover valuable honeymoon information; and much more. Contact those vendors who strike your fancy and ask them for price information, availability, and references. Most will accept an email message from you or have an easy to fill out form on their site whereby you can receive additional information. Planning a wedding online can help you to reduce stress by allowing you to weed out vendors ahead of time: you contact them on your own terms to keep everything under your control.

Some couples use email as an important part of planning a wedding online. By sending out "hold that date" notices to invitees, guests can be notified well in advance of the wedding date and reserve that date on their calendars. Later, you can follow up with the formal invitations and, yes, you can order those online too!

Other benefits of planning a wedding online include:

Gift registries can be set up on the internet or at your local retail store and made available to your guests online no matter where they live. Guests will be able to review your list, select the item they want to give to you, order it online, and ship it directly to your home address.

Do you know which stores in your area sell bridal and gown outfits? If you aren't sure, there is plenty of information online to help you sort all of that out. Even tuxedo rentals can be ordered online, although an in person fitting is still recommended.

Additional online wedding planning can include finding party favors, buying disposable cameras, shopping for bridal gifts, and locating just about everything else related to the event. Some couples create separate web sites loaded with pictures, driving directions, menus, gift registry information, and more. If that sounds like too much work for you, there are sites that will allow you to set up your information with them. Simply enter "planning a wedding online" in your search parameters to get the best results.

Yes, planning a wedding online can be used to your advantage. The end result is time and money saved and stress avoided. Use the internet today to make planning a wedding online a reality for you and your intended.

The Growing Trend of Planning a Wedding Online

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How Black History Can Solve Growing Gang Problems

With pesky gang problems continuing to mushroom not only in major cities across the country, but seeping into small towns and communities also, what's the solution? Law enforcement? Education? Gang Prevention Programs?

Many of these attempts has at best helped to stifle gang growth and at worse fueled or covered up the cause, similar to placing a band-aid over a gunshot wound. But a growing number of African American activist, educators and even politicians are looking to Black history as another solution. Many African American educators including Dr. Ashwa Kwasi, lectures extensively to young African Americans on their history. Dr. Kwasi has also lectured in prisons across America to young gang members.

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"It's harder for a blue rag wearing gang member to shoot a red rag wearing gang member when they know their sacred history," says the Dr. Kwasi, who host tours each year to Africa and ancient Egypt.

Unfortunately, most African American young people consider their history as beginning with slavery and ending with the Martin Luther King" I Have A Dream" speech. Still most schools ignore most of the contributions African Americans have contributed to this country beyond Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks.

When gang members discover Greeks and Romans traveled to Timbuktu to obtain not only physical treasures, but mental intellectual treasures. For example, books, ideas for schools of learning, medical techniques and other sources for healing, their attitudes change.

Gang members have put down their guns, stop hating one another and took control of their lives in productive ways by knowing their history. The most hard core gang members have wept like babies when they discover what their ancestors accomplished, went through and suffered so they could live.

A major push is on to include more Black history in public schools to foster more tolerance and understanding. Despite a more tolerant White America when it comes to racial issues, most White youth consider African Americans biggest contribution to America as sports and entertainment. The average American including most Blacks have no idea the contributions Blacks have made to America. From George Washington Carver, Charles Drew and Booker T. Washington alone you could count hundreds of products used world-wide today.

Many people don't know other inventions we use daily without thinking came from the mind of Black men. For example, the stop light,(Garret Morgan) the refrigerator (John Standard), the lawn mower (John Burr) and a host of others. With the gang problem spreading like a fungus in damp weather, no solution should go without notice. Every answer should have a voice - and Black history is that voice.

How Black History Can Solve Growing Gang Problems

Grow Calendar 2011

Cell Phones and Our Growing Dependency

Cell phones have done a lot for us in this society. We have the ability to call anyone from virtually anywhere and at anytime. Over the past ten years, they have evolved in tremendous ways. They have gone from basically allowing us to make calls to organizing tasks, keeping track of our schedules, allowing us to check our emails and much more. Cell phones now come in all shapes, sizes, colors and are equipped with all sorts of capabilities. You can choose from BlackBerry's, Androids, I Phones, and so many more! Whether you purchase your phone for business or personal use, cell phones now have the capability to conference in for company calls, you can use it for social networking, and view important documents, even send online faxes! Wow! What a difference ten to twenty years can make! I personally love my Android phone. I use it for just about everything. I handle my business and personal matters via my cell phone. I am able to upload important documents in need of viewing, go to my social network sites, watch TV and use the GPS to get me to locations when I travel. Talk about a one stop shop! With all the advancements in technology, these phones can do just about anything. The only thing they don't do as of yet is cook my dinner, but I can go online with it for recipes and meal ideas.

As adults and even kids, we as a civilization have become very dependent on our cell phones. For many of us if we were to misplace or lose our phones, we would practically lose it. Our phones hold so much information and we rely on them for so many reasons that it would be difficult to be without it. For myself as a parent, I rely on my phone a lot to stay in touch with my kids to make sure they are ok when they are away from home. I love the tracking device as well, it allows me to make sure my kids go where they say they are going! Gotta love that feature! My kids text me constantly from just about anywhere they are and for just about any reason. We have to admit it, we have become incredibly dependent on our cell phones and with the growing capabilities that cell phones have, I can only see that dependency continuing to grow. Although, I must say it is nice to sometimes take a break from technology and learn to spend quality time together. We have to realize that nothing can or should ever take the place of face to face family or friend time.

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Cell Phones and Our Growing Dependency

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Dr Seuss - Growing Up, Reading Out Loud to Children and Running Amok

How many people don't have memories of Dr. Seuss while they were growing up? Most people (at least in the United States) have at least some exposure to his books, whether it was "To Think That I Saw It On Mulberry Street" to "The Lorax." It was part of curriculum or library time at most schools. Can you fill in the blank? One Fish, Two Fish, ___________. Yeah, I thought so.

"The Lorax" though has a special place in a lot of people's hearts. It was written in 1971, a time when a great majority of the people on the planet weren't especially concerned with the environment or dwindling natural resources or species going extinct, but there was Theodore Geisel trying to imprint this sort of stuff into the minds of children. But it wasn't just children, it was also adults that read this classic. I just bought a copy a couple years ago myself, as the copy I read to my children was falling apart.

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And the message is just as impactful today as it was when he wrote it. Maybe even more so. We hear about global warming, and whether you buy into the concept or not, you should wonder why Glacier National Park is almost out of glaciers. I mean, something has to be happening when we may have to consider changing the name of a park to reflect the new reality.

And the message towards the end of the book is applicable to anyone on either side of the climate change issue. (Or any issue really.) "Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not." It's a message of personal responsibility, which everyone needs to take to heart. I have always emphasized this message to my children and led by example in volunteering and donating money to causes that touched my heart and soul.

All that thanks for Theodore "Dr. Seuss" Geisel. His whimsical rhyming style and his nonsensical rhetoric made reading these books a pleasure and elicited squeals of delight from my children with their punderful wit. Thinking was a bonus.

Dr Seuss - Growing Up, Reading Out Loud to Children and Running Amok

Grow Calendar 2011

Tips on Growing Hair Quickly

Have you ever imagined what will happen if your hair growth rate differs from the others? Usually, hairs grow about ½ inch per month but other people's hair grows faster or the other way around, slower. The season also affects hair growth like during summer; it tends to grow faster compared during cold seasons. Other factors also affect growing hair quickly, like the shampoo and conditioner that you use, how you work on it, combing etc. and of course the overall condition of your hair. If you are concerned about growing your it quickly then try these tips.

• To promote circulation of the blood, which carries important nutrients your hair strands need, try massaging your scalp occasionally each day. You can do this while watching TV or in bed. When each strand is properly nourished, growing it quickly is easy.

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• If you have a hair that is brittle and breaks easily, try cutting off what they call dead ends or more often called split ends. The damage can go as far as the shaft and this can stop your hair from growing faster. It is also important to take extra careful when combing. When it is wet, it is vulnerable to breakage during this time. Use a wide-toothed comb to detangle the hair. Rub on a deep conditioner at least once a month to hydrate the follicles and protect them from damage.

• Go on a healthy diet. A healthy body also affects growing hair faster. You have to nourish your body properly in order to get the best nutrients that help hairs grow fast. Level-up your protein intake such as found in soya.

• Rather than every day, use a shampoo every other day. Because you remove the natural and essential oil your hairs produce during shampoo. You do not want to remove this important essence too often. Try using those shampoo recommended by the experts. Ask your friends which brand is the best and works for them.

• If you can stay away from chemical treatments then do. Bleaching, perming, coloring and chemically straightening hair are all abusive. These treatments damage and dry the hair and can slow down the growth. Talk to a salon professional on ways to repair your damaged hair.

• Take supplements like those rich in B vitamins. This can help growing hair quickly. Folic acid is also good but not too much because it can damage your health.

Tips on Growing Hair Quickly

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Reproductive Health Bill - Solution For Growing Population?

Reproductive Health Bill is national in scoop, comprehensive; right based adequate funding of population program. However, this bill had not been signed since the time of President Corazon Aquino and up to the present term of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo it was not approved. People from all walks of life have their own opinion about the bill, some are against it but there are those who supported it. Some says that the Catholic Church is behind the rejection of the bill. I thought that the Reproductive Health Bill could help many people especially those who lived in depressed areas who have many children. A woman who hasn't learned about family planning often gives birth, so the fatality encountered by the mother and baby is very high. A poor household consisting of nine or more persons would cause difficulty in managing their income. In addition, the present economic crises we are experiencing worsen their situation in life.

Using contraceptives are more effective compared to rhythmic method. For example, using calendar is not applicable at all time because if the woman has an irregular menstruation, it might affect the menstruation cycle. Using contraceptive like's pills; I.U.D. and condoms are safe tools to avoid unwanted pregnancy. The contraceptive injection is a good tool in avoiding unwanted pregnancy and it also prevent the risk of having cervical cancer.

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The church is against the Reproductive Health Bill because they said that it contradicts the teachings of God. I thought that was only applicable before when there were only few people living on Earth, but now it's not appropriate to follow that teaching. When I saw poverty around me, I felt sad especially when I saw children at a very young age working, instead of going to school. Some children are forced, to work to augment their family daily income.

Furthermore, I am with the side of the people who agree in the Reproductive Health Bill, because I think that it can help many people especially the poor and those who are ignorant about the proper family planning method usage. Seminars can be held frequently in rural community and far places. Sufficient fund can help in buying contraceptives to be given to those who are in need. Population control can be monitored closely due to sufficient fund. Promotion of breast feeding among mothers can also be encouraged. Abortion can be minimize and lessen from the knowledge gained about Reproductive Health Bill.

Reproductive Health Bill - Solution For Growing Population?

Grow Calendar 2011

Dead Zones in China Off the Coast of Major Cities Growing at a Rate of 20 Sq Miles Per Year

There is a huge dead zone off the coast of Beijing, an area where sea life cannot live, due to the abundance of pollution, and the fact that there is no oxygen in the water. Nothing can live there. This of course, is not uncommon to many coastal regions off the shores of large cities in the world, but one thing that is quite disconcerting is that China has dead zones, which are growing at a rate of 20-50 square miles per year. So, whereas their GDP is growing at 10% per year, it is the ocean that is paying the price.

More unfortunate is the fact that Chinese eat lots of rice and fish. If you take away the fish component and all they have to eat is rice. What will they do when they have a couple of drought years? After all, there are 1.3 billion (stated) Chinese in China, some say that number is off by 400 million. Nevertheless, whether there is 1.3 billion or 1.7 billion is there irrelevant because the reality is China cannot feed her people with huge dead zones off the coasts.

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There are now three very large dead zones off the coast of China and it is getting worse each year. Every year, China promises to do something about its environmental challenges, but as of just recently they haven't done anything. Most of what they have done is only for public relations purposes. In fact, China has fined and close down factories with American investment claiming that they were polluting the environment, when in reality they allow the 100% Chinese owned companies to get off the hook with a small fine.

In essence, they are using environmental laws to destroy their competition, without clean up their environment. In one instance the authorities in Beijing told the hotels that handle Westerners and tourists that come into China that they would no longer supply toilet paper, because it clogs up their sewer treatment plants. As soon as the tourists started complaining, they revised the rule and said they were just trying to do what was asked of them.

Perhaps, you can see a repeat pattern here and it seems to go along with everything that the Chinese do. For instance, the poisonous toothpaste, baby food, dog food, and the lead paint in the toys, and the chemicals in the drywall they sold US homebuilders during this last housing boom. These are serious issues, and the Chinese are just laughing at us here in the United States, as they continue to destroy the environment, refuse to float their currency, and continue raking in the dollars with a huge trade deficit to the US that is now hurting our economy.

Some folks that have looked into this problem believe the WTO should make a firm statement, but indeed they already have, and no real action yet in China. Should the United States citizens boycott all Chinese goods, that would wake them up, but no one really wants that. The citizens of the United States can and will enforce what is right and wrong in the world, even if China refuses to; well, if it ever comes down to that.

If China really wants to be the next superpower, they are going to have to think about these issues because they are real. Not long ago, I mentioned this to Guang Wu, the author of a new book; "China: Has the Last Opportunity Passed by!?" and he explained how much China was doing environmentally, and that there was more to this issue. Please consider all this, because we wouldn't let this happen with any of our other trading partners.

Dead Zones in China Off the Coast of Major Cities Growing at a Rate of 20 Sq Miles Per Year

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The Growing Movement of Caesarean Section

Choosing c-section over vaginal childbirth is a trend started by celebrities and a growing debate. Should a woman be able to choose how and when she wants to give birth? The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality reported a jump to nearly 1 in 3 women having babies delivered by Caesarean in 2005.

The controversy with celebrities isn't necessarily choosing c-section or vaginal birth. It is choosing an early c-section. It is said that many celebrities have opted in to give birth up to 4 weeks early to avoid abdominal stretching. Accused stars include Victoria Bechham, Elizabeth Hurley and Madonna, all of which deny the accusations. Tabloids have nicknamed the movement "Too Posh to Push," after former Spice Girl Beckham.

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Under no circumstances should a woman give birth prior to 38 weeks without a medical reason. You put your child at risk and unnecessarily. When you make the decision to have a child you should understand the sacrifice. If you are not willing, then don't have children. After 38 weeks, women are usually all clear for delivery of their baby whether the elect c-section or vaginal.

This is called a debate because there are two sides to the story.

Caesarean Delivery - In spite of the controversy, many doctors say C-sections, often perceived as a last-resort, may be preferable to vaginal delivery.

"If you want to look at what is the absolute safest way to give birth, C-section without labor on an elective schedule basis avoids all possible issues," said Scott Serden, clinical chief of obstetrics and gynecology at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles, where many celebrities, including Madonna, have given birth.

"More women are choosing not to go through the labor process, to avoid issues with vaginal delivery and the possible long process of labor induction," he said.

Vaginal birth has its own problems, including a possible but unproven higher risk of incontinence from vaginal tears or use of forceps. They say fully informed women should be able to choose.

Caesareans can be life- or health-saving for many mothers and babies. Fetal distress, breech babies, twins or more, or diseases that make labor risky for the mother can all be important reasons to have one.

Vaginal Delivery - C-sections are not without risks. Although safer today than ever before, still carries risk to the mother include infection, increased blood loss, respiratory complications and a longer hospital stay and recovery time. Risks to the baby include premature birth, breathing problems and fetal injury. C-section also brings risk to any future pregnancies.

Doctor Christilaw says in most cases, an elective C-section is irresponsible. "We do have a responsibility to our patients to try to give the care that presents them with the lowest possible risk. In most cases, that will be vaginal delivery."

For women concerned with sexy stomachs, old-fashioned pushing avoids scarring.

So what should women consider?

o You and your baby's health come first.

o Labor pain can be controlled.

o Think seriously about future children. One C-section may doom you for life to have repetitive C-sections.

o Choose a doctor wisely. He will know what is best for you.

The Growing Movement of Caesarean Section

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Rooftop Installation in Commercial Buildings to Meet Growing Demand of Electricity

Talking about green energy, solar power in commercial buildings is a much discussed and debated subject these days. Off-Grid system or rooftop solar panel installation in various commercial building can definitely serve the purpose of growing demand of electricity. By using solar panels, a rooftop battery can convert chemical energy into electrical energy for supplying uninterrupted power to a commercial building or site.

The good news is that most of the energy-starved nations across the world will soon be using the power of the sun to meet their energy requirements. Nature has bestowed us with abundance of sunlight to power up our homes and offices, so necessary steps in this direction can certainly help everyone to face and avert this energy crisis. Another reason to be happy is that the developed nations like US have offered to help developing or underdeveloped countries to explore solar power to bridge the growing demand-supply gap. Tropical countries that enjoys bright sunshine almost all year round can benefit a lot through solar energy, be it for domestic, public, or commercial purposes. Thus, in short we can say that we are moving in the right direction in harnessing renewable resources.

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Installing Solar Roof Panels

Imagine your small factory with rooftop solar panels producing dependable solar energy for both your factory and your house. Installing a solar system is not rocket science and the best part is that you don't have to hire scientists for a simple roof job. A technician with basic knowledge of solar power products can get it installed for you and the cost is no longer a bottleneck. Solar technology is quite user-friendly and installing solar products like solar PV charge controllers and off-grid inverters is no more cumbersome and expensive.

Solar panels look just as normal rooftop tiles and in fact they can look better if they are well fitted. Easy handling and installation make them quite feasible, and they just occupy about 25% of the roof area. These panels can generate about 860 kilowatt hours per 100 square feet per annum in an area with about 6 peak sun hours per day.

The photovoltaic panels installed on the roof tops are used to generate electricity. They are best suited for smaller homes or small commercial facilities. The roof is the ideal place to install these panels so that they can catch more direct sunlight than other locations. The energy absorbed by the solar roof panels are stored in batteries, to power household appliances or provide electricity. There were times when these solar roof panels were mainly used in remote or locations far away from the local power grid. However, today with rising energy costs and a increasing environmental awareness, people across nations who have access to traditional electricity sources are also turning to solar energy. Nature always offers the best!

Rooftop Installation in Commercial Buildings to Meet Growing Demand of Electricity

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Growing Your Business - Five Key Things to Make You Successful

Has growing your business ever been one of your New Year's "resolutions"? Have you then -- like the rest of us - realized, at some point later, that the year is quickly disappearing in a haze of last minute crises and customer problems and that you haven't started working on your resolutions yet? So make this year different, take 2 minutes to look at these 5 keys to growing your business successfully and take the first step toward turning your intentions into actions.

First, be clear about what you want to achieve. You want to grow - but what? Sales - for sure, but don't go after increased sales any cost. Focus on the profitability of each deal and aggressively pursue only those which will grow your bottom line. How do you do that? Ask yourself what has made you successful up to now - why do your customers buy from you not your competitors? Focus on how you make money - the things that make you unique. Also take a look at the characteristics of your profitable customers, what do they look like, what things do they have in common? Avoid the temptation to cut prices or offer special discounts to get the "first" order. It becomes very difficult to the raise prices to normal levels.

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Second, find a way to handle the routine - but essential - work that takes place daily, so that you can focus on growing your business. "Routine" work -- for example receiving, invoicing, "set up" of machines -- can be written up as a process so that each step is clear and can be followed exactly. You can also measure the length of time to complete these jobs and the number of mistakes made and come up with averages or standards for measuring performance levels. Use the same idea to delegate. Tell your supervisors and managers what decisions they can make on their own - for example what they can do to solve customer complaints - without coming back to you and put it in writing. To make sure you don't lose control, make a note of the areas of your business which you know will get you into trouble quickly if they're not watched closely - for example cash in the Bank, order backlog, machine utilization or order fill rates. Then have someone bring you (as opposed to you going to get it) a summary of the actual numbers regularly - daily or weekly as appropriate. Make everyone aware of what you consider to be acceptable performance in these areas and share the results with them. If they have to be improved, tell them why - then ask them how to make the improvements and, if it sounds logical, let them get on with it.

And what if your people aren't capable of doing that? Third, hire or train people who can. Look for the people already in your company who you know not only have the skills and experience to do their job but who also share your values and standards - they'll do things to the performance levels you want. And let them deal with stuff that requires a quick reaction but which doesn't directly impact what you're doing to increase sales and profits. Remember, it doesn't matter how a job is done, all that matters is how well it's done. When you next have to hire start by making a list of the people you've met who could do the job and approach them. If you have to recruit, don't take the best of the bunch you see, use temporary help until you find what you want.

Fourth, keep "score" regularly. Imagine what would happen if an NBA, NHL or NFL team only saw the results of each game when it was over. The coaches and managers would have no opportunity to adjust their game plan for what had actually taken place in each period. Growing your business is no different. Take a half day just after the results for each quarter become available to compare what has happened against the increase in sales and profits you wanted to achieve and the goals you set for yourself and your staff. Then make the necessary adjustments. Have each of your sales reps. forecast their sales for the next month - and then go back and discuss what actually happened and, if necessary ask them what has to be done to improve. Have your warehouse and manufacturing teams forecast performance levels in their areas and do the same follow up. If they don't know how to do this, bring in someone to train them.

Fifth and final point, I was talking to someone recently who has grown his business from zero to almost million in sales in just 5 years. Guess what he told me? It's his view that anyone could have seen the opportunity he saw (he actually thought about it for 2 years before forming the company) and anyone could have developed the products. The major reason for his success he believes lay in the fact that he executed and executed well. One of the keys to successful execution is to develop an Action Plan which has SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Recorded - or written - and Time related). Another is to find people who have experience growing companies and either use them as advisors or form an Advisory Board. Pay them if you have to, it's an investment, not a cost.

Anyone can make a resolution or intend to get something done, but not everyone can transform it into reality. To grow your business successfully don't sacrifice profits for increased sales; turn routine tasks into processes, set performance levels for them and delegate without losing control; hire people who have the skills and values you need; check the score and adjust your game plan and execute by turning intentions into actions.

© Copyright ProfitPATH, a division of JDS & Associates Inc., 2006

Growing Your Business - Five Key Things to Make You Successful

Grow Calendar 2011

Hydroponics Growing - Beyond Theory

One of the great myths about hydroponics growing is the perception that it is so complicated that only expert gardeners should attempt the process. It is unfortunate that this myth has been propagated over the years because it could not be farther from the truth. Hydroponics growing is so easy that anyone with enough ambition to learn the techniques can easily do so with a minimum investment of effort.

It is important to note that it does take some effort to begin hydroponics growing; but it doesn't take a whole lot of skill, just ambition. You do not have to be a master gardener to successfully grow fruits and vegetables by hydroponic methods; in fact if you are not a great gardener that you may be relieved to know that a well set up a hydroponic garden is practically foolproof and you actually have to try really hard to kill your plants.

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The best way for the uninitiated to get started with hydroponic growing is to embrace as much information as possible about the field and then get their hands dirty and start planting for themselves. This is a pretty important point; if you want to learn about hydroponics you need to actually start growing things hydroponically. Homemade Hydroponics offers a fantastic online course that teaches the basic and advanced techniques necessary to successfully grow hydroponically as well as get you started with creating your own hydroponic setups so you can grow your own food, and experiment with new techniques. It definitely is not a theory based course, this is a full hands-on, get yourself dirty technique to getting people up and running with their very own hydroponic gardens. This is literally the ideal way to get started with what can be an extremely rewarding, and potentially delicious, hobby.

Hydroponics Growing - Beyond Theory

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