The Charm of Pigeon Forge Chalets

A chalet is a traditional Swiss style house with a sloped roof and wide eaves. Chalets originated in Switzerland and regions near the Alps. Chalet style dwellings spread to the United Kingdom and other European countries in the early to mid twentieth century and chalets are now common in American ski resorts and other vacation destinations.

Many beautiful and unique chalets are available for Pigeon Forge lodging. Chalets come in many sizes, from one bedroom to over seven bedrooms. Pigeon Forge chalets are a unique alternative to more typical cabin lodgings. Chalets offer the same amenities and benefits as cabins, but have a certain unique European charm.

Many Pigeon Forge chalets include decks with mountain views and outdoor hot tubs. Chalets with these amenities are perfect for honeymooners or other romantic getaways. Most Pigeon Forge lodging is located minutes away from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, providing access to many exciting and romantic activities like hiking, sightseeing, and gift shopping.

Since Pigeon Forge is a small town, even secluded chalets for honeymooners are not too far from the theme parks, restaurants, and outlet malls that make Pigeon Forge famous.

Pigeon Forge chalets are available that can accommodate large groups and families. Chalets with game tables and cable TV and other amenities can be perfect for large families with lots of children.

There are literally hundreds of different models of chalets available for rent in Pigeon Forge. Many rental agencies offer their rates and virtual tours of their chalets online. Chalets can accommodate visitors with any kind of need in Pigeon Forge.

Pigeon Forge Cabins Info provides detailed information on Pigeon Forge cabin rentals, chalets, hotels, motels, campgrounds, vacation packages, attractions, restaurants, real estate, and more. Pigeon Forge Cabins Info is the sister site of Gatlinburg Cabins Web.

Thinking Out Loud (Questions) Part one of a two part Series

(Channeled)

Roy-when does the end of physical life come? Is it when the body finally breaks down, or when the soul decides to abandon it? What happens to the ego that has lived a life of non-fulfilment? When is it over for this soul? Does the feeling of non-fulfilment come from not being aware or not being in touch with the soul's purpose? If no life is wasted, why is it that some lives seem that way?

If I can list the positive things in my life and still feel unfulfilled, have I wasted my life? Is it because those positive things where not in harmony with what the soul desired to experience? Is it possible to come to this world and not experience what a soul intended? Are these life forms dysfunctional? How can we live fifty to ninety years and do many wonderful things and not feel anything? Should an observer feel something even if his/her purpose was to simply watch?

Why is it that people have accomplished many great things using their natural talents and gifts, to be left empty when it is finished? Is it because the lives of these people are focused in the now, in doing the creating? Once their life's projects are completed, have they lost their purpose? Have they found where life is? in the moment of creation? Is their fulfilment experienced only in the act of creation? Is this why some life's projects never get finished, because the focus is never on the finishing? When interest is lost these people move onto another creation, always in the process, but never finishing it. Does an unfinished life's project offer future involvement, another opportunity for them? Can satisfaction be found in an unfinished life's project?

Is joy or fulfilment found in starting life's projects that others can finish? Is it the purpose of these souls to create motion so that others can be motivated to finish? To start life and then observe how it proceeds? Does the dissatisfaction come from no one finishing what he/she started? Do all of life's projects have to be finished or has the creator taken the life's project as far as it will go because of limitations a soul may have? Are the points at which life's projects are stopped, symbols or points along the way that say, I can't go any further, or are they saying, it's another turn here? Would this personality have a verity of diversified life's projects and interests?

Is the whole exercise a way of looking for one's truth, for one's purpose, and when it is not found in the life's project is it abandoned? Is this personality doomed to a lifetime of looking? Are seekers ever satisfied, ever fulfilled? Is it because the soul forgets its purpose or because it got off at the wrong place or lifetime? Is it because it has changed its purpose and wants to return to the oneness, or is it simply lost? Are these souls here trying to make the best of a unintended situation?

Roy E. Klienwachter is a resident of British Columbia, Canada. A student of NLP, ordained minister, New Age Light Worker and Teacher. Roy has written and published five books on New Age wisdom. Roy's books are thought provoking and designed to empower you to take responsibility for your life and what you create. His books and articles are written in the simplicity and eloquence of Zen wisdom.

You may not always agree with what he has to say. You will always come away with a new perspective and your thinking will never be the same.

Roy's style is honest and comes straight from the heart without all the metaphorical mumble jumble and BS.

Visit Roy at: http://www.klienwachter.com

Incentive Dilemma:

Manufacturers and distributors are rolling out more sales incentive programs for their channel partners than ever before.

Some of these programs are not as successful as they could be, however, because they fail to appreciate fully what motivates salespeople and drives them to overachieve. Read on to learn six key concepts that can make your incentive programs more effective.

The dangling of the proverbial carrot is an ancient art that is commonly understood to be at the heart of human behavior, psychology, motivation, and, in particular, business. Manufacturers and distributors commonly use this technique with their channel partners in an effort to add unique motivational value to move specific products or services. The reason this technique has stood the test of time is because, for the most part, it works! At times, however, elements of the technique are executed improperly. Sales incentive programs under perform or fail as a result.

The monetary values of incentives are often not the critical factor in motivating sales people to succeed. Take my own example. I was fortunate to work in an industry that provided an unending supply of incentives and awards for overachievement. I knew that, if I won every trip, every TV, every incentive offered, the money would come with it! For me, the money and the goodies were not my primary motivation. My philosophy was simple; "If you win all the incentives there are to win, you couldn't help but be at or near the top every time." Corporations use incentive programs to drive behavior and I agreed to play the game and conform to their wishes; what gets rewarded, gets done.

The problem, from the vendors' point of view, is that not all salespeople are motivated the same way. Consequently, not all incentive programs work. Why is that? From my experience, I'll make the following observations:

1) The 80-20 Rule: Twenty percent of the salespeople make eighty percent of the sales and profits. Too often, sales incentives ? perhaps in an effort to be fair ? are geared to the entire sales force or VAR channel. The risk in a program like this is that the glove that fits everyone, in the end, fits no one. Enlightened marketing strategists know that the top twenty percent are already motivated. Simply put, a strategy that's geared to light a fire under the next twenty percent ? the next logical group ? doubles the business in a more cost efficient manner.

2) The KISS Theory: Salespeople by nature are like electricity. They naturally take the path of least resistance. That's not to say they are lazy or untoward. In fact, it's just the opposite. Good salespeople look to simplicity to make things happen.

Often, incentive programs fail miserably because of innate complexities either in their recording and reporting systems or in how rewards are won. If you put the salesperson in a position where they are forced to assess "To get this, I first have to sell this, plus these and not these and they must include these," you are creating a recipe for confusion, sales frustration and failure. In the end, the incentive program becomes a disincentive!

The remedy? Manufacturers must keep the program sweet and simple and attainable. There can be no ambiguity. Anything less will result in a lack of interest, as well as a waste of time and money that can sometimes spill over into other departments whose task it is to administer and account.

3) Education: Edison may have invented the light bulb, but it never went anywhere until a salesman understood its benefits and made the first sale? and probably sold a lamp to go with it!

Incentive programs don't just sell themselves. Too often, expensive motivational programs are overlooked in the field because reps either don't understand their value and/or are unsure how to sell them. Many times, good programs are written off as having missed the target, when in reality, they just weren't rolled out and managed properly.

4) Competition: Everyone's heard the expression, "Timing is Everything!" This is particularly important sage advice for the successful incentive program planner. Marketing execs can't know when every competitive incentive program will rear its aggressive head, but they can take strides to ensure their program is given first look.

Any successful salesperson will tell you, "Most sales are made as a result of due diligence on the front end." Simply put, the better the preparation, the more likely the sale. The same can be said for incentive initiatives. Real incentive programs, like new movie releases, are something to be anticipated. The right amount of promotion ensures greater acceptance and interest that often usurps focus on competing programs.

5) Reward: Any reward-value can become an unmotivated anticlimactic activity if the time span between winning and getting, is too long. Successful incentive programs reward immediately! As a rule, the faster the reward is delivered, the greater the enthusiasm for the program.

Although on some levels, salespeople are a complex breed, when it comes to incentives, they are ? for the most part ? quite predictable. Their nature is to react to excitement or challenge faster then most, and then move on. One way to maximize their natural bent and ensure greater program success is simply to cater to their natural motivators. "Get them their stuff QUICKLY!"

6) Recognition: At the risk of making salespeople appear shallow or monolithic (they are not), recognition amongst their peers is still the quintessential motivator, whether there's an incentive program or not.

The rule again, is, there is no such thing as TOO much recognition! Salespeople by nature gravitate to the limelight much like other performers, and so there should be no shortage of achievement and overachievement recognitions that find their way ? in a timely manner ? to the public's eye.

Psychological studies have shown that the pursuit of recognition, in and of itself, can make the difference in targeting that critical second twenty percent on the sales achievement ladder. Experts agree that successful sales teams find motivation in their own champions. Beatifying the sales leaders instills excitement and a definable hierarchy that beckons all players to become a part.

Another fact that is frequently overlooked is that recognition, whether part of an incentive or not, is the least expensive means of motivation. In many cases, it's free! Often, shaking the hand of the president in front of the company is all it takes to galvanize the need to overachieve.

The Bottom Line: Manufacturers and Distributors must take greater care when designing motivational incentive programs. Take a page out of the "Sales 101" book that says, "Find out what they want, then, give it to them!" But make sure to keep it simple, keep it clear, promote it properly, reward immediately, don't try to target everybody, and, recognize, recognize? RECOGNIZE!

About The Author

Paul Shearstone aka The 'Pragmatic Persuasionist' is one of North America's foremost experts on Sales and Persuasion. An International Keynote Speaker, Author, Writer, Motivation, Corporate Ethics, / Time & Stress Management Specialist, Paul enlightens and challenges audiences as he informs, motivates and entertains. To comment on this article or to book the Pragmatic Persuasionist for your next successful event we invite to contact Paul Shearstone directly @ 416-728-5556 or 1-866-855-4590 www.success150.com; paul@success150.com

How to Get Some of Paris Hilton?s TV Time

When your book is mentioned on television, sales go up. Immediately people start looking in book stores and on the internet to find out how to buy it. The more people hear about it, the more they want the book. When several shows are talking about the book, it become a best seller. Look at the success of Oprah's Book club, The Today Show's Book Clubs and all the other shows that feature a writer and their book. Sometimes the writer is interviewed but sometimes the writer doesn't even have to be on the show in order to sell books. It made Mark Victor Hansen, the Chicken Soup book author multi- millions. They have published over 85 books.

But how do you get your book on TV if you do not have a large budget for a PR company? Who can you call to get that first break? How can you get a tape of a good interview so other producers will take a chance and book you? How do you show you are a good guest even though you are new? It takes a lot more than an simple email or phone call saying that you have a book and would be the PERFECT guest.

First- Look at your book and then look at the current news headlines. Is there anything in your book that can relate to the current news? If so, you have a reason to call TV shows and pitch getting on the show. If you are current with the news, you have an excellent chance of getting on. People are already talking about your topic. You can work your way in and then talk about the rest of your book

Second- Make a list of the show you would like to be on. Make sure they are shows that would want to have you. Don't try to get on a cooking show if you are talking about cars. The Shows have to want to talk to you about your subject. Your subject matter should be on target with what the show is about. Look at TV shows, and shows on the web. Watch them and actually see what kinds of books and topics they talk about. Watch the style used.

Third- prepare your pitch. This is where you write out what you want to say when you speak to a producer or leave a message over the phone. Plan what you are going to say. You only have a few seconds to get their attention. Sound solid in your voice and on target. Tell them WHY their viewers will want to see you , don't just say you will be a good guest and they need you on the show. Tell them what is special and unique. Let them know if you give away books or any items when you appear. Leave your phone number 2 times for clarity. Make a list of who you called and what show they were with. Wait and wait for a call back. You can do a follow up call but wait a few weeks.

Copyright 2005

Dr. Wright is the host of The Wright Place? TV Show, a talk show for women entrepreneurs that can be seen in 5 million homes in Southern California and on the Internet. Subscribe to the Newsletter and Get Your Free Report: 19 Secrets to Advertising the Cable Company Doesn't Want You to Know at http://tinyurl.com/6uqqt

Childrens Allowance

When we consider that the word allowance means, "allowing for," it puts that "A" word into better perspective.

Children will need access to their own stash of cash when they reach a certain age. Kids develop this need around age 8 or 9 and it grows into the monster it will become by about age 15 or 16 ... they do get more expensive with age, don't they?

At age 8, we began giving our older daughter money for each A on her report card and for each 100% on tests. We receive flack from other parents about it to this day. Mainly, their argument is that children should do well in school because they "want to." Is this the same as "just because?" Sounds like it to me. I think parents are afraid to reward their kids for good grades simply because they feel this will set a bad example. But a bad example for what? That if they work hard and do well, they will get rewards? Isn't that precisely how the world works? We still think it's a good idea, even 4 years later.

This same daughter gets an allowance plus her good grade money. She can spend her "own" money on whatever trips her wire. She has learned not to squander everything on one momentarily gratifying purchase, she's a whiz at making sure she's given the correct amount of change and her shopping savvy is positively inspiring. She also must put ten percent of her money in the bank. It's an amount not likely to be missed, but teaches her the benefits of "paying yourself first." She's amassed quite the savings account!

My younger daughter is in first grade and beginning to demand her share of the booty. She now gets money for perfect test scores and for a "good" report card. She receives a lot less than her sister but she's 5 years younger and hasn't learned to tell the difference ... yet. She also gets a small allowance. She knows how much she has to spend and is learning the rituals of managing her own money, too.

While some children don't really care about going to the mall or buying their own special treats, most kids do care ... an awful lot. Children will begin craving all sorts of pricey, impractical things by a certain age. A good alternative to spending a fortune catering to their whims is teaching them to save for frivolous luxuries. If they want something impractical that we can't rationalize buying for them, they're on their own.

A potential problem I see occurring when children don't have their own money is a possible desire to steal, be it from their parent's wallet or something cool they feel they have to have from a store. Without the ability to "earn" or make the money fairly, they might feel the only way to attain something they want is to take it. Naturally, we teach our children that stealing is wrong but when kids, or adults for that matter, feel helpless they tend to take morality into their own hands. Besides, kids need to learn fiscal responsibility. I think the earlier we allow them to experience the rewards and triumphs of good spending habits, the better judges of value they will become.

One controversy is paying children for doing chores. This is a tough call. I have just begun implementing mandatory chores in our home. Considering it's never been one of my better parenting abilities, I'm still struggling through the details. I have been known to threaten their allowance if they don't do their chores but it doesn't really work the way I want it to. My older daughter decides if it's "worth" it at that point and that's not the point at all, is it? So, I'm backtracking on this one and being firmer about chores just getting done and trying not to threaten their livelihood.

I think allowance is a great teaching tool when given in the spirit of generosity and practicality. It's never too early to learn or teach responsibility and when we consider that allowance is a good math lesson, we've just added to our children's knowledge base considerably.

Copyright 2002 ? 2005 - Rexanne Mancini

Rexanne Mancini is the mother of two daughters, Justice and Liberty. She is a novelist, freelance writer and maintains an extensive yet informal parenting and family web site, Rexanne.com ? http://www.rexanne.com -Visit her site for good advice, award-winning Internet holiday pages and some humor to help you cope. Subscribe to her free newsletter, Rexanne's Web Review, for a monthly dose of Rexanne: http://www.rexanne.com/rwr-archives.html

Camera Cell Digital Phone

Camera cell digital phone - description.

Camera cell digital phone is a cellular phone that uses digital technology (as opposite to analog) and has a camera attached to or installed in the phone. Camera cell digital phone is the item that is offered for sale by the majority of the cellular companies (like Nokia, Samsung, Motorola, Sanyo, etc.). This phone can be used when you sign up for service with one of the cellular service provides which include but are not limited to AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, and many more.

Camera cell digital phone - the digital technology.

Currently in the US market cellular phones use either analog service or digital service. Most new cellular phones use digital technology, for example the camera cell digital phone that is produced by many cell phone companies. Currently three digital wireless technologies are used in the USA: TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access), CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access), and GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications).

Camera cell digital phone - the camera.

When you are looking for a camera cell digital phone, make sure to check all the features of both the digital cellular phone and the camera. The camera should be of excellent quality. Great features include the ability to store the pictures as wallpaper and the ability to send or email you pictures to somebody's phone or email. You should also be able to store large number of pictures.

Camera cell digital phone - examples.

An example of the types of cellular phones that are usually called "camera cell digital phone" are great phones like SPH-a600 digital camera cell phone by Samsung, SCP-5300 phone by Sanyo, VX6000 phone by LG, and T720i Phone by Motorola. And these examples are just a few from the list of all camera cell digital phones available to the public.

Visit http://www.camera-cell-phones-2u.com

Bad Credit Wedding Loans in Case You want to Race Towards the Altar with Bad Credit

So you are engaged. Congratulations. It was not easy. What? Getting engaged? No, finding the right person. But it is just the beginning. There is still a wedding to plan. Do you know how much you have to plan? Perhaps you have some idea but you will know the reality only when you actually start planning your wedding. Caterers, ceremony, cakes, car, invitation, music, photography, tuxedos, wedding gown, jewellery, hair, gifts, decoration??.is the list over? Not yet, not even near over. However, one thing you still forgot to take into account. You don't have ample money. And on the top of it you have BAD CREDIT.

That doesn't sound too good especially when Are trying to get a loan. But bad credit loan for wedding. You haven't given it a thought. Or perhaps your thoughts have stopped in the middle because of bad credit. Bad credit wedding loans are as realistic as your wedding plans.

If you have made your wedding plans then perhaps you know how much you have to spend. According to a study the national average of wedding costs about ?22,000. Most of the couples are geared to pay for their own wedding. An April 2004 survey shows 75% of people paying for their own wedding. Bad credit wedding loans are the answer if you belong to these 75%. Bad credit wedding loans can help you explore every wedding fantasy in case money is short.

Bad credit wedding loans usually have only one major negative vibration. High interest rates. Every kind of bad credit loans, including wedding loans, implicates higher interest rates. So be prepared for that with bad credit wedding loans. Bad credit wedding loan can be either secured or an unsecured.

A secured bad credit wedding loan is more compatible with respect to loan lenders requirements. This bad credit wedding loan provides warranty for your loan claim. The warranty on secured bad credit wedding loans is in the form of your property, your home or any other valuables. Therefore, your property is in peril of being lost if you make a non repayment mistake your bad credit wedding loan.

Traditionally unsecured loans have higher rate of interests as compared to secured loans. Unsecured wedding loans with bad credit thus come with an added disadvantage of increased interest rates. Missing loan repayment, divorce, redundancy, or any other unexpected event can lead to your being blacklisted. Yet loan lenders have grown flexible with respect to bad credit and are furthering bad credit wedding loans.

Some unforeseen circumstances can lead to bad credit. Bad credit can pounce upon you unexpectedly. Perhaps you are too young or perhaps you did not have any credit before. Usually people with prior history of CCJs, arrears, closure, charge offs are considered for bad credit wedding loans.

You can easily borrow the required for your wedding with bad credit wedding loans. With loan borrowing a very crucial thing is planning. First of all make the budget of how much you require. If you know how much you require you would perhaps be able to make a better claim for your bad credit wedding loans. Taking a bad credit wedding loan that is beyond your limits is a sure way to remain a bad credit contender.

There are loan lenders who specialize in bad credit. If a regular loan lender is apprehensive about your bad credit status then switch to loan lenders who provide loans for bad credit. They have specialized products for bad credit wedding loans and would suit your financial status. Every loan lender has different eligibility criteria. So you might not find your bad credit wedding loan at every loan lender.

Your bad credit wedding loans come with the option of fixed or variable rate. Fixed rate on bad credit wedding loan implies a fixed monthly payment for the loan repayment. Bad credit wedding loans with fixed rate are ideal if you like making financial plans beforehand. Bad credit wedding loans with variable rate implies the freedom of making monthly payments based on your income. With the online facilities, you can ask for more than one lender to give you a loan quote depending on your requirements. Try to make your bad credit wedding loans both a mode of finance and a way to re-establish your credit history. Make your wedding an opportunity for a great and positive start financially with bad credit wedding loans.

Bad credit is like an ongoing battle. You have to fight your way up when you have bad credit. Bad credit wedding loans has created an alternative source of financial funding for those who endure due to bad credit. This time when you have finally made up your mind don't let bad credit slow down your way to the altar.

Amanda Thompson holds a Bachelor's degree in Commerce from CPIT and has completed her master's in Business Administration from IGNOU. She is as cautious about her finances as any person reading this is. She is working as financial consultant for chanceforloans .To find a Personal loans,bad credit loans,Debt consolidation,home equity loans at cheap rates that best suits your needs visit http://www.chanceforloans.co.uk

Anam Cara - Losing your Religion

I am sitting before a window of morning light "losing my religion."

I feel fine about this. I was not aware that I had a religion. All the better then that I am losing it. I have a deep love for religious teachings. I love the words from the Bible, The Upanishads, The Bhagavad-Gita, the Dhammapada and many other beautiful books of love. All these words are useful. They are like the support wheels on a child's bike. They help. They give confidence. They give re-assurance. They call. They lift the heart. They help us embrace the invisible.

Only to "be religious" you have to let go of all words.

You have to lose "your religion" so that you become "religious." You have to take the risk that without the support you will find balance. Letting go into the heart with trust and faith you will find you can support yourself. Rather than be a "religious person" you become a being of light. You drop belief in order to "be life."

Many of us who profess faith fear loosing it. We fear that one day "our faith" will no longer be there. This is because it is "our faith." We are the ones who cling to it for "dear life." Ask us to give up the support of the wheels on each side of our life and we fear we will fall into and abyss. We might even end up in hell.

When you let go into real faith and trust you fall into balance. You can flow with life. It is already holding you up. You cannot fall out of life no matter how hard you try. With "your faith" you are like a fish in the ocean looking for water. You hold on to the extent that you miss. Many of us who are "religious people" do our religion. We do the practice. We engage with the ritual. We belong to a group. The more people we have in our group the more it seems that the truth of what we "believe in" is manifested. Assuredness in "our faith" becomes a numbers game.

Losing "your religion" is a requirement of the seeker.

This is the one who wishes to know the full experience of love and life eternal. Your religion will eventually have to go. Everything has to go. In the end the very idea of God has to go. In this letting go of all that you think you are "love is." The Beloved is seen and you return to your original face. You and the dance of life are one.

Does the mean we do away with all the Churches, Temples, Mosques and other places of worship. These places are not the issue. It is the attachment to such places and their teachings that are the issue. The teachings are needed. They help take you beyond. Only rather than liberate they themselves often become the prison. We get attached to our "religious" label and then anything can be and is justified in the "name of God."

Losing your religion is a great cause for celebration.

You become an individual. For one moment you are free. You only need one moment. The experience of the Divine opens up to the unidentified heart. The surrendered heart is waiting in the moment to be fulfilled. It is filled with the experience of love eternal. There is only the experience and nothing but the experience. There is no ego getting in the way to step between you and the dance. For one moment you are life and not someone having a life experience.

For one moment you relax into being life.

You are not Tony Cuckson (to use myself as an example) having an experience of life. You are life itself. You are life experiencing the joy of living. Life is only moment-to-moment and you know that life is love. There is no problem. Tony Cuckson is the problem. Our identification with ego is the problem.

To lose your religion you need strong ego boundaries.

You need to be able to stand-alone. You need to be able to be comfortable in your physical, emotional, mental and spiritual bodies. You need integrity. You need to be one body. You flow toward discovery that you are integral. Then at one time you are integral. You are certain. Certainty comes. This is not something that is cerebral. It is total. It is whole. It makes you whole and holy.

This is the religious experience.

The religious experience is not dogma. It is not fixed for eternity. It is forever in flow. Dogma is the stagnant pool that too many drink from and espouse as being "the water of life." They live far from the river and even further from the ocean.

In the religious experience one becomes knowing. One goes beyond the issue of believing in God. What to believe when you know. Belief is a hindrance. It holds you back. Belief, as I understand it, is an instruction to "be life." This is the key to the door of the prison of illusion.

Somehow this word "belief" has been devalued. It has come to be understood as an attitude of mind. It has become something that one chooses rather than one becomes. Yet we use the words "beyond belief" to describe the most extra ordinary experience. This is the "religious experience." This experience as we know has and always will be "beyond belief."

The experience of the Beloved is "beyond belief."

Beyond belief you are a life of being. The Beloved comes and dances. You and the dance are forever one. What if you stop believing? What will happen to you? If you are lucky you will begin to disappear. You will feel empty. The wheels supporting "your life" have been removed.

Do not confuse "belief" with "non-belief." Each is the other side of the coin. Each is a choice. " With belief" and "non-belief" there is still the ego. There is still the tension of the ego. The one who knows needs no belief. The one who knows goes beyond the limitation of ego. There is only the knowing. There is the delight of knowing "one is."

So here I am writing in my corner and "losing my religion." These "religious teaching" have been companions and a support along the way. These teachings have been a vehicle for "going beyond." They have been a vehicle to carry "little me" beyond belief. This is so that "little me" disappears into the knowing of love.

This is not such a loss.

For many, religion has become a burden. They carry this burden on their backs much of their lives. I have, as a child, been taught by many who have carried such a burden. I have seen the burden of religion carried by many people in the country of Northern Ireland. This is the country into which I was born. This is a county were religion rather than the religious experience has and still reigns. This is no different to most countries.

Religion for many has become and issue of comfort from the fear of death. It is an issue of security. Many belong to a religious group "just in case." For some this is because of feelings of deep unworthiness and self-doubt. Rather than be lifted up they carry the additional weight of a religious book. This often becomes a prison rather than the key to liberation.

"Religion" as a word means, "to bind. The word "religious" means "reverence." One keeps you tied and the other gives freedom. You are either a "religious person" or you are a "being of love." One can be a satisfactory ego identity and the other is the experience of peace beyond understanding.

Lose your religion.

Become the experience of reverence and surrender. Christ was not a Christian. Buddha was not a Buddhist. Mohammad was not a Muslim. They were all living experiences of Universal love manifesting within time, space and culture. Each is the knower of eternity. Theirs is the living teachings beyond belief.

? Tony Cuckson

Tony Cuckson is an Anam Cara. This Celtic term means "Soul Friend." He specializes in providing insight for the spiritual journey, Blessings for YOU, words of wisdom and finding inner peace. Visitors to Irish Blessings Matter website and Tony's Blog get the opportunity to develop a purpose driven life through articles, newsletters and other programs.

Get your free report called "7 ways to it's a wonderful life" at http://www.irishblessingsmatter.com/, or go to Tony`s Blog at http://www.irishblessingsmatter.info/ for YOU Blog, where you will find links to information related to spiritual parenting, spiritual coaching and spirit in business.

The Fish Dont Care What You Wear

The fish don't care what you wear. Waders, vests and hats for fishermen are necessities to brave the elements.

Waders are a must if you are planning any surfcasting or stream wading. And what you need to know about waders, no matter how much you spend for them, they will eventually leak and new waders must be replaced.

Love to fish in the streams during the summer? Rivers are low running and are not deep; so hip waders are perfect. Why heat up in chest waders when hip waders will suffice. On the other hand, those one-piece chest-high waders are a necessity for surfcasting. Irritating sand or pea gravel cannot wedge their way into your boots.

Alternatives to chest waders are the stocking-foot waders. Stocking-foot waders are also chest-high, but anglers will require wading shoes or boots. Some anglers favor wading shoes or boots as they give added support and traction while fishing all day.

It is difficult to imagine fishing without vests. Vests are invaluable as they contain many pockets to hold such items as expensive flies or lures as well as your bug repellant. But ensure that the pockets open from the top and not the side so not to lose those valuable flies or lures. Not to imagine losing your car key.

And lastly, don't forget your fishing hat and sunglasses. You certainly do not want to get sunstroke in the hot sun as well; fishing hats shield your head from the rain. Furthermore, hats and sunglasses will protect your eyes from glaring sunlight and you can see what the fish are up to when the sun is setting in the sky. Which in fact, is the most opportune time of the day to catch that big one.

Catherine Kenyeres is the successful publisher and author for http://www.best-4u-fishing-equipment.com. Catherine Kenyeres has written numerous informative articles for the fishing enthusiast.

A Cure for an Ailing Credit

Credit has become a much-used word, thanks to the various connotations that it is being used in. Transactions in which the payment is deferred to the near future are termed as credit transactions.

Ever thought why the grocer sells goods on deferred payment- because of a good credit that you enjoy. Credit is the reputation or standing that a person has in the society. Though credit includes various non-financial aspects, our study primarily includes the financial aspect.

The lending community watches every financial transaction of the person in question with its hawkish sight, and classifies the cases from excellent to worst. One cannot be sure of staying on a particular credit rating for a long time, owing to the volatile nature of the credit reports.

A single instance of default or late payment can tarnish the credit for a long time. Having contracted bad credit once, you would always find yourself facing the same situation, unless some serious efforts are taken to get out of the muck.

Do you think that the issue is insignificant to your case? Think again. Checking with your counterpart having a good credit rating will reveal the higher rate of interest being charged by you. The reason for this extra charge is a bad credit tag that accompanies your credit report. It will be much easier for a person with good credit to get a loan than for a person with bad credit.

These and many more reasons make credit repair a priority. First check the credit report. Every person who has ever indulged in credit transactions will have a credit report prepared by the credit reference agencies. A person can apply for a credit report within 60 days of receiving the bad credit notice. Make a note of any discrepancies in the credit report. There are many debts that you have not incurred but are present in the credit report. Many trivial matters like divorces, lawsuits etc affect credit. It will thus be important to see that even the smaller discrepancies are not overlooked. Credit report must be regularly checked to fix such small discrepancies within time. This will also help trace identity theft on your account. These must be fixed immediately.

The paragraph above dealt with entries in the credit report not conforming to the person. Next, we deal with the case when there actually is a debt that has not been paid. The debt must be paid up as quickly as possible. Delay beyond a month will make payment inconsequential because the credit reports will incorporate the defaults, thus making the bad credit irreversible for a period of about six years.

Credit counseling will be beneficial for people who are not much aware of the various options available to them. Various credit-counseling agencies are available on the net and on phone. They even conduct personal meetings with the clients. After having a chat on the problem being faced by the client, they suggest viable solutions. However, the client can refuse using the solution if they do not find it useful.

Prevention is better than cure. Certain steps may be taken to prevent credit rating from worsening. Only a few loans must be taken. The number of debts will vary with the income capacity of every individual. Regularity in payments will also have a positive impact on the credit rating. A considerable time gap must be maintained between any two loans or mortgages. Having too many loans with a shorter repayment period can have serious repercussions for the finances. This too will affect the credit rating.

These will not clean up the credit report altogether, but will at least help to make a small dent in the bad credit history. With a concerted effort over a period of time, the credit history will transform.

James Taylor holds a Master's degree in Commerce from JNU he is working as financial consultant for http://www.chanceforloans.co.uk To find a Personal Loans,bad credit loans, debt consolidation that best suits your needs visit http://www.chanceforloans.co.uk

Brand Awareness - Brand Identity

About once a month a few of us at the office get together during lunch for what has become known as a SWAP meeting. We share thoughts, stories and sometimes play Pictionary. It's a great way to relieve stress and learn interesting tidbits about the people we work with.

One afternoon our conversation turned, as all conversations eventually do, to the topic of The Lord of the Rings. Our discussion about differences between the book and the movie evolved into a discussion about the characters in the movie which made up the Fellowship of the Ring. The interesting thing to note was the difference in the levels of awareness of these characters by various people. We were struck by the similarities in how people remember these movie characters and how people remember certain brands.

The highest level of character awareness can be called 'the geek level'. These are people who know the character's full names as well as additional details about them. For example, knowing that Legolas, Sindarin elf of the woodland realm, is a great archer is comparable to those people who know the brand name, logo and jingle, all unaided. The next level, still pretty high on the scale, can identify the characters by name and race: Aragorn the human, Gimli the dwarf and Legolas the elf. These are the people who know the brand name and correctly match it to the product still without a helping hand. Then there are the people who know the characters by the actors who play them. These people may know the parent company of the brand or the name of the product, but don't know the advertising or what the product actually does.

After that, the characters become a bit more fuzzy. They may be identified by type of being (the dwarf, the elf, the hobbit, etc.) or even worse "the hot guy from The Pirates of the Caribbean movie." That's when you know your brand may be in trouble. These people may only be aware of your brand when prompted, and may not be at all aware of the advertising or maybe incorrectly identify the brand that is being advertised.

There are varying levels of brand awareness. While we'd all like our brands to be known on the geek level, realistically they may only be known by association with another brand.

To measure how strong your brand is copy and paste: (http://brandidentityguru.com/bightml/brandmasterpiece.html). Then click "Take the brand strength test". This is a short survey that measures the strength of any company's brand. It's a great tool to see where you are today.

Scott White is President of Brand Identity Guru (http://www.brandidentityguru.com), a leading brand consulting and market research firm located in Easton, Massachusetts, USA, near Boston.

Brand Identity Guru specializes in creating corporate and product brands that increase sales, market share, customer loyalty, and brand valuation. Over the course of his 15-year branding career, Scott White has worked in a wide variety of industries: high-tech, manufacturing, computer hardware and software, telecommunications, banking, restaurants, fashion, healthcare, Internet, retail, and service businesses, as well as numerous non-profit organizations.

Brand Identity Guru clients include: Sun Life Financial, Coca Cola, HP, Sun, Nordstrom, American Federal Mortgage, Simon (America's largest shopping mall manager) and many others, including numerous emerging growth companies.

Scott White is a very enthusiastic speaker and has the gift of being able to explain the principles of branding in a compelling and entertaining manner so that people at all levels can understand.

Radio and Television Ads: Clever Vs. Annoying

Ever heard or seen a radio or television commercial that you really liked and actually looked forward to hearing or seeing again only to be assaulted by another one so annoying it made you want to heave your radio or television out the window?

What makes one commercial so enjoyable while others seem to be so abysmal? It's all in the ability to make the listener or viewer remember the ad in a creative, clever way and I'm about to give you some advice on how to do just that so read on!

One of the most successful ways of creating clever ads is to add humor. Unfortunately that's not an easy thing to do as you have probably heard or seen many commercials try and fail. There is a fine line between writing a spot people will laugh and identify with and writing one that falls flat on its face and unfortunately most spots fall into the latter category. The best advice on using humor in ads that I can give you is this: hire a professional who specializes in writing humorous ads. I say this because the majority of advertisers that attempt to write their own funny ads fail miserably. The main reason is because it takes a trained writer to know how to create an ad that includes not only genuinely funny copy, but also perfect timing and the right amount of copy needed to pull it off. Having said this, if you still insist you've written a funny spot for your business the best way to find out is to read it to some unbiased ears which means someone other than your wife, husband, or best friend. Humor in itself is subjective but for the most part if it's funny they'll laugh, and if they don't get it, even if you think it's a real knee slapper, it's time to try another approach. I've written thousands of ads most containing humor but even I don't know for sure how well they will be received once they hit the airwaves. Another tricky part about putting humor in ads is that it takes more time to establish the bit, which means you have less time for the rest of the copy.

The same rule goes for putting voice impersonations in your radio ads. I tend to use voice impressions that I or others do in radio spots from time to time and it can be a real attention getter. However, this can also backfire as I've heard spots where voice impersonations were used just for the sake of putting them in the spot with no real message or tie-in to the product or service. Once again, this is wasted ad dollars.

You may have heard or seen ads you thought were extremely annoying and wondered why the advertiser even bothered. What they've learned is that even bad spots will eventually stick in the mind with enough repetition. The problem here lies with whether what ends up sticking is a negative reinforcement. There's a national jeweler who comes to mind that likes to do his own radio commercials. His nasally voice and dry as sand delivery while quite annoying, have become his trademark. So in essence his annoyance is part of his brand. Successful? Perhaps, but you'd be hard pressed to get me to shop there.

Remember that besides being clever, your ad has to deliver the goods. In other words, ads that are clever just for the sake of being clever won't accomplish much. Have you ever had someone tell you about a funny spot but when you asked who the ad was for, they can't remember? That's a case of the copywriter indulging his or her own cleverness and missing the main point. Your copy must also give the listener or viewer a reason to call or come by and most important, remember your name!

Sometimes a "call to action" works well. This could be in the form of a price point, a special time sensitive sale or a "radio/TV coupon" in which the listener or viewer is told to mention they heard or saw the spot for a special price. It could also involve having the listener or viewer respond immediately as in, "the first 25 people to call now receive..." however, make sure your phone lines can handle the response.

In today's world it takes a clever message to be heard, seen, and remembered above all the mindless advertising banter. And if done right, all the other ads can become "advertising wallpaper" for your clever, stand out, ad campaign!

Hal Eisenberg is an award winning copywriter, voice over talent and producer, as well as owner of The Eisenberg Agency, a full service advertising agency specializing in creative ads that get results.

Visit his web site at http://www.eisenbergagency.com
Mailto: halacious@eisenbergagency.com