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The tools are almost as important to the recipe as the ingredients and the words in the recipe. Picking the right tools can sometimes be a daunting task..

Its always best to start with the basics such as vegetable peelers, knives, cutting board, and utensils and plates to put the food on. Starting with a basic understanding of how basic tools work is the first step to being able to understand and know how to buy different gourmet tools.

Even these simple tools need to be understood, and making sure to spend money on quality tools is the first step to becoming a gourmet chef. A chef who doesn’t know how to properly use a carving knife, or how to operate a vegetable peeler isn’t really a chef until they can master those tools. These are some of the most basic tools a gourmet chef needs to know about.

One a chef has mastered these particular tools its time to move onto more complicated tools. For example many gourmet chefs use mandolines as a means of chopping up vegetables.

These are much like shredders, except instead of having little pieces of metal jutting from the metal base, there is one long blade in the center of the device and the vegetable is scraped over the blade giving thinner and more precise cuts. Its much like a meat slicer, except for vegetables and even cheeses. It’s tools like these that separate simple tools such as graters from the more complex ones.

Mixers can also be a great gourmet cooking tool. Professional mixers come with a variety of different attachments for pastry, vegetable fillings, and even bread making attachments.

Different ingredients need to be handled differently and different attachments on certain professional mixers will allow for things such as egg whites to be handled more delicately than other items. Many professional mixers can be pricey, but many gourmet chefs emphasize the need for costly tools in order to properly propel the craft of cooking forward.

Buying the necessary attachments and spending the money it doesn’t hinder a cook and allows them to be as open minded and creative as possible because they have the needed implements to do so.

Measuring and timing tools are another crucial tool that must be bought and handled correctly. It’s best not to buy cheap measuring cups and spoons because sometimes these plastics will not hold up to the dishwasher.

Its best to buy metal or another kind of material because plastic is usually never sturdy enough. Also make sure that your tools are as accurate as they can be. The more accurate the better measurement, and the better the recipe will be!

Its important to pay attention and shop at quality cooking tool stores, stores that mainly focus in selling these cooking tools only, rather than chain stores that do not specialize in cooking tools.

In truth its best to pay attention to what you buy.

The more you pay attention to this, the better your dishes will be and the more knowledge you will gain about the craft. Also you will be able to teach other people and explain to them how to

use a seemingly confusing contraption.

Find discount Gourmet Cooking Tools at : Discount Gourmet Cooking Tools [http://www.premiumgourmetcoffee.net/gourmet-cooking-tools-for-exceptional-cooking/]

INTRODUCTION

Is it time to sell? Selling your business is a major decision! You have devoted your time, money, and energy to building, running, and operating your business. It may well represent your life’s work. You may have already decided that now is the right time to sell, and you want the very best professional guidance you can get. This is when working in tandem with a professional business broker can make the difference between just getting rid of the business and selling it for the very best price and terms!

ARE YOU READY TO EXIT?

If you’ve gone this far, then selling your business has aroused enough curiosity that you are taking the first step. You don’t have to make a commitment at this point; you are just getting informed about what is necessary to successfully sell your business. This section should answer a lot of your questions and help you through the maze of the process itself.

Question 1

The first question almost every seller asks is: “What is my business worth?” Quite frankly, if we were selling our business, that is the first thing we would want to know. However, we’re going to put this very important issue off for a bit and cover some of the things you need to know before you get to that point. Before you ask that question, you have to be ready to sell for what the market is willing to pay. If money is the only reason you want to sell, then you’re not really ready to sell.

*Insider Tip:

It doesn’t make any difference what you think your business is worth, or what you want for it. It also doesn’t make any difference what your accountant, banker, attorney, or best friend thinks your business is worth. Only the marketplace can decide what its value is.

Question 2

The second question you have to consider is: Do you really want to sell this business? If you’re really serious and have a solid reason(s) why you want to sell, it will most likely happen. You can increase your chances of selling if you can answer yes to the second question: Do you have reasonable expectations? The yes answer to these two questions means you are serious about selling.

The First Steps

Okay, let’s assume that you have decided to at least take the first few steps to actually selling your business. Before you even think about placing your business for sale there are some things you should do first. The first thing you have to do is to gather information about the business.

Here’s a checklist of the items you should get together:

o Three years’ profit and loss statements

o Federal Income Tax returns for the business

o List of fixtures and equipment

o The lease and lease-related documents

o A list of the loans against the business (amounts and payment schedule)

o Copies of any equipment leases

o A copy of the franchise agreement, if applicable

o An approximate amount of the inventory on hand, if applicable

o The names of any outside advisors

Notes:

If you’re like many small business owners, you’ll have to search for some of these items. After you gather all of the above items, you should spend some time updating the information and filling in the blanks. You most likely have forgotten much of this information, so it’s a good idea to really take a hard look at all of this. Have all of the above put in a neat, orderly format as if you were going to present it to a prospective purchaser. Everything starts with this information.

Make sure the financial statements of the business are current and as accurate as you can get them. If you’re half way through the current year, make sure you have last year’s figures and tax returns, and also year-to-date figures. Make all of your financial statements presentable. It will pay in the long run to get outside professional help, if necessary, to put the statements in order. You want to present the business well “on paper.” As you will see later, pricing a small business usually is based on cash flow. This includes the profit of the business, as well as the owner’s salary and benefits, the depreciation, and other non-cash items. So don’t panic because the bottom line isn’t what you think it should be. By the time all of the appropriate figures are added to the bottom line, the cash flow may look pretty good.

Prospective buyers eventually want to review your financial figures. A Balance Sheet is not normally necessary unless the sale price of your business would be well over the $1 million figure. Buyers want to see income and expenses. They want to know if they can make the payments on the business (more on this later) and still make a living. Let’s face it, if your business is not making a living wage for someone, it probably can’t be sold. You may be able to find a buyer who is willing to take the risk, or an experienced industry professional who only looks for location, etc. and feels that he or she can increase business.

*Insider Tip:

The big question is not really how much your business will sell for, but how much of it can you keep?. The Federal Tax Laws do determine how much money you will actually be able to put in the bank. How your business is legally formed can be important in determining your tax status when selling your business. For example: Is your business a corporation, partnership or proprietorship? If you are incorporated, is the business a C corporation or a sub-chapter S corporation? There are some new tax rules, effective January 1, 2000, that impact certain businesses on seller financing. The point of all of this is that before you consider price or even selling your business, it is important that you discuss the tax implications of a sale of your business with a tax advisor. You don’t want to be in the middle of a transaction with a solid buyer and discover that the tax implications of the sale are going to net you much less than you had figured.

WHO IS THE BUYER?

Buyers buy businesses for many of the same reasons that sellers sell businesses. It is important that the buyer is as serious as the seller when it comes time to purchase a business. If the buyer is not serious, the sale will never close. Here are just a few of the reasons that buyers buy businesses:

o Laid-off, fired, being transferred (or about to be any of these)

o Early retirement (forced or not)

o Job dissatisfaction

o Desire for more control over their lives

o Desire to do his or her own thing

A Buyer Profile

Here is a look at the make-up of the average individual buyer looking to replace a lost job or wanting to get out of an uncomfortable job situation. The chances are he is a male (however, more and more women are going into business for themselves, so this is rapidly changing). Almost 50 percent will have less than $100,000 in which to invest in the purchase of a business. In many cases the funds, or part of them, will come from personal savings followed by financial assistance from family members. The buyer will never have owned a business before, and most likely will buy a business he or she had never considered until being introduced to it.

Their primary reason for going into business is to get out of their present situation, be it unemployment or job disagreement (or discouragement). The prospective buyer wants to do their own thing, be in charge of their own destiny, and they don’t want to work for anyone. Money is important, but it’s not at the top of the list; in fact, it probably is in fourth or fifth place in the overall list. In order to pursue the dream of owning one’s own business, the buyer must be able to make that “leap of faith” necessary to take the risk of purchasing and operating their own business.

Buyers who want to go into business strictly for the money usually are not realistic buyers for small businesses. Keep in mind the following traits of a willing buyer:

o The desire to buy a business

o The need and urgency to buy a business

o The financial resources

o The ability to make his or her own decisions

o Reasonable expectations of what business ownership can do for him or her

What Do Buyers Want to Know?

This may be a bit premature since you may not have decided to sell, but it may help in your decision making process to understand not only who the buyer is, but also what he or she will want to know in order to buy your business. Here are some questions that you might be asked – and, should be prepared to answer:

o How much money is required to buy the business?

o What is the annual increase in sales?

o How much is the inventory?

o What is the debt?

o Will the seller train and stay on for awhile?

o What makes the business different/special/unique?

o What further defines the product or service? Bid work? Repeat business?

o What can be done to grow the business?

o What can the buyer do to add value?

o What is the profit picture in bad times as well as good?

A FEW THINGS TO CONSIDER

Buyers Want Cash Flow

The first thing to keep in mind is that the vast majority of buyers want to buy cash flow. Sit down with your accountant or bookkeeper and begin to get your financial statements in order, with cash flow the order of business. Cash flow is not the same thing as profit. Most buyers look at the profit and loss statement or tax return, as well as owner or family compensation. They will consider any excess compensation to employees and family. Buyers will also look at large, one-time expenses such as a new computer system or remodeling. They will consider non-cash items like depreciation and amortization. Interest expenses will be reviewed, as will owner prerequisites. These are items that a professional business broker considers when advising a selling client on a selling price.

*Insider Tip

What about the Internet? The Internet is a real “buzz” word – and if its use is appropriate for your business, then developing a web site is important not only to your on-going business, but also to a buyer. Many buyers are conscious of what the Internet is doing for many businesses. If you have a web site for your business, it could be a big plus.

Appearances Do Count

The time to replace that old worn-out piece of equipment is before you decide to sell. Don’t assume that a new owner will want to do it or that the price will be slightly lower because you haven’t replaced it. The time to “spiff up” the business is now, even if you aren’t selling. Fix the sign, replace the carpet, paint the place – make it look good. Even if you’re not selling, it’s just plain good for business, and you never know when the time to sell occurs. Keep-in-mind that anything that increases sales also increases profits and the all-important cash flow!

Everything Has Value

There are other things that add value to your business. Don’t discount the value of customer lists, proprietary products and/or techniques, well-maintained equipment, secret recipes, customized software programs, or good employees. These are termed “off-balance sheet items,” and although not used in most pricing models, they add to value. Look at your business very carefully so you don’t overlook those items that make your business more attractive to the buyer.

Eliminate the Surprises

Long before you put your business on the market eliminate the surprises! Review every facet of the business and remedy any problems that could appear during the sale process. No one likes surprises – most of all potential buyers. Whether legal, accounting, environmental, or anything else – solve it now.

*Insider Tip

This may sound like something that should have been done when the business first started, so it may be “after-the-fact”. You should create an operations manual. You may already have started one years ago, or simply, have thought of doing one. Now is the time. It may actually create added value to the business. Even if it doesn’t, it will impress buyers that you have your business “act” together and should help you sell more quickly and effectively. Preparing a manual on how to operate your business can also be helpful even if you don’t want to sell. It doesn’t have to be elaborate, just cover the basics. A collection of ads that you have placed a catalog or sample of products, publications, or menus (if the business is food related) is also impressive. Include anything to do with the business that might be helpful for a new owner. However, don’t include anything that is proprietary, such as customer lists, suppliers or secret recipes, etc.

YOU CAN HELP

We look forward to working with you in finding a suitable buyer for your business. You, as the seller, are an integral part of the total marketing program. We would like to offer a few friendly recommendations that will help in our marketing efforts. We have checked those items that we think will be especially applicable to your type of business.

It might also be helpful if you took a good look at your business from the perspective of a buyer. Try to put yourself in the place of a prospective purchaser of the business. What would you do to make it more attractive or more saleable? Obviously, the financial records of your business are critical to the sale of your business, but how it looks is also important. First impressions really count! If a potential buyer doesn’t like the appearance of your business, the rest of it may never get a chance. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to call us. It’s only by working together that we’ll get the best results.

You might want to check the following to see if any of them are applicable:

o Keep normal operating hours. There may be a tendency to “let down” when you put your business up for sale. However, it’s important that prospective buyers see your business at its best.

o Repair signs, replace outside lights, etc. You don’t want your business to look as if it has been neglected.

o Maintain inventory at a constant level. If you let your inventory slide, your business will look neglected. If anything, increase it so your business will look busy.

o Remove items that are not included in the sale and unnecessary items, especially if inoperative.

o Repair non-operating equipment or remove it if you are not using it.

o Tidy-up outside premises.

o Spruce-up the inside of the business.

COMMON SELLER QUESTIONS

How long does it take to sell my business?

It generally takes, on average, between five to eight months to sell most businesses. Keep in mind that an average is just that. Some businesses will take longer to sell, while others will sell in a shorter period of time. The sooner you have all the information needed to begin the marketing process, the shorter the time period should be. It is also important that the business be priced properly right from the start. Some sellers, operating under the premise that they can always come down in price, overprice their business. This theory often “backfires,” because buyers often will refuse to look at an overpriced business. It has been shown that the amount of the down payment may be the key ingredient to a quick sale. The lower the down payment, generally 40 percent of the asking price or less, the shorter the time to a successful sale. A reasonable down payment also tells a potential buyer that the seller has confidence in the business’s ability to make the payments.

Why is seller financing so important to the sale of my business?

Surveys have shown that a seller, who asks for all cash, receives on average only 70 percent of their asking price, while sellers who accept terms receive on average 86 percent of their asking price. That’s a difference of 16 percent! In many cases, businesses that are listed for all cash just don’t sell. With reasonable terms, however, the chances of selling increase dramatically and the time period from listing to sale greatly decreases. Most sellers are unaware of how much interest they can receive by financing the sale of their business. In some cases it can greatly increase the amount received. And, again, it tells the buyer that the seller has enough confidence that the business can, indeed, pay for itself.

What happens when there is a buyer for my business?

When a buyer is sufficiently interested in your business, he or she will, or should, submit an offer in writing. This offer or proposal may have one or more contingencies. Usually, they concern a detailed review of your financial records and may also include a review of your lease arrangements, franchise agreement (if there is one), or other pertinent details of the business. You may accept the terms of the offer or you may make a counter-proposal. You should understand, however, that if you do not accept the buyer’s proposal, the buyer can withdraw it at any time.

At first review, you may not be pleased with a particular offer; however, it is important to look at it carefully. It may be lacking in some areas, but it might also have some pluses to seriously consider. There is an old adage that says, “The first offer is generally the best one the seller will receive.” This does not mean that you should accept the first, or any offer — just that all offers should be looked at carefully.

When you and the buyer are in agreement, both of you should work to satisfy and remove the contingencies in the offer. It is important that you cooperate fully in this process. You don’t want the buyer to think that you are hiding anything. The buyer may, at this point, bring in outside advisors to help them review the information. When all the conditions have been met, final papers will be drawn and signed. Once the closing has been completed, money will be distributed and the new owner will take possession of the business.

What can I do to help sell my business?

A buyer will want up-to-date financial information. If you use accountants, you can work with them on making current information available. If you are using an attorney, make sure they are familiar with the business closing process and the laws of your particular state. You might also ask if their schedule will allow them to participate in the closing on very short notice. If you and the buyer want to close the sale quickly, usually within a few weeks, unless there is an alcohol or other license involved that might delay things, you don’t want to wait until the attorney can make the time to prepare the documents or attend the closing. Time is of the essence in any business sale transaction. The failure to close on schedule permits the buyer to reconsider or make changes in the original proposal.

What can business brokers do – and, what can’t they do?

Business brokers are the professionals who will facilitate the successful sale of your business. It is important that you understand just what a professional business broker can do — as well as what they can’t. They can help you decide how to price your business and how to structure the sale so it makes sense for everyone — you and the buyer. They can find the right buyer for your business, work with you and the buyer in negotiating and every other step of the way until the transaction is successfully closed. They can also help the buyer in all the details of the business buying process.

A business broker is not, however, a magician who can sell an overpriced business. Most businesses are saleable if priced and structured properly. You should understand that only the marketplace can determine what a business will sell for. The amount of the down payment you are willing to accept, along with the terms of the seller financing, can greatly influence not only the ultimate selling price, but also the success of the sale itself.

CEO of Africabrokers. Silvan a BSc & MBA graduate is a dynamic, results and systems driven business management professional with an outstanding track record of success in delivering critical leadership, strategic plans, and sustainable results in operating efficiency and productivity improvement, technology advancement, cost reduction, sales and revenue performance. Distinguished career focused on innovating new strategic directions, creating revenue opportunities, spearheading policy development, and driving organisational growth and success across broad disciplines. Key Expertise: Business & Strategic Planning, Financial Planning and Capital Raising, Managing Complex Mergers, Acquisitions, Management Buy-ins, Buy-outs and BEE transactions.

Fly fishing the large and small “drive-in” high lakes of Oregon and the Pacific Northwest is an art in itself and good fly-fishing information about a lake is of prime importance to the success of the high lake fly fisher. You need a good understanding of the lake bottom, the insect life and the feeding habits and characteristics of the resident trout.

Use a depth finder in waters of 12 to 15 feet to look for old river or creek channels, drop offs, and uneven bottom contours that tend to hold fish. It is easy to keep track of those special locations in a logbook with the help of a GPS system or simple triangulations using shoreline landmarks as reference points. Also, look for shallow waters (4 to 8 feet) with patches of weed beads and silt covered muddy bottoms. You can easily fly fish these types of waters in depths of no more than 10 feet, using a slow sinking clear fly line and a count down method. The areas with these types of bottoms can support a wide variety of insect life including: May flies, caddis flies, damselflies, dragonflies, scuds, chironomid (midges), and leeches. Where you have insect life, you should find fish.

When I am fly fishing the high lakes, I carry three rods in my boat strung up ready to fish. One rod is a 9 footer with a WF #5 dry line for fishing emergers and dry flies. The 2nd rod is also a 9 footer but with a WF #6 dry fly line rigged with a 10-foot leader, a small adjustable indicator, a small nymph or chironomid. The 3rd rod, also a 9 footer which is matched with a WF #7 slow sinking clear fly line with an 8 foot leader for fishing a wooly bugger, leech pattern or a dragon fly nymph.

If you are fishing a clear mountain lake from a small anchored boat, keep the sun at your back and stay in the blind spot of the fish and maintain a low profile so you won’t need to make a long fly cast. Don’t cast your fly in the same place more than once. In this case consider casting in a 90-degree arc from you position. Start casting 45 degrees out to the left, After working your fly back to your pick-up point, make the next cast 5 degrees to the right of the first cast etc, until you are casting straight ahead. The next cast is 45 degrees out to the right. Continue decreasing the arc by 5 degrees until you are casting straight ahead. I call this cutting the pie and in this situation you are casting 5 degrees toward center on each cast so the shadow of the fly line does not alarm the fish before they see your fly. Always cut the pie to cover as much water as you can while at the same time, casting so that the shadow of the fly line does not alarm any fish that are in the area. For more information refer to my article on Ezine Articles.com “A nymph fishing tutorial”. After changing your fly pattern, repeat “cutting the pie”. After you have thoroughly covered the water with a new fly, quietly pull your anchor and move to another area and change flies again until you find the right fly pattern and or the right lake bottom and feeding fish.

Many high lakes are also exposed to seasonal hatches of black carpenter ants and termites that are blown onto the lake from lakeside fir trees. Black ants usually come out in the middle of June or when the air temperature around the lake first gets into the mid 70 degree- range for a few days. If you see one black ant on the water start fishing a black ant because when the fish start hitting the ants, the fly fishing can be fast and furious.

Fly fishing a small high lake of 1/2 mile across is not much of a problem for a small boat or even a float tube. However, larger lakes need to be fished with care because of possible afternoon prevailing winds can create rough and choppy water conditions that can pose a danger to a small boat. Float tubers always need to wear a life vest and small boaters should always wear them when underway or during rough water conditions.

I hope these fly-fishing tips will help you to better enjoy the outdoor experience. Remember to check the state fishing regulations for the waters that you are going to fish.

Be careful, and good luck fishing the High Lakes of Oregon and the Pacific Northwest.

Stanley Stanton: Oregon Fly Fishing Guide and McKenzie River fishing guide,
Visit: http://www.oregon-fly-fishing-with-stan.com
For trout fly fishing tips, “how to” fly fishing information, plus guided Rainbow Trout Fly Fishing, Steelhead Fly Fishing, classes for beginners, smallmouth bass and Oregon salmon fishing.

Many of today’s financial savvy and not so savvy consumers are finding out just how important health insurance can really be to their overall health, both financially and physically. The fact is, with rising medical costs many people simply can’t afford to get sick or be seen by a doctor or medical health specialist unless they have obtained affordable health insurance to offset the expensive medications and routine follow-up doctor’s appointments. The best thing anyone searching for a good health insurance provider can do is to compare and contrast each insurance companies benefits by asking to receive a free health insurance quote. In order to get the best deal on your health insurance you want to make sure and get as many health insurance quotes as possible. This will allow you the opportunity to find adequate health coverage at a price you can easily afford.

With so many people needing health insurance (everyone truly does need some form of health insurance coverage) you definitely want to shop around and compare the many different health insurance quotes you will receive. Shopping around between the many different health insurance companies and providers is important because every company offers different benefits with their health insurance policies. You want to primarily use the health insurance quote as your initial baseline to decide on which companies to investigate further.

Medical costs aren’t the only thing that has gone up, health insurance rates and premiums have also started becoming more expensive making the advice of obtaining health insurance quotes from many different companies even more valuable and important. Keep in mind that your current state of health plays s a large role in determining the actual rate of your health insurance quotes. If you regularly consume unhealthy foods, drink alcohol, smoke cigarettes of lead a sedentary life without any form of exercise involved then chances are quite good that your health insurance quote will higher then a healthier individuals rate quote, no matter which health insurance company or provider you choose to work with.

Typically, a health insurance quote will explain or show exactly what the health insurance company (sometimes referred to as the insurer) will cover in terms of medical costs associated with an insured consumer who becomes sick, ill or suffers an accident. There are many different forms of health insurance coverage to choose from with many of the more popular forms called HMOs (Health Maintenance Organizations) and PPOs (Preferred Provider Organizations). There are still several other forms of medical insurance coverage but the point of obtaining a health insurance quote is valid no matter what type of health insurance coverage or provider you choose to work with.

In order to really find the best health insurance coverage and provider you need to take the necessary time to obtain a health insurance quote from several different insurance companies. Doing so will allow you to find adequate health coverage at a price that won’t send you to the hospital in the first place.

Looking for more money saving tips and advice regarding health insurance quotes? Sharlene Raven is a respected webmaster whose site GoodHealthCoverage.com specalizes in providing health insurance information you can trust.

PHP programming is a very popular language for scripts on web sites, blogging software, and other functions online. It’s an open language with quite a few possibilities over other languages that are a bit more limited. If you want to learn PHP, you need to get started right.

The first thing that you are going to need is some basic HTML knowledge. You don’t need an advanced skill in this, but should be able to identify basic tags and understand the various elements in the code. The reason is that many times there is a blend of HTML and PHP when working with web sites or other popular scripts that are already out there.

Get yourself a good text editor that you can use. It’s very important to have one with line numbers on it. This is because when you get an error generally you are told what line number it’s on. This makes finding the mistakes very easy. Additionally, it’s nice to have PHP color syntax in your text editor so that you can tell the different parts of the code from each other based on color alone.

Also make sure that you have some basic FTP skills. This lets you upload your scripts and deal with folders online. Knowing permissions is also important. If you want to learn PHP, it’s easiest to just follow an online tutorial. There are hundreds of ones that offer easy to follow tutorials with exercises that you can follow. Do as many of these as you can until you get the basics.

After you have the basics, get a PHP manual online or in book form to follow. This will prepare you for more advanced exercises. Start making your own scripts. This is the best way to learn since you will have to think on your own versus copying exercises that are already made for you to practice. By following these simple tips you will learn PHP in no time.

Herb likes to keep up on technology trends. Please check out his website with information on vintage door knobs and details on kwikset door knobs.

Now that you’ve taken the big step, booked your ski vacation and reserved your spot in the beginners skiing class (as discussed in Part 1 of the series), its time to take a look what you’ve actually let yourself in for.

So what exactly will your first skiing lesson try to teach you?

Tip # 2 – Learning Control

The most critical skill in learning to snow ski is that of control. Remember, you’re adding a hefty amount of extra length to your feet – being able to control your feet and moving on them will keep your behind dry and your pride intact.

Rather start out with shorter skis than longer ones. Although there are disadvantages such as less glide in using shorter skis, this gives you the opportunity to get the basics right and then upgrade your ski length as your skill improves. Once you have the skis on, use your poles as a balancing device while moving your weight from side to side on your skis. This side to side motion is what will eventually guide you down the mountain slope at a speed that you feel comfortable at. The shortest route to the bottom of the slope is straight down – but this is neither advisable at beginner level, nor necessarily the best way to get to the bottom! So make sure you’re comfortable with shifting your weight from one foot to the other while on the skis.

Probably the most important skill to learn control of is how to STOP without doing yourself some major injury. The easiest and best way to slow your momentum is to point the toes of your skis towards each other and spreading your heels apart – much like a slice of cake. NB – but whatever you do, DON’T let the tips of your skis cross each other – it’s a surefire way of ensuring a wet and uncomfortable tumble.

Another important skill is learning balance. And the best time to practice is while you’re still on flat ground! The trick is to practice balancing on one ski at a time. Lift one ski a couple of centimeters off the snow and shift all your weight to the other leg. Observe how your body adjusts to maintain your balance on just one foot – and remember, your ski-poles are there to help you. Now try skiing on just one leg to get used to being in balance, whether you’re on two feet or only one. You won’t go haring down the mountain on one foot though – this is just an exercise to get you used to your own sense of weight distribution and balance. It is advisable to be comfortable skiing on one leg (practice doing this on both) before you become proficient in skiing on two.

Now that you’ve put on your skies, practiced shifting your weight from side to side, found your balance on your skis and learned how to stop your forward momentum, you’re almost ready to face your first down hill ski. But first, you’ll have to master one more critical skill that everyone needs to learn … how to get up when you fall.

Yolande runs the website [http://www.skiingtips.org] that provides infomation on skiing for the beginner to the advance skier.

Part 3 of Beginner Snow Skiing Tips for the beginner [http://www.skiingtips.org/Taking-The-Plunge-Snow-Skiing-Tips-For-The-Beginner-Part-3.php] can be found on the website

If you’re looking for information on Ski Resorts visit World Ski Resorts [http://www.worldskiresorts.info/skiresort_articles/index.php]

Please let me tell you about the Internet marketing

systems I use and find helpful. This information may be

of some benefit to you, especially if your goal is to

monetize your site or earn an income from your online

marketing.

My name is Titus Hoskins and I own and operate a very

modest marketing website called http://www.bizwaremagic.com

I have been designing web pages and sites since 1998.

I have an Art/Education background but in the last

couple of years I have been studying online marketing

systems and using them.

Yes, studying them, since I have an art background I like

to examine beneath the surface of things or structures in

order to get a clearer picture. I like to see the whole

picture. The big picture. But the underlying elements behind

these complex systems interests me the most. What’s beneath

the surface excites me, the structure holding everything

in place. How they are designed, the methods and tools

used to make these marketing systems work.

Keep in mind, I still feel a bit funny calling myself an

Internet marketer. Last week my marketing efforts make me

around a thousand dollars; don’t know if that qualifies me

as an Internet marketer or not. Probably not. Most of the

people I associate and have contact with, usually make that

in a day — the real smart ones make that in an hour.

A thousand dollars in one hour?

How is that possible? Well, the marketing experts who

earn the big d’s — usually have complex automated marketing

systems set up and operating on the Internet. These systems

start with their own products but quickly expands and builds

with large opt-in lists or ezines, 1000′s of affiliates,

large JV networks, multi-sites, viral marketing, membership

forums, brandable ebooks, online marketing tools/resources

and the list goes on…

No doubt you may have stumbled across some of these

marketing systems on the Internet… one of the first

I really encountered was Internet Marketing Center run by

the late Corey Rudl who died tragically in a car crash at

the young age of 34. I made my first affiliate check

through Corey’s system and it changed the way I looked

at the Internet forever. And the check was only $5!

What made me earn that $5 was not only my own efforts but

more importantly the whole marketing system behind IMC.

It took an ordinary webmaster and showed him how to market

on the web. It showed me the way. More importantly, it

also taught me Internet marketing is a skill anyone

can learn.

These marketing systems can be good places for the

beginning marketer to learn those skills. There are many

marketing systems quietly working the Internet. Some of

best (in my opinion) are Ken Evoy’s whole Site Sell system,

Marlon Sanders Higher Response Marketing, John Reese’s

Traffic Secrets, Bryan Winter’s PushButton Publishing, Jeff

Mulligan’s CBmalls, Nitro Marketing…

These Internet marketing systems are all different, yet

they all have common elements or features that make them

very effective and very powerful marketing systems. A close

examination of the different components or parts might

give you a better understanding of what makes these

Internet marketing systems work.

Here’s a list of different parts of an effective Internet

Marketing system:

* Founder or Helm: All these marketing systems have a strong

leader or founder at the helm. A very vocal and forceful

communicator or spokesperson is needed as a focal point.

And like any company, its only as good as the person leading

it. Because the Internet is still a very ‘scary’ place for

the average user; a friendly outgoing spokesperson is

needed to break those barriers (real or imaginary) down.

* Unique Product or Products: Most of the effective

marketing systems have their own products to market.

These can be digital info products, web building/hosting

packages, or even self-contained marketing systems. Or all

of the above. Some popular products that come to mind would

include Ken Evoy’s whole Site Sell and SiteBuildIt line,

or Jeff Mulligan’s CBmalls promoting the well known digital

download affiliate site ClickBank.

* Databases or Lists: All these systems collect and keep

large databases or opt-in permission contact lists of

customers and potential customers. The real net value of

any marketing system is in the quantity and more importantly

the quality of its lists. All deliver a weekly or daily ezine

or ezines to these lists. Consider these Databases as the

engines that empowers any Internet marketing system.

* JV Networks: Most have large Joint Venture Networks or

contacts that will kick-start any new product. Momentum and

sales are created with these JV partners. An ideal JV partner

is a well respected online marketer with very responsive and

very large opt-in lists. If Databases are like engines, JV

networks will fill those engines with the fuel they need.

* Affiliates: The best marketing systems use 1000′s of

affiliates to promote and market their products. This is

usually done in-house with their own affiliate program or

onsite software set up. Some use third party affiliate

programs like ClickBank, 1ShoppingCart, Commission Junction,

LinkShare, or Shareasale. Your ignition.

* AutoResponders: One of the most effective marketing tool

these systems use, autoresponders are essential for delivering

the sales. A series of follow-up e-mails will increase those

sales dramatically, studies have shown that it takes 6 or

7 follow-ups before someone purchases your product. Consider

the autoresponder like a fuel injection system.

* Tracking and Marketing Resources: All have extensive

tracking and marketing resources, usually located online

within a membership site. An easy to use and accessible

tracking system for affiliates is needed. So too are

marketing resources such as banners, links, coupons,

graphics, seo tactics, landing pages, lead capture pages,

brandable reports, articles and ebooks. Obviously, your toolkit.

* Viral Marketing: All great Internet marketing systems

use viral marketing techniques. This can be as simple a

brandable reports, articles, software or eBooks. Affiliates

can embed their own IDs and pass these viral products along

to their friends and visitors, these useful viral products

then get passed around all over the web. Creating links,

contacts, buzz and funneling prospects back to your

marketing system. Consider it your Turbo Charger.

* Online Forums: Many of the better Internet Marketing

systems will have an online forum where members can network

and interact. Offering workshops and tutorials. This is a

vital community building tool that must not be overlooked

or underestimated. It will greatly enhance the effectiveness

of any marketing system, building a foundation and launch pad

for any new products. Your gas station.

* Cross Promotion: These marketing systems can become very

complex: promoting programs within programs, cross networking

whole systems within systems, joint ventures within joint

ventures… Marketing seminars, conventions and workshops

are other lucrative features these systems use to market

their products and to network with other marketers. Hybrid fuel.

* Corporate Blogs: Most have company blogs or a network of

members’ blogs. Realizing the importance of these relatively

new mediums for getting the word out. RSS feeds are also used

to syndicate your sales message and content. That would be

your satellite radio.

* Affiliate Incentives: The better marketing systems have

affiliate incentives and contests to motivate the sales force.

From cruises to Ferraries…

* They Pay Their Affiliates On Time: Might seem trivial, except

for the affiliate. The best Internet marketing systems pay

their affiliate regularly and on time. They are trusted and

respected by affiliates and online marketers. This trust have

been built up over many years of good solid business

relationships. The best marketing systems are the ones that

can harvest and develop those relationships with thousands

or even millions of affiliates. Your accelerator.

* Automation: The one key element that makes all of the above

possible. These Internet marketing systems are automated to

the highest degree possible. Without automation these large

marketing networks could not function. Therefore, almost all

the day to day running of a marketing system is automated and

can run smoothly without much work or maintenance. The grease

that makes everything run.

* Internet: These marketing systems have taken full advantage

of the world wide web and used it to their benefit. It permits

global marketing with affiliates in every country around the

world. A large multinational marketing force that is made

possible only with the creation of the Internet. Consider it

the clue that connects the whole system.

The computer and the Internet make these whole automated

marketing systems possible. Closely studied and dissected,

these systems are complex, intricate creatures solidly

embedded into the Internet and the lives of millions around

the globe. Enabling lifestyles that offer mobility, freedom

and enrichment never before seen this side of a PowerBall

win!

When you picture these complex marketing systems, don’t think

of computers, databases, autoresponders, wires…

Rather, picture a sun drenched tropical beach with a light

breeze and a clear blue sky. Picture a person sitting to one

side, checking daily sales stats on a cool sleek shinny laptop…

don’t forget to zoom in real close and you will notice a slight

smug smile. But don’t stop there, if you stare really hard and

think about what you have just read, you will have a clear view

of an Internet marketing system.

…..
The author runs a modest Internet Marketing web site where you will find helpful online guides on RSS/Blogging, SEO, Affiliate Programs, List Building, Laptops, Internet Fax and quite a few Internet Marketing Tools. Including the very popular Free Desktop Calendar & Planner Copyright © 2006 Titus Hoskins. This article may be freely distributed if this resource box stays attached.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Pet Sitting business is booming internationally. In the

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

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

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

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

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

Some individuals tried to travel with their pets. They assumed

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

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

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

Pet owners soon realized that while they were comforted by the

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

outgoing business. Do not ever under estimate these expenses.

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

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

Try to stick to your plan to achieve these goals.

You should research other Pet Sitting services in your area.

Find out what their strengths and their weaknesses may be.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

vaccination records, veterinary information, as well as a place

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

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

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

That is a disaster waiting to happen.

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

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

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

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

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

client.

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

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

Copyright © 2005, Ian White

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