I had been fighting with the software program that I used to build my website. The software program had a bug in it and would occasionally anger the main brains of my computer. Without warning, my computer would lock the program shut and forbid me to enter the websites file. I never knew from day to day which time I saved the file and closed it would be the last time Id be able to open it. It didnt happen very often, but when it happened, it was like the file no longer existed. My computer had put an invisible prison wall around it and I was no longer allowed to enter in and work within the file. I would have to recreate the website from scratch every time this happened.
The final straw was when I had gone in to do a major overhaul on the site and couldnt open the file. I spent two days completely rebuilding the site from scratch. I uploaded the new file onto the web. I was really proud of my new and improved website. Id barely slept the night before because of all the work involved. I was dead tired at 7 oclock that night as I sent out a newsletter inviting my readers to go check it out and give me some feedback as to what they thought of all the changes Id just made.
Thats when I found out that one of the main links was leading people into the wrong page. The result was that nobody could get to the newsletters. They would not be able to sign up anymore. Okay, thats not a big deal. I just had to open the file, redirect the link, reload the site unto the web, and go to bed. It should only take about 15 minutes. With any luck, I would be in bed by 8 oclock! The site slammed shut again! I had only finished rebuilding it an hour or so earlier! I was going to have to rebuild the site from scratch right then so that when my readers woke up the next morning they could see the site working properly. Any random web traveler stumbling upon my site would not be able to sign up for my newsletters. I couldnt tell you if I was more angry or exhausted as I began from scratch yet again.
When my thirteen year old daughter was getting ready to go to bed a few hours later, she asked me how much longer Id be up working. I told her the truth; it was going to be the wee hours of the morning before I would be finished. She completely understood my commitment to Tomorrows Edge and knew that I would forgo yet another night of sleep to get it up and running correctly. True to her nature, she was outraged at the unfairness of the situation.
She volunteered to stay up with me as a show of her love and support. I told her there was really nothing she could do to help me, and that it would mean more to me if she would get a good nights sleep and then agree to baby-sit her little brother in the morning. I would really need to sleep in and it would mean so much more to me if she would get up with my two year old and keep him out of my room so that I could sleep. She insisted that she would do both.
She went and gathered up a bunch of her art supplies and hung out with me until I finished. She even went a step further and ran me a nice hot bath as I was finishing up the last touches on the site. She hung out with me as I soaked in the tub talking with me about everything and nothing. Then she tucked me into bed and turned out the lights. She was so proud of me for completely rebuilding the site and not screaming and crying or giving up and quitting. That little show of support meant so much to me that I almost cried as I fell asleep.
What a wonderful thing we can learn from her. How many times do we simply let someone struggle alone because we have no idea how to help them I cant begin to tell you how much it meant to me to have her simple companionship. It was during those hours between 1 and 3 am when I could barely see straight that having her there just to keep me awake meant so much to me. No, she didnt lift a finger. No, she didnt bail me out. No, she didnt fix it. She simply said, "You will not go through this alone. I will be here to cheer you on." Her presence made an ugly exhausting nightmare into a beautiful example of the power of love. I felt so good by the time I melted into my pillows that I had no anger or resentment over the event. She made it all okay just by caring enough to show up.
Its easy to help our loved ones when we know what to do. Roll up your sleeves, dive in, and get to work! But what about those times when were at a complete loss for words What about when we dont have the tools or resources to help them What about when their problem or challenge is completely over our head and beyond our area of expertise What then Typically, we stumble over some sort of an apology mixed in with excusing ourselves from the problem. We wish them well and say a little prayer on their behalf. Next time, consider simply being fully present so they are not completely alone in their struggle. Seems stupid and small, but its not. Its wonderful and huge.
By the way, the next morning, the software locked up again. I finally invested in an upgrade!
Copyright 2004, Skye Thomas, Tomorrows Edge

About The Author

Skye Thomas began writing books and articles with an everyday practical approach to life in 1999 after twenty years of studying spirituality, metaphysics, astrology, personal growth, motivation, and parenting. After years of high heels and business clothes, she is currently enjoying working from home in her pajamas. Go to www.TomorrowsEdge.net to read more of her articles and to get a free preview of one of her books.
Skye@TomorrowsEdge.net

1. Eat adequate amounts of protein.
Protein is composed of the amino acids essential for the building of new cells, including hair. Five amino acids are of particular relevance to hair growth - cystine, cysteine, methionine, arginine and lysine.
Inadequate protein intake over a lengthy period can force hair into the resting phase with shedding a few months later. It is obvious then that sufficient portions of protein rich foods should form part of your daily diet. The best sources of dietary protein are lean meats, fish, poultry, eggs, dairy products, soy, nuts, grains and seeds. At least 15% of your daily calories should come from protein-rich foods.
2. Eat adequate amounts of useful carbohydrates.
Carbs are an essential source of energy and help in the growth of body tissues, including hair. They are an important source of the B vitamins that are vital to healthy hair.
It is important that you concentrate on consuming non-refined carbs rather than the sugars and white flour that are so prevalent in many over-refined carb products. You should place an emphasis on consuming vegetables, fruits, whole grains, brown rice and potatoes. It is recommended that you obtain 55-60% of your daily calories from the carbohydrates found in these foods.
3. Achieve a healthy balance of dietary fats.
Fat is used in energy production and can be found in both animal and plant foods. Your body needs sufficient levels of fat to maintain good health. That fat should be obtained from a mixture of lean animal and plant sources. Roughly 25-30% of your daily calories should come from these sources.
4. The right nutritional balance is one that suits your personal circumstances.
How much of each food group you eat depends on a host of factors including age, sex, health and level of physical activity. When choosing meals and snacks, take account of the following key principles of sound nutrition:

Eat a variety of foods.
Apply moderation to your consumption of junk foods.
Choose natural and lightly processed foods as often as possible.
Do not over cook.

5. Support a nutritious diet with a few carefully chosen supplements.
Following a nutritious diet is essential for good hair health, but on its own this may not be sufficient for a number of reasons:

Modern farming methods may deplete the nutrient quality of food.
High stress levels may diminish nutrients in your body.
Dieting may affect nutrient levels.
Aging reduces the ability of our bodies to utilize certain nutrients.
Exercise can deplete some nutrients.

It may be sufficient to supplement with a well-balanced multi-vitamin / mineral product but a number of products are available that specifically cater for the requirements of healthy hair.
You can learn more about these products by visiting the site listed below.

About The Author

Richard Mitchell is the creator of the www.myhairlossadvisor.com website that provides information and guidance to those suffering from premature hair loss.
richard@myhairlossadvisor.com

A white paper supports PR, marketing and sales because it works for all levels of decision makers. Engineers and executives may not be too impressed by brochures, but they are impressed by well-written white papers. The same thing goes for trade journal articles more about that in a subsequent piece.
Good white papers sell products because they pack a lot of useful information into a clear and readable structure. Warning -- dont take any old brochure or product brief, print it on 8-1/2x11" paper and call it a white paper. Decision-makers hate that, dont let this be you! Good marketing white papers contain both technical and marketing sections in a balanced format, and then throw in some other great stuff. A good white paper may start with an executive summary my general rule is a 5+ page paper needs one but it will follow the same structure as below, abbreviated to one page.
White papers should include:
1 Throw down the challenge glove. Describe the pain the prospect is experiencing. That you can help with, anyway! Describe the problem from their standpoint, and be sure you know what that problem is.
2 Talk about how your technology will solve their problem. Bore in on the technology behind the product and how it will make their lives easier. Be sure to include some technical detail for the engineers and technology journalists who are sure to read it. And who are sure to be annoyed if it lacks detail. Many marketing white papers fail because they dont include technical sections, usually due to one of two reasons:

Extreme paranoia regarding proprietary knowledge. Shoot, no one is asking you to include the blueprints. But if you wont tell your customers what youre selling because youre afraid your competitors will find out, I suggest that you are not ready for the marketplace.
Uncertain writer. If the writer doesnt know the background technology, they cant write about it. Find an experienced technology writer and give them the information they need. If necessary, professionals will understand the need for signing an NDA. Just dont try to get them to dump their other clients.

3 Get specific on product benefits. This section combines with the technology section and includes ways that the product meets the challenge. You can also use this section to contrast your approach with other technologies, especially if your product is innovative. We all know the sad fate of disruptive technologies, but readers do want to know what your product does differently, how it does it, and why it does it better.
4 Push a positive return on investment. ROI has always been a big deal, and with reason. If you have great hard cost numbers, terrific dont hesitate to use them. Longer white papers have room for graphs and charts, but even shorter ones can refer to positive ROI. Newer ROI analysis methods factor in soft costs employee time, improved infrastructure, etc. so dont hesitate to talk about those too.
5 Add some case studies. Actual case studies with actual customers are ideal, but if you cant mention customer names common in the financial world, its fine to speak more generally. A Fortune 100 finance company recently deployed
6 Conclude with how great your product is and contact information. Heres where you can use the marketing mottoes, just keep it to 1-2 paragraphs. And include your contact information!
Well-written white papers have lots of good uses. Heres a run-down:

Sell a product its ultimate purpose, of course
Differentiate product from competitors
Place company in leadership role
Promote bylined author as a subject matter expert. Which they should be, even if a professional writer actually wrote the thing.
Help journalists research their stories note: journalists are not helped by sales brochures

Theres a lot that goes into creating a useful white paper. For your next project, consider hiring an experienced writer to create a marketing white paper that just keeps on selling. Talk about good ROI!

About The Author

Call Christine Taylor today at 760-249-6071 or e-mail her at
chris@keywordcopy.com, and start that white paper selling!

Christine Taylor
Keyword Writing
P.O. Box 3499
Wrightwood, CA 92397

at chris@keywordcopy.com

Media coverage of severe acute respiratory syndrome SARS has incited fear among the American public, emptied Chinatowns all over North America and stopped much of the travel between the U.S., Toronto, Canada, China, Taiwan and southeast Asia. While SARS is an urgent concern for the World Health Organization, a larger worry on the horizon for the world health agency is the flu

Riding on the fumes of potential, you take pen to paper or keyboard to monitor. Endless hours of creativity intermingle with apprehension, but your need to write engulfs your spirit. You swim high on the waves of excitement and trudge forward through the waves of doubt. Finally, your manuscript is complete.
Looking back, the process becomes a blur, its difficult to recall the point at which your first draft transformed into your final draft, but it happened. For a moment, you allow yourself to be still and bask in the glory of your completed manuscript. But only for a moment. Now a new process must begin.
As if going from concept to page isnt enough, the aspiring writer must now bravely pass his or her cherished manuscript along for opinion. Opinion is actually too light of a word; the writer must submit to, and endure the critique. For those faint at heart, the critique can be a frightening experience, rearing its ugly head of self-doubt to the highest position. But ultimately, its what makes you stronger, better at your craft, and prepares you to for the next phase on your quest to publication.
Family and friends only hinder the critique process. Although supportive, their opinions are bias and counter productive unless they are professionals. So where do you turn if you are not fortunate enough to have a local writing group or personal mentor in your life The modern writer turns to the cyber world.
As you make your way through search engines and dodge pop-ups ads in pursuit of an answer, message boards and writers forums abound. Your ultimate goal, to find that band of brothers and sisters, bound together in their somewhat solitary pursuit of a writing career. A nameless group of competitors hooked together by modems, monitors, keyboards, nicknames, and electricity, generously willing to share advice. A group you can trust.
I have found such a writers haven. A speakeasy filled with poets and prophets, editors, agents and journalists. A space where the published and unpublished exist together. By invitation only, I secretly found the backdoor into this cyber club. Over two hundred members and growing strong, this forum has everything from professional guest visitors to idle chatter. A place to receive feedback on your work, ask questions, share information, make contacts, friendships and share your successes and defeats.
Now that the secret code to this cyber club has been lifted, Backspace - The Writers Place is open to the public. Why not click open the door and lurk for awhile After you get to know the posters, reach out for some feedback on your work. Then you can move to the next phase with confidence. For after the dreaded critique process, you must endure another hurdle, the query letter. Why not tackle it with the help of your new cyber friends at Backspace http://www.bksp.org/index.shtm

About The Author

To Visit Backspace

Every Thursday, I have been glued to the hit television show, The Apprentice". It is drama at its finest, except there is something that is painful for me to watch as a woman. When the show began the women dominated and worked together as a team. As time progressed the women slowly but quickly began to rip each other apart and then... there were none, leaving two men standing for the high profile position to work for Donald Trump. The "catfights" between the women have continued and are clearly evident as they make media rounds. Meanwhile, Kwame and Troy had a small show down only to be followed with words of loyalty and strong hugs and handshakes. When will women learn to stick together through the good, bad, and the ugly
6 Ways to Support Another Woman:
1 Dont hate the player, hate the game. Women tend to get very competitive in looks, love, and career. Stop the "catfight". Focusing on your goal will get you further, than focusing hostility on another woman who you deem as competition. Maybe just maybe, it is the situation that you are angry with and not the person.
2 Stop calling other women by derogatory words. Does calling another woman a bitch do anything to help the situation Remember where words like bitch, cunt, and whore come from. Stop using them as weapons against other women. Using harmful word give them life and the words keep coming back to YOU either physically or mentally.
3 Send at least 3 women words of encouragement each day. By doing this you will make someones day. Paying it forward, has a high value of return.
4 Become a mentor. Find a younger woman or even a peer to share your wisdom with. Give of yourself and uplift another woman. It is a great feeling to know that you have assisted in someones success.
5 Refer women in your network to each other. When someone calls you for a referral, start with the names of women in your network. When you refer fabulous women to each other, you also come out shining! Build the "old girls network!"
6 Keep it real. Stop the gossip and the back stabbing. Do not burn bridges. One of the best quotes I have heard recently is " do not step on someone elses toes, you never know if they will be connected to the ass you have to kiss tomorrow". Be real by any means necessary, even if you do not agree.

About The Author

Yolanda Shoshana, "The Woman Booster" is a life strategist for women and an artist. She is an expert in womens issues and recently founded Shekhinah Arts a life strategist coaching company that interweaves multidisciplinary arts, lifestyle arts, and media to advocate, educate, motive, and inspire women to their fullest potential. Yolanda Shoshana would like to hear your success stories of supporting other women, email her at shoshi@shekhinaharts.com