Fashion – A Fragile Grace

I firmly believe that fashion is the ultimate form in which one can express themselves. An awareness of what is in trend is necessary to be with the times. People try to put comfort over fashion but I feel that fashion does not only exist in a dress but it has to do with a combination of trendy ideas. The whole ideology of fashion is to synchronize things around us and to make us look beautiful. However fashion does not mean over dressing as that makes us look like clowns. A person can look nice when he/she wears a dress which compliments his/her personality.

Fashion seems to be the most important aspect in a women’s life. It is something that the females can do much better than men. It enhances the life and when the end results are good it gives pleasure. The concept of fashion cannot be same for the entire Diaspora of society. However fashion cannot be treated in singular terms, it is a collection of bits and bobs which are in vogue.

In my point of view fashion has a widespread diversity in it. Two people with opposing ideas can still be fashionable in their own ways. Fashion has many layers to it and with the increasing awareness about fashion many people have started indulging in it. Those who detest fashion may be the ones who need fashionable clothes in order to improve their looks. The fact is that when women do not like their appearance they criticize fashion but the dissatisfaction of women about their appearance is what fuels the fashion industry.

There are three basic rules in order to dress well which are:

1) Be comfortable in whatever you wear as that is what adds beauty automatically
2) Do not go overboard for dressing up as that may just be a fashion glitz
3) Follow the latest trends by keeping an eye on what celebrities wear

If you follow these three fundamental rules then you can be sure that you will definitely land up being well dressed wherever you go.

The new era of fashion has seen a lot of changes. It is no longer for stereotypes but it is all about the individual style and there are no rules. You can easily select your own fashion trend and go along with it. After all the beauty of fashion is that it has lot of variety and character and it can lend its fragile grace to anyone who seeks it.

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The Health Benefits Of Gardening

Any gardener will tell you that there is something very special about being outside, working in the dirt to plant and weed and tend your little patch of earth. For a population who spends more and more time seated behind a desk using technology away from nature, the health benefits of gardening include working outside getting your hands dirty and enjoying the fresh air. A novel way to pass the time that just happens to be good for you too.

Gardening can ease your stress levels, keep your body limber and certainly improve your mood.

A new study suggests that doing gardening can combat stress more effectively than other leisure time activities.

After doing a stressful activity, two different groups were instructed to read indoors or work in the garden for half an hour. Afterward, the gardening group reported an improved mood compared to those who read. They also displayed lower levels of cortisol, the stress hormone.

Experts believe that all of us have only a limited ability for the sort of directed attention called for in our 24/7, always on world, and that we’re maxing ourselves out in terms of having to pay attention so much of the time. When we’ve reached our limit, we get irritable, make mistakes, are distracted and over stressed.

The good news? The effect can be reversed with a form of effortless attention that comes from being outdoors, enjoying nature.

The rhythm of nature and the repetitive nature of many of the tasks involved in gardening are all examples of effortless attention.

Gardening helps improve your mood.

A Norwegian study on those with depression, a lingering low mood or bipolar disorder involved subjects spending 6 hours per week tending vegetables and flowers.

At the three-month mark, half of the subjects had noticed a measurable improvement in their symptoms of depression. And their mood continued improve for three months once the program ended. Perhaps it was the novelty of a new experience that helped, or perhaps it was something in the soil itself that might be responsible.

Pursuing this idea, researchers have been injecting mice with a harmless bacteria that’s found in soil known as Mycobacterium vaccae. This appears to up the release and use of serotonin in the part of the brain responsible for thinking and mood. This is the same mechanism impacted by serotonin boosting antidepressant medications in wide use today.

So, should we all toss our pills and get our hands dirty instead?

Experts aren’t advocating that, but rather suggesting that until now, we’ve spent lots of time with M. vaccae along with lots of other friendly microorganisms, and maybe the lack of these long standing companions has impacted our bodies in ways we’ve yet to understand.

Gardening does get you up and outside… in the open air. The needs of the garden call for a variety of different movements, bending, digging, weeding and other repetitive activities are a great way to include some low impact exercise into your life, especially good for those who are unable to do more vigorous workouts. What’s more, when the gardening’s done, not only have you exercised, but you surroundings look wonderful too.

This makes gardening a workout that people may be more likely to keep up and do on a regular basis. Rather than being exercise for exercise sake, gardening has a purpose and a visible, tangible goal that you can see right away. Hard to beat.

Gardening encourages good nutrition. If you’re a vegetable grower, you have the peace of mind knowing that the food you’ve grown and put on your table is the freshest you can get. Not to mention being super healthy and absolutely delicious.

A few studies have concluded that those who garden eat increased amounts of fruits and veggies than those who don’t. Studies of children show that kids who work in the garden are also more likely to include good foods like fruits and veggies in their diets, and are more adventurous when it comes to trying new foods.

Gardening is good for the brain too. There’s some evidence that the activity called for in gardening can help bring down the risk of dementia. Two different studies that examined subjects between 60 and 79 for a period of up to 16 years discovered that those who worked in the garden on a regular basis had up to a 47% reduced risk of dementia compared to those who didn’t garden. This drop held even after accounting for a number of additional health factors.

While more work needs to be done; these findings suggest that working outside in the garden brings both physical and mental activity that could have a positive impact on the mind.

You don’t need a big garden or tons of experience and special tools to get your own health benefits of gardening. You can start with some houseplants or container gardening. While there’s lots of guidance on the Internet and in the bookstores, some of the best advice you’ll find, especially for the beginner, comes from other gardeners. Visit local garden clubs, your community garden, or a local farm stand or nursery – these are the haunts of gardeners everywhere who will be happy to share what they’ve learned with you.

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Thinking of Starting Your Own Business? Consider These Questions and Issues First

Before you quit your day job to take the entrepreneurial leap… here are some critical issues and questions to consider.

1. Make sure you can identify exactly what business you want to be in. Be specific. Write out your business idea on a sheet of paper and then add all the related business products or services you can think of. Usually, the more you can specialize, the better chance you have of being successful. Do you have a special expertise related to any aspect of this business?

2. Have you worked for a company in this field? If not, what education or experience will you need before you can succeed against the competitors in this field? If you are working for a company in this field, is this an expansion into a different market? If so, would your current employer consider financing the business with you taking the reigns as the new venture’s manager?

3. Do you really enjoy doing this? Are you willing to stick it out working 60-80 hour weeks until you reach a break-even point? Will you need extra capital to cover your living expenses? Is it something you can do part time to build up the business before you have to quit your job? Are you sure you have the mental toughness to run your own business? Being self-employed isn’t for everyone.

4. What is your unique selling proposition? (USP) What makes your service or product special? Are you trying to market a superior product or service at a fair price? Or will you be marketing the same product as other competitors (a commodity) at a cheaper price? If you are marketing a commodity make sure you understand everything about its production and delivery before assuming you can do it cheaper or quicker than long time competitors. Consider working in this field to learn all the hidden details before you sink your capital into a commodity type sales venture.

5. Who are your real customers? Sometimes this isn’t as obvious as it seems. The end user may purchase your product because it is provided by another vendor, or recommended by another professional. Who’s the real decision maker in your marketing equation? How will you target your marketing efforts?

6. Have you been able to test market the product or service? If not, how do you know what customers will be willing to pay for the product or service? What are the industry trends? In other words, is there an expanding market for your intended product or service? Is there research data available to support your assumptions about the potential market for your product?

7. Who are the major competitors in your market? What are their strengths and weaknesses? Is there a niche market they aren’t reaching? Can you identify weaknesses in their operations you could exploit?

8. Have you prepared a cash flow projection for the first year? Be thorough and realistic. What’s the maximum cash draw down you’ll face before the business reaches a break-even point? Make sure you include your monthly living expenses. What level of sales will you need to break-even? Is it possible to keep your current job while you build up enough sales to get you to break-even point? The best start up capital is existing sales.

9. What are your location options? Are there regulatory requirements applicable to your business that will require major up-fits to the location and facility? Consider all zoning, permit, and employee safety laws, as well as accessibility to the handicapped and parking availability. Carefully map out all the logistical space needs for your business.

You may notice that many of these issues are directly related to the topics addressed in a typical business plan. That’s because the business plan is essentially an organized documentation of the various issues you will have worked out in your own mind before deciding that your idea has real potential. It formally lays out your “proof of feasibility” in a standard format.

Now that you’re familiar with some of the topics addressed in the business plan, it’s time to take your idea from the talking stage to implementation. The first step is to prepare a written business plan. There are many free business planning resources on the web. You can also download a free business plan template from the Business Coach section of our web site.

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Avon – Beauty and Health Manufacturing Company

Avon is another beauty and health manufacturing company which has earned a reputation of one of the top brands all over the world revolutionizing the variety of products from lipstick, skin care products to different types of fragrances by presenting innovative, first-to-market products using its unique Avon-patented technology.For many years, Avon has spread its legacy of being a responsible corporate citizen adhering to the highest standard of ethics and integrity that made it as one of the most well-liked companies and one of the best companies to work for employing thousands of highly diverse employees scattered all over the world.It has authored the unique direct selling system of all its products giving most women the opportunity of independently earning and attaining economic freedom by engaging in this distinctive type of business opportunity Avon has introduced.Avon, until this very time, does not only continuously offer high quality products as well as customized services to the women around the world but it also spearheads charitable activities supporting breast cancer and domestic violence abuses.Avon products that had been around for more than a century has created bevy of beauty and health products from the very popular Avon Colors, skin care and treatment products to Avon Wellness.Its popular Avon Colors are created with superior quality which included foundations, powders, lipsticks, eye and nail products as well as face cosmetics with different choices of colors introduced giving women many selections to fit their skin tone. Some of its products contains multi-vitamins that continued to beautify women of different ethnicities.
For anti-aging and skin care treatment, Avon’s Anew has been critically acclaimed to have given positive results to the many faces of satisfied women all over the world. Avon was the first company in the beauty industry to introduce and launch an anti-aging product containing AHA or Alpha Hydroxy Acid, a strong and potent anti-aging, antioxidant responsible in providing effects of glowing, refreshing and younger look.It also launched the Avon Solutions for face and body treatment. It is infused with the Avon Daily Skin Allowance, a unique combination of nutrients and supplements that help women maintain healthy skin. It has also presented best-loved brands of bath and body products for all skin types.Avon also launched the first body wash that combines an exfoliating formula with an ultra-conditioning cleanser. Salon-quality products serve the needs of every hair type of both young and old. It provided wide range of shampoos, conditioners and styling products.As the world’s biggest maker of perfumes, Avon offers reasonably priced fragrances with fashionable packaging for every woman to enjoy. It further provided rejuvenating health and fitness products that promote a well-balanced lifestyle embracing a unique philosophy of having inner as well as outer beauty and the well-being of mind, body and spirit.And this time, Avon’s Mark. It provides a unique earning prospect by tapping directly into young women’s existing and daily beauty rituals. The product line of cosmetics and related products offers fun, fresh, modern packaging; affordable pricing; and unique products offered. Its vision is to provide young women with an engaging product line, a direct-selling opportunity, and a unique brand understanding that engages them in a world of community, involvement and empowerment.

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Software Sales Rep Success

How to be a Successful Software Sales RepBeing a software sales rep can be a very exciting and lucrative career. The US economy is based on innovation and new technology, so the demand will always be high. Beyond that, CNBC recently reported that sales jobs are still in good supply because companies are focusing on hiring revenue-generating jobs. Essentially, sales jobs are always recession proof. That being said, being a good software sales rep will always be in demand and you will always have options, even in hard economic times.Software sales jobs also offer opportunities to make a lot of money to anybody regardless of experience and education. Sales in general are meritocratic. That means regardless of experience or education, anyone who can get the job done can be successful. Sales jobs are one of the best jobs without a college degree.In this article, I will give you tools on how to be a successful in software sales. If you are able to master these few things, you will be a successful.Step 1The first step in being successful is to find the right software company. That’s right, the first step of success has nothing to do with you. In order to grow good crop, you have to have good soil and good weather. No matter how hard you work and no matter how good a farmer you are, if the soil and weather is bad, you won’t be able to grow good produce. In the same way, being a successful sales rep starts with finding good soil and good weather.Good Soil – Good Software CompanyIf you want good soil to grow your sales success in, find a good software company. What does that mean? First, find a software company with a good product and an innovative technology. There are many software companies with not so good software. If that is the case, it will be difficult to sell. How can you find out? Well, do some research and see if you can find out if the software company is growing. If the software company is growing, that probably means they have a good product and have good management. Even if a software company is big but is not growing, it’s a sign that you might not want to work there.Good Weather – Good IndustryFind a software company in a growing industry. If a company makes software for a declining industry, it will affect the sales of the software company. Go into a new and growing industry. Get in on the ground floor in innovation. Some good new and growing industries is in green technology and software as service industries. But make sure the software company is developing products and services with a felt need and demand already existing in the market. Don’t work for a software company that is developing a product for an anticipated market. Make sure the market is already there.Find good soil and good weather. Find a company with good software and good management. Find a company in an industry that is growing. Without these two components, you will be fighting uphill.Step 2The next thing you need to do is get over your fear of rejection. This is an area you will grow in, but you need to start the process. If you don’t grow in this area, you will not succeed. Here’s how you can get over your fear and reduce the emotional stress, strain and drain that can ensue.Know and Believe in Your Product. This goes back to step 1, but you need to know and genuinely believe in your product if you are going to succeed. If you don’t honestly see the value and benefits of your product and how it’s better than your competitor, than you will never be able to get over the emotional uneasiness selling it. I don’t know if I could have stayed in the software companies that I’ve worked for if I didn’t genuinely believe in the product. Before I signed on to work as a software sales rep for a software company, I made sure I knew the product and the competitors to make sure I could sell it with passion and integrity.Make It Impersonal Realize. that it’s not YOU they are rejecting, it is your software. If you genuinely believe in your product, than you can always go back to that conviction and let your fear and feelings of rejection go away. Remember, most people reject your software, not because it’s bad, but because they don’t really know how good it is. That’s your job is to make them realize how great your product is.Believe the Best in People. When people reject you, there is a tendency to dislike, hate and rant against your prospects. There were many times I hung up the phone discouraged and even hurt when someone rejected my offering. Don’t give in to that or it will emotionally drain you over time and you won’t be able to sustain your tenure as a software sales rep. Give them the benefit of the doubt, and believe the best in them. I remember when I was a young sales rep working for a high tech software company. I called a prospect and he angrily hung up on me. Two weeks later, I was training someone on making cold calls, and decided I’d call this same prospect back as a training tool for my trainee. To my great surprise, he not only talked to me, but he ended up buying our software. When he angrily hung up on me, he didn’t know who I was, who I was with, what software I had. He was just having a bad day. It had nothing to do with me! Whenever someone rejects me, or I get tempted to have harsh feelings about them, I quiet myself and internally wish the best for them. I know, it sounds cheesy, but it works and I can make my next call happy, which makes a huge different in sales.Step 3 Becoming successful in any sales is a numbers game. Keep track of the numbers. It’ll also give you an idea of product demand and areas for growth. Below are some of the numbers that the best software sales reps keep track of.Cold Calling Dials. Virtually all sales involve large amounts of cold calling. At the very least, cold calling is where you’ll most probably need to start. So, the first category you’ll want to track is your cold calling numbers. Let me give you an idea of the volume of cold calling that is typical and necessary in most software sales jobs. The max you’ll be capable of doing is probably 150 cold calling dials a day. I once worked at a software company where this was the minimum requirement. It’s possible, but it’s hard.One of the best sales reps we had made around 75 dials a day. This included cold calling as well as follow up calls and etc. But don’t think if you’re starting out that this is sufficient. This guy had tons of sales experience and new how to maximize his efforts. The only way to do that is by making calls. So when a sales rep is starting out, he/she should make at least 100-150 cold calls a day. This is the best way to practice and get better. Once you’re good enough to just make 50-75 calls a day, you’ll still have a full day, but with more purposeful and quality calling. But again, you can’t get there overnight and you ONLY get there by making the calls. At my last software sales job, I made around 50 cold calls a day, but that’s because I was also doing presentations as well.Cold calling is very important, and I can’t emphasize it enough. It’s hard, but if you can press through the initial emotional turmoil and hit your stride, this will lead to your success as a sales rep. Remember, sales is a numbers game. Even if you’re bad at sales, if you’re product is decent and the market is large, you should be able to get sales just by calling tons of people.Number of Appointments Set and Kept. Many software companies have started doing webinars to do sales presentations of their software. It’s an easy and efficient way to get that initial exposure to a potential client and it’s a great way to get you started without having to learn a ton or be able to do a great job at presenting the software. Typically, the best sales rep or one of the executives will run these webinars. If this is how your company is set up, you should shoot to get about 4-5 appointments per day. With good follow up, about 50-75% of those you made appointments with will actually show up. That means for every 4-5 people you sign up for a webinar, you’ll get about 2-3 people actually show up.Closing Numbers. If you make 100-150 cold calls a day, you should be able to make 4-5 presentations per day. A good software package will have a 15-25% closing rate of those that showed up to a presentation. That means you should be able to close 2-4 sales a week, even if you’re not that great at cold calling.Don’t Make Excuses for Not Making Calls. Sometimes software sales reps are so tired of making the calls that they allow themselves to get distracted by other “productive” activities like research, learning the software and other activities. Don’t fool yourself. If you’re not making the calls, you won’t succeed. Let yourself get a break now and then, but be realistic that it’s only a break until the real work of making the calls start again.Also, don’t get over complicate the numbers game. Don’t get so bogged down by advanced numbers analysis that you stop making calls. I usually just make tick marks on my notepad while I’m making calls. It’s simple as that. Don’t get tempted to be sophisticated at the expense of actually making the calls. The quality of your sales skills will improve over time with practice, but don’t make the mistake of waiting until you’re ‘good’ to make the calls. Getting ‘good’ will only come with doing it.Work from Home Software Sales Rep JobsTo begin to find a good software sales rep jobs, you have to begin by finding a good company to work for with a good product.. Then you have to have the drive and discipline to make the calls and track the numbers. If you have these things ingrained in your value system, you are a great candidate for work from home software sales jobs. The great thing about software is that the product is electronic, which means you can showcase it on the internet and present it over the phone. Unlike a physical widget that people need to touch and feel, software doesn’t require that component.Many companies have opted to hire sales people to work from home to save on employment costs, because these sales reps are generally independent contractors, and general overhead like building and equipment. And because it can be presented on the internet, you can do it from home. Software is a good industry to try to find a good and legitimate work from home job.

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Online School Grants

Online education is the most preferred mode of education these days as it gives the freedom to either work or carry household jobs or earn money and study at the same time. Generally online courses are taken up by adults so they have to support for their education themselves unlike dependents. However if one carries the notion that online education comes out to be cost effective than the traditional methods is wrong. The only overhead that one saves is probably the cost of living and sometimes cost of travelling. At the same time there is a cost of computer, internet access and related software to be incurred.Online schooling is also considered for grants and funding. However not many people are not aware about the same and think that there are no grants or funds available for this mode of education. That’s not the case though.The criterion and the procedures for online schooling are by and large the same.
Free Application for Federal Student Aid, i.e. the FAFSA form is to be filled like for any other grant or fund. Again students with the maximum need of financial aid are determined using the Expected Family Contribution, i.e. EFC. The FAFSA form is to be submitted to the U.S Department of Education, and in case you get qualified for any of the grants, you would be intimidated about the same.
Select a school which is being accredited to conduct such courses.
Once the school has been zeroed upon, calculate the cost of education and keep a buffer of about 20%- 30% in the fee as the course fee fluctuates every year. The average cost for such courses ranges from $10,000 for a public university course to more than $10,000 for a private university course. However, since already mentioned, as the likelihood of increase in fee as the course completes is high, it is advisable to keep some buffer. One also needs to account for the money that he/she would be spending in acquiring computer, related software and books because one would have access to libraries for any reference work. So everything has to be purchased or hired, which involves some cost.While arranging for funds, again you have multiple options in hand to pick from:1. Check for any local bodies that are willing to fund your course2. In case you belong to minority or differently able category, check for the groups specially set- up to provide assistance to you.3. Then there are certain organizations that provide scholarships on the basis of “essay writing” or based on “certain values”. “Wheelchair Scholarship Fund” and “Atlas Shrugged Essay Contest” are two such popularly known organizations.4. Check with your employer for any funding, as every penny counts. The Human Resource Department, commonly known as HR, has all the relevant information. There could be a probability that they might require you to abide by certain terms and conditions like signing up a contract with the company for some no of years, or sponsoring certain courses, which might benefit the company or some other. All these details should be dig well in advance, in order to avoid any last minute rush or confusion in understanding the policies and procedures of the employer.5. Then of course various Government and Federal grants are always there to help.

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Occupational Health: Core Areas of Knowledge and Competence, Part 2

OHA’s can contribute by helping managers to manage sickness absence more effectively. The nurse may be involved in helping to train line managers and supervisors in how to best use the OH service, in how to refer staff, what type of information will be required, what to expect from occupational health. By developing transparent referral procedures, ensuring that medical confidentiality is maintained and that the workers’ rights are respected the OHA can do much to ensure that employees referred for assessment due to sickness absence are comfortable with the process.OH nurses, with their close relationship with workers, knowledge of the working environment and trends in ill-health in the company are often in a good position to advise management on preventing sickness absence. In my experience referral to General Practitioners have a limited use for work related issues, and gain best results by as well as keeping the GP aware, referring to a specialist occupational physician.Planned rehabilitation strategies, can help to ensure safe return to work for employees who have been absent from work due to ill-health or injury. The nurse is often the key person in the rehabilitation programme who will, with the manager and individual employee, complete a risk assessment, devise the rehabilitation programme, monitor progress and communicate with the individual, the OH physician and the line manager. Nurses have also become involved in introducing proactive rehabilitation strategies that aim to detect early changes in health before such conditions result in absence from work. Improving and sustaining working ability benefits many groups, the individual, the organization and society, as costly absence and other health care costs are avoided.In many cases the OH nurse has to work within the organization as the clients advocate in order ensuring that managers appreciate fully the value of improving the health of the workforce. OH nurses have the skills necessary to undertake this work and may develop areas of special interest.The occupational health nurse may develop pro-active strategies to help the workforce maintain or restore their work ability. New workers, older workers, women returning to work following pregnancy or workers who have been unemployed for a prolonged period of time may all benefit from health advice or a planned programme of work hardening exercises to help maintain or restore their work ability even before any health problems arise. Increasingly the problems faced by industry are of a psychosocial nature and these can be even more complex and costly to deal with. OH nurses, working at the company level, are in a good position to give advice to management on strategies that can be adopted to improve the psycho-social health and wellbeing of workers.Health and safetyThe OHA can have a role to play in developing health and safety strategies. Where large, or high risk, organizations have their own in-house health and safety specialists the OHA can work closely with these specialists to ensure that the nurses expertise in health, risk assessment, health surveillance and environmental health management is fully utilized into the health and safety strategy. Occupational health nurses are trained in health and safety legislation, risk management and the control of workplace health hazards and can therefore make a useful contribution to the overall management of health and safety at work, with particular emphasis on ‘health’ risk assessment.Hazard identificationThe nurse often has close contact with the workers and is aware of changes to the working environment. Because of the nurses expertise in the effects of work on health they are in a good position to be involved in hazard identification. Hazards may arise due to new processes or working practices or may arise out of informal changes to existing processes and working practices that the nurse can readily identify and assess the likely risk from. This activity requires and pre-supposed regular and frequent work place visits by the occupational health nurse to maintain an up to date knowledge and awareness of working processes and practices.Risk assessmentLegislation in Europe is increasingly being driven by a risk management approach. OHA’s are trained in risk assessment and risk management strategies and, depending upon their level of expertise and the level of complexity involved in the risk assessment, the nurse can undertake risk assessments or contribute towards the risk assessment working closely with other specialists.Advice on control strategiesHaving been involved in the hazard identification and risk assessment the occupational health nurse can, within the limits of their education and training, provide advice and information on appropriate control strategies, including health surveillance, risk communication, monitoring and on the evaluation of control strategies.Research and the use of evidence based practiceSpecialist OHA’s utilize research findings from a wide range of disciplines, including nursing, toxicology, psychology, environmental health and public health in their daily practice. The principal requirement for an occupational health nurse in practice is that they have the skills to read and critically assess research findings from these different disciplines and to be able to incorporate the findings into evidence based approach to their practice. Research in nursing is already well established and there is a small, but growing, body of evidence being created by occupational health nursing researchers who investigate occupational health nursing practices. OHA’s should ensure that they have access to and the skills necessary to base their practice on the best available evidence. At the company level occupational health nurses may be involved in producing management reports on for example sickness absence trends, accident statistics, assessment of health promotion needs and in evaluating the delivery of services, the effectiveness of occupational health interventions. Research skills and the ability to transfer knowledge and information from published research to practice is an important aspect of the role.EthicsOHA’s, along with other health, environment and safety professionals in the workplace health team, are in a privileged position in society. They have access to personal and medical information relating to employees in the company that would not be available to any other group. Society has imposed, by law, additional responsibilities on clinical professionals to protect and safeguard the interest of patients. The ethical standards for each discipline are set and enforced by each of the professional bodies. Breaches of these codes of conduct can result in the professional being removed from the register and prevented for practicing. Nurses have a long and well-respected tradition in society of upholding the trust placed in them by patients. This level of trust in the occupational health nurse’s professional integrity means that employees feel that they can be open, honest and share information with the nurse in the confidence that the information will not be used for other purposes. This allows the nurse to practice much more effectively than would ever be possible if that trust was not there. The protection of personal information enables a trusted relationship between employees and the nurse to be developed and facilitates optimum working relationships and partnership. The International Commission on Occupational Health (ICOH) has published useful guidance on ethics for occupational health professionals’. This guidance is summarized below “Occupational Health Practice must be performed according to the highest professional standards and ethical principles. Occupational health professionals must serve the health and social wellbeing of the workers, individually and collectively. They also contribute to environmental and community health the obligations of occupational health professionals include protecting the life and the health of the worker, respecting human dignity and promoting the highest ethical principles in occupational health policies and programs. Integrity in professional conduct, impartiality and the protection of confidentiality of health data and the privacy of workers are part of these obligations. Occupational health professionals are experts who must enjoy full professional independence in the execution of their functions. They must acquire and maintain the competence necessary for their duties and require conditions which allow them to carry out their tasks according to good practice and professional ethics.”

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Some Common Misconceptions About Addicts

Common Misconceptions of AddictsAddicts are Lazy People.Addicts may seem lazy but they aren’t always lazy people. In fact, they are usually very motivated to satisfy their cravings. It actually takes quit an amount of energy to plan and make sure there is enough of the drug through the rest of the day and for tomorrow and the day after that.Whether it is making sure you have computer access for pornography or that you have enough alcohol rationed out for the next day. Planning to obtain and ration your drug to make sure you have enough of it, while hiding it from those around you, takes a great deal of effort.When an addict becomes sober, they are quite surprised to find a lot of free time and do not know how to use it because it has always been consumed by addictive behaviors. This is why it is important to fill a sober addict’s time with other wholesome behaviors.Addicts Are Stupid. An addict’s brain undergoes changes that lead to irrational behavior. Addicts do stupid things, but they are not stupid. The irrational (pre-rational to be more accurate) part of the brain hijacks the rational side of the brain (pre-frontal cortex). This is why they make emotional decisions that seem irrational, and some addicts make poor decisions from fear of withdrawal.Addicts Live a Carefree Life.Many non-addicts I knew seem to get a bit envious of those who use drugs or alcohol throughout the day to escape responsibilities or live in their own carefree world. In reality, an addict that has to self-medicate to feel normal – whether it be from drugs, alcohol or pornography- often do not have a good time because they are just trying to feel normal. Remember a new “set point” of feeling normal has been made within the brain of an addict.Pornography addicts can feel very irritable or experience fuzzy thinking without porn. Alcoholics and drug addicts feel depression, hopelessness or physically sick without their drug. This is a life that has increasing physical, mental and emotional hardship in which engaging in the addiction no longer makes the addict feel euphoric, but normal.Addicts are slaves. They have to continue to use even though many of them know that it is wrong. They often have to lie to those they love and maintain a dishonest life in order to feel normal.Addicts are often paranoid and deal with greater fear than non-addicts. They know that their games cannot keep up. They usually know that sooner or later they will get caught and they know that their addiction will either cause serious problems in their relationships and in some cases may kill them.Addicts Lack Willpower.It is true that addicts usually lack the willpower to beat addiction, but remember that is because of the change in the brain caused by addiction. Due to the worsening nature of addiction on the individual’s brain, they are increasingly becoming more compulsive despite sever negative consequences.In the brain this results in an imbalance or “homeostatic deregulation” within the reward pathways, which further explain how addiction develops and relapse is all too common.[1]When an addict tries to stop by willpower, only then does he feel the full strength of the addiction. They often don’t know the full strength of their addiction because they are always giving in. Once they make the decision to try to quit they are often defeated and may seem lazy because they lay in bed without a fix. But that is because they have a depleted dopamine level caused by long-term overstimulation.During abstinence the user experiences reduced reward neurotransmitters that cause feelings of anxiety, irritability or stress. Extremely high doses of opioids from opium based drugs show a profound alteration of the opioid receptors within the brain.[2]A failure to quit a destructive habit is not because one lacks willpower, but because of the changes in the function of the brain.Motivation and fear of withdrawal will outweigh any or all rational reasons to stop engaging in the behavior. Since the brain has a new set point of normal so they continue to use without experiencing the terrible lows of being without the drug.[3]An Addict Won’t Recover If He Is Forced. Addicts do not have to seek help in order for it to work for them. Remember, the majority of addicts are already in denial. They think they don’t need help, they think it won’t work, and they think that someday they will be able to figure out a way they can still use without having negative consequences.Addicts often do not go to support groups or treatment centers because they want to. In fact, most of the time addicts are forced to seek treatment. Whether addicts overdose and sent to a hospital or impatient treatment, court ordered or pressured from family the result seems to be the same. Addicts may go to rehab for the wrong reasons, but after a while of sobriety, they may start believing in the right reasons to continue treatment.In rehab, the addict has their drug forcefully taken away from them, and this is where the addict may realize how addicted they really are. Since addicts are always giving in, sometimes they need to feel the full power of their addictions before they realize they have a problem. Sometimes a glimpse of a “real life” situation will enable an addict to have a moment of clarity.Some addicts are able to quit for days or weeks at a time. This doesn’t mean that they don’t have a problem. In fact, if addicts didn’t have an addiction they wouldn’t be “quitting” in the first place. Addicts always think that they can quit, until they try their very hardest to stay sober forever. Sure an addict may go a few days or a week. This is how the addict rationalizes their addiction. They are constantly in denial because they feel they have control of their addiction if they do it less.References:1. Sinha R (2001) How does stress increase risk of drug abuse and relapse? Psychopharmacology (Berl) 158:343 -3592. O’Brien, C. P., A. R. Childress, R. Ehrman, and S. J. Robbins. 1998. “Conditioning Factors in Drug Abuse: Can They Explain Compulsion?” Journal of Psychopharmacology 12:15-22. Neurobiology of craving, conditioned reward and relapse Weiss 15 http://www.sciencedirect.com Current Opinion in Pharmacology 2005, 5:9-19.3. Chao, J., and E. Nestler. 2004. “Molecular Neurobiology of Drug Addiction.” Annual Review of Medicine 55:113-132. What’s the Lure of the Edge? The Answer Is All In Their Heads, New York Times, June 20, 2005.

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The Unbreakable Laws of the Universe

To live a harmonious life, you must not only abide by the laws of your country, but also by the natural Laws of the Universe. If we transgress, there will be consequences. Like any country, the universe is also governed by certain laws. We refer to these as Universal Laws or Laws of Nature, ‘whose content is set by nature and is therefore universal’ (Wikipedia).The Law of Gravity is an example of a Universal Law. So is the Law of Conservation of Energy, that is, energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed from one form to another. However, unlike human laws, which can vary from country to country, Universal Laws are consistent and unchanging. You interact with these laws with every breath you take. They govern your existence.Nothing about your life has been casual or accidental!The Universal Laws seem to be mysterious. They have hidden truths. When you identify these hidden truths and utilise them correctly, miracles or amazing results occur in your life. It may manifest as suddenly having money when you need it the most, reversing a life-threatening disease, or succeeding in a particular endeavour. These ‘miracles’, no matter how incredible they might be, are not unbelievable outcomes. They are natural outcomes based on the correct application of specific laws of nature.Unfortunately, some of the Universal Laws are not as clear-cut as they might seem. There are unnoticed subtleties to the Universal Laws which, when understood and applied, can make all the difference between happiness and misery, prosperity and poverty, peace and conflict, ease and struggle.It’s easy to think that some people are born to affluence and all good things happen to them. The truth is, these people aren’t simply lucky; good things don’t just ‘happen’ to them. They’re just applying the Laws of the Universe more effectively, whether they’re aware of it or not. The laws are flawless; they work perfectly every time, all the time. If you seem to be doing all the right things, but your results are poor, consider the Laws of the Universe and how you are applying them. This book will help you.How many laws are there? Many.These laws govern every aspect of our existence. The supreme Law of the Universe is the Law of Cause and Effect, also referred to as karma or the parable of ‘reaping what you sow’. For every effect there is a cause; for every action there is a reaction. Positive action equates to a positive result. The Law of Cause and Effect transcends time, space or form.It operates whether you are aware of it or not.Every human thought, word or deed is a cause that sets off a wave of energy throughout the universe, resulting in desirable or undesirable effects. If there are undesirable effects, it simply means that at some time in the past, there was a thought, word or deed that caused a wave of undesirable energy. As normal, fully-functioning people we are quite literally responsible for everything in our lives. The following excerpt illustrates this concept.This is the suggestion a man gave to his subconscious mind over a period of about two years: “I would give my right arm to see my daughter cured.” It appeared that his daughter had a crippling form of arthritis together with a so-called incurable form of skin disease. Medical treatment had failed to alleviate the condition, and the father had an intense longing for his daughter’s healing, and expressed his desire in the words just quoted.One day the family was out for a drive. Their car was involved in a head-on collision. The father’s right arm was torn off at the shoulder. When he came home from the hospital, he discovered that his daughter’s arthritis and skin condition had vanished.(Murphy, 2001)Everyone is subject to these same natural Laws of the Universe, regardless of race, colour, creed or gender. The laws exert their influence without our consent or awareness. When we choose the behaviour, we choose the consequences. Interestingly, the people who are frustrated in life consistently try to defy the natural laws. And, not surprisingly, successful people live in harmony with the natural Laws of the Universe.Deepak Chopra, an authority in mind-body medicine, identified these issues in his bestselling book, The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success, saying ‘no debt in the universe ever goes unpaid. There is a perfect accounting system in this universe, and everything is a constant “to and fro” exchange of energy’.All of life is connected; what we do to others, we do to ourselves. According to the principle of karma, any negative or positive thought or action remains that way, until it expends (uses up) its energy by acting upon the originator. The energy you create through your thoughts, words and deeds – either negative or positive – will rebound and act on YOU. But, as it is the nature of energy to expand when it is put out into the world, you will at some point experience much more than you caused others to experience.If you cause others to experience prosperity and wellbeing, it will come back to you and you will experience it as well, often multiplied. In like manner, if you hurt someone, the energy will eventually return and cause you even greater hurt, unless of course you make amends in some way.Eighteenth-century German poet and philosopher, Wolfgang Von Goethe wrote:Nature understands no jesting; she is always true, always serious, always severe; she is always right, and the errors and faults are always those of man. The man incapable of appreciating her, she despises and only to the apt, the pure, and the true, does she resign herself and reveal her secrets.The Law of Cause and Effect is the IRON LAW of the universe. It is unyielding. If you defy this law, there will be consequences – no ‘ifs, ands, or buts’ about it. It’s fascinating (and often tragic) to observe how many of us try to defy this law, especially when we pursue quick and easy gains. Often we strive for what we want by doing the exact opposite of what is in our best interest.This beautiful fable illustrates the mystifying and sometimes illusive nature of the Law of Cause and Effect.The Secret to Creating AffluenceA young man went to the forest and said to his spiritual master, ‘I want to have unlimited wealth, to help and heal the world. What is the secret to wealth?’The spiritual master said, ‘There are two Goddesses that reside in the heart of every human being: the Goddess of WEALTH and the Goddess of KNOWLEDGE’.'Although you love both, you must pursue one of them to the exclusion of the other. Pursue her, love her, and give her your attention. Understand that only the Goddess of Wealth can give you wealth, and you may pursue only one Goddess, not both’.'But, here is the secret: If you pursue the Goddess of Wealth, she will be pleased with you because she loves to be chased. The more you pursue her the more she will elude you. However, if you pursue the Goddess of KNOWLEDGE, the Goddess of WEALTH will become extremely jealous and pay more att ention to you. In fact, the more you seek the Goddess of Knowledge, the more the Goddess of Wealth will seek you. She will never leave you. She will constantly shower you with material blessings just to win your attention, and the wealth you desire will be yours forever’.Adapted from (Chopra, 1993)The human tendency is to pursue the Goddess of Wealth, which seems like the logical choice. However, wealth is simply an effect, and like any effect it has a cause. In the fable, pursuing one goddess gets you the best of both worlds; wealth comes from the acquisition and proper application of knowledge.So let’s be clear: your goals and dreams will manifest when you and the Laws of the Universe are in harmony!It’s a scientific fact that the universe operates in absolute harmony with IRREVOCABLE natural laws and principles that have NEVER varied throughout all time. These laws prevail regardless of whether we heed them or not. Those individuals who live in harmony with the Laws of the Universe will emerge victorious. Bestselling author, Bob Proctor, summed it up perfectly when he said,You are living and working in a dynamic global marketplace that leaves little room for error. In future, only those individuals whose beliefs are sound, in harmony with the laws of the universe, and have been integrated with their behavior, will emerge as real winners.(Proctor 2011)This much we know with certainty: you have unlimited potential and you can tap into and harness this potential by combining:1. a deeper understanding of yourself (your power of attraction) with2. specific efforts towards a desired outcome (your power of action).In other words, you’ll experience the rewards (the Law of Receiving) when you truly understand that you have immense, untapped ability, and you combine that understanding with deliberate application of the Law of Attraction and the Law of Action.These are the three key laws of manifestation that interact to create abundance in your life. Use these laws in cohesion to expedite your success and achieve better results.

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Get Affordable Home Insurance in Calgary

There are many reasons to get home insurance in Calgary. First of all, you want to make sure your house, cottage, or tenancy is covered for damage, theft, and flooding. Secondly, you want to know if you are overpaying for home insurance, and if you are, you want to know if you have access to a more affordable insurer. We can help you connect with a live insurance broker who will give you the information you need to insure your house in Calgary. You can also request a quote from at least 10 Canadian home insurers, so you can compare rates.Typical Home Insurance Premiums
Home protection prices are different for rented and owned properties. Tenants insurance for rented homes covers the basic contents of a house and some liability (you may need a separate policy for fine art, wine collections, furs, and other expensive, atypical items). Tenants insurance is often cheaper than homeowners insurance.Homeowners insurance covers the building and its exterior, as well as risks connected to theft, fire, earthquake, etc. Since the value of the building is much higher than the contents of a rented unit, homeowners insurance premiums are significantly higher than are the premiums for tenants insurance.In order to have a broader picture of home insurance rates in Canada, here are statistics of the average home rates in Alberta, Ontario, British Columbia, and Canada. These statistics are provided by InsurEye.In Alberta, monthly house insurance rates are typically $84 for homeowners and $49 for renters.In Ontario, monthly home insurance rates are typically $78 for homeowners and $42 for renters.In British Columbia, monthly home protection rates are typically $85 for homeowners and $47 for renters.Across Canada, monthly home insurance rates are typically $77 for homeowners and $41 for renters.Examples of Calgary Home Insurance Quotes
Home insurance quotes in Calgary depend on the size of a building, its location, and possible risks (like flooding). The following examples of house insurance quotes will help you better understand how much home insurance can potentially cost you:· For a 2,800 square foot, two-storey house in Calgary, in the neighbourhood of Altadore near River Park, expect approximately $98 monthly ($1,176 a year).· For an 850 square foot, two-bedroom condominium on the 12th floor in downtown Calgary, next to Central Memorial Park, the insurance costs are approximately $23 a month ($276 a year).· For a one-storey house in Calgary, in the Mount Pleasant neighbourhood, located close to 4th St NW and the Trans-Canada Highway, the insurance is approximately $62 monthly ($744 a year).Flooding Coverage for Homes in Calgary
Since Calgary often sees flooding, every homeowner should be prepared for the possibility of this risk and should understand the main aspects of home protection and flooding. One thing you should keep in mind is that home protection in the flood-endangered areas of the city is more expensive because of the much higher risk.There are four main types of flooding. It is important to remember that your home insurance policy treats each of them differently:1. Overland flooding occurs as a consequence of water (rain or melting snow) entering your house from the outdoors. Standard insurance in Calgary does not cover expenses from overland flooding. However, some companies do provide coverage for this type of flooding at an additional cost.2. Roof leakage can be covered or not covered, depending on the factors that caused it. If the roof was in poor condition from the beginning, your insurance provider will not cover the damage. Your home insurance will most likely cover damage from a natural cause, like hail.3. Your insurer will cover plumbing issues, only if you comply with the rules in your policy, such as having somebody visit your home while you are not there for extended periods of time (for example, while you are on vacation).4. Sewer backup happens when wastewater is driven back into your house. Traditional home protection does not cover this type of flooding. However, you can always purchase this type of coverage as an addition to your home insurance policy.The Difference Between Condo and Tenants Insurance in Calgary
Owners of condos can purchase homeowners insurance for their condo. The condominium corporation purchases commercial condo insurance. The difference between these two policies is in what part of the condo they cover. The homeowners insurance covers the contents of the condominium. The coverage also includes protection for upgrades, locker contents, third party liability, theft, additional living expenses, and sometimes special insurance assessments.The commercial condominium corporation’s insurance covers the building’s exterior (envelope), together with its infrastructure and common areas.Condo renters in Calgary need tenants insurance to cover the contents of their condos. This type of protection is usually mandatory and is part of the rental contract. In addition to the coverage of contents against theft, fire, and other hazards, the insurance also extends to third party liability and additional living expenses. Living expenses are for the cases when the condo is unlivable (due to earthquake, flood, fire, etc.), so the renter is forced to live in a hotel or rental unit until the condo repairs are complete.10 Ways to Save on Home Insurance in Calgary
Here are a few ways to save on your home coverage. For more savings, get an insurance quote and contact an insurance expert.1. Professional membership. Members of unions or professional organizations can get a discount on their home insurance. Insurance companies, like Meloche Monnex Insurance, also provide their members with insurance policies.2. Hydrant or fire station. If your home is close to one of these things, you can ask for a discount from your insurance provider.3. Discounts for students. Some insurance providers give discounts for students. As for dependent students who live alone, their parent’s home insurance may cover the insurance on their apartment at no additional charge. For example, Desjardins Insurance provides this discount.4. Discounts for graduates. TD Insurance is an example of an insurer that offers discounts for graduates from post-secondary institutions like McGill University or the University of Toronto.5. Quit smoking. Many insurance companies increase home protection premiums for smokers due to the potential fire risk.6. Change your policy. Those with tenant insurance should rethink the size of their coverage – perhaps some things that do not have much value do not need additional coverage.7. Security of your home. Does your home have additional security, like a doorman or security guard? This might get you a discount from your insurance provider.8. Direct insurer. Also called a captive agent, a direct insurer represents one company and can offer their products for a cheaper price when compared to insurance agents or brokers.9. Consumer reviews. Other home insurance consumers often share their experiences of purchasing insurance and making claims. Thanks to these insights, you will be able to avoid unexpected costs and overpayment.10. Compare prices. You can get home insurance quote in Calgary for a cheaper price thanks to the price comparison tools that show you the rates of the same services provided by different insurance companies.

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