Students Of Success

Depression self help is an option that you have. First off, it is incredibly important for you to seek out the necessary support for your condition. Both depression and anxiety are serious conditions that should not be left untreated. But, there are various degrees of severity offered by them. In some cases, depression self help is not an option. This is very evident when it comes to the treatment of a severe case in which you are thinking about or have attempted suicide. Then, depression medicine is the best way to go at least from this point.

Understanding Your Options

What many that experience depression do not know is that they do have the ability to explore depression self help options. You do not have to be heavily medicated if you do not want to, unless you are in a very severe case or are suffering from manic depression symptoms. So, what can you do? Here are some things that have been found to help.

· Alternative treatments for depression include supplements of herbal products. There are many products that offer help from anxiety as well as from depression. Products made from high quality ingredients can be helpful. Purchase these only from reputable providers of quality foods.

· It is necessary for you to realize that depression self help must focus on your own feelings about yourself. One way in which you tackle your condition is to realize that things may not be as bad as they seem. The negative thinking that is overtaking your mind is not something that is your fault, but part of your depression, a true illness.

· Do not expect yourself to just wake up and the depression is gone. The fact is that even with the best anxiety and depression treatment, they can linger for a very long period of time.

· Avoid making life decisions that will affect you or your loved ones when you are feeling depressed. You should seek out the help of those that know and love you for additional help here or postpone decision making until after your depression is lessened.

· Practice depression self help treatments such as yoga and meditation. These can help the body to regain a tranquil feeling and will ultimately provide you with a bit of healing. Acupuncture is another traditional treatment of depression that you may find help from.

· Do not set goals for yourself that are too challenging or that provide you with a high level of responsibility. Putting too much pressure on yourself can lead to worsened symptoms of depression. Do not set yourself up for failure.

· Physical activity is good for the body and the soul. If you get outdoors and do the physical things that you used to enjoy, you will work on restoring your health. Depression self help can include putting yourself into situations that you are familiar with and once loved.

Depression self help can and does help. Remember that if you are in severe depression that you should seek out help from your doctor. Even if you do not want to take depression medicine, he or she will help you to find alternative treatments for depression that really will help you.

Sandy Sizemore writes on many consumer related topics including mental health. You can find manic depression symptoms and the natural remedies for depression and more by visiting our mental health website.

Ever thought about hosting your own networking event and promoting your business at the same time? Ah ha, what a wonderful idea – you could invite non-competing business associates, other entrepreneurs, etc., and tell them to bring a friend.

I’m an introvert. Is it really that simple? It could be, but if you are too bashful to take the lead, ask an outgoing, non-competing business acquaintance to joint sponsor the event. Share the work and share the reward.

Action Items:

Preliminary Planning

*Set a date.

*Select and reserve a facility. It could be a local restaurant, club, meeting room, library, community room, etc.

*Ensure the area has adequate parking.

* Develop a preliminary guest list. Tell your guests to bring a friend.

* Determine your budget based on estimated costs of food, mailings (if applicable), etc.

* Determine if the event will be “free” or if you will charge a “minimal” fee to cover expenses.

* Finalize menu.

* Decide if you will have a speaker, or allow brief presentations by participants. Naturally, plan to take a few moments to introduce yourself and your business.

* Make a site visit and meet with your sales representative about room setup, A/V needs, etc. (if applicable).

* Plan a “datesaver” letter, postcard or appropriate email communiqué.

* Invite your guests.

1 Week Before the Event

* Print appropriate quantities of your company materials. Remember, the purpose is to promote your business.

* Stuff registration packets (if any).

* Print name tags and double-check spelling of all names.

* Notify caterer of counts and if they are significantly lower or higher than initially expected (if applicable).

Event Day

* Arrive early, making sure all arrangements are in place and station yourself at the front door.

* Meet and greet your guests.

* Provide a sign-in sheet or method to capture contact information, i.e., prize drawings, raffle, etc. Don’t forget to request that all-important email address, so you can have an inexpensive means to communicate later.

* Relax and smile.

* Never tell “war stories” to your guests or intimate that things might be less than perfect. Chances are no one but you will notice any mistakes.

* Mingle and enjoy the event.

After the Event

* Close the books — pay all bills.

* Send thank-you notes to all the attendees. Great time to implement a “Keep Clients Program”.

* Compile and review evaluation results, if applicable.

This event is your opportunity to make new business acquaintances and influence people. Now that it’s all planned, enjoy the networking and meet your ideal client.

Part 2 of Getting the Most Bang from a Networking Event describes how to network with your ideal client and become her “go to person” resource.

Sharon Williams is president and CEO of The 24 Hour Secretary, an administrative, secretarial, marketing and internet-based business support services firm open 24/7. Sharon helps busy and often overwhelmed executives and entrepreneurs, achieve their goals by giving the gift of time. Learn about the “Keep Clients Program” by visiting http://www.the24hoursecretary.com/keep-clients.htm Subscribe to her ezine Smart Business = Success, stocked with tips for busy professionals and visit her blog for up-to-date marketing strategies and other business tips, located at http://www.the24hoursecretary.com

Excellent choices for your fitness regimen are elliptical exercise machines. When compared to a treadmill, these pieces of equipment can give you a better workout without giving you all the damaging side effects of running on the treadmill belt. One of the common problems with the treadmill is that they can do a good amount of damage to the knees, back, and hips from the shock of hitting the hard surface time and time again. With the elliptical, you lose most of this painful shock because you are not running but moving in an up and down motion. Elliptical exercise machines are fast becoming the type of machine to own and use for a healthy workout.

How To Choose The Right Machine

If you head to a local department store, you are going to be overwhelmed with your options in these machines. Elliptical trainers should be purchased based on several key factors including these.

· The machine should be of high quality. The most important factor is to determine if the equipment will take the beating you are going to give it. When looking at a price scale, the lower end models are often the least quality. But, that doesn’t mean that you have to go with the highest cost either. Middle ground is often the best in quality.

· Look at what the machine is designed for. For example, if you belong to a health club where they use these machines, notice how well the product works for you. Do you enjoy it? Is there one type that you like better than others? If so, then gravitate towards the purchase of that one instead of the other. Also, if you are used to a commercial choice, you may want to purchase one of this quality. You’ll have a tool that lasts a lot longer than others and it is one that is often high in quality and use.

· If you are new to home fitness equipment, you may want to invest in a lesser expensive model until you know for sure whether or not you like it. Then, you can always improve on it down the road.

· Use consumer reviews to get the best idea of how well a product works out of the box. You’ll find these reviews available throughout the web for various machines. You are more than likely going to find a wide range of opinions but instead of looking just at the surface of these reviews, find out why people rated them the way that they did. For example, if they thought the product was too hard to use, perhaps this is something that you should consider.

Getting A Good Price

You’ll also be able to find great prices on the equipment you are after by thoroughly comparing models. You’ll also find a wide range of opportunity online to get a lower price such as through discounts, sales and even by purchasing wholesale. Elliptical exercise machines are an excellent tool, but if you want to get a good quality product as well as one that will not break the bank, you’ll need to invest some time in researching them.

Susan Dean is the webmaster and publisher of
http://www.elliptical-trainers-shop.com/ Visit her site for a help & tips on selecting the best elliptical trainer to buy.

Malls are everywhere - in every town, city, village and nook.
They house thousands of storefronts and assorted units. The
products they stock are numerous and the array is mind-boggling.
There are items for the home, clothing, jewelry, plants,
furniture, and gift assortments to pick and choose from. All
these offerings lack one very special component - a personal
touch. There is absolutely nothing wrong with purchasing a
ready-made item - we are not all carpenters, gardeners, and
artists. All people are not gifted with the same talents and
abilities. We are unique and what we produce or create is a
shadow of ourselves. But mass-produced items are nameless, and
machines will never add that very “special” touch that makes a
gift item or home decor piece something that reflects the person
who bought it, the person it is intended for, or the lifestyle
it is to be a part of.

The key to all this - the best option, of course, is to make an
item for someone else yourself. If you sew, quilt, write, or
draw you have the potential of dispersing treasures that are not
duplicated, but are a memory in the making. With time restraints
and family and job commitments, many times making “things”
yourself is out of the question, or basically impractical. So,
what does a person do then - simple, add a “touch” to whatever
you buy whether for yourself or someone else. Look at your
purchase as a base, a canvas that is incomplete and needs a
little “help” in becoming a beautiful gift or addition to your
home. Just adding a ribbon, or ornamental “pick” that matches
the Holiday Season or a touch of nature, such as a dried flower
or leaf arrangement, will allow your purchase to cross over to
“special”. There is a coldness to just buying something,
wrapping it up and handing it to someone. Take the time, just a
moment or two, and write a short verse, a favorite saying, sign
a book with a date and the occasion, etc. A simple, affectionate
“touch” that will add so much value to whatever it is you are
giving or placing in your home. a quick tuck here or there, a
touch of glitter, or sparkle, and you have a “work of art”, a
symbol of friendship, or a token to hold near to the heart.

You are blessed with imagination and creativity. It is your own
special style - it is an outward gesture of who you are and what
you want to convey. Use this precious endowment - otherwise,
even imagination will tarnish and lose its shine. It is,
however, very easy to bring it back, to instill new life in
creativity, and to put your personal “stamp” on everything that
crosses your path. Holidays are especially great times to start
a journey back to taking a “cookie cutter” environment and
placing feeling, friendship, and love in all you do for
yourself, family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, etc.

This Holiday Season give a little of yourself in gift items,
decorating selections, and simple touches that show that you
cared enough to take the time to personalize, or add “love” to
everything. Even mealtimes are potential moments to show how
blessed you are to have a family member, a friend, or someone
you care about. A simple garnish or a colorful napkin and it is
no longer a “time to eat” - it is a moment to share food, fun,
and laughter. ENJOY! ©Arleen M. Kaptur 2002 October

Flow Text Around a Graphic

Question: I have inserted a photo in my Word document but when I try to make my text go around the photo, it will only go above and below it. How can I make it go around the photo?

Answer: Once you have inserted your photo or clip art, left click the object to select it, then right click it to open the shortcut menu. Left click Format Picture. Left click the Layout tab at the top of the dialog box. You will see a row of dogs. They represent how the text will flow around the graphic. To flow the text around the object in an evenly spaced square, click the dog above the word Square. Then left click Left, Center or Right under Horizontal Alignment. This tells the program where you want the photo to appear on your page (at the left, center or right side of the page).

Now left click Advanced in the lower right corner of the dialog box. Left click the Text Wrapping tab at the top of the dialog box. Under Wrap Text, left click beside the way you want your text to wrap around the graphic: Both Sides, Left Only, Right Only or Largest Only. Click OK, click OK again. Voilà. You’ve wrapped text. If it isn’t exactly the way you want, start over and try various other wrapping formats. Congratulations! You’re an expert!

Barb Walker is known as The Computer Lady in the Denver, Colorado area where she provides in-home computer training for senior citizens. She has written two computer manuals for seniors, Taming Your Computer — The Simple Basics, and Taming Your Computer — Beyond The Basics. Both books have received rave reviews from readers who have been searching for computer instructions they can understand. They are available on her website, http://www.TamingYourComputer.com. Her patient, laid back teaching style makes her a favorite among seniors. “I think I get along so well with seniors because I’m one too. I’m working with my peers. Most of them have had adult children and grandkids try to teach them how to use their computer, but they don’t have the patience to explain and demonstrate slowly.”

This article series will be broken down into the following sections: Processor and Memory, Hard Drive and Multimedia Drives, Audio, Video, and Graphics, Data Fax and Modem, and Ports.

These articles are about the components of the Compaq Presario SR1617CL-B; however, the knowledge you gain from these articles will equip you to make better buying decisions regarding any home desktop computer purchase. I will also add information and tips about computer components that are not in the Compaq Presario so that you have a solid understanding and that you are equipped to do good comparisons when shopping.

Hard Drive and Multimedia Drives: First of all, the hard drive type used most in home computers is the ATA (Advanced Technology Attachment) drive (better known as the IDE drive). This drive type has a 16 bit parallel interface and it supports up to 133MB/s data transfer rate. The version of ATA drive that supports this speed is ATA-7 and is the last drive of this type to be made.

When someone refers to a hard drive as an ATA drive, it is commonly a Parallel ATA hard drive. ATA hard drives are also often called IDE, EIDE, Ultra-ATA, Ultra-DMA, ATAPI, and PATA hard drives (each of these acronyms does imply specific details, but are commonly interchanged). Since the Compaq Presario SR1617CL-B uses a 160GB 7200RPM Ultra DMA hard drive, I will go into the specifics of Ultra DMA.

Ultra DMA can be best understood by breaking down its parts. DMA stands for Direct Memory Access. DMA allows the hard drive to send data directly to memory without visiting the processor (CPU). Since the CPU is busy doing all sorts of things, DMA increases performance by not having to wait on the CPU to get to the task. The Ultra in Ultra DMA means that the ATA transfer rate of 16.6 Mbytes/sec has been increased to 33.3 Mbytes/sec. There is an Ultra DMA hard drive that can transfer 133 Mbytes/sec and it is based on the ATA-7 standard and it can be found written as Ultra DMA-133 in desktop computer descriptions.

Therefore, if someone tells you that the computer you are buying has an Ultra DMA hard drive, make sure you ask if it is a 33,66,100 or 133 hard drive. The higher the DMA number the faster it can transfer data to the rest of the computer system. One last note Ultra ATA is the ATA hard drive standard developed by Intel, Seagate and Quantum for desktop computer systems.

In my next article of this series, we will move from the Ultra DMA drive to the workings of the SATA hard drive. Currently, the SATA drive is a little above the value priced range but as the popularity increases and the prices decrease the SATA will most certainly become the new standard.

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Olan Butler is the Chief Architect of BHO Technologists, a computer productivity & organization software and service provider http://www.bhotechnologists.com with headquarters in Kansas City.