Hold my hand please

Once, a man named Joe and his little girl were crossing a wooden-bridge in Tarrytown, New York.

Joe was kind of scared so he asked his little daughter, "Sweetheart, please hold my hand so that you don't fall into the river."

The little girl said, "No, Dad. You hold my hand."

"What's the difference?" Asked the puzzled father.

"There's a big difference," replied the little girl.

"If I hold your hand and something happens to me, chances are that I may let your hand go. But if you hold my hand, I know for sure that no matter what happens, you will never let my hand go."

In any relationship, the essence of trust is not in its bind, but in its bond.

As you may already know, over the last 40 years of Bob Proctor's life he's been holding people's hands and leading them step-by-step across the bridge to a life of richness and success.

If you allow him to hold your hand... he promises to keep your faith and lead you to a world of insane wealth and prosperity.

Click here to find out exactly how he'll be holding your hand and leading you step-by-step to the other side of the bridge: http://bit.ly/9QdpQ1

How to design a book cover (Timelapse)

Curious about what it takes to design a cool eye-catching book cover? Try six hours and some serious Photoshop skills. Lauren Panepinto of Orbit Books condensed all her hard work on a Victorian/Steampunk novel cover into a fascinating two-minute clip.

Inspirational story – Don't We all

Thank you to Indian Child for this story

I was parked in front of the mall wiping off my car. I had just come from the car wash and was waiting for my wife to get out of work.
Coming my way from across the parking lot was what society would consider a bum.
From the looks of him, he had no car, no home, no clean clothes, and no money. There are times when you feel generous but there are other times that you just don't want to be bothered. This was one of those "don't
want to be bothered times."
"I hope he doesn't ask me for any money," I thought.
He didn't.
He came and sat on the curb in front of the bus stop but he didn't look like he could have enough money to even ride the bus.
After a few minutes he spoke.
"That's a very pretty car," he said.
He was ragged but he had an air of dignity around him. His scraggly blond beard keep more than his face warm.
I said, "thanks," and continued wiping off my car.

He sat there quietly as I worked. The expected plea for money never came.
As the silence between us widened something inside said, "ask him if he needs any help." I was sure that he would say "yes" but I held true to the inner voice.
"Do you need any help?" I asked.
He answered in three simple but profound words that I shall never forget.
We often look for wisdom in great men and women. We expect it from those of higher learning and accomplishments.

I expected nothing but an outstretched grimy hand. He spoke the three words that shook me.
"Don't we all?" he said.

I was feeling high and mighty, successful and important, above a bum in the street, until those three words hit me like a twelve gauge shotgun.
Don't we all?
I needed help. Maybe not for bus fare or a place to sleep, but I needed help. I reached in my wallet and gave him not only enough for bus fare, but enough to get a warm meal and shelter for the day. Those three little words still ring true. No matter how much you have, no matter how much you have accomplished, you need help too. No matter how little you have, no matter how loaded you are with problems, even without money or
a place to sleep, you can give help.

Even if it's just a compliment, you can give that.
You never know when you may see someone that appears to have it all.
They are waiting on you to give them what they don't have. A different perspective on life, a glimpse at something beautiful, a respite from daily chaos, that only you through a torn world can see.
Maybe the man was just a homeless stranger wandering the streets. Maybe he was more than that.

Maybe he was sent by a power that is great and wise, to minister to a soul too comfortable in themselves.

Maybe God looked down, called an Angel, dressed him like a bum, then said, "go minister to that man cleaning the car, that man needs help."
Don't we all?

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If there were dreams to sell, what would you buy?

- Thomas Lovell Beddoes

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Do You Always Operate at Your Personal and Professional Best?

With 101 Best Ways to Be Your Best, you can significantly enhance your ability to do just that.

Michael Angier tells stories of struggle and achievement, offers practical advice, motivates those on a quest for their best and shares the steps of his own personal journey from Vermont farmer to international success guru.

101 Best Ways to Be Your Best

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Is Twitter a Presenter’s Nightmare or a Dream Come True?

with Cliff Atkinson

Armed with laptops and smartphones, audiences are no longer sitting quietly while speakers are talking — instead they’re using Twitter and other tools to create a backchannel where they chat with one another, make comments about your presentation and broadcast their thoughts to people all over the world.
If audiences are happy, the backchannel can spread your ideas far and wide, create buzz about your ideas, and keep a conversation going long after you leave the podium. But if audiences are unhappy, the backchannel can criticize your ideas and delivery, disrupt your talk, and even derail your presentation completely. So is the backchannel yet another thing to fear when you give your next presentation? Or a great opportunity to really know what your audience is thinking?

Cliff Atkinson, author of The Backchannel: How Audiences are Using Twitter and Social Media and Changing Presentations Forever, will share his research and ideas for making the backchannel work for you.
You will learn:
• How audiences are changing the power dynamic of presentations
• Why you need a Twitter account and how to use it
• How to make your presentation Twitter-friendly
• How to avoid backchannel disasters
• How to extend your message farther than previously possible
• How to use Twitter feedback to adjust or fine-tune your ideas

Click here for all the details ...

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Share a story, shape a future

Tif at Tif talks books is celebrating all things literacy with Share-a-Story, Shape-a-Future!!

She has answered the questions

What is the book from your childhood you can't wait to share with a child and why?

Who is the person who influenced you most as a reader?

Do you have any special reading-time rituals for reading aloud with kids?

and it makes a great post - beautiful!

http://bit.ly/d5EhZ8

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Using Pain and Pleasure to Win the Sale

Traditional sales training teaches that the sales process starts with needs. Find out what your prospects need and then give it to them. The trouble is that it isn’t strictly true. Your customers are not motivated to buy what they need. Your customers are motivated to buy what they want. >>> read more

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The Seven Chakras

An article from Jonathan Benjem which outlines the basics of chakras

Chakras are the foci within our bodies where the energy which makes up our life force is generated. Chakra is a Sanskrit word meaning wheel; a good representation of the spherical energy field the word refers to.

There are six Chakras which are located along the spine and a seventh one above these, removed from the physical element of your body.

We think of these Chakras as being composed of energy; but it is very important to realize that the Chakras are closely related to and have influence over your physical body.

A healthy alignment of all of the seven Chakras will allow you to maintain your own health and happiness during your life. It is important to understand what each of the chakras is, and what it does for you.

More here >>>

Instantly improve your public speaking dramatically

Interesting article on 7 "little things that will instantly improve your public speaking dramatically."

I really love

SAVE THE BEST FOR LAST

and undoubtedly certain people need to be told

TALK TWICE AS SLOW

TALK TWICE AS LOUD

... a very useful list to print out and read just before presenting.
7 Easy Ways To Instantly Improve Your Public Speaking

Reading Isn’t Cool? Three Ways to Encourage Reluctant Readers

Do your kids avoid reading because it isn't cool? Maybe you're more in tune than I am, but I was startled when my grandson informed me that reading isn't cool.

Discovering Reading Isn't Cool

It first started when he got home from school one day without the book he was supposed to read. I figured it was yet another way to get out of the requisite 15-minute evening reading requirement. I cut him off at the pass right away: "Well, Caleb, guess you'll have to read one of my books like Harry Potter." But he's not reading Harry Potter, even the 1st volume is a whopping 309 pages. And why on earth would you read something that's also on a DVD that you've already seen?

Not to be deterred, I mention I have a few other books from my childhood. But no way is he reading girl books or books that are THAT old. I find a book for kids that will help with ADHD with lots of pictures and bullet points. He finally agrees to read this for 15 minutes but hates it.

The next day he dutifully brings his book home from school--hidden under his hoodie--so at least he can read a book he's chosen. "Caleb, why is your book under your hoodie instead of in your back pack." He looks at me like I've just lost my mind and patiently explains that reading isn't cool. That he would NEVER want another kid to see him taking a book home.

I check this out with his teachers. Sure enough, part of the struggle they have getting kids to read is the "cool factor."

Try the Library

Still thinking that eventually I'll just give up, he comes home again without a book. I say "Fine. You don't want to read what I have. We'll go to the library and you can choose a book." He argues that going to library is out of the question because someone might see him at the library. Now there's a certain amount of logic here: If reading isn't cool, libraries obviously represent the height of un-cool-ness.

But "someone might see me" isn't as logical. I remind him that if someone sees him at the library, they might be getting a book too. He and his friend can now be uncool together.

Go to a Bookstore

In addition to the library, you can take your reluctant reader to a large bookstore. It's your second option. Choose one that has a kids' area, things to do, even a coffee shop. And don't forget bribes. Something like "After you choose a book--not a game, a puzzle, sticker book or toy--we'll get hot chocolate and a goodie in the cafe."

Have Books at Home

A third option is having lots of books your child has chosen at home. If you're at home, your friends can't see you reading. When friends come over, just put the books away--or choose friends who think reading IS cool. You can't change peer pressure but you certainly can side-step it. And you'll find more ways to sabotage peer pressure and help reluctant readers who think reading isn't cool athttp://www.smartkidssmartparents.com/read/.

Discover strategies and tips to help kids reach their Smart Potential. Sign up today for your FREE subscription to the "Smart Learning" newsletter.http://smartkidssmartparents.com/sign-up/

from MaryJo Wagner, Ph.D. - The Learning Doctor, helping you help your kids learn quickly and easily every day in every subject

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