By Success Expert and Motivational Speaker, Sharmen Lane

Hello World and Happy New Year!

No matter how you rang in the new year, there is no better time than the first day of the year to get started on making this an unforgettable, unstoppable year.

Most people set New Years Resolutions on New Years Eve, unfortunately they are quick to be forgotten by the end of the month… if it takes that long. What can you do to make this year different?  Here are a few tools and tips to give you the edge and make what you want happen.

1. Write your goal down. Don’t just say "I’m going to do blank."  Say, "I’m DOING blank."

2. Tell everyone you know.  Make a list starting right now of all the people you can share your goal with. Then call, email, text, twitter or whatever else you want but tell anyone and everyone you know about what you are DOING!

3. Create a vision board.  I do this every New Year’s Eve and now have vision board parties on New’s Year’s.  Cut out pictures of what you want and post them where you can see them often.  If you want to be an author, cut out a book cover and put your name and face on it.  If you want a lean, 10% body fat, size 8 body, or 34 inch waist, cut out a picture and put your face on it.  Make it real and see it so you can be it!

There you go, three simple steps to making what you want, real.  Remember, you have to make a plan and take action and these first three steps will start your journey.

Have an extraordinary year! Now get to it!

For more information visit ww.sharspeaks.com or email shar@sharspeaks.com. Also keep an eye out for my latest book, Giving You the WOW and the HOW, due out in early 2010!

In this day and age more people than not are using their cell phones for business use.  Not surprising considering the number of home based businesses being started every day.  To help you below is a list of 10 things you can do to maximize the use of your cell phone to save you money and make you more productive. To find another 75 tips visit cell phone blog.

1. Mobile Web:   Internet access anywhere anytime. Most mobile phone service providers offer a plan which includes internet service.   With mobile web you can read and send email, sign up for mobile banking services where you can pay bills and transfer funds, and you can check the weather or bet directions.

2. Speed it up. Mobile web is inarguable a highly valuable asset for business and domestic purposes.  But the speed of the web pages you access through your cell phone are often poor quality compared to what is available on your desktop or laptop.  The InfoGin company offers a solution.  The company offers a service which improves the quality of the content from the web pages you receive and the speed at which you receive it.  Though you may need to perform an extra step or two to if you want to route your service through InfoGin, the extra time and actions will be well worth the effort.  You may need to load the portal and enter your web addresses through the InfoGin portal.  But if time and quality are important to you, it may not be too much of an issue.

3. Unlock your phone.  Many service providers lock your phone so that you cannot obtain service on that particular cell phone through any other provider.  For those who do not know how to tell if their phone is locked, just put a sim card from another provider into your phone and turn it on.  If you get any type of message stating the phone cannot access service, your phone is locked.  What benefit is there to unlocking your phone?  If your phone is locked, you cannot access service with any other provider. This can be especially frustrating if you are traveling and trying to avoid roaming charges or if you have a good cell phone you still want to use and want to switch your service to a different provider.

4. Get the service provider code. To unlock your phone, you must have a code from the service provider or the phone manufacturer.  You can contact your service provider and ask their customer service representative to provide you with the unlock code, but they may be less than cooperative.  Your other option is to check out one of the sites which offer unlock codes or remote unlock services for a relatively cheap price.  You just enter the code into your phone and voila.  You can then use your phone to get service from any provider you choose without having to purchase a new phone and a new phone number.  You can purchase a sim card to be used when traveling out of your country of residence and avoid the insanely expensive phone bills.

5. Debranding your phone will remove the logos, images, themes, profiles and other predefined memory hogging items placed on your cell phone by the manufacturer and/or service provider.  When you debrand your phone, you can increase your available memory and rid your phone of locks which prevent you from being able to obtain free ringtones and images from other providers.

6. Firmware upgrades. When you purchase your cell phone you do so with the understanding that a newer, more advanced software version will be introduced afterwards.  Though you know this will inevitably occur, it doesn’t prevent the frustration you feel when you see all of the features and additional benefits offered on the newer version.  Firmware upgrades will allow you to access and load the newer version of the software onto your older cell phone version.  This can be done through a remote server comparable to those which offer the unlocking service.

7. Flashing your cell phone will clear unwanted manufacturer trial games and predetermined themes from your cell phone.  This will provide you with additional memory and save you from having to look at these unwanted items in your menu every time you scan through it.  You can also eliminate cell phone software problems you may be experiencing like a blinking, blue or white screen.  Flashing can be done by remote software and also with hardware.

8. Jailbreaking your iPhone allows you to eliminate the restrictions imposed on tailoring your cell phone to your specifications by your software. It is important that this be done properly and carefully so that no damage is done to the software causing the phone to malfunction.  Though this is a possible risk it is not a common one.  What this process achieves is liberation of sorts.  You can add customized options such as ring tones and wallpapers which are generally restricted on the phones.  Considering the cost of the cell phone itself, you should be able to personalize the phone the way you want.   If you are interested and want to learn to do this, check out this link.

9. Hash codes are mathematical functions which convert a large amount of information into a small index.  In the case of cell phones, hash codes unlock hidden features of your phone.  You can reset your phone to factory settings or turn on voice privacy feature or even check your signal strength.  Hash codes can be specific to a particular phone model or could work on several models but exclude others.  The advantage to using hash codes is that you are able to correct or diagnose certain problems you may be having with your phone due to changes you made or downloads.  Instead of having to send your phone in for repair or buy a new one, you can try one of the hash codes to restore your phone.

10. Free international calls.  In the past, if you want to talk to someone across an ocean you should be prepared to pay.  That is until Rebtel and Talkster developed an ad-supported free service to make these once outrageously expensive calls completely free.  The service works by creating local phone numbers for both parties.  One party would call a local number generated for them and the other party would have to hang up the phone and call back to their local number. The call is routed through a VoIP server and is at no cost to either party if completed correctly.

Above information was provided by cellphones.org/blog: For more information and additional tips visit http://cellphones.org/blog/tips/85-cell-phone-tips-tricks-and-hacks-for-a-more-streamlined-life
 

This is a really beautiful poem that I think everyone can learn from. Enjoy

This is a poem written by a teenager with cancer.She wants to see how many people get her poem.
It is quite the poem Please pass it on.

This poem was written by a terminally ill young girl in a New York Hospital .

It was sent by a medical doctor -Make sure to read what is in the closing statement AFTER THE POEM.

SLOW DANCE

Have you ever watched kids
On a merry-go-round?

Or listened to the rain
Slapping on the ground?

Ever followed a butterfly’s erratic flight?
Or gazed at the sun into the fading light?

You better slow down.
Don’t dance so fast.

Time is short.
The music won’t last.

Do you run through each day
On the fly?

When you ask How are you?
Do you hear the reply?

When the day is done
Do you lie in your bed

With the next hundred chores
Running through your head?

You’d better slow down
Don’t dance so fast.

Time is short.
The music won’t last.

Ever told your child,
We’ll do it tomorrow?

And in your haste,
Not see his sorrow?

Ever lost touch,
Let a good friendship die

Cause you never had time
To call and say,’Hi’

You’d better slow down.
Don’t dance so fast.

Time is short.
The music won’t last.

When you run so fast to get somewhere
You miss half the fun of getting there.

When you worry and hurry through your day,
It is like an unopened gift….Thrown away.

Life is not a race…..
Do take it slower

Hear the music
Before the song is over.

FORWARDED
E-MAILS ARE TRACKED TO OBTAIN THE TOTAL
COUNT.

Dear All:
PLEASE pass this mail on to everyone you know -even to those you don’t know! It is the request of a special girl who will soon leave this worlddue to cancer.

This young girl has 6 months left to live, and as her dying wish, she wanted to send a letter telling everyone to live their life to the fullest, since she never will.

She’ll never make it to prom, graduate from high school,or get married and have afamily of her
own.

By you sending this to as many people as possible, you can give her and her family a little hope, because with every namethat this is sent to, The American Cancer Society will donate 3 cents per name to her treatment and recovery plan. One guy sent this to 500 people! So I know that we can at least send it to 5 or 6. It’s not even your money, just your time!

PLEASE PASS ON AS A LAST REQUEST.

Dr. Dennis Shields, Professor
Department of Developmental and Molecular Biology

1300 Morris Park Avenue
Bronx , New York 10461

A  farmer had some puppies he needed to sell.   He painted a sign advertising the 4 pups and  set about nailing it to a post on the edge of his yard.  As he was driving the last nail into the
post, he felt a tug on his overalls.  He looked down into the eyes of a little boy.

"Mister," he said, "I want to buy one of your puppies."

"Well," said  the farmer, as he rubbed the sweat off the back of his neck, "These puppies come from fine parents and cost a good deal of  money."

The boy dropped his head for a moment. Then reaching deep into his pocket, he pulled out a handful of change and held it up to the farmer.

"I’ve got  thirty-nine cents. Is that enough to take a  look?"

"Sure," said the farmer.  And with that he let out a whistle. "Here, Dolly!" he  called.

Out from the doghouse and down the ramp ran Dolly followed by four little balls of fur.

The little boy pressed his face against the chain link fence.  His eyes danced with delight.  As the dogs made their way to the fence,  the little boy noticed something else stirring inside the doghouse.

Slowly another little ball appeared, this one noticeably  smaller.   Down the ramp it slid.  Then in a  somewhat awkward manner, the little pup began hobbling toward the others, doing its best to catch up…

"I want that one,"  the little boy said, pointing to the runt.  The farmer knelt down at the boy’s side and said, "Son, you don’t want that puppy…  He will never be able to run and play with you like these other dogs would."

With that  the little boy stepped back from the fence,  reached down, and began rolling up one leg of his trousers. In doing so he revealed a steel brace running down both sides of his leg attaching itself to a specially  made shoe.

Looking back up at the  farmer, he said, "You see sir, I don’t run  too well myself, and he will need someone who understands."

With tears in his eyes, the farmer reached down and picked up the little pup.


Holding it carefully he handed it to the little  boy. "How much?" asked the little boy.  "No charge," answered the farmer,  There’s  no charge for love."

The world is full of  people who need someone who understands. It’s National Friendship  Week. Show your friends how much you care. Send this to everyone you consider a  FRIEND as well as those who WERE!!!
If it  comes back to you, then you’ll know you  have a circle of friends.

Have you ever thought about how people are created equal? Did you know that there is one way and one way only that we are all exactly the same? That way is time. It doesn’t matter how much money you have, or what school you went to, or where you were raised… you only get 24 hours in a day.  That’s 86,400 seconds in each 24-hour period. 

The way to be most efficient and effective with your time and get the most out of your 24 hours is to follow these five simple steps.

Write. Everything you need or want to get done in a day, write it down.  You don’t have to overcomplicate this one.  Just get a simple legal pad of paper and write "Things To Do Monday" at the top. Then start your list. I do things to the ridiculous. 1. Wake up at 6 a.m. 2. Go to gym by 6:30. 3. E-mail Mike regarding marketing. 4. Call Mary about business cards. 5. Pick up dry cleaning. 6. Drop off bracelet at jeweler. 7. Buy stamps…etc. If you simply write down what needs to be done you will free up your mind and instantly be more focused and get more done.

Eliminate distractions. Distractions or interruptions are the primary cause for people to not be efficient and get what needs to be done, done. Here you have two options.  Option A - remove the distractor. If it’s the phone, turn it off.  If it’s e-mail, don’t even log into your account until your project is complete. If it’s television, don’t turn it on.  Option B. Remove yourself from the distractor.  If you work in an office where others are constantly being a distraction or interruptive, then you need to not be in that environment.  If possible work from home to complete a project.  Go to an available conference room or empty office and close the door.  If you are in a cubicle put up a sign that reads, Do NOT Disturb or Quiet time from 9-noon, no interruptions please.

Stay in the moment. Many times people do not use the present moment effectively because they are projecting in the future or dwelling on the past. The future is not here yet, so it is most efficient and effective to get the most you can out of this moment, right now.  By writing a things to do list you will be eliminating, or a least reducing stress and random thoughts. You will be more organized, together and know what you need to do and when you need to do it by.   If you are dwelling on the past, with all do respect you need to get over it and move on.  Here’s the thing, no matter how much you ponder and percolate on something that has already happened , it isn’t going to change what happened.  It is what it is.  Think about where you are now and what you can do in this present moment to make the best of any situation.

Set an alarm. If you need to get something done in a specific amount of time or if you need to dedicate minutes, hours, etc  to a project to complete it by the deadline, set an alarm. Use one on your computer, watch, cell phone, egg timer, or an actually alarm clock.  Until that alarm sounds, you stay focused and only work on that one project.  Allotting a specific amount of time will enable you to concentrate on just the matter at hand without concerning yourself with the clock or other things around you.

Have a reward. Nothing is better than having a little incentive when you are learning a new habit. The next time you are struggling with managing your time, give your self a reward.  Say when I have my entire things to do list complete every day for one week, I will give myself blank, as a treat.  Now you have a reason to stay focused, avoid distractions and get what needs done, done.

Those are the five basic steps for Time Management.  What are you waiting for??? Get to writing your things to do list today!

Don’t miss Sharmen Lane on Lifetime Television Thursday November 6, 7am PT/ET 6am Central

By Personal Growth Expert Sharmen Lane

What do you call success?  Is it money, status, title, or possessions? Or perhaps it’s being a good parent, or spouse, or daughter or son.  Success is different for everyone.  No matter how you define it, it’s important to be clear and achieve it.

 

 Defining Success [54:52m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

By Success Expert, Sharmen Lane

Stay in the moment. Stress is created by reflection or projection. This moment is the only one that matters. Success is Simple. Use your time wisely by maximizing and utilizing every possible moment to work towards your goal. Now is how to get what you want and live stress free.

 

 Lessin Your Stressin [55:21m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

by Success Expert, Author and Motivational Speaker Sharmen Lane

by Radio Host Sharmen Lane

There are three elements of time. Past, Present and Future, and we will be discussing the importance of all three of them. You may be thinking “what about time management?” We will absolutely be discussing the value of time management and how to get the most out of your 24 hour day.

 

 Time, Time, Time [54:55m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download