Problems with Fear at Work - Relationships

I have been watching one company , within nine months, let over 40% of their workforce go and this is creating fear, for some of the employees. This is pretty common as we start to head deeper into hard times, I don't really know what causes economic cycles but they never have made much sense to me.

Fear seems to feed off of more fear as it's creating even more fear in the workplace. Most people that work, and enjoy eating food and drinking water and probably enjoy the shelter of their home or apartment, do not want to see this life style end. Nobody does.

As a employee and employer I would like to give both the employer and the employee some valuable advice, I've learned working as a contractor.

Let's start with the employee, it's very easy to become complacent and expect your job to be there forever while contributing just enough to get by and keep your boss happy or content. This attitude is normally okay when the economy is going gangbusters, but now that we're in hard times and businesses seem to be suffering, you're going to have to put a little more effort into your job, if you want to keep it.

Is there a way, where you can help your company develop a new product, come up with a new innovative idea, figure out a more efficient way of doing something or can you at least focus your attention on your job while you're working. Don't think about this once and quit, make a little sign for your office and put it in the lunch room or by the water cooler, that says something like, "Helping Our Company Is Helping Ourselves, Let's Work Harder and Smarter." If your company needs inspiration this could be considered a new innovative idea and could help the company.

Most employees look at their employers as rich and undeserving of their services, yet stay in their employment for many years. Even in good times, you should change your thinking or change your job. No one should be miserable or unhappy in a place that requires 40 hours out of every week of their lives.

Now it's the employers turn. I can't stand an employer that fires someone on a day's notice, because they're worried about something the employee is going to do to their business. This doesn't seem fair to the employee or give them enough time to find another job.

Most employers don't even fire the people that work for them, over the years I've noticed more companies hiring someone for this unpleasant task and it seems to alienate them from the people who have contributed to their wealth or misfortune.

Creating fear in the workplace is no way for people to be treated or thriving companies to continue to operate. The company I mentioned above is a motivational and self help performance company. It's kind of an oxymoron if you think about it.

Employers should treat their employees with a little more compassion and employees should try to spend some time understanding what their employers are going through.

Greg Vanden Berge is a published author, internet marketing expert, motivational inspiration to millions of people all over the world and is sharing some of his wisdom with experts in the fields of writing,marketing and personal development.

Greg is currently working on a video library filled with great movies on a wide array of topics, like religion, self help and spiritual changes in the world.

What Are Affirmations

Self Help Tips - Goal Setting 101

I am so excited for today & for 2009. I know that it is going to be our best year ever. And I have some awesome ideas on how to keep myself and anyone & everyone reading this "Reach Your True Potential" newsletter on target.

If you are not happy with your station in life thus far; find someone who you want to be like; and follow them and learn. You see; the stress we are carrying around seems at an all-time high. Every day there is a rich billionaire land mogul who walks out in a field and blows his head off.

A good question to revisit whenever you are being overwhelmed; Am I having a Breakdown or Break Through? Stick with me this year and you will have more BREAKTHROUGHS than Breakdowns.

IS THERE REALLY TONS OF OPPORTUNITY AROUND US ON JAN. 1, 2009?

It looks like we are going towards another "Great Depression". Well I do not know if you know it or not but while some guys were killing themselves because the thought they lost everything; but there were many millionaires that were made at the end of the great depression. You see; there were those who saw opportunity where others saw lack. It seems to be a sublt difference, but it reaps huge returns when you can habitually see the glass as 1/2 full versus 1/2 empty.

One guy I follow; Tim Ferris (author of The Four Hour, Work Week) had one of the guys he has followed (mentor) for 10 years e-mail him today;

While many are wringing their hands, I recall the 1970s when we were suffering from an oil shock causing long lines at gas stations, rationing, and 55 MPH speed limits on Federal highways, a recession, very little venture capital ($50 million per year into VC firms), and, what President Jimmy Carter (wearing a sweater while addressing the Nation on TV because he had turned down the heat in the White House) called a "malaise".

It was during those times that two kids without any real college education, Bill Gates and Steve Jobs, started companies that did pretty well. Opportunities abound in bad times as well as good times. In fact, the opportunities are often greater when the conventional wisdom is that everything is going into the toilet.

Well...we're nearing the end of another great year, and, despite what we read about the outlook for 2009, we can look forward to a New Year filled with opportunities as well as stimulating challenges. SO, IT IS UP TO YOU; WHAT DO YOU SEE? DO YOU SEE A CUP THAT IS 1/2 FULL? OR IS YOURS 1/2 EMPTY? IT IS UP TO YOU?

I am in shock. I just found out that someone that I respected, looked up to, worked next to every day for 8 years; and really liked committed suicide. He was an acquaintace / friend. Here is what I am taking out of it.

Every day that we wake up; we have a decision to make. Are we going to have a good attitude, a luke warm attitude, or a positive / great / excited attitude. ARE WE GONNA SEE THE GLASS AS 1/2 FULL, OR HALF EMPTY?

You see; our attitude is the only thing in this world that we have direct control over. Every thing else comes at us; FAST AND FURIOUS. We must be aware of where our attitude is; and make adjustments when necessary. We need to build a support team around us.

- Stand Guard over your mind, be careful who you hang around, what you read, what you listen to, what you watch
- Because the above will influence your thoughts; Garbage in, garbage out
- Your thoughts will become words
- Your words become actions
- Your actions become habits
- Your habits become character
- Your character becomes your destiny

Do not fall into the trap of listening to the news, to your neighbors, to co-workers at the copy machine or the water cooler. Cause the message out in the world is doom and gloom. It hard times; it is lack, it is fear. Trust me, you will bring into your life that what you focus on.

I understand that we need to see it as it is. And you might say, "Yeah, Darin, it's easy for you to have a positive attitude cause you are fit, positive, happily married, and have three successful business's that are exploding in growth".

"But I got layed off, money is tight, and I am not sleeping at night, I don't have the energy to work out, I am drinking/eating to dull the pain; and I am depressed."

Trust me, I can totally relate. And there is an epidemic out there right now of millions of people that are in the same shoes. I know that it may be hard to believe, but I have been there in the past.

Many of my clients and or their spouses are entrepreneurs. I hear their story every day. I believe that with the fast paced ness of today's information age, the keep up with the Jones' mentality, and lack of physical movement, and the "doom and gloom" mindset that the media is shoving down our throat that this is the most challenging time in the history of the world to be healthy, fit, energetic and happy.

I absolutely know that 2009 is going to be the best year of my and my families lives. And I'll bet that it will be the best years of my one on one clients lives. And if you stick with me, stay open minded, and build a support team up around you, it will be the best year of your life as well.

Things that help me and my clients have a positive mindset (and they will help you as well);

1. Do not answer e-mails until after noon, do not go on the internet to check out the news about your industry, or any news. Do something for yourself. Exercise, deep breath, pray, meditate (think of nothing) I have many techniques in my book that work great.

2. Te-evo your evening programs on tv (or watch less tv) and watch them some other time and go to bed a 1/2 hour earlier than normal.

3. Listen to motivational speakers; Tony Robbins, Les Brown, Tom Venuto, Joel O'Steen, etc. Load your i-pod up, use your lap top and force this stuff in your ear.

4. Hire a coach, a trainer, etc. Be careful about friends or family. I am not saying a friend will not work, I am simply saying that do not get someone who will let you cry on their shoulder. You need someone that is going to be brutally honest with you.

5. Stand up tall with great posture and say "I am going to have a great day today; I am going to have a great attitude today". There is power in the spoken word. Faith it until you make it. There where plenty of things that materialized in my life that I did not really believe deep down in my core. But I faithed them out loud. Sometimes for years until they materialized. Do not give up on your dreams. You can still have it all; A fulfilled, energetic, happy fit life.

I do not care what age you are (I am 43), what condition you are, where your finances are; etc. Everyone knows that we are supposed to have a great attitude. But why don't we. If you could go to the Vitamin Store and purchase a "Have A Great Attitude" pill, we would. But of course, it's never that easy.

The best way to have a great attitude is to have a positive expectation of your outcome. Do you think your best days are in front of you, or are your best days behind you. I am here to tell you that which ever one is your predominant thought is your reality.

Cause if you know that your best days are behind you; YOU ARE TOAST! But if you can have a little faith and start to train yourself to think, speak, and act like your best days are in front of you; then it will be much easier to wake up every day with a killer, positive attitude. In fact, you will begin to wake up excited with tons of real energy.

I do not care how old you are and feel now. Anyone and everyone has the power to change; on a dime; in a heart beat. But sometimes it helps when you feel and acknowledge the pain.

You see; I absolutely know that everything that you and I need to be totally fulfilled in every area of our life; Fitness, / Health, Money / Finances, & Relationships (God, Self, Family, Peers, and even Strangers) is right around us.

If we are not living our dream life; It's not for a lack of re-sources, It's for a lack of re-source fullness. So the tools that I have in store for you in 09 are powerful.

Each and every one of us has the ability to open up your eyes, to see and use what is readily available to you. "Just because we do not see something at any one point in time; does not mean that it is not there."

So, DO NOT LISTEN TO THE NEWS, THE NEIGHBORS, THE STOCK MARKET, THE POLITICIANS; OR ANY ONE FOR THAT MATTER WHO IS NOT LIVING A DREAM LIFE.

So, now the choice is up to you; are you going to have a great 2009, or are you going to keep doin what you've been doin. Just remember, pain is not really bad. It is telling us something. Look at the pain for what it is; a signal. It's a great thing to get a warning. So now you can do something about it. It is not nearly as difficult as you may think.

I love you and believe in you all,

Your Healthy, LifeStyle Coach,

Darin Steen (aka "The Chicago Kid")

Darin Steen, the "Trainers Trainer" is America's Top Fat loss, Healthy Lifestyle Coach. A best selling Author, drug-free for life professional Bodybuilder, Personal trainer, Motivational Speaker, and family man, he is an expert on fat loss, fitness, gaining muscle, and aging gracefully. His goal in life is to help 2 million people realize a higher quality life through making healthier FATLOSS LIFESTYLE choices by leading by example

Learn cutting edge fat loss / fitness strategies & get your free "Fat loss 12 Week E-course" OPERATION BURN FAT FAST at http://www.fatlosslifestyle.com

To learn how & why you should perform "Interval Cardiovascular" exercise to not only lose fat faster, but to build a strong heart & lunges go to http://www.IntervalCardio.com

Media Requests: Darin Steen is a dynamic, high energy television and radio guest available for interviews and corporate speaking engagements

Teenage Drug Problems

Self Improvement - Information is Power - Improve Information Flow With Upgraded Google News Alerts

For those of us who are informationally inclined Google has bettered their best efforts in delivering us their news. Now when you take Google News Alerts you will not only get the latest articles in your carefully chosen topical key-words, but also you will now see pictures that accompany these articles or even logos of the companies in the news that are involved in the stories that are in your list of articles.

Why is having pictures on Google News Alerts so cool?

Well, you might be asking what is so innovative about pictures accompanying the articles that are in your Google News alerts and you could say that they are irrelevant. However, you will have to admit that the new visual presentation is very cool and it breaks up the monotony of a whole bunch of text. Indeed, it is a visually appealing, but the pictures also tell a story about the story and help you decide if the article presented is really something you wish to learn about or click on to get your daily information.

How do Google News Alerts Work?

Well, first you go to Google's News Alerts page and put in your email address plus the information that you wish to receive. Google scans the internet, blogs, news and whatever else you deem appropriate and its special algorithm gives you the information by email. Here is the web link to sign up:

http://www.google.com/alerts?hl=en&gl=

Getting a steady stream of news delivered to your email in-box will keep you heads-up on your industry, sports, or other personal interests. Information is power, so power up with Google's new and improved Google News Alerts. I do.

"Lance Winslow" - Lance Winslow's Bio. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/.

Fighting In Gods Name

Spirituality Information - Murder Your Motivation

For ten years i made the same mistake again and again.... I cannot recall a single morning when i got up full of energy and raring to go. There was nothing which motivated me. I used to work for the best companies across the world but they mattered very little deep down within me. I wanted to do something else, something so big and so unique that has never been done before. The biggest mistake i made was I thought that i can achieve all my dreams only if do it full time and quit my job.... I did not have the guts to quit my job and so i just thought and thought about my dream and did nothing else about it ... One fine day however ....

It was Jan 12th 2004. I was doing very well as an employee. Great salaries,top position and it was all looking very good for me from the outside. But my deepest intention of being a full time motivational writer remained only a thought and nothing more.... I can still recall that day . I was so frustrated that i locked myself in a room and screamed to my dreams within" Never again bother me . Get out of my life and let be be the ordinary man i always was.Get lost right now !" I stabbed my dreams a dozen times and murdered it so that it never troubled me again....

By evening of that day i was feeling very light as if a huge responsibility had been taken away from my shoulders. I killed my dreams and now i was free.. I had no pressure. It seemed to me that I was carrying a mountain of dreams for the last seven years without fulfilling any of them. I felt as if it was the best thing to happen to me.. Now watch what happened during the next two weeks...

Jan 13th 2004.... I get up at 4.30 am . I am so happy . I dont know why.... I listen to my favourite music and then I sit for meditation. I head to my workplace after having breakfast..

Jan 14th 2004.... I get up again at 5.00 am and am feeling very calm within. I dont know why....

This continued for two weeks and then on ....

Jan 28th 2004.... Something very strange happened in my morning meditation. It was as if someone entered into me from outside and was not willing to go out..... The experience was very strange....That someone i later realised was my Inspiration, my real goal, my dream, my life and my purpose in this world.That was my real intention and God was kind enough to reveal it to me. From that day on a voice within spoke continuously to me that my real purpose in life is to build centres where Life changing thoughts are preached and that help will come as i gain strength and momentum in my internal world... This experience did not leave from then on... It caught me by the neck and reminded me of my real intention every day.... Slowly but surely i made progress in my internal world. I did not experience any frustration.... Now i had a great dream, and the plans for achieving those dreams were revealed daily to me from a source far greater than me which was genuine. These plans did not come all at a stretch but they came in bits and pieces as was necessary . I was warned from that day on that i will listen to two voices and i should be capable of recognising the force of God...

Within one year i quit my job. I did not try hard to quit my job . My job disappeared all by itself.. I am still far of from reaching my goals but i have a dream and it just does go out not even if i scream or stab it a dozen times. This dream is genuine and rock solid .....

The two most important definitions you have to learn in life are Motivation and Inspiration. Motivation is when you go after a goal,or a dream and set plans to achieve it.... This could be many times frustrating and on most occassions even after you achieve your so called dreams you are not happy. But inspiration is something totally different... In the case of Inspiration the dream gets hold of you instead of you going after the dreams. It works its way inside of you and just does not leave you. You are forced to take action.... Inspiration is genuine and is the force of God ... Motivation is good but is man made...

Don't go after things in circle. Murder your motivation today to allow Inspiration to take over. It could be the best thing that could happen to you.... Motivation is cheap, inspiration is genuine. When you are motivated you have to run after things, when you are inspired things work in your favour. Both good and bad events take you to your dreams... It might take a while for you to experience all this but this knowledge should be nailed at the back of your mind....

There are three basic steps you could take starting today as you proceed to murder your motivation.

Lecturer, entrepreneur and Fortune 500 business consultant, Vish Writer is the author of the Amazon No 1 bestseller, "The Joy of Becoming God" For more information, visit: http://www.spiritual-simplicity.com http://www.vish-writer.com

You Have Got To Read This Book

Finding the Best Garage Doors

If you are one of the millions of people who are in the process of replacing their existing garage door or building a home and garage then garage doors prices are very important. However one should be aware that buying a cheap garage door may not be the bargain you think it is. In terms of garage doors pricing you do get what you pay for. A quality garage door will not only accent your house beautifully but also save you money.

Depending where you live you may need to find a garage door that has high energy efficiency. If you have or are planning to have a workshop in your garage then installing a high R-value door will mean that you can utilize it year around. Obviously if you are planning on heating or cooling your garage a high efficiency door will save you a lot of money. Insulated garage doors prices will be higher but will be amortized by the money saved with lower energy costs. The best garage doors for your home will depend on where you live and your lifestyle.

If you live along the ocean or Gulf of Mexico then more than likely you are also living in a high wind risk area. If you live on the water then you are also at high risk from salt corrosion damage as well. High wind rated doors especially those that meet the Miami-Dade wind code will have higher garage doors prices. They may not be as expensive as you may think so it is worth your while to shop around for the best door at the best prices. Installing an ordinary door could put your family or home at extreme risk in case you are hit with a tropical storm or hurricane. Engineering studies done after hurricane Andrew showed that the greatest risk to your home comes from losing your garage door. Once you lose your garage door to wind it is only minutes before you lose the roof of your home and possibly your life.

Prices range for as little as $450 to as much as $5000 for custom wooden garage doors. An 8x16 good quality steel garage door that has panels constructed of two steel panels that sandwich 2 inches of polyurethane foam with a prepainted low maintenance exterior will average about $1200 dollars installed. A high wind rated garage doors cost will be about $1300 installed in Florida. In some cases building code permits will increase the cost as much as $150. Remember these are country wide average garage door prices.

Remember it is just not smart to cut corners when it comes to garage doors. A quality garage doors pricing can be an indicator of quality. However it is wise to visit your local home improvement store and ask the staff about garage door prices and quality. If you are handy with tools you may be able to install your own garage door and save money. Home improvement stores like Home Depot will be able to assist you with your installation plans. Of course the Internet is a great place to conduct research, but a poor place to find information on prices.

James Kesel, MS, is the publisher of the Garage Doors Pricing Website located at http://www.garagedoorspricing.com Providing information on Garage Doors Prices and the purchasing, installing and operation of a garage door

Sports Psychology - How to Build Self-Confidence - 4 Things Parents, Coaches and Athletes Must Know

There are many text books, self-help books, journal articles and magazine articles on building self-concept, self confidence and self-esteem. Because I coach many athletes, I tend to spend a lot of time helping these clients to strengthen their self-confidence.

However, believing in one self is useful and important for just about everyone. It is important for Barack Obama. It is important for kids. And it is probably important for you.

Over the years, I have studied and developed many strategies and techniques for helping people to believe in themselves. When people feel positively about themselves, they tend to grow and they are better able to have rich and fulfilling lives.

Dr. Albert Bandura, of Stanford University, identified four components or life experiences which contribute to building one's self-confidence.

Mastery Experiences-Having a history of doing well at some event, some skill or some task can help to grow your confidence in yourself. So, it is useful to remind yourself of times when you felt you mastered some task or some skill.

Vicarious Learning-Seeing someone else who you can relate to do well at something or succeed at something can help you to believe that you, too, can succeed. A child seeing his friend hit a baseball can start to believe that he can put his bat on the ball with some power too.

Modeling Someone Who Inspires You-When you see someone who you admire do something well, you can imitate his or her actions. Watching a singer perform a song brilliantly can inspire a young artist to do the same thing. This "modeling" can help to grow your self-confidence.

Social Persuasion-Receiving encouraging words from a parent, a coach or someone you trust can help you to feel like you can do something successfully. This, too, can strengthen your self-confidence.

People who do not get any of these kinds of experiences are likely to have little or no self-confidence.

So, if you want to build self-confidence in yourself, in someone you care about or your child, consider facilitating one or all of these kinds experiences. If you do, confidence can build in a short period of time.

Jay P. Granat, Ph.D. is a psychotherapist and the founder of http://www.stayinthezone.com He has written several books and developed several programs to help people perform to their fullest potential at sports, at work and at school. Dr. Granat, a former university professor, has appeared in The New York Times, Good Morning America, AP, ESPN, Golf Digest, The BBC and The CBC. He can be reached at info@stayinthezone.com. His books include Zone Tennis and Get Into The Zone In Just One Minute. He is also the author of How To Get Into The Zone With Sport Psychology And Self-Hypnosis, How To Lower Your Golf Score With Sport Psychology And Self-Hypnosis, 101 Ways To Break Out Of A Hitting Slump and Bed Time Stories For Young Athletes. Golf Digest named Dr. Granat one of America's Top Ten Mental Gurus. He was recently featured in a documentary film on long distance running. Dr. Granat writes a weekly column for three newspapers. He just released a new program for bowlers.

Affirmations For Health and Fitness

There has been a lot in the media in the last few years regarding affirmations and how you can use them to make changes in your life.

An affirmation is a positive statement of fact that one makes to manifest their desired future.

Scientific Evidence

There is much scientific evidence that these positive statements are effective in improving physical health. They tell your subconscious mind to get to work making all the systems of the body function properly.

Change Your Energy

When you change unhealthy thought patterns, and start making positive statements about your health, you change the energy that flows to your physical body from your energy source, or subconscious mind. This is turn can actually change your physical body.

Here are some of our favorites that you can use to help you on your journey towards a healthier, happier life.

• All the systems of my body function perfectly.
• I am perfectly healthy in body, mind and spirit.
• I am well, I am whole, and I am strong and healthy.
• I never get sick.
• I am healthy, happy and radiant.
• I radiate good health.
• My body is a safe and pleasurable place for me to be.
• My sleep is relaxed and refreshing.
• I have all the energy I need to accomplish my goals.
• My body is healed, restored and filled with energy.
• I have abundant energy, vitality and well-being.
• I am healthy in all aspects of my being.
• I am always able to maintain my ideal weight.
• I am filled with energy to do all the daily activities in my life.
• My mind is at peace.
• I love and care for my body and it cares for me.

When you make these statements, joyfully envision your body in perfect health. Close your eyes and picture your healthy, vibrant new you.

If you make this a daily practice, in a short time you will no doubt see significant improvements in your body, your health and your life!

Katie Hayes writes about health and fitness topics. Read more about affirmations, positive thinking and the happiness-health connection at http://www.health-and-fitness-source.com