Why Reno/Tahoe? It is my love of the mountains, Lake Tahoe, and its proximity to the ocean and many national parks that drew me to this area. Healthy Beginnings magazine is now in its fifth year of publication; we have reached a major milestone with the consistent patronage of our readers and advertisers. It has been my pleasure to meet and work with several incredible healers and talented professionals. Positive reader testimonials keep us on the right track, and help me plan upcoming content. Healthy Beginnings enjoys being your resource for natural health solutions; offering alternative information for living a happy and holistic health lifestyle. Thank you and we look forward to your support for many years to come.

Best in Health and Happiness,

Dawn Gowery

If you recently lost your job, or have always dreamed about being your own boss, you may be getting ready to take matters into your own hands by starting your own business venture. Naturally, this is a risky proposition, especially during these turbulent times.

Here are some practical suggestions to help you succeed:

• Be realistic. Don’t expect your business to be immediately successful. In fact, you should be prepared, both mentally and financially, for the worst-case scenario. Recent statistics from the Small Business Administration (SBA) show that about one-third of new business start-ups fail to make it through two years; and over one-half fold after four years. Give your business time to grow and prosper.

• Minimize the risks. Even if you’re encouraged by the initial results, don’t tie your fortunes completely to this undertaking. If you’re still gainfully employed somewhere else, keep the job and operate the new venture as a sideline business. If you’ve taken a package from your current employer but want to launch a new career with a new business, make sure you establish some barriers for asset protection first. You have a lot to lose and making sure you protect your personal assets should be part of your business plan.

• Choose the proper form of ownership. Depending on your circumstances, it may be best to operate the business as a C corporation, a partnership, an S corporation or a limited liability company (LLC).

• Carve out a niche. Your business should fulfill a specific need that is difficult for chain stores or other broad-based businesses to meet. In other words, if you try to compete directly with the corporate giants, you’re likely to lose.

For more info, call Laughlin Associates at (888) 386-3811 or visit online at www.laughlinusa.com.

Is there an optimal time to use feng shui? Yes, when you are selecting a home or business site, or choosing land to build on; whether it is a home, business or large scale development. Why? Selecting a property with excellent outside form allows you the greatest opportunity for success.

Outside form refers to the entire outside surrounding environment. Many do not understand the extent of influence that outside form has on people. When purchasing a property with correct outside form, you can alter the energy inside to make the structure even better. On the contrary, negative outside form can rarely be corrected, and nothing done inside can offset that.

For a home, a qualified consultant can help you choose a property that is conducive for positive health and prosperity. For a business, the right location equals long term success, strong management and a productive staff.

Feng shui is about energy and relationships. Just as you feel better when you have positive and healthy relationships with others, you will benefit when your outside form has a positive and enhancing relationship with your home or business.

For more info, contact Rebecca Moore at Feng Shui Classical Consulting at (775) 830-8168.

For some, success comes easy and for others it has been difficult. Some have found the success they were looking for, and then proceeded to consciously (or unconsciously) sabotage it. The truth is, success is available to all of us, and we all deserve to have an abundance of it. It can be mastered by those who choose to live their life in alignment with Universal Law–a network of higher ground principles that point the way to a life of harmony, authenticity and simplicity.

When we consciously use these higher ground principles in our life, we can transform and accomplish anything (as long as we are not imposing our will upon others). For these are the laws that govern our personal and professional success or failure, depending on how we choose to use them.

We live in a Universe of Law and Order. These are definite laws that apply to every activity in life–the unseen forces that make or break every individual, and or company. An individual is positive or negative, happy or miserable, rich or poor, depending on how effectively they work with the laws of their own nature. These timeless laws are completely impersonal. Universal Law is here for us to use as we choose. The word “Universal” implies they are for everyone–applying to any and every situation in life.

These laws are immutable. Whether we are aware of them or not, they operate 100 percent of the time–all the time–every time. The Law of Cause and Effect is just as real as the Law of Gravity. They include such laws as the Law of Discovery, Law of Manifestation, Law of Transformation, Law of Mental Equivalency, and the Law of Attraction. To better understand what causes success in our life, we will explore two principles in this article: The Law of Cause and Effect & The Law of Reflection.

One of the multitude of ways in which the Law of Cause and Effect operates is that the energy we send out through our thoughts, words and deeds (known as cause), eventually returns to us in our everyday life experiences (known as effect). The Law of Reflection teaches us that our outer world (known as effect) is a direct reflection of our inner world (known as cause). We never see the cause; we only see the effect, which loudly affirms the nature of its cause.

If our tendency has been to deal with the effects in our personal or professional life, instead of seeking out and correcting the cause, then the effect will simply repeat itself. It must…it is Universal Law. Whether our experience is one of reoccurring headaches, or a repetitive pattern of high turnover in our business, there is a cause, a reason as to why it is happening, or it wouldn’t be happening. Every effect has its cause and every cause has its effect.

In the case of healing a physical ailment, like reoccurring headaches, we need to acknowledge that the aching feeling felt in the head is an effect–not a cause. If you want the headaches to go away once and for all, you must identify and deal directly with the cause. Some have come to my seminars with a headache. I will help them to release the thoughts and feelings that were causing their head to hurt and the headache goes away.

Our attitude is a reflection of what’s going on within. A business that’s loaded with difficulties and hard times could be the effect of one’s negative thoughts, emotional imbalances, and insecurities, lack of direction and goals, or negative control dynamics that are motivated by some inner fear (the cause). These effects are great teachers. For when we operate our lives on higher ground, we recognize pain and dysfunction as a signal that is telling us something isn’t working. Life is our greatest teacher and it teaches us, by cause and effect. Our life consistently mirrors back to us what is going on inside of us–be it positive or negative, this is the Law of Reflection.

If we’re working in an organization and we’ve been silently thinking of and resenting the fact we are underpaid or that we are not appreciated; that we deserve more money or greater recognition; we are subconsciously severing our ties with that organization. The individual has set this law in motion and one day will experience the effects, which loudly affirms the nature of its cause and the operating manager/leader eventually says to this individual, “we have to let you go.” Actually, the individual let themselves go by their own repetitive pattern of self-sabotaging thoughts and negative feelings. It is our dominant thoughts and feelings that influence the quality of our words and actions. This is what Ralph Waldo Emerson meant when he said, “The origin of every action is a thought.”

Every so often, we pretend that we were the victim; we had nothing to do with it…it just happened. Success does not happen by accident and neither does failure. Things do not happen, as many people in the past have thought, they come to pass and are a result of conscious or unconscious beliefs, intentions, motivations, choices and habitual patterns of thinking, feeling and speaking. The energy we send out returns to us in the form of our own life experiences. In other words, whatever we habitually think, feel, say or do will eventually return to us in like manner. It’s the Boomerang Principle, “what goes around, does come around.”

Wisdom is knowing in advance what the effect will be of a cause. Your thought patterns and feelings live in the inner world of cause and are the seeds for future deeds. The only thing that will move you to a higher place in life is the quality of your thoughts and feelings. Raise the quality and vibration of your thoughts and feelings today and you’ll change your life for the better tomorrow.

When we consciously choose words and deeds that bring happiness and success to others, the fruit of our karma becomes happiness and success. Discipline yourself to think kind thoughts when thinking of others. Thinking kind and positive thoughts causes you to feel better about you and your world. Remember, you are creating your future experiences with your most repetitive “NOW” thoughts. Learning how to release those thoughts you don’t want to have manifest in your day to day reality is the key.

Stores are abundant with feng shui books containing interesting techniques; however, authentic feng shui is not as straight forward as these authors would lead one to believe.

Every home must be treated individually since each situation is unique–the facing, shape, trees, surrounding environment, neighboring buildings, entry, windows and internal design. All of these characters have a relationship and therefore condition the energy of a home. What may be good for one can be detrimental to another.

The energy of a home interacts with paint colors, decorating and furniture placement, which all influence the occupants regarding money, relationships, personality and personal energy. A home can also influence many health related problems in the bone, blood, back and stomach.

People choose homes that match the energy of their current life situations, whether it is happiness, loneliness, anger, healthy relationships, tumultuous relationships, ample income, financial struggles, reclusive behavior or specific health issues. People then paint and decorate in a way that supports their life situation, and so it continues.

Did any life issues influence your decision on choosing your home?

For more info, contact Rebecca Moore at Feng Shui Classical Consulting at (775) 830-8168.

Many of us spend 40 hours or more a week in our workplace, and we are very fortunate indeed, if our place of employment is a place that we enjoy. For those of us who own our own businesses, it is important to understand how the sensory stimulus of your workplace affects both employees and customers. A beautiful, orderly and comfortable workplace will attract loyal patrons. Happy, comfortable, productive employees further the success of the business. Below are some tips for helping you evaluate your workplace, and ideas for different sights, sounds and smells that will help maximize its potential.

Take a minute to visualize the space where you work. Is it organized and orderly, or is it cluttered? How much natural light comes in? What do you see when you look out the windows? Does your workspace use florescent lighting?

Cluttered and untidy workspaces can reduce productivity. It can be very distracting to work around needless clutter. If there is a lot of dust lurking in corners and on shelves, it is a sign of old stagnant energy that needs to be cleared out. Dirty work spaces communicate a lack of attention to detail to the customer, and sometimes much worse. For example, if a restaurant serves food on dirty dishes, the customer might display a fear of contamination.

Lighting can affect attitudes and behaviors of the people working or visiting that space. Natural sunlight is essential for all humans. Natural light is not only beautiful, but it helps people working in a particular space to feel awake and alert. According to studies, florescent lighting causes anxiety in some people. Studies also show that Long term exposure to florescent lighting slows Vitamin A production, affecting a person’s eye sight. Lighting that is too dim can cause fatigue. Colored lights are an excellent way to energize spaces. It is important to create a balance of colors that will stimulate activity, without over-stimulating. See the list of colors below for ideas about lighting, or paint colors that will help create the desired atmosphere at work.

Fresh flowers and beautiful artwork make your workspace feel like a special place to be. Avoid artificial flowers or dead flowers that collect dust. Be sure to clean the glass on all windows and mirrors regularly to encourage natural light.
How noisy is your workspace? Can you hear traffic outside? Are there many phones ringing at once in your workspace? Is there loud machinery nearby? Is there more than one radio on at the same time? Are the music choices appropriate to the atmosphere you intend to create?

Loud noises, or an overabundance of too many sounds, affect attention span and mood in the work place. Be sure that any music played in the workspace is appropriate to the time of day and the atmosphere you seek to create. Loud, abrasive music would not be appropriate in a day spa, for example. If your employees enjoy the radio, consider satellite radio, which is commercial free, reducing auditory distraction. There are also instrumental albums that utilize sound frequency to stimulate brain waves, improving concentration and focus. Create a separate space for any noisy tasks, ideally where some of the sound can be blocked by a heavy door, or other means of creating a quiet space that patrons and employees can enjoy.

How does your workspace smell? Especially in industries related to health. Fresh, clean smells clearly communicate that the space is one committed to wellness. Essential oil diffusers and lamps are a natural way to neutralize unpleasant odors, and energize or relax those within the space. Some oils even have disinfectant properties, reducing air born pathogens during cold and flu season. Rosemary is stimulating to the mind and clarifies thoughts. Sage relieves mental exhaustion and improves memory and concentration. Eucalyptus and Tee Tree oil are purifying and disinfecting.

The comfort and energy of a work space will keep employees happy to be at work, and patrons returning again and again. If your patrons must wait to be serviced, be sure that there are plenty of comfortable seats for them. Make sure to provide comfortable desk chairs and resting spaces for your employees, it will help them to stay consistently energized throughout the day. If you have computers in your office or workspace, place smoky quartz crystals near the machines, to neutralize some of their radiation. Again, staying well organized will save you and your fellow work mates a lot of time and energy. Be committed to combating clutter and finding a logical place for everything. Not only will it show your patrons that you value excellent service, you will also reduce stress and irritation because you will find everything in its place.

A tidy, beautiful, calm and sweet smelling space is one we all enjoy. Go the extra mile to ensure that your place of business instills high standards of ambiance, and you will open your office door to greater abundance all around.

Color therapy for the workplace:

Red: Increases courage, vitality, ambition, alertness and confidence.
Too much red may result in impatience, aggression, hostility and irritability.

Orange: Increases sociability, success and happiness.
Too much orange may cause irritability, frustration and increased appetite.

Yellow: Increases mental clarity, optimism, improves memory and concentration, helps with anxiety, energetic, aids in discernment and decision making.
Too much yellow may cause superficiality and hyperactivity.

Green: Instills peace, Renewal, hope, balance, harmony, self control and stress reduction. Too much green may cause laziness

Blue: Increases communication, creativity, personal expression, calm, decisiveness and health. Too much blue may cause insecurity, pessimism, fatigue and depression.

Violet: Spurs inspiration, creativity, beauty, calms nerves, selfless service and generosity. Too much violet may cause depression, insecurity and a stagnant of suppressed emotions.

References:

1. Gardener, Joy The New Healing Yourself, Natural Remedies for Adults and Children, The Crossing Press, California, 1989.
2. Afua, Queen, Sacred Woman, Ballantine Publishing Group, New York, 2000
3. Cornelio, Marie Williams, Gemstones and Color for Better Health Healing Happiness, Triad Publishing Co, Connecticut, 1985

Health & Quality of Indoor Environment ••• Part 6

Written by Kimberly A. Phipps-Nichols |

The previous five issues were devoted to measures one can take to green a home or lifestyle, and here are some final tips for Greening the Workplace. Most people spend as many hours at work as they do at home, so the workplace is an incredibly important topic. To be “In the Green” in more ways than one, consider the steps below:

1. Turn off computers & printers. Even in sleep mode, they eat electricity. While it may be a small, latent amount, it is still consumption. A good rule of thumb: If you’ll be away from the computer for more than ½ hour, turn it off. Costs nothing and saves money, period.

2. Purchase post-consumer recycled content papers that do not use chlorine bleaches. After printing, return ink and toner cartridges to office supply stores or refill stores for reuse and recycling.

3. Print on both sides of each sheet of paper, and print only what is absolutely necessary. Scan and save documents rather than copying whenever feasible and legal. Send electronic invoices rather than print.

4. Install a water filter system at the kitchen faucet tap and provide employees with reusable cups and glasses. Avoid plastic bottled water – this is not only an environmental issue, plastic water bottles are now a health concern due to leaching of compounds.

5. Initiate a “green team” with various colleagues at work that support recycling, resource conservation and reuse ideals. The team can help remind co-workers and bosses of why these steps are important and ensure that the goals are not compromised.

6. Start car-pooling with coworkers, and ask if your employer offers public transportation or carpooling benefits. Many employers are eligible for tax breaks for providing public transportation and carpooling benefits. It also saves money on gas.

7. Recycle all acceptable containers and paper materials. Make sure there are not only bins in the break room, but that each workstation has a paper-recycling bin.

8. Eliminate “disposables” from office purchases. It saves money and reduces waste. Ask your office manager to consider providing new hires with a refillable pen and pencil set and a company logo thermal mug for their daily coffee.

9. When it’s time to replace the office equipment, purchase or lease Energy Star equipment. In an office environment, approved equipment can save hundreds to thousands of dollars in energy costs. www.energystar.gov

10. If your office is moving or remodeling, be sure to hire a licensed design professional that has documented experience in healthy, high-performance, environmentally responsible projects. The health and welfare of occupants should be their #1 goal.

References:
1. www.energystar.gov

2. www.howstuffworks.com

3. Energy Information Administration www.eia.doe.gov

For more info, contact Kimberly A. Phipps-Nichols, President of Blue Water Studio, at (775) 560-2612.

Written by Jennifer Chang |

Colors can set the tone, good or bad, in work places.  Colors can improve the productivity of and the harmony between workers as well as attract and inspire clients to spend time in an establishment, which in turn can increase revenues.

Certain colors are appropriate for specific businesses, for example, the color yellow may enhance an art gallery, accounting firm, or bookstore, but a negative effect in a jewelry store. A yellow-hued pearl is viewed as too old and lusterless, and thus valueless.  A men or women’s clothing store can be enlivened with bright colors, while a police station should be white. It is seeking to seem incorruptible; white is a pure, pristine color, even bright accent colors should not be used.

Here is a business-by-business list of colors appropriate to various enterprises:

• Film, television or recording studio: white, pink, light green, blue, gray, o black

• Shoe store: white, red, gray, brown; avoid black with white

• Jewelry Store: red, white, blue; avoid yellow

• Executive’s office in creative fields: green, red, sky    blue, multicolored

• Delicatessen: light green, sky blue, bright colors

• Construction firm: white, black, gray, green

• Doctor’s office: green, blue, purple, pink, white

• Men’s clothing shop: one or two colors in a simple color scheme

• Funeral parlor: all white, red, light blue

• Investment firm: white, green, blue, yellow /beige

• Lawyer’s office: white, beige,  yellow, green, blue, gray, black

• Lighting store: white, pink, light blue, light green

• Computer company: green or blue

• Computer store: red, light green, multicolored

• Restaurant: green, blue, multicolored; avoid red in a seafood restaurant

• Wine store: pink, light green, light blue

Reference:

1. Rossbach, Sarah. Interior Design with Feng Shui. Penguin Group, 1987

For more information, contact Jennifer Chang, specializing in Feng Shui for working and living environments, at (775) 530-7100 or email her at Jennifer@secretconnection.net.

By Jennifer Chang |

Feng Shui is using the art of placement and intention to harmonize living environments, but it is also often used in working environments. Many offices have used feng shui to make their businesses more profitable. Banks, restaurants, and corporations in Asia and the U.S. consult feng shui experts before building as well as after they begin business.

The Chinese believe that the fortunes of an entire company rests on the good sitting of its manager or president. That being said, a feng shui consultant starts with the manager’s office. The manager’s desk should sit in the most commanding position to enforce and assert authority over his/her employees.  Authority generally stems from the corner office farthest from the entrance.

Ch’i is affected by computers; computers can be good, stimulating to the office, raising both wisdom and knowledge. However, the computer worker should face the door, never having their back to the door. If nothing can be done about this, they need a mirror facing the door, so that they can see who is entering. In a store or restaurant the cash register should be positioned to give the cashier a good view of the door.

When the entry way to an office faces traffic, a mirror should be placed facing the traffic. The mirror repels the negative flow of Ch’i coming towards the building. The flow of

Ch’i is best thought of as meandering down a pathway that easy to walk through; there should be a clear open passageway and no clutter. This should also be kept in mind when arranging furniture. Sharp edges cut through Ch’i. Whether on desks or walls, sharp edges should be covered with plants or material to soften the flow.

All five elements need to be used inside an office space, to harmonize existing Ch’i and bring forward new Ch’i. The five elements are wood, fire, earth, water and metal. When all of these elements are applied, harmony will be felt not only by the employees, but by the customers too. This will make the office softer and more pleasant to be in.

Colors can set the tone in a working environment as well. The use of the correct colors can improve the productivity in a business, the relationships between workers, and attract and inspire clients to frequent an establishment which in turn helps to increase revenues. Certain colors are particularly effective and appropriate for specific businesses.

Feng Shui may sound mystical but think of one of your own experiences. How do you feel when you walk into a day spa? Starbucks? Have you ever walked into a building or office and you immediately feel relaxed, peaceful and welcomed? That is Feng Shui.

Reference:

1. Interior Design with Feng Shui, Sarah Rossbach, 1987   by the Penguin Group

For more infor, contact Jennifer Chang, specializing in Feng Shui for working and living environments, at (775)530-7100 or email her at Jennifer@secretconnection.net.

Question:

What Feng Shui guidelines are suggested for seating guests at a dinner party?

Answer:

The practice of placing guests of different genders next to each other is excellent for ensuring good yin and yang balance. Round tables are always preferred to rectangular tables, but rectangular tables are better than T-shaped or L-shaped arrangements. If the number of guests is higher than the number of chairs you have available, it is better to make it a buffet dinner rather than adding chairs in order to have a sit down dinner.

Some suggestions of what NOT to do:

• Never seat anyone at the corner edge of a square or rectangular table or directly facing a protruding corner.

• Never seat anyone directly facing a toilet door.

• Never seat anyone directly underneath an overhead beam.

When entertaining friends or family, never serve coffee or tea in a cup with a chipped rim or drinks in a chipped glass. Drinking from a cup with even the smallest chip symbolically cuts the mouth and brings bad luck. This also affects one’s speech negatively; what you say may get you in trouble. The Chinese believe that drinking from a chipped cup or glass, or eating from a chipped bowl, causes one’s livelihood to suffer from bad luck.

Question:

In Feng Shui, what is considered an inappropriate gift?

Answer:

Any gift that is sharp, pointed, or may represent aggression (ie, knives, tools, wine bottle opener, or scissors) carries extremely negative energy and causes bad Feng Shui for the recipient of your gift.

Question:

What is Chi and is it really that important?

Answer:

Chi is living energy!

Chi flows through the veins of the earth giving life to land, trees, and streams. It is often interpreted as electromagnetic energy, but magnetic fields only make up a part of this spiritual force that is present everywhere.

Feng Shui operates on the principle that if an individual collects the Chi of their surroundings, it will improve the flow of Chi in their bodies and will enhance their health, wealth, and happiness.

There are various ways to look at man. From the viewpoint of science, man moves by his bones, muscles and nerves. In Feng Shui, man is activated by his Chi. Chi moves the hand and man can write; Chi moves the legs and man can walk; Chi moves the brain and man can think.

You can actually say that Chi is mans essential, original life force.

References:

1. Easy-to-Use Feng Shui, 168 Ways to Success, by Lillian Too,

Sterling Publishing Co., Inc, 1998

2. Feng Shui for the Soul, by Denise Linn,  Hay House, 1999

For more information, contact Jennifer Chang, specializing in Feng Shui for working and living environments, at (775)852-6358.

By David Neeser |

Having fun in the workplace is an important component of occupational wellness. While play can boost productivity and general wellness, a sterile, dull and play-free working environment can – and are likely to – lead to an increased turnover of staff. Overworked staff are likely to take time out to have fun anyway; so a savvy employer will understand the positive effect of play on its staff and seek to include specific periods in the working day for such activities.

Many countries around the world understand the benefit of incorporating fun into the workplace. In some countries, health promotion boards offer grants to organizations, to encourage health, sports and physical therapy programs in the workplace. Asian and European countries have sponsored corporate sports teams for generations.

In the US, the “dot com” companies seem to do the best job of making their workplace fun and productive. While fringe benefits aren’t always affordable, accessible or even realistic for most companies, there are easy ways to make your workplace more fun without great cost or creating an unprofessional atmosphere.

One of the biggest challenges of staff engaging in non-work activities, however, is that they may disturb other employees nearby who are trying to work. Organizations should consider separate lounge space where staff can switch off from work without impacting other employees.

Companies looking for a more traditional way to inject fun into the office might want to consider teambuilding activities that can be held in the office facility or a nearby location. Not only will coworkers get a breather from their normal routine, they will learn more about each other and develop a healthy camaraderie.

Organizing formal activities during staff breaks for employees is an option. Sports competitions, recreational activities, yoga, Pilates or fitness sessions can all help staff to let off steam and boost concentration levels. Formalizing such  activities will not only encourage team building among staff, but will also reduce the potential to waste work time when employees are least productive.

Remember also that many staff will only participate in organized activities when they have appropriate changing or shower facilities. Few people want to engage in physical activity in their work clothes and then sit in sweaty clothes in the office for the rest of the afternoon.

In any case, a little workplace fun can go a long way to improve morale. It isn’t very difficult to make the workplace more fun, and you will certainly see results if you or your company make the effort to liven up the daily routine.

References:

1. www.ihrsa.org

2. www.welcoa.org

3. www.ssc.gov.sg/publish/Corporate/en/our_services0/grants/workplace_health_.html

For more info call David Neeser at 775-473-0801.

By Jenn August, Success Coach & Hypnotherapist, and Sonali Chapron, C.A.P. Business Coach & Marketing Consultant |

“People don’t care what you know until they know that you care”

- John Maxwell.

Q: How can I generate more revenue for my business?

A: Well, you may have heard that the fortune is in the follow-up. It’s true. On average, it takes someone up to seven exposures to your marketing message before they will buy from you. So, follow-up, follow-up, follow-up!

Q: I have current clients, potential clients and inactive clients. How do I keep track of all of them?

A: You need a tracking system, known in the business world as a CRM (customer relationship management). It’s an electronic database where you keep a record of all your clients, potential clients and inactive clients. You’ll save yourself hundreds of hours, tons of mental energy and thousands of dollars if you just enter all your leads and clients into your CRM. But there’s another vital step than most people don’t take, which is to schedule follow-up reminder alerts.

A CRM is also a great place to keep track of all your notes from all your interactions with them. When you ask them how their kids little league baseball game went (because you wrote a note of it in CRM)  you have created trust and a deeper connection with that person. They know that you care and they care what you know.

For more info, call Jenn August 775-219-4901.

Time & Energy Management

for Your Sanity & Prosperity

By Jenn August |

Q: I need more energy to do all the tasks required to run my business – what do you recommend?

A: This is a big one for Heart Based Entrepreneurs.  Make a list of all of the activities you need to do for your business. Assess which ones drain you and which ones give you energy. Don’t spend too much time on the tasks that are a drain.

Q: What if I need to do those tasks to run my business?

A: Tasks that you resist and that drain you will cost you more money and energy than you may realize. The best use of your time is to do the activities that you are good at and that charge your battery. Of the tasks you find draining, pick one that you really really don’t want to do. Hire someone to do it that charges less per hour than you charge. This will free you up to focus on moneymaking activities you enjoy. Bring in more help as your business grows. Imagine only doing what you LOVE! Isn’t that a big reason why you are in business for yourself?

For more info, call Jenn August, Success Coach & Hypnotherapist at 775-219-4901.

Q: What’s the best way to talk to a potential client?

A: Listen first, ask them questions about themselves. They will give you the information you need to know if your services are right for them. Then ask them this question “If I knew something that would help you, would you be open to hearing about it”. Then share with them how you can be of service.

Q: What do potential clients want to know first when I am telling them about my business?

A: How it will benefit them. It’s common to tell potential clients what you do first, for example “I am an orthopedic massage therapist”. They might not know what that is. It’s more effective to tell them what problem you solve first and what method you use second. For example “I help people relieve chronic pain with orthopedic massage.”

Q: How do I get more referrals?

A: The most effective way to get more referrals is to ask the clients that already love your work to tell their friends and family about you. You can inspire them into action by offering them a discount on the next time they use your services.

For more info, call Jenn August, C.H. 775-219-4901

Being Aware, Asking Questions, Demand Accountability

Most people spend a lot more time around electronics and technology than they did even a decade ago. Computers, cell phones, iPods, PDAs and other handheld technologies are integrated into daily life, as much as food, water and air.

It’s a growing and wise trend to be concerned about the health and environmental impacts of these constant electronic companions.

One area of concern is the video display present on nearly every device from cell phones to computers to televisions.  Displays used to be made from all kinds of toxic materials, including lead and arsenic, to name just a few.

A typical CRT (cathode ray tube) display (the boxy glass faced model) contains three or more pounds of lead. This may present a health hazard to individuals using these products, since long term exposure to lower levels of lead can cause anemia, nervous system damage, impaired mental function, appetite loss, fatigue and headache. Then there’s the fact that lead is well known as a troublesome environmental toxin that gets into our water, food and air if not properly disposed of and managed. And, while the EPA mandates special handling for all CRT displays, many consumers and some businesses unwittingly (or intentionally) dispose of electronics improperly.

Some manufacturers such as Dell and HP are still selling CRT displays with their computers. As part of their commitment to creating a more Green product line, Apple has abandoned that product altogether, in favor of LCD (liquid crystal diode) displays, which are less toxic, and much easier on the body if you ever have to move one. In 2006, Apple was the first company in the industry to eliminate CRTs from their product line. The effects are significant: The first iMac computers with CRT monitors had over 484 grams of lead, the current LCD models contain less than 1 gram of lead.

LCD displays can also have issues. Many LCDs have fluorescent backlights that contain mercury, which can have devastating environmental effects. It is imperative that this toxic metal be properly disposed of, in a socially responsible manner. Currently, many products end up in third world countries in huge piles of seeping waste, which contaminates local ground water and food supplies, and causes illness amongst the people who collect and breakdown components for reuse.

With more innovation such products can become safer for people and the environment. For example, in another move toward ecological responsibility, companies like Apple, Toshiba, and Kyocera have recently begun the switch to LED backlighting for their LCD displays. The LED backlights contain no mercury, which makes them considerably safer at the end of their life cycle.

Many large companies are talking about “Green” initiatives and jumping on the “Green” bandwagon.  Consumers rightly eye these efforts with suspicion; however, look for an actual program with measurable results, and everyone could benefit from the trend.

The most important thing you can do is to be aware when you make consumer electronics purchases. You can reduce the impact of technology on your health and the planet. When you research your technology purchases, make sure that health ramifications are part of your research. Find out what types of toxins are being used to build the products. Take note of the company’s e-waste policies. Is the company committed to reducing hazardous toxins, and to recycling end of life products? These are all important points to consider.

For more information, contact Alicia Lindsay-Dietrich or Jason Dietrich at (775) 626-7751 or email info@macorama.com.

References:

1) A Greener Apple, by Steve Jobs, http://www.apple.com/hotnews/agreenerapple/

2) Effects of Lead on Human Health, by It’s Your Health, Canada http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/iyh-vsv/environ/lead-plomb_e.html

3) Mercury: Health Effects, US Environmental Protection Agency, http://www.epa.gov/mercury/effects.htm