15 Jan 2013

How Writing a Book Can Help Your Business

By Ginny Grimsley
Professionals Shares Tips & Tricks
By: Penny Carnathan

Writing a how-to business book or CEO memoir has become a recognized tool for business professionals marketing and branding themselves and their companies. It helps them establish their expertise while sharing useful information appreciated by readers. Plus, it can introduce them to a vast new audience of potential customers.

It's a phenomenon public relations professional Marsha Friedman first noticed years ago.

"Everything else being equal, I saw that it was much easier to get clients invited on TV and radio talk shows if they'd written a book," says Friedman, CEO of EMSI Public Relations, (www.emsincorporated.com), in Tampa, Fla.

"After exploring the reasons, I realized just about anyone with the right message can use a book to boost their visibility," she says. "Professionals can do it; people interested in securing public speaking engagements; philanthropists; homemakers who turn their books themselves into a business."    

So Friedman wrote her own book, "Celebritize Yourself," explaining her three-step process for developing and using a book to get publicity.

Today, more than 11,000 business books alone are published each year - and that doesn't include self-published e-books, according to the authors of "The 100 Best Business Books of All Time."

"Whether you're using your book to generate media, speaking opportunities or new customers, it is the most powerful marketing tool in your arsenal," says Adam Witty, CEO of Advantage Media Group, an international publisher.

"When you consider that the average book sells less than 2,000 copies, getting rich off of book sales becomes a far away fantasy. But if you use your book to get a feature in your industry trade journal, what is that worth? If your typical customer is worth $5,000, and you use your book to attract and generate new leads into your business, how much more valuable does your book become?"

You don't have to be a great writer to produce a great book. But, as New York Times best-selling author Michael Levin, CEO of Business Ghost, Inc., explains, you do need to make sure the end product is clean and professional.

"You wouldn't walk into a sales call with a stain on your shirt, and it's the same with a book," he says. "The last thing you want to do is publish a book full of typos that gives people the impression you're sloppy."

If you don't have the time or skill to tackle a book on your own, you can hire someone to put your ideas into words.

Levin offers these tips for selecting a ghostwriter:

• Make sure ghostwriting is their primary business. Many writers list ghostwriting as one of the services they provide, but if you dig deep, you may find that they have never written a book or have only written a few. Don't let them learn how on your dime!

• Read the blurbs on the ghostwriter's website. Are they from famous people, top business leaders, celebrities, and the like? Or is there a run-of-the-mill feeling to the testimonials? Or worse, are there no testimonials at all?

• Contact at least three prior book clients of the ghostwriter. If the ghostwriter can't give you three names of satisfied customers, game over.

The next step is publishing. While e-books are an inexpensive self-publishing option, Friedman says printed copies are best for marketing.

"As an author, you simply need to determine which publishing model best helps you reach your goals," says Witty of Advantage Media Group.

He offers these thoughts to consider:

• Ownership of rights and intellectual property: If you plan to re-purpose the content of your book into articles, blog posts or other products like home study kits, ensure your contract gives you that freedom. Typically, traditional publishing contracts don't; self publishing or working with co-publishers (where the publisher and author or investor share expenses) oftentimes do.

• Speed-to-market: How quickly do you want your book to be published? With self publishing, it is really a matter of how fast you work! The traditional publishing process can take the better part of two years. Co-publishing options often turn a book around in three to six months.

Friedman concedes that the idea of writing and publishing a book can be daunting, but it's worth the effort for its marketing value, she says.

And there are even greater rewards.

"Having written and published my own, I can tell you it was one of my proudest accomplishments and worth every bit of my time and hard work," she says. "The greatest feeling - one I never anticipated - was hearing from readers who said that my book had made a difference in their lives.

"That's priceless."

About Penny Carnathan

Penny Carnathan is the Creative Director/Lead Writer at EMSI Public Relations. She is a journalist with more than 30 years experience; a former national award-winning editor, reporter and columnist at The Tampa Tribune in Tampa, Fla., and currently a bimonthly columnist for the Tampa Bay Times in St. Petersburg, Fla.  You can find her on Twitter, @DigginPenny.

09 Jan 2013

Mental Health in America: Has Society Become a Madhouse?

By Ginny Grimsley
Parallels Between Mental Institutions & 'Normal Life' Keep Adding Up,
Says Former State Hospital Doctor

"Insane" has a clear meaning when we can look at it next to "sane" in the real world. Unfortunately, that has become more and more difficult to do, says Mike Bartos, former chief of staff at a state psychiatric hospital for the criminally insane.

"It's not just because the media rely so much now on bizarre behavior to entertain their audiences," says Bartos, author of "BASH" - Bay Area State Hospital - (www.mikebartos.com), a fast-paced tongue-in-cheek novel that stems from his decades of experience as a mental health-care professional.

"Take a look at what have become the 'normal' problems in modern America - some of them could be textbook examples of psychological dysfunction."

Case - or rather, cases - in point:

• Obesity epidemic: Denial, compulsion, addiction and sublimation are just a few mechanisms at work in the psychology of a largely obese population. Sublimation is the mature defense activity perpetrated when socially unacceptable impulses, such as sexuality, are redirected, in this case to the consumption of salty, fatty and sugary food. With more than two thirds of the U.S. population either overweight or obese, there is nothing sane about this health crisis.

• Banking: The financial crisis that changed the world in 2008 can be largely owed to a cluster of "too big to fail" U.S. banks and their employees who thought they could continuously repackage terrible debt loans. Meanwhile, unqualified customers snatched up properties they couldn't afford. This was an undiagnosed mega-scale gambling addiction. Many in the financial world knew it simply could not be sustained but the players continued to ante up.

• Climate change: Denial, denial, denial. The raw data from objective scientists overwhelmingly tells us man is largely responsible for warming global temperatures, yet we continue to use fossil fuels and to fill landfills with methane-producing waste. It's a classic case; we completely ignore symptoms and evidence to maintain the status quo.

• A drugged nation: Marijuana, a natural relaxant, is outlawed in most states while tobacco and alcohol - responsible for incalculable violence and sickness, as well as tens of thousands of accidents and deaths each year - are lucrative and legal vice industries.  Meanwhile, some pharmaceutical companies and physicians encourage substance abuse and chemical dependency by promoting pills to ease the inevitable emotional and physical pains that come with life.

"Many of my psychiatric patients suffered from addiction to both legal and illegal drugs. Sometimes it was hard to tell which came first, the addiction or the other mental health issues," Bartos says. "The legal or illegal status of certain drugs seems to be completely arbitrary -- much like the behavior of a patient suffering psychosis," he says.

• Spoiled-brat adults: Narcissistic Personality Disorder isn't only now accepted in society, it's widely encouraged and celebrated, Bartos says. Reckless driving and road-rage are just two examples in which individuals are so self-absorbed, they believe their time and sense of entitlement are more important than the lives and safety of others. Throw on top of that our obsession with plastic surgery, need for constant attention on social media, and pre-occupation with consumer brands and we have pandemic megalomania.

• War: America has been at war for 10 years now, and leaders cannot say with any precision what we are doing with our current campaign in Afghanistan, nor what we accomplished with our last one in Iraq. It's as if government leaders have a masochistic, sociopathic relationship with one percent of the U.S. population - the military, and their families. Young men are shipped off in the prime of their health, and often return physically or mentally damaged, if they come back at all. "Is this sane?" Bartos asks.

About Mike Bartos

Mike Bartos is currently in private psychiatric practice in the San Francisco Bay Area where he lives with his wife Jody.  He has several decades of experience in the mental health field, including serving as chief of staff at a state hospital for mentally ill patients convicted of violent crimes, where he focused on forensic psychiatry. Bartos is a former radio show host and newspaper columnist. While practicing in Charleston, S.C., he served as a city councilman for the nearby community of Isle of Palms.

08 Jan 2013

Coping with the Shortage of Primary Health Care Physicians

By Ginny Grimsley
Tips for Choosing a Personal Physician &
What YOU Can Do About the Looming Crisis

There's a crisis in primary health care. In some cities, almost 90 percent of primary care physicians are not accepting new patients because their practices are full. And it's only going to get worse, warns noted physician and emeritus professor of medicine Dr. Paul Griner (www.DrPaulGriner.com), author of "The Power of Patient Stories: Learning Moments in Medicine."

"In 2014, 32 million people currently without health insurance will become insured and there will be nowhere near enough primary-care physicians to meet their needs," Griner says. "Less than 20 percent of new physicians are entering primary care, which includes the specialties of family medicine, general internal medicine and general pediatrics."

Griner, an internist and longtime advocate of physician-patient relationship as the first and most vital diagnostic tool, says it's important to find a doctor who will take the time to listen to you. But first, you need to decide what kind of primary care physician will best meet your needs. For instance, a family physician can care for both you and your children. A general internist is trained for the care of adults. A geriatrician has additional training in the care of older patients. A gynecologist may also have an interest in primary care.

Once you've made that decision, he offers these suggestions for qualities to look for:

• Someone who is interested in knowing the whole patient -- not just the illness. As the great Sir William Osler, Regis Professor of Medicine at Oxford, once said, "The good physician knows the disease the patient has. The great physician knows the patient who has the disease."

• A patient-centered atmosphere in the office

• Someone who is a good listener. Most diagnoses can be made or suspected by letting the patient tell his or her story

• Someone who is willing to say, "I don't know," but does know where to go to get the answer, such as referring you to another doctor or using medical knowledge bases such as "Up To Date."

• Readiness to use the latest technology for communicating with patients, such as the I-phone, e-mail or Skype.

• Someone who values team care and values the role of advanced practice nurses or physician's assistants.

"Ask around," Griner says. "Get recommendations from friends and colleagues; the experience of other patients is always helpful. Askyour county medical society for names of physicians who are accepting new patients, or ask the premier hospital in your area, then check their credentials and look for feedback about timeliness, friendliness, etc., on-line."

If you want to do something about the primary care physician shortage, there are ways the public can help, Griner adds.

• Advocate for more support for primary care through your state and U.S. representatives. "Support" can include more money for primary care training grants; better compensation for primary care physicians; and expansion of sites that qualify as physician shortage areas

• Support the development of local "accountable care organizations" or networks by your local hospital, health system or group practice. The goal of these new organizations is to guarantee comprehensive, continuous care with the primary care physician as the manager of a team of health professionals.

• Support community initiatives to recruit primary care physicians through incentives such as loan relief.

About Paul Griner, M.D.

Hematologist/internist Paul Griner has had a 59-year career in medicine. He is a professor of medicine emeritus at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry and was a consultant at the Massachusetts General Hospital, senior lecturer at Harvard Medical School, and consultant to the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) in Cambridge, Mass. He has written or co-written 130 journal articles, book chapters, and books on clinical medicine, medical education, and health policy. He is a member of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences and was president of a number of national medical organizations, including the American College of Physicians.

08 Jan 2013

Savvy Entrepreneurs Play by Different Rules in Uncertain Times

By Ginny Grimsley
Business Expert Offers Tips for Capitalizing
on Unpredictability

As we pass the five-year anniversary of the start of the economic recession in December 2007, many observers focus on what was lost:

• 8 million jobs
• 146,000 employer businesses
• 17.5 percent average individual earnings

But the businesses that survived the Great Recession and are thriving today didn't focus on losses then - and they aren't now, says Donna Every, a financial expert who has published three non-fiction business books and recently released her first novel, "The Merger Mogul," (www.donnaevery.com).

"The entrepreneurs who are successful during times of uncertainty are so because they don't rely on the standard approaches they'd use in predictable times, and they look for opportunities - the positives -- in situations that would have been considered negatives five years ago," Every says.

"It's similar to how we deal with the weather. In places where it's sunny most of the summer, we wouldn't leave our house each morning packing coats and umbrellas just in case. The weather's predictable. But in the winter and other seasons when the weather can quickly change, we head out with a different mindset."

For businesses, switching gears to deal with inclement economic conditions involves adopting new perspectives and practices, she says.

"I incorporated some of these in 'The Merger Mogul' because it's set during the recession and my protagonist, the mogul, had to adapt," Every says. "He used many of the strategies I teach my business clients for thriving during economic uncertainty."

What are some of those strategies? Every outlines them:

• Build on what you have, not toward what you want: Instead of setting goals and then seeking out the resources you'll need to meet them, assess what you have available and decide what you can achieve with that. This not only saves you the time and expense of pulling together resources you may not have, it also gives you the advantage of working from your business's individual and unique strengths.

• Follow the Las Vegas rule: Tourists planning a weekend in Las Vegas will often set aside the amount of money they're willing to gamble - and lose -- on cards or the slots. That way, they won't lose more than they can afford. During an uncertain economy, entrepreneurs should calculate their risks the same way. Rather than going for the biggest opportunities as you would in prosperous times, look for the opportunities that won't require as much of your resources. Calculate how much you can afford to lose, and always consider the worst-case scenario.

• Join hands and hearts: Competition is fine when things are going well, but when times are tough, you need allies. Explore forming partnerships with other entrepreneurs so you can strategize to create opportunities together. With what your partners bring to the table, you'll have more strength and new options to work with.

• Capitalize on the unexpected: Surprises can have positive outcomes if you handle them nimbly by finding ways to use them to your advantage. Instead of planning damage control for the next unexpected contingency, look at it as an opportunity. Get creative as you look for the positives it presents.

• When life is unpredictable, don't try to forecast: Focus on what you can do and create now rather than what you can expect based on what happened in the past. In good times, that information can be a helpful and reliable way to make predictions, but savvy entrepreneurs don't count on that in uncertain times.   

"While the U.S. economy certainly is improving, there's still too much uncertainty both here and abroad to go back to the old ways of doing business just yet," Every says.

"If you've survived the past five years, you've probably been relying on many of these strategies - maybe without even realizing it," she says. "Don't abandon them yet, and if there are some here you aren't using, work toward incorporating them, too."

About Donna Every

Donna Every is director of Arise Consulting Inc., a company that offers business training, and consulting services. She is a Chartered Certified Accountant with a master's in business administration. She is the author of "What Do You Have in Your House?"; "The Promise Keeper"; "Arise & Shine"; and her first novel, "The Merger Mogul."

07 Jan 2013

Fighting Fat with Fat: Update on Atkins Diet

By Ginny Grimsley
Colleague of Celebrity Dietician Shares FAQ
on Low-Carb Diets

When Dr. John Salerno - a protégé of "Atkins Diet" creator Dr. Robert Atkins - testified before the U.S.D.A. about plans for its most recent Food Pyramid revision, he spoke his mind: The food industry is corrupt and has supported recommendations that do not support the population's health.

"Hidden sugar, preservatives and highly processed white starch are what are really causing our health epidemic in the United States," says Salerno, author of "The Silver Cloud Diet," (www.thesilverclouddiet.com). "Obesity, diabetes, heart disease, cancer and Alzheimer's disease are killing this country, and it's not because people are eating too much organic natural fats."

Since the initial popularity of the Atkins food plan some years ago, however, there have been critics of the low-carbohydrate diet. The science was and is sound, says Dr. Salerno, who worked closely with Atkins on research. The problem was that the diet itself was not sustainable.

"The basic principles needed revision both to make the diet sustainable and to take into account the foods available today," he says.

How does a low-carb diet work? Salerno answers the most frequently asked questions:

• How is a low-carb diet today different from the Dr. Atkins plan? Thirty years ago, the food supply was less degraded. Now, low-carb dieters have to be more proactive about selecting chemical-free foods that are not highly processed. There are many more farming techniques today that introduce unnatural elements into our meats and vegetables, and there are many, many more highly processed foods on store shelves. We need to be vigilant about preservatives and additives; hormone-infused meat can wreak havoc on a body.

• What's the first step? The Fat Fast Detox quickly puts one's body into fat-burning mode. Adhering to the carb-free diet for two weeks will have participants losing five to 15 pounds and two inches from the waistline. Breakfast, for example, could include two large organic eggs and a side of bacon, sausage or ham, which can be washed down with coffee or tea with cream and sweetener.

• What about eating out? Sustaining a low-carb diet is pretty simple when eating at restaurants. Take the burger out of the bread and skip the French fries. You're good to go with grilled fish, roast chicken, pot roast, pork tenderloin, shrimp, scallops and pates.

• How can you eat on the run? A small amount of planning goes a long way. Boil eggs and keep them on hand for long car trips and office snacking. Add to that list jerky salmon, nuts and string cheese. These foods are dense with nutrients.

• Where can you find "clean" foods? Buy as "close to the ground" as possible, meaning choose organic produce, eggs and dairy. Inquire at farmer's markets where they grow crops. Find a local provider for meats and fish if possible.

• Can you eat cake on a low-carb diet? As your health and vitality improves with lost weight and increased activity, you can introduce more carbohydrates into your diet.

• Are low-carb meals safe for family members who do not need to lose weight? What's good for you - a broad and varied diet of unprocessed foods - is good for your family!

• When is the diet over? Eating foods that are healthy, unprocessed and natural is something you should never stop doing. However, if you feel you're starting to gain excess weight, go on a detox regimen by cutting out carbs completely for one week.

• So, fat is good for you? Natural fat is the most nutrient-dense food there is. It's lubricates your joints and helps your brain function at its best. It also keeps your hair shiny and helps prevent wrinkles. When you cut out processed carbs from your diet, you don't need to worry about natural fat, which is an appetite suppressant.

About Dr. John Salerno

A board-certified family physician, Dr. John Salerno has been pioneering complementary medicine for more than 20 years. Best known for his Silver Cloud Diet nutrition program, anti-aging supplements, and natural therapies, Dr. Salerno has crafted original treatment plans to restore human health. His publications and professional studies have made him a popular expert on the physiology and assessment of many complex medical conditions. Dr. Salerno was a protégé and colleague of prestigious Dr. Robert Atkins and has worked with Hollywood actress/author Suzanne Somers (bioidentical hormone replacement therapy pioneer); actor Steven Cannell; and president of the International Congress of Integrative Medicine, Dr. Hiroyuki Abe M.D.

04 Jan 2013

Finding Healing, Renewal in 2013

By Ginny Grimsley
By: Caroline Flohr

As a new year dawns, many Americans still grieve losses experienced in 2012. For some, it's very personal - the death of a parent, spouse or child. Others mourn the  lives lost in one of the many tragedies we experienced together as a nation.

As a mother of a 16-year-old twin daughter killed in a car accident involving eight teenagers, I assure those of you who are still coming to terms with your loss and grief - it is possible to journey from the unimaginable to acceptance and a spiritual peace. I urge you to embrace the healing power of family and community, love and faith. You will be surprised at how it can transform you.

You can find renewal in this new year.

I have learned that death defines not the end, but a beginning. I have learned that, by weaving tragedy into the fabric of our lives, we can be stronger, spiritually richer and, yes, even happier for it.

Here are some of the milestones I experienced on my journey to inner peace:

• Deeper meaning: Through the death of someone so important, you will be changed. The question is how you will be changed. Will you grow, or become diminished? I grew with the realization that death - so often viewed as an end - is just the beginning of another phase of existence. One of my favorite quotes is from poet Rabindranath Tagore: Death is not extinguishing the light. It is putting out the lamp because dawn has come.

• Celebrate life: When the bereaved are able to look at the life of a person who has passed and see more beauty than pain, they should rejoice. The reality of a person's absence will always have an element of sadness, but the joy of  wonderful memories is even more powerful. When loved ones leave this Earth, graces are given to those relationships left behind. These are gifts. When we can acknowledge them, our lives can expand in the present.

• Ready for anything: Once you've experienced the worst and pulled through, you know you will be able to weather just about any adversity. Maya Angelou wrote, '"You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it." Have faith in that inner strength we all harbor.

• Appreciate what you have: Life as we know it will come to an end. This includes everyone we know, love and care about; it's a fact that we often forget, and it's as startling to remember as it is true. Come good or bad, we do not know what the future will bring, which means we should take every opportunity to fully embrace the present, and our loved ones.

About Caroline Flohr

Caroline Flohr is the author of "Heaven's Child," www.heavenschild.com. It details her  spiritual journey beginning with the sudden death of 16-year-old twin daughter, Sarah. Flohr was forced to dig into the deeper meaning of existence and came away with profound edification and appreciation for the gifts left behind by those who leave us. Flohr lives with her husband and children on Bainbridge Island, a suburb of Seattle.

02 Jan 2013

Special Ed Students, Diversity & the Benefits of Inclusion

By Ginny Grimsley
Friendship, Learning are a Two-Way Street, Says Doctor

For orthopedic surgeon Sean Adelman - a father of three, including Dev, a high-school age daughter with Down syndrome - life lessons are not the exclusive province of the young.

"As a dad, I have often been reminded of the poet William Wordsworth and his line, 'The child is father of the man,' " says Adelman, author of Sam's Top Secret Journal (www.raiseexpectations.com), the first in a the first in a Nancy Drew-style children's book series featuring a protagonist with Down syndrome.

"I think most parents have this experience that, while it's our job to teach our children how to grow up and function in a society, we are constantly learning ourselves. They force us to rethink the basics as we help mold them into mature human beings."

Of course, much of a child's development is out of the hands of parents, he says. School and other social functions provide many first worldly experiences that are so important to developing students. And that makes diversity so important.

Various studies have shown that not only do those with learning challenges benefit from "inclusive education" - a movement that integrates special-ed students with non-special-ed students - but also the rest of the student body.

Adelman explores how inclusion benefits the entire student body:

• Empathic development: To a significant extent, society is a social contract among citizens. That means, at the very least, good behavior is required of individuals. At best, however, citizens recognize that we are social creatures who need each other, and the best way to a better society is to have empathy for our fellow human beings. During the 1990s, inclusion of special-ed students jumped from 48 percent to 70 percent, according to the U.S. Department of Education. Despite concerns at the time about teachers' ability to attend to the needs of all their students in such classes, a Zigmond and Baker study showed teachers did not lose their effectiveness. The famous study also showed that the students treated each other better in general. Children learn that everyone needs help from time to time, and it's as gratifying to provide it as to receive it.

• Diversity and the real world: Children who attend inclusive schools, where all children are mainstreamed, are better able to navigate the complexities of our diverse adult society. Students with and without special needs benefit from exposure to classmates who face different life circumstances. Studies from the National Center for Special Education Research, among others from throughout the world, support claims of mutual benefit from special-ed and non-special-ed students with integration. For a well-rounded character and personality, young people need to be exposed to the many faces of humanity in terms of race, economic background and those with special needs. In addition to this personal edification, a professional career demands social grace and comfort in a diverse work environment.

• The meaning of friendship: Children need to develop social skills and to know how to create and sustain meaningful friendships for a healthy adult life. We may lose wealth, youth, health, and spouses. Friends, however, are often the most reliable emotional resource in life. Friends must learn to accept one another's limitations and flaws, and to complement one another's weaknesses by contributing their strengths. Friends also quickly learn that superficial differences are far less important than shared values, trust and humor.

About Sean Adelman

Sean Adelman is a practicing orthopedic surgeon and advocate for exceptional kids in Seattle. He and his wife, Susan, have three children. Adelman wrote the "Sam's Top Secret Journal" series to show the similarities the protagonist shares with other children, and to explore how differently-abled individuals benefit society.

27 Dec 2012

7 Tips for Keeping Your Financial Fitness Resolution

By Ginny Grimsley
CFP Shares Easy Ways to Start 2013 Off Right

The new year is a great time to get yourself pointed in the right direction financially.
"Making small improvements at the beginning of the year is a lot easier than trying to play catch-up," says financial planner Rick Rodgers, author of "The New Three-Legged Stool: A Tax Efficient Approach To Retirement Planning" (www.TheNewThreeLeggedStool.com).

"Just as you would embark on an exercise program to lose weight and get physically fit, there are simple steps you can take that will lead to being financially healthy and fit."
Here are Rodgers' seven tips for improving your financial life in 2013.

• Review your credit report - Borrowing money isn't the only reason to check your credit.  Employers check credit reports and so do insurance companies.  Your credit score can have a profound effect on the amount you pay for auto and homeowners insurance -- and perhaps on health and life insurance in the not-too-distant future. Order your free credit report at AnnualCreditReport.com.

• Set up an Automatic Savings Plan (ASP) - If your employer doesn't offer this through payroll deduction you can set one up through your bank or brokerage account.  Simply have a certain amount of money withdrawn from your checking or savings account each month and deposited into your investment account. That way, you save it before you ever have a chance to spend it. Try to increase the amount you invest at least once a year.

• Establish a cash flow plan - Business owners know you can't control what you don't track.  Take the time to forecast your income and expenses for the year, and put it in writing. Then adjust those numbers to reach your goals, such as paying down debt or replacing a car.  Track your progress on a regular basis by holding a monthly family finance meeting to review the plan.

• Pay off your credit cards - It's especially important to take action on debt in 2013.  Cash doesn't earn much interest sitting in a deposit account (less than 1 percent) and even "low interest" credit cards charge 10 to 12 percent.  So if you're sitting on any extra savings, consider using it to pay down credit card debt.  Your cash flow plan should include a schedule to eliminate credit card debt as quickly as possible.

• Shop your insurance - Insurance agents are often paid commission based on premium levels, so they have no incentive for finding existing customers lower premiums. However, there is a huge incentive for a competing agent to find you the lowest premium in order to win your business. Make note of the coverage levels you have for your homeowner's and auto policies and use them to comparison shop. Look at ways to save on your health insurance coverage, too, such as switching to a high-deductible plan and opening a Health Savings Account.

• Write an estate plan - At a minimum you need to have a valid will, power-of-attorney (POA) for your finances and health-care decisions, and a living will (Advanced Healthcare Directive in some states).  Decide who will be your personal representative in the event you become incapacitated (POA) or at your death (executor).  If you have minor children, choose who will raise them in your absence and establish a testamentary trust for their finances.

• Meet with a financial adviser - An adviser is to financial planning as a personal trainer is to an exercise program.  Allow yourself to be held accountable by a third party who will push you to help yourself.  Good advisers will help you develop a budget, look at your debts, tax situation, retirement and college savings, estate planning and insurance. You don't have to be a high-net-worth individual to seek the assistance of a financial adviser.  Go to the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA) and search for one in your area.

Don't just make a vague resolution to save money. According to Psychology Today, of the millions of American's who make a New Years resolution, 40 percent have already failed by Jan. 31.  Let 2013 be the year you make lasting changes to improve your financial life.

About Rick Rodgers

Certified Financial Planner Rick Rodgers is president of Rodgers & Associates, "The Retirement Specialists," in Lancaster, Pa. He's a Certified Retirement Counselor and member of the National Association of Personal Financial Advisers. Rodgers has been featured on national radio and TV shows, including "FOX Business News" and "The 700 Club," and is available to speak at conferences and corporate events (www.RodgersSpeaks.com).

20 Dec 2012

The Death of Innocence

By Ginny Grimsley
By: Janet Pfeiffer

The recent tragedy in Newtown, Conn., is one of unspeakable horror. The most recent in what appears to be an alarming trend of mass murders in America is, in my mind, the most gruesome -- most significantly due to the tender ages of the victims.

Since the Columbine massacre in 1999, little has been done to secure the safety of our children. Metal detectors, security cameras and resource officers in schools offer little protection against one determined to commit a heinous act. Neither will gun control or tougher sentencing serve as a deterrent to those filled with evil intent. We've put a Band Aid on the problem rather than treat the underlying illness behind the carnage of our people.

I grew up in the 1950's and '60's, when acts of violence in rural America were a rarity. But violence is only a symptom of a much deeper-rooted problem: for decades, our country has been in a state of extreme moral decay.

We have become a nation of self-centered, ego-driven, rude, arrogant, self-righteous people who have lost all regard for our fellow Americans. We are a nation where power, greed and ego take precedence over decency, compassion and kindness. We have turned away from our religious roots and chosen to live life on our own terms. Some find God offensive - His Commandments obsolete and irrelevant in a modern-day world. "Love your God; love your neighbor as yourself; do not kill." Totally archaic.

We continually violate His laws and are shocked when horrific events occur.  That's akin to exceeding the speed limit, then being surprised when issued a citation. Laws are created for a reason and God's Laws are absolute.

We have filled our hearts with hatred. We glorify anger, violence, and the suffering of others as entertainment. We judge and label those struggling with personal demons or who don't meet our standards of excellence. We seek revenge on those who offend us and have become oblivious (and even more shocking) indifferent to the suffering we cause others.

We do what we want, when we want, however we want. If others don't like it, too bad. That's not our problem. Our rights, feelings, and needs override that of others. People must earn our respect and even then, we choose who receives this honor.

We have devalued human life and therein lies the root of evil in this world. We are all God's sacred children, scarred and struggling, but no less precious in His eyes. Who among us was given authority to redefine another's worth?

The massacre in Columbine, the slaughter of 32 at Virginia Tech, the recent mass murders in a movie theater and mall haven't been enough to wake this country up. Will the bloodied bodies of 20 precious babies and the heroes who gave their lives protecting them be the pivotal moment that reminds us to have reverence for all human life?

We don't need to fear the "fiscal cliff". We plunged off the "spiritual cliff" decades ago. It is not our government's responsibility to fix what is broken within each of us. Each individual must commit to resuming a life of high moral integrity.

The keys to preventing more bloodshed in this country are a return to the moral and spiritual dictates of God, to live lives of compassion, kindness, acceptance, inclusion, generosity, forgiveness, and love; to be a reflection of God's presence in this world and treat all His children with the same dignity and tender care He does. Only when love for all becomes the standard measure of a life well lived will we defeat hatred, destruction, and evil.

We are to be healers to one another. With the grace and guidance of God, we can achieve this goal. Let THIS be the new American dream. Return to your houses of worship.  Read and live the words of the Bible. Raise your children in the ways of the Lord. Be examples of kindness and love for others to follow.

Rest assured: our precious little angels are resting safely in the arms of our Heavenly Father while we are left to clean up this mess we have made. God help us. We need it.

God gave His only Son so that we may have life. Let not the loss of these babies be in vain. Let their lives inspire us to truly learn how to love.

About Janet Pfeiffer

Janet Pfeiffer, international inspirational speaker and award-winning author is a Fortune 500 consultant, radio host (Anger 9-1-1) and TV personality (CNN, Fox News, Lifetime, ABC and more). She's N.J. State certified in domestic violence and specializes in healing anger and creating inner peace. Janet's books include the highly acclaimed The Secret Side of Anger and The Great Truth. For more about Janet, visit www.PfeifferPowerSeminars.com.

19 Dec 2012

5 Grocery Staples for Youth & Vitality

By Ginny Grimsley
Next Time You Stop at the Store, Pick Up These Tasty,
Nutrition-packed Foods, Physician Advises

It's the question we ask ourselves almost every day: What's for dinner?

Entwined in this daily dialogue is wondering whether we'll need to dash into the grocery store on the way home from work. The next time we make one of those supermarket pit stops, Dr. Eudene Harry, author of "Live Younger in 8 Simple Steps," (www.LivingHealthyLookingYounger.com), would like us to veer in a new direction.

"When people shop on the go, they tend to gravitate toward old standbys and foods they can multipurpose with - usually not the most nutritious choices possible. But by substituting a few items on your list, you can not only look and feel more youthful, you'll boost your resistance to certain cancers and other illnesses."

Some of the most nutrition-packed foods not only taste great, they're readily available at the grocery store and easy to prepare, Harry says.

"The more you eat, the more you'll crave them."

Here are five food combos for shoppers with healthy eating on their minds:

• Tomato, garlic, chicken and almonds: Tomatoes contain one of the world's most concentrated sources of cancer-fighting lycopene, which is best absorbed from tomatoes that are cooked. Garlic has been used for centuries for various health purposes and is a known free-radical destroyer. Nuts help to lose weight, maintain healthy blood pressure and support moods; almond crumbs are a great substitute for bread crumbs on chicken. Pair these goodies with whole wheat couscous for a full dinner.

• Pomegranate-Balsamic tempeh: With its high protein, fiber and isoflavones content, and meaty texture, tempeh is heavily utilized by vegetarians. It's made from soybeans processed in a manner similar to cheese making. Like tofu, tempeh takes on the flavors with which it is cooked or marinated, including zesty-tangy balsamic vinegar - perfect for accentuating salads.

• Mashed cauliflower gone Greek: Not only does the "original" yogurt have a thicker texture and richer taste, it's also denser in lactobacilli, the healthy bacteria that may delay the onset of cancer. And yogurt is low in fat and high in protein, which is essential for many body functions, including building and repairing muscle tissue, organs, bones and connective tissue. Rather than add fatty, cholesterol-filled butter and sour cream to starchy potatoes that stick to your ribs, why not pair two healthy options with mashed cauliflower with Greek yogurt and fresh black pepper for simple goodness?

• Sushi - wild salmon, minced cucumbers, shredded carrots, kelp, sesame seeds and rice: A sushi roll is much more filling and satisfying than a non-sushi eater would think. Many grocery chains offer ready-made rolls, but they are also fairly easy to make. A bamboo roller is a great start; place a sheet of nutrient-dense kelp as the first thing on the roller, and add, lengthwise, desired ingredients. Your first try is not likely to be perfect, but the tasty and healthy ingredients will be there.

• Fruit salad for dessert: Bring together chopped apples, strawberries, cantaloupe, watermelon and pineapple with blueberries and grapes for a sweet and juicy post-dinner palate-cleanser. Lemon juice prevents fruits from bruising. If that's not enough, combine the salad with Greek yogurt - perhaps blended with vanilla or almond extract - and fiber-filled granola for a parfait.

About Eudene Harry, M.D.

Dr. Eudene Harry holds a bachelor's in biology from New York University and completed both her medical degree and residency training at Thomas Jefferson University. Currently the medical director for the integrative and holistic Oasis Wellness and Rejuvenation Center, she has practiced medicine for nearly 20 years, is board certified in both emergency and holistic medicine, and for more than a decade practiced emergency medicine as an attending physician in Level II trauma centers. In 2005 she opened Oasis for Optimal Health, a private practice focused on integrative, holistic wellness and empowering and educating the patient.

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