Info-Leeches and other E-Invertebrates

Are you stuck in a rut? Do you seem to have the same problems popping up time after time? What will it take to finally get you over your problems and into the abundant life? Here are three biblical principles to help you get out of whatever personal problems you’re going through and on the road to achieving the life of your dreams.

Have you noticed that almost all of our problems stem from relationships? Either someone has hurt us or we lack relationships in our life, especially healthy ones. Sometimes other symptoms develop as a result of our hurt or isolation; such as addictions, depression, bitterness, anger, and loneliness. Then we get sidetracked working to resolve these symptoms instead of realizing there is a deeper underlying cause - that of unhealthy relationships.

It has been discovered that when a person works on living their life according to God’s overall instructions, their problems get resolved as a by-product. So, when we work on having the following three key principles active in our life, then almost all of our problems get resolved.

The first principle is: when you develop a strong, deep relationship with God, then you will know how to build loving relationships with others. It is only through our relationship with God that our deepest desire for unconditional love gets fulfilled. No other person can fulfill this need except God. Since God is love, He has the greatest capacity to provide us the love we so desperately search for.

Since God never leaves us, we can stand firm in our relationship with Him. During our lifetime we will never fully uncover the depth of God’s love toward us. So we have a lifelong pursuit in this love relationship. How close we get to God is up to us!

Once we experience God’s love revealed to us, then we can properly love others. We can quit expecting others to meet our deep need for love because we now receive that from God. Through our understanding of how God treats us (or doesn’t treat us) we learn how to properly interact with others.

The second key principle is: to overcome our problems we must take 100% responsibility for our own life. We must stop blaming others and making excuses for the way we act. Once we realize that we have a choice on how to act and react to situations, we gain control over the quality of our life. In order to move on in life and let go of our focus on our problems, we must learn how to act and react in a different manner.

Many of our reactions to hurtful people are changed after God shows us His unconditional love. We realize that because God loves us even with all our mistakes, then we can learn to love others in the same way. God asks us to make the effort and He will provide His love through us to others. Now we’re on our way to developing healthy, godly relationships.

Taking control of your life also means you must plan for your future, and that is where the next principle helps you.

The third key principle is: when you find God’s unique purpose for your life, you have the motivation to keep you headed in the right direction and you discover the abundant life. God’s plan usually entails taking whatever you are passionate about and putting it into a life-long project whereby you use it to love and serve others.

God created man to have an intimate relationship with Him, then to love others, and then to carry out the specific purpose He designed us for. While there are general guidelines on how God wants us to live and act, God also gives each of us a very personal goal for us to carry out. Since this vision includes loving and serving others, it is important that we have the first two key principles in place to enable us to adequately carry out God’s plan. With a proper understanding of God, His love and His plan, then we will be able to handle trials that come while serving the Lord.

When you focus on implementing these three key biblical principles instead of dissecting every individual problem, you will get better results. Now that you know three areas to work on, get a pen and paper and begin to determine what these items will require of you.

Kathy Williamson teaches biblical principles to help people overcome their problems and find the abundant life. Her book, teachings and free ezine can be found on her website at http://www.wisdomforliving.org

If you’d like to fulfill your long-held dreams, try a radical approach. Radical people create their own breakthroughs for getting the job, love and health they really want. Nonconformists open to options for achieving “extraordinary” goals that others don’t see.

Take Christopher Columbus for example. Columbus played outside the box. When conventional wisdom proclaimed as fact the world was flat, he held the extreme notion that he could sail over the edge and land in China instead of deep space. This rebel sailed his clipper ships where no one had ever gone before—and reshaped people’s view of the world!

Discovering Fresh Options

Five centuries ago, Europeans reacted with disbelief when they heard that the world is round. So mind-blowing—and threatening to their current belief system—was the discovery that people wanted to discard the news as rubbish.

What about enlightened people of the 21st century? If Columbus were to sail into our modern lives with revolutionary factual information about our world, would people believe him now? Let’s see how open we are!

Besides demonstrating that the earth is round, Columbus made another equally mind-popping discovery. His revelation is about the power of cultural belief systems and how people see only what they believe they will see. And, like the Europeans, most people of our time want to discard Columbus’ radical news as rubbish.

What information could be so extreme that our educators and media—our mythmakers—would try to exclude this vital data from schoolbooks and public knowledge?

A World of Beliefs

Columbus’ arrival in the New World revealed how cultural belief systems determine what people see—or don’t see. Columbus found that the native people in this new land couldn’t see his clipper ships. The natives were unable to see the big ships because they didn’t believe that big ships existed!

You See What You Believe

In 1492, Columbus landed on the island of Hispaniola, now the countries of Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Until Columbus’ arrival, the islanders had only seen and heard of small boats—like their own canoes. The tribe had never seen nor heard of large ocean-going sea craft. So when the Nina, Pinta and Santa Maria arrived, the natives couldn’t see the big ships of Christopher Columbus! And the vessels were floating in plain sight right off shore!

“I Don’t See Any Big Ships!”

Why couldn’t the islanders see the big boats? Because nobody in their culture had ever seen big boats before. And nobody had ever written or talked about big boats in their society.

In any culture, the mythmakers—teachers, historians and media—decide people’s reality. The specific world that mythmakers talk and write about determines the aspects of reality that people are able to perceive. The world that these storytellers talk and write about creates a belief system unique to each culture. And this belief system acts as a filter, screening out realities that don’t fit into the cultural conditioning of the society.

The mythkeepers who shaped the islanders’ belief systems didn’t recognize the possibility that large ships might exist. And the filter of this belief prevented the natives from seeing the three large sea vessels. … At first!

3 Keys for Unlocking New Possibilities

The island shaman wasn’t able to see the ships when they first arrived. Like his tribespeople, the shaman medicine man wasn’t able to see past the filters of his cultural conditioning.

But unlike the common folk of his tribe, the medicine man was educated by radical mythmakers—shaman elders. These nonconformist teachers were always exploring “new worlds.”

From these elders, the shaman learned that a person only sees the elements in the world that the person’s mind has been exposed to. The ego-mind filters out realities that don’t fit its picture of what exists in the world. But the shaman also learned from his teachers how to bypass the limitations of the ego-mind.

The elders gave the shaman these 3 keys to help him see “outside the box” of his belief system—to perceive the world as it really exists.

Key 1 - Look for a Different Pattern

The 1st key, made famous in the movie Star Wars, is to notice “a disturbance in the force.”

Anchored just offshore, Columbus’ ships are creating out-of-the-ordinary patterns in the ocean waves. Even though he can’t see the ships, the observant shaman does notice unexplained variations in the waves.

Key 2 - Don’t Listen to Your Mind!

Curious, the shaman investigates the unusual wave patterns. As he begins his inquiry, he uses the 2nd key: “Don’t trust your mind!”

Generations of medicine men and women have passed down this key to happiness. The 2nd key alerts the shaman to the limitations of his ego-mind. The shaman understands that his mind only perceives realities that his mind has been exposed to by his culture. Limited by its belief system, the mind is unaware of a boundless world teeming with unfiltered possibilities.

Key 3 - Open to New Possibilities

From his elders, the medicine man learned that any unusual pattern in our world always indicates that something has changed in our reality. But, in this instance, the shaman is not yet seeing the specific element that has been added or taken away. In order to see what element has changed, he lets go of how his ego-mind “thinks” the world operates. He opens himself to making a fresh discovery—the 3rd key.

As a result of deciding to allow new possibilities into his life, the shaman sees the cause of the peculiar patterns: the never-before-imagined clipper ships! As soon as the shaman perceives the large ships, he tells his tribe the ships exist and points to exactly where they are. The rest of the islanders are then able to perceive the vessels.

Where Are Those Darn Car Keys?

This remarkable true story resonates with me as I recall comparable experiences in my life. There have been times when I haven’t seen my car keys sitting on a table—even though they were clearly visible.

The dynamics of my situation are similar to those of the islanders who don’t see the ships because of their limited belief system. At first, I don’t see my car keys on the table. So, I decide the keys aren’t there. Once I’ve decided the keys aren’t there, I’ve created a belief that “my keys aren’t on the table.” This belief then filters out my ability to perceive the keys sitting on the table in plain sight. Only when I let go of the belief that “my key’s aren’t on the table”—and decide to open to new possibilities—am I able to perceive the keys.

Freed of his limiting belief filter, the shaman was able to see the big ships. Then by pointing out the ships, he enabled his tribespeople to see the element—the ships—blocked by their belief filter. Free of my preconceived belief that “my keys aren’t on the table,” a friend of mine is able to see the keys on the table. Then by pointing out the keys, my friend enables me to see the element—the keys—blocked by my belief filter.

Live Your Dreams!

Columbus discovered a radical new world—a world that’s ever-changing based on what we believe is possible.

What “extraordinary” possibilities have you already decided don’t exist in your world? Have you quit looking for that dream job? Seeking great health? Searching for satisfying love? If you previously made up your mind that you’ll never have a terrific job, body or relationship, guess what … ?

Be Your Own Shaman

You don’t need a shaman to point out the opportunities you aren’t seeing in life. Become a shaman yourself! Use these 3 radical keys to see the world as it really exists—and to navigate onto a new, fun playground.

1st Key: Look for out-of-the-ordinary patterns in life. “A disturbance in the force” indicates that there’s an opportunity to see a solution or a course of action you haven’t yet seen in the situation.

2nd Key: Don’t trust your mind! The suggestions of your ego-mind are limited by what you’ve experienced in the past and learned from your cultural mythmakers—your teachers and media. The beliefs of your mind filter out many advantageous choices and options that are available in life.

3rd Key: Open to fresh possibilities. Invite the unexpected. Allow exciting new options to appear “out of nowhere!”

The island natives couldn’t see the Nina, Pinta and Santa Maria clipper ships because the ships were filtered out by the islanders’ limited belief system. Why miss your boat because of the limited belief system of your island? Hop on board! Sail into a new world of fulfilled dreams!

As a personal life coach and vision quest guide, Sulana Stone assists people to discover and express their life purpose through private sessions and workshops. Find out how to get more love in life, a more fulfilling job, or find a purpose beyond the mundane with a FREE Prosperity Ezine and FREE Empowerment Tape at www.SedonaVisionQuest.com. Contact her at sulanastone@yahoo.com or 602.861.2631 for free coaching.

I am a certified shoe-a-holic. My husband just can’t understand why I have so many shoes, and still want to get more. But how can I resist buying Kenzie shoes, when they have the cutest summer wedgies that would complete any outfit. And when I see the Kenzie Beware pull-up boots, I can’t wait for the fall and winter to come. Speaking of winter, have you seen some of the dress up shoes? The Kenzie Wishbone shoe with the embroidered wedge is just too much. Now I wonder if I can wear that during the holidays and show my husband how many times I wear them if he will think they were worth the purchase? How about “singing in the rain shoes” ?

It isn’t any surprise to my husband or friends that I love shoes. I am becoming better at limiting my purchases and sometimes, I even am able to clear some out of my closet. It hasn’t been quite as difficult lately, in some respects, because I am unable to wear the very high heels since my auto accident and back injury. But it is still difficult to admit I am not able to wear my youthful shoes anymore. Jeffrey Campbell shoes are great; the Peep Toe Pump is too cute; it reminds me of the old 40’s movies, and I love the retro look. Best of all, I fell in love with the Artist Rubber Rain Boots; I had to get those, and can’t wait for the rains to start!

Stress, America’s #1 health problem, is a leading cause of major illness. In fact, heart disease, high blood pressure, and depression are just some of the harmful effects of stress. Research has shown that releasing stress and learning how to relax promotes a healthier, happier, and more fulfilling life.

Here are 3 easy ways to reduce your stress fast.

1. Breathe Deeply

Take 3 slow deep breaths. Taking the breath from your diaphragm, through your nose, holding for about 2 seconds and then slowly exhaling through your mouth. Why slow deep breaths? Because when we are under stress, we tense up, constricting the oxygen to our body. Taking slow deep breaths brings oxygen throughout our body resulting in feeling centered and releasing stress. Giving your body much needed oxygen will release tension and stress fast.

2. Meditate

The purpose of meditation is to relax and to release stress. Meditation allows the body to relax and permits a means to release the “chatter” in your mind. It is important for you to know that there is no right or wrong way to meditate. Meditation is simply a form of concentration and focus; it is a process that quiets the mind. Since much of our negative stress is caused by our own thoughts, this is an especially useful method.

Here are steps for a popular, quick, and easy guided mediation:

1. Get into a comfortable position and close your eyes.
2. Take 3 deep breaths.
3. Visualize all the stress in your mind and body as a cloud of gray smoke. Allow this cloud to be released through the crown of your head. Imagine the gray cloud floating into the sky and disappearing. Feel the weight of the stress being releasing out of your body and into the cloud. Allow your shoulders to drop and continue until you have no more gray smoke or for about 10 minutes.
4. Imagine a healing white light that has surrounded your body. Feel the warmth of this light and allow it to infiltrate your body. Slowly open your eyes.

3. Try Hypnosis

This technique involves sitting comfortably with your eyes closed while listening to suggestions. Hypnosis is relaxation, focus, and suggestion. Using these three elements your mind and body will enter into a deeply relaxed state that gives you an overall sense of well being and tranquility. Hypnosis is one of the oldest and most natural modes of healing dating back to 1000 B.C. In 1958 the American Medical Association approved the therapeutic use of hypnosis. This brought mainstream recognition that hypnotherapy was a valid and legitimate form of healing. During this time hypnotherapy was respected and accepted in America.

Meditation & Guided Imagery are techniques that use the natural power of the mind in creating what you want in life. Einstein estimated that we only use 10% of our brains. In practicing Meditation and Guided Imagery, we have access to the other 90%. Since thoughts are one of the most powerful possessions we can have, it is important to keep the thoughts and images positive. Meditation and Guided Imagery works because the Physical Universe is energy, this energy is vibrating at different speeds. Energy is magnetic causing similar thoughts to attract other similar thoughts. What we dwell on, we will attract. Thoughts and ideas are high vibrating forms of energy and are very powerful. Form then follows ideas. This is the reason that thoughts and ideas in Meditation and Guided Imagery particularly must be in a positive form.

Here are some steps to make

Meditation and Hypnosis more effective.

1. Desire- You must have the desire to make a positive change in your life.
2. Belief- You must believe in the power of the mind.
3. Acceptance- You must accept the process of Meditation and Hypnotherapy including the results.
4. Set you goal- Decide on what you want and be committed to it.
5. Create a Clear Idea or Picture- Create the vision in your imagination and make it clear.
6. Focus on it often- Keep the images of your goal in your mind as often as possible.
7. Give it Positive Energy- Keep your frame of mind and thoughts positive.
8. Look For the Positive Changes- Look for the subtle ways Meditation and Hypnosis are changing your life, and believe in the magic of life!

Marla Sloane Ph.D. is a successful author and speaker. Her Daily Positive Affirmations subscribers have reached world-wide proportions, and her book, “The Masks We Wear and How to Live Without Them” is at the heart of her teleclasses; Live Your Best Life. Marla has also produced, Trilogy of Meditations, for your Mind, Body, and Spirit, which is distributed nationwide, and in Europe. You can visit her web site at: www.marlasloane.com.

marla@marlasloane.com

With the scope of intensification happening in telly machinery in the present day it is actual worthwhile to understand numerous of the most important improvements. This info to liquid crystal display televisions (LCD) considers the specific pros of this technology. This insight supplies you all the crucial facts on how to obtain the greatest picture & gives details on several of the important points to watch out for with LCD TVs. Find amazing deals on Cheap 26″ LCD TV at Sound and Vision!

There are presently 2 central benefits with Liquid Crystal Display TVs over Plasma televisions. The first is that LCD televisions may well be a great deal easier to look at when measured to a cathode ray tube (CRT) television. This is for the most part because televisions displays are drastically brighter with a higher contrast level & flicker free image. Liquid Crystal Display televisions regularly work as they should in more or less any kind of condition from bright to ambient. Secondly, LCDs regularly have a higher native resolution than plasma tellies of the same size making them ideal for hi-definition output. Although plasma tellies are currently superior for pure screen size, as more and more television outputs come in hi-def TV (HDTV), LCD manufactured goods will come to the forefront.

How Liquid Crystal Display Tellies Actually Work?

LCD technology is reasonably complex & are growing daily. This technology is based upon the fact that liquid crystals are, in their traditional state, twisted. The aptitude of the crystals to allow light through can be changed by submitting electric voltage. Very simply put, a light source is passed through a liquid that contains crystals held amid 2 polarised displays. By permitting the precise degree of light to go through, the wanted display is constructed.

Imagine finally taking off seven coats youve been wearing on top of each other for years and years. You’ve forgotten that some people consciously choose to live without seven layers of coats on even though most people are living that way.

You remember the possibilities you imagined your life would be when you were a child. You decide to take off the coats and start running joyfully through the spring fields you forgot about. You move into the light where you finally begin to laugh and live feeling inspired every day instead of simply walking around reacting to life, complaining, counting down the days to the next weekend or vacation until you finally die.

Start taking off the coats that have layered your soul since you started to grow up. Forget about the negativity of the news. Dont believe negative people telling you that you cant make more money or move to a nicer city or do anything to better your life. Ignore all the forces telling you what you cant do. Close your ears to people who blame their boss, the government, their friends, and their circumstances for what they dont like about their lives.

Its time to leave em all behind and say See ya! Its time to adopt a new Belief System (yeah, whatever we believe is simply B.S. just opinions we made up that may or may not actually be true.) Its time to drop all that limited thinking that keeps you stuck on the birth-school-work(paycheck-to-paycheck)-death merrygo-round.

Its time to learn the magic of saying YES. Im going to make YES your new favorite word. Imagine what you want most in life right now. Dream BIG. Think of what your ideal life would look like. See all the tiny details. You have no limitations. You can have exactly what you want.

Money is no object. Your time is your own to spend as you like for as long as you wish. Dream BIGGER now. What fills your soul with more joy than youve ever felt before? Remember the best experience of your life? Start there and make it as amazing as you can.

How are you spending your days and nights? Who are you with? What are you doing? What emotions are coming up? What smells are in the air? What are your favorite foods that youre eating and tasting? What cities and countries are you visiting? What are you wearing?

As you reach out to touch your loved ones youre sharing this life with what sensations run through your hands? Get as specific as possible. The more specific you are the more youll get out of doing this. I want you to see, hear, feel, taste and smell every little piece of the life you were born to live.

As you walk into your dream house how big are the doors? How high are the walls? How much of the square footage is covered in windows? How have you furnished it? How many rooms does it have? How many rooms does your guest house have? How many acres of property do you own? What do you see outside of the windows? A meadow? A stream? The ocean? The sunset?

Is this the most fantastic day of your life? YES, it is. Get more in depth. See how your smile looks. Feel the warmth in your heart and the ease and peace in your spirit. Hear the sounds of the surroundings that feed your soul. Feel the excitement in your bones as you realize that you are actually living in your dream come true.

How amazing do you feel right now? You deserve this life dont you? YES, you do.This is no accident. If you are in a human body then you deserve to use it to build the life you truly want to be living. Hundreds of thousands of people are doing it right now. Cant you do it too? YES, you can. You may need some help, guidance and support, but you can and you will create the life of your dreams. YES, its yours for the taking.

YES, youre ready. YES, you will live it now. How do you feel right now? YES, right now at this moment. Imagine feeling this light and warm every day. Youre smiling arent you? If you arent then you didnt do the exercise above slow enough to absorb it and I invite you to do it again.

Feeling is what creates what we have and do. Positive thinking without honest feeling behind it will leave you wondering why nothing’s changed.

When you learn to consciously create with your feelings you’ll start getting better results in your life. Right now you’re probably getting results based on your unconscious feelings. The scary part of this is that most people only feel in reaction to wht happens to them. I’m teaching you how to create with your feelings instead.

This feeling, actually a feeling even lighter and clearer, is the place where my clients learn to live from. If you’d like to learn more about living from an authentic state I invite you to visit www.AngryEnoughToChange.com and read about my Champion Coaching program. This program can support you in experiencing even deeper versions of this ecstatic state.

Please re-read this exercise and get precise about what you want. Simply getting conscious about your desires and feeling as if you’re already living this way will magnetize it to you. You’re creating everyday so you may as well do it consciously to get what you really want. You deserve it, so go for it!

Sopan Greene, M.A.

http://www.AngryEnoughToChange.com

ARE YOU SICK AND TIRED OF BEING SICK AND TIRED YET?

Grab your FREE e-mail course: “How To Get Angry Enough to Change?!” along with 2 FREE eBooks: “Angry Enough to Change?: 8 True Stories About Real People” and “The Angry Enough to Change? Quiz” mailto:webmaster87-41205@autocontactor.com

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Let’s get right to it!

1. Add Sour Cream to your mashed potatoes.

2. After icing your cinnamon rolls, dust the tops lightly with cinnamon.

3. Always use special napkins - use seasonally-appropriate patterns and colors. If your family has a favorite sports team, serve their colors on the days they’re playing. If you are NASCAR fans, by all means, go with your driver’s colors on race day!

4. Never underestimate the elegance of candles. They set the mood and add mood to your setting.

5. Use freshly-grated Parmesan and leave the cans on the shelves.

6. Serve only coffee that has been freshly-ground and freshly-brewed. Top this coffee off with a dollop of whipped topping, and if you’re really feeling “high brow”, fresh shavings from a block of chocolate.

7. Use REAL crumbled bacon on top of your salads and baked potatoes. Leave the plastic containers of wanna-be bacon bits on the shelves beside the Parmesan.

8. Speaking of salads, add crumbled feta cheese to your tossed salads. You’ll never want salads without it again!

9. Never, ever, under any circumstances - make salsa without fresh cilantro. If your store is out, drive to the next store. If, three stores later, you still haven’t found any cilantro, skip the idea of salsa all together! Yes, it’s that important.

10. Add zip to your loaf of French Bread. Spray, or brush, the top of the loaf with olive oil. Then sprinkle on dried red pepper flakes and dried onion flakes. Bake as usual.

11. Get a rounded ice-cream scoop of ice cream, roll in crushed nuts and serve on top of a plate that’s been swirled with caramel or chocolate syrup. Then squeeze more over the top.

12. Do the same as above, but use coconut in place of the crushed nuts. This time, place the balls of coconut-covered ice cream on top of slices of pound cake. Now, pour some pineapple bits, juice and all, on top of the servings.

13. Serving Italian food? Softly play Italian music in the background.

14. Invest in several sets of dishes, as many as your budget will allow. Match the “mood” of your meal you’re serving with the “mood” of the dishes you’ll be serving it on. For example, if you’re serving seafood, either a “Lighthouse” dish pattern, or blue dishes would be perfect. Asian food is great on black or floral dishes. Hamburgers? Red, white and blue!

15. When making grilled cheese sandwiches, use a thin layer of cream cheese alongside your typical slice of cheddar. Serve with a knock-out salad or your favorite soup.

16. Set aside a Saturday for Candy making. Try out fudge, taffy and even molded candies. If you have someone in the kitchen with you, it’s even funner. If not, at least you don’t have to share your spoils!

17. Make a tradition out of trying a new, challenging bread recipe on the first Sunday of every month (or any day of your choice, of course!) Start out with the basic loaf, then move on to Sourdough, Wheat, Irish Bread, French Bread, Twisted Loaves, etc.

18. Place sprigs of parsley on special dishes. Your family will appreciate the extra-special thought and it looks really pretty!

19. Buy thick “Texas Toast” for making French Toast. Prior to dipping into the egg bath, cut a slit in each of the bread’s corners, fill each with 1 Tablespoon of softened cream cheese. Prepare as you normally would. Serve with syrup, a dusting of powdered sugar and a few fresh, plump strawberries. Delicious!!!

20. When serving Refried Beans, warm a small amount of Sour Cream until it has the consistency of whipping cream. Top each serving of beans with a teaspoon of the sour cream and top with chives or diced green onions.

Remember: Cooking is an art, so get creative and have fun with it!

About the Author

This article, and others, can be found at http://www.buttermilkpress.com, as can recipes, cooking tips, products, and more. Feel free to contact the author at joi@buttermilkpress.com

People have a tremendous capacity for outstanding achievement. There are also many extraordinary capacities that allow them to become high achievers.

Here are seventeen extraordinary capacities that make human beings remarkable. When we recognize and use these capacities, the quality of our lives can become more joyful than ever before.

1. Helping someone in their time of tragedy or need shows the capacity for human goodness.

2. Listening closely to another’s words and experience shows the capacity for soulful communication.

3. Understanding the pain, sorrow, or loss of another person shows the capacity for empathy.

4. Believing the best about others, and offering time, support, and friendship shows the capacity for trust.

5. Apologizing for a past mistake shows the capacity for strong character and trustworthiness.

6. Forgiving the errors of a fellow human being shows the capacity to receive forgiveness.

7. Supporting the truth, even when it is unpopular, shows the capacity for honesty and integrity.

8. Compromising when it is best for the welfare of others shows the capacity for teamwork.

9. Giving time and effort to assist others to be successful shows the capacity for sincerity.

10. Being curious about life, its people and its mysteries, shows the capacity for learning.

11. Praying for the welfare of family, friends, and all of humanity shows the capacity for love.

12. Waiting for God’s answer to a prayer shows the capacity for faith and patience.

13. Accepting the answer to a prayer, whatever it might be, discovering its blessings, and then moving on shows the capacity for gratitude.

14. Believing in a God-given purpose throughout long and difficult seasons of scarcity shows the capacity for determination and hope.

15. Taking risks, making mistakes, and learning from all experiences show the capacity for being human.

16. Getting up after having fallen down or suffered failure shows the capacity for resolve.

17. Persisting resolutely to navigate life’s rapids, scale its mountains, move beyond its perceived limitations, and arrive at its finish line with faith and dignity shows the capacity for achievement.

When we use our mental and spiritual capacities, our lives will be filled with more love, contentment, and achievement than we can imagine. When we cultivate a deep faith in a Power greater than ourselves, we never have to travel life’s journey alone. There will be powerful sources of wisdom and guidance walking with us every step of the way.

© Copyright by Steve Brunkhorst. Reprinted from Achieve! 60-Second Nuggets of Inspiration. Pick up a complimentary copy of Steve’s colorful PDF Print Poster, Extraordinary Human Capacity, plus other great resources when you subscribe to Achieve! Ezine at http://www.AchieveEzine.com

“A man is only as good as his tools” is a phrase I’m sure you’ve heard before and it applies to bartending as much as anything else.

You’ll only ever be as good as your tools, so make sure you’re not without them. The quality of your tools can make or break your experience behind the bar so it’s important you take this lesson seriously.

There are countless bartending tools out there. Will you use them all? No. But there are certain tools that every bartender must have. In this first lesson, we’ll be taking a look at those ‘must-have’ tools so pay close attention.

Bottle Opener

Now whether you’re working in a low or high volume bar, a bottle opener is not only crucial to your speed, but also your hands!

Imagine opening every bottle of beer ordered with your bare hands… you wouldn’t last the night without seriously doing damage to your palms.

There are many different types of bottle openers out there on the market… everything from a simple ‘key-chain opener’ all the way to a ‘butterfly bottle opener’, you know, like a butterfly knife? Pretty cool.

Find out what works for you. I’ve used the same stainless steel ’speed opener’ for years now, it does the job (with style) everytime so I’ve had no reason to switch.

Wine Opener/Corkscrew

The best, most versatile wine opener is known as the ‘waiter’s wine opener’. It’ll always do the job, even on the most difficult and the most stubborn corks. Compare this to many others out there that often break the cork or have you struggling in front of the customer to get the damn thing open.

A waiter’s wine opener includes a corkscrew (worm), a sharp blade to cut the seal of the wine and also a bottle opener device if you’re desperate for one.

I recommend a ‘two-level’ lever on your opener as well, that’s what I personally use. Mine has never failed me in opening a bottle of wine.

Cocktail Shaker

This is the stainless steel thingy you see bartenders pour ingredients into for a martini or shooter and shake vigorously. This is a must-have for all bartenders.

A good rule of thumb for cocktails is, the colder it is, the better it tastes. Why else would bartenders concoct a drink by pouring pre-chilled ingredients into a shaker with ice, shaking like crazy and then serving it in a chilled glass? Because you want every part of the process to be ‘chilling’ to prevent any ‘warming’ of the cocktail.

There are two types of shakers out there:

1) Standard Shaker

This is a three-piece stainless steel shaker that has the strainer built into it. I find the Standard Shaker is not as common among professional, working bartenders.

It consists of the shaker tin, lid with strainer and cap. Perhaps it’s more complicated design with smaller parts discourages working bartenders from using this more often. But it will do the job just as well as the…

2) Boston Shaker

From my experience, the Boston Shaker is actually more standard among professional bartenders. This one is simply a shaker tin with a separate mixing glass that’s slightly smaller in size. It’s a two-piece device that you simply seal together to shake the cocktail.

The tendency is seal it as tight as you can and proceed to shake, although this is not necessary as you can often seal it too tight, and then not be able to open it when you’re done shaking and ready to pour the concoction.

If you’re ever in this situation, use the edge of the bar and clip the overlapping metal lip (which will always be on the outside, as the glass is always smaller and fits inside) against the edge of the bar. You can also ‘twist’ them apart, that will often break the seal too.

But avoid all that by fitting them together nice and snug instead of as tight as you can.

You can purchase shaker sets in all types of different sizes and styles, but they pretty much fall into one of the two types listed above.

Strainer

Again, you’ll find many different types of strainers on the market. But the only kind I’ve ever used and would want to use is the Hawthorn Strainer.

You know, it’s that real funny looking stainless steel thing with the handle and the spring coil. The purpose behind the spring coil on the strainer is so you can fit it into all types of different shaped glasses. So it’s a very versatile tool.

I should mention that when using a shaker I often do not use a strainer. I use the Boston Shaker and simply crack a tiny opening in the seal between the two and pour out the concoction ‘cracked egg’ style.

If you’re more of a visual learner like me, Tom Cruise does this when pouring his ‘Turquoise Blue’ Martini for Gina Gershon in the two floor NYC nightclub in the movie Cocktail.

Coasters

Not every bar uses coasters. But it’s a good thing to have. They’ll prevent a lot of unnecessary wet spots or ‘rings’ on the bar from moisture off the side of the glass.

I’ve worked in slower, classier places where using them is mandatory. I’ve also worked in higher volume nightclubs where you don’t use coasters because you’re wiping the bar down every five minutes anyway, so why bother? Which leads me to…

Bar Towel (Rag)

A fresh, clean set of bar towels is something every bartender needs. In high volume places, the bar is constantly needing a wipe down from spilt drinks, drink rings, sticky shooter glasses, etc.

I like to have a minimum of four, strategically placed wet bar towels in my working area at all times.

One thing I teach you in Bartending Secrets Exposed is to have everything systemized. You want things as seemingly insignificant as location of your bar rag to be the same every night. You don’t want to think about where it is everytime you need it, you want it to be second nature, you want to be able to grab it without even looking!

The party can often get sloppy so you must have your bar rags close at hand.

Ice Scoop

Forcefully cutting through and scooping your ice with an actual glass is a very stupid thing to do. Yet I see bartenders do it all the time. I don’t even recommend you ‘gently and carefully’ scoop the ice with the glass. There’s just too much margin for error.

If you chip the glass, and you know it, you’re spending the next ten minutes emptying and refilling your ice well. If you don’t know it, and you happen to serve a customer a drink garnished with glass shavings you could be in some serious trouble.

Using a metal ice scoop is mandatory as a bartender. It really doesn’t take more time to scoop ice with a separate scoop. You can also do some fancy tricks once you get good too.

Jigger/Measuring Glass

If you work in a bar that allows free pouring, you won’t be needing this handy tool. But in most regions of North America free pouring is illegal and you’re required to use some sort of measuring device, whether it’s an automatic or manual device all depends on where you work.

While I’m not a believer in the automatic devices you see nowadays, using a shot glass or jigger (manual device) to measure the amount of alcohol you pour into each drink is what I’ve always done as a bartender.

For those of you who work at places with extremely tight inventory control. I offer you an amazing ‘overpour fake’ technique in Bartending Secrets Exposed to keep the ‘tip friendly’ relationship with your customers while keeping your integrity with the boss. Click here to get it now!

Garnish Picks

Skewers, plastic swords picks, arrow picks… or whatever you want to call them… are for those exclusive garnishes like olives and cherries. They really add to the presentation of a drink and are a must-have for those customers you want to really impress.

Whether it’s giving the customer three olives with their martini or an orange slice and a cherry with one of my seductive martinis, I always have a supply of garnish picks close at hand.

Pour Spouts

Whether you free pour or not, a bar that deals with any type of volume and has any interest in inventory control should have these on all of the high moving liquor bottles. There are many different styles of pour spouts out there:

-plastic
-metal
-neon
-glow in the dark
-slow pour (3 seconds per ounce)
-fast pour
-screened
-flapped
-measured

All have some associated benefit or gimmick. But I like things simple so I use the metal ’slow pour’ spouts on all my liqueurs and the metal ‘fast pour’ spouts on all my well liquor which I’m using a shot glass for anyway. Why wait three seconds when you’re measuring with a glass already?

Time truly is money in this industry.

Now at this point you might be thinking, “Jeremy, you’re talking about the kind of tools and supplies the bar should be supplying, you’re making it sound like I have a choice on what kind of pour spouts I use.”

Realize I don’t want you to go out and start buying pour spouts and garnish picks. Those expenses should be left to the bar you’re working for. But remember that YOU’RE the one working the bar, not the manager. If the bar where you work has crappy pour spouts and doesn’t even use garnish picks, it’s up to you to suggest it!

I believe it’s your choice. After all, you’re the one using it, right? Managers will always be open to suggestions if it will improve your speed and performance, thus, increase sales.

Straws

This is obvious, but you should always have straws close at hand. The bigger or more you give the customer, the better. You control the speed at which your customers drink by how many straws you give them. Make ‘em drink fast so you increase your sales (which equals more tips).

Lighter/Matches & Pens

Ask any bartender out there and they’ll agree that besides ‘a drink’, you’ll be asked for ‘a light’ or a pen more than anything else.

So what’s the best thing you can do??? Have them close at hand!

Have a ton of pens to lend, because you may not always get them back and you always want to have enough. Also, always have a load of matchbooks to give to customers in need.

I also recommend you have a sleek butane lighter of your own for customers needing a light right at your bar and also when flaming drinks are necessary.

Tip Jar

Last, but certainly not least is to have your own tip jar.

While I go into extreme detail in Bartending Secrets Exposed on the true art and science of the tip jar, what I’ll tell you here is that having one is a must! You’re losing tips without one!

Have your own, preferably a wine carafe. The tapered neck of a wine carafe means once a tip is in the jar, it’s in. You won’t have any hands dipping in to swipe your hard earned tips, which can often happen in a busy nightclub.

Now you’re a little more familiar with the tools you need to be an excellent bartender. Remember, you can always get all this information and tons more by getting started with the internets ultimate bartending success system, Bartending Secrets Exposed, ‘How To Double Your Tips and Land Your Dream Job, 100% Guaranteed!’… at http://www.MakeMoneyBartending.com

To Your Success,

About the author:

Jeremy Sherk
http://www.MakeMoneyBartending.com

“At Last - This Expert Professional Bartender Will Take You By The Hand And Show You Step-By-Step Exactly How To Land Your Dream Job and Maximize Your Tips!”

Jeremy Sherk, an expert world-class bartender, who’s been serving drinks before he could legally drink himself, has helped thousands of bartenders land their dream job and skyrocket their tips.

Are you sick and tired of pounding the pavement and getting no results?

Rather than hitting your head against a brick wall trying desperately to succeed on your own… why not let a world-class bartender show you exactly, step-by-step how to make it in this brutally competitive industry?

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