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College students receive billions of dollars in scholarship money every year. How can you get some of this money to fund your college education?

Start looking early
Start looking for scholarships at least by your sophomore or junior year in high school. Some scholarships are even awarded as early as junior high. Where to look? Your first stop should be your high school counseling office, followed by your college financial aid office. Other places to look include

-Civic and community organizations
-Cultural institutions
-Your parents’ place of employment
-Your state Department of Education
-The internet

Keep looking
Keep searching for new scholarships and renewing existing scholarships even after you begin college. Many scholarships need to be renewed annually, and you may qualify for new loans throughout your college years.

Develop your interests
While some scholarships are based on financial need or academic achievement, others are based on particular interests, extracurricular achievements, ethnicity, or religious affiliation.

Meet deadlines
Pay attention to the scholarship requirements – meet them in as creative a way as possible, and always be on time!

Diversify
Apply for every scholarship that you qualify for. Even small scholarships can add up to big money if you win enough of them.

Beware of scams
As you search for scholarships, especially on the internet, look out for scam artists who

-Charge application fees
-Guarantee you will receive a scholarship
-Ask for unnecessary personal information, such as your bank account number

There are plenty of free scholarship search sites on the web, so don’t pay for this service.

This article is distributed by NextStudent. At NextStudent, we believe that getting an education is the best investment you can make, and we’re dedicated to helping you pursue your education dreams by making college funding as easy as possible. We invite you to learn more about how to maximize your scholarship search at http://www.NextStudent.com .

About the Author: My goal is to help every student succeed - education is one of hte most important things a person can have, so I have made it my personal mission to help every student pay for their education. Aside from that, I am just a pretty average girl from SD.

Source: www.isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=615&ca=Advice

Over the last few years the buzz about CRM (Customer Relationship Management) has grown extensively. It seems that every Sales & Marketing executive is talking about it. A study conducted by Jupiter Media Metrix found that U.S. businesses spent more than $5.2 billion in CRM technology software in 2001, a number that is expected to rise to $8.7 billion by 2006. CRM spending has been growing considerably, especially in financial services, retail, and telecommunications.

Many companies have invested in CRM systems to retain customers who demand more and better services by the day, but why? Due to recent trends, consumer behavior has changed dramatically in the last couple of years, and even more with current market conditions. According to a study made by The Center for Customer Strategy, consumers are less concerned with minor price differences, but choose companies based on their value-added services. They want to be able to get what they need, quickly. With tools like the Internet, it’s now a lot easier for both consumers and businesses to compare offers, and switch over if their needs aren’t met. This is especially true of high-value customers that produce the most profit for the business.

Businesses are scrambling for ways to retain these customers, and attract new ones in the process. So how is CRM an answer to keeping up with these trends? CRM is a strategy (no, not software) to transform your business to be customer, not product, focused. The CRM software is just a tool that helps the company carry out this strategy. Depending on its implementation, it can help your business identify who your customers are, what they need and anticipate what could want. It allows businesses to tailor offers to their current customers, building closer relationships that make them feel valuable. It can help eliminate contact and data overlap between departments and improve consumer service. For example, Leah Holzman, Marketing Manager of TradeCard Inc, explained how the marketing and sales departments in her company had problems tacking each others’ progress and customer data. They spent “hundreds of hours managing disparate data across multiple systems. That is, until they implemented a CRM initiative with the help of Salesforce.com. Overall, CRM can make your company more efficient and customer-friendly to capture greater market share, increase customer loyalty, and attract more customers.

So far, CRM sounds like a dream come true. Yet studies show that more than half of CRM initiatives fail. Despite rising spending in CRM, a survey of 1,200 businesses executives conducted by the Data Warehousing Institute showed that 41% considered their CRM project “a potential flop.” Only 16% were satisfied with their CRM software implementation. As one senior marketing executive claimed, “We turned a manual mess into an automated mess, and as a result we just made the same mistakes faster and more efficiently.”

The problem with these companies is not that CRM automation fails to meet expectations. There are several reasons why these systems don’t always generate the desired results. And most times, it has nothing to do with the software.

The biggest mistake that a manager can make is think that once the software is installed, all problems will be solved. To be successful, a CRM initiative must be a company-wide strategic culture change and process design. It entails getting all your employees (not only customer service) to change the way they perform their every day tasks so that the appropriate information is collected and used in a productive way. The software is just a tool that keeps things organized so that a successful CRM is easier to accomplish. As any change in a corporate culture, this project requires complete support from senior management.

One of the most common problems is that data collected isn’t used. Great sums of money are invested in collecting all different kinds of information on clients, yet many times this information is never analyzed, never used to understand the customer or provide all the benefits that CRM can deliver.

For better results, a company investing in CRM must first evaluate their current situation. They should determine what problems need to be solved, and what type of data are needed. Since implementation is often a complicated process (especially in large companies), it is vital to get input from all departments. It is also a good idea to include your customer in the process to get a better idea of what changes will be embraced. Often when a CRM initiative is left up to the IT department, it is harder for other areas of the company to accept any changes in processes (which are usually substantial). To be successful, the initiative must take place throughout the entire company. Employees must be trained to function with the new technology and processes.

When considering a vendor and/or product, it’s imperative that any software, system or processes implemented are flexible. They can then adapt, along with a company, to changing times and trends. This is especially useful in growing businesses, where needs might change as client bases grow and business expands.

No matter what precautions you may take when planning and implementing a CRM initiative, the only thing that can assure its success for the company are your people. After all, the whole concept of CRM is based on relationships. And those can’t be completely automated. There is no technological substitute for a friendly voice or face that understands a customer’s troubles and is willing to go above and beyond to provide the best service. CRM can only help a company manage these relationships to provide a more personalized service to loyal customers.

About the Author: Mark Levit is managing partner of Partners & Levit Advertising and a professor of marketing at New York University. For more information visit http://www.partnerslevit.com or call 212.696.1200.

Source: www.isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=562&ca=Marketing

Once upon a time, I harbored a quaint notion of child development.

In the my imaginary world, children eventually transmogrified into those horror-movie monsters called teenagers. They would overrun the house for a few years, scorching and pillaging along the way…but leaving no lasting damage that a new mortgage and a five-year Caribbean cruise couldn’t fix. They would then transmogrify into wistful longings and fond memories of when they were just babies – when the parents were still in control.

My innocent notions have been sliced, diced and fed to that green creature so loyally following Captain Hook across the seven seas. My daughters are still both toddlers, and already their mutiny is almost complete.

Little Lady is just three-and-a-half. Two days ago, she took over the kitchen.

“No. Don’t sit there. That’s Lulu’s chair.”

“Lulu?” my wife asked?

“She’s my imaginary friend.”

“Well I have a real sandwich and real hunger and I’m going to sit my real bottom down on this real chair,” my wife responded.

That’s when the revolution began. Little Lady kicked up a fuss, wailing about how her imaginary friends had knocked on the door and how she had let them in and how could Mommy be so cruel as to sit on one of them.

“Your imaginary friend can sit on an imaginary chair,” my wife finally said.

“Nooooooooo…”

“Do you want me to leave?” my wife asked.

“Yes. Go away.” And with those words, the kitchen was formally occupied by the rebel insurgent army – one toddler and a handful of her imaginary friends.

Editor’s note. The wailing eventually stopped. I was able to squeeze an apology out of Little Lady. And my wife did return to the kitchen. But Lulu was keeping an eye on us.

This morning I was taking a business call. Nobody important, just Lady Banker. Yes, the same Lady Banker who technically owns at least half of our home and can at any moment shake the rug and send us tumbling into the winter snow.

As I was trying to explain a delicate detail to her, Barney suddenly came blaring through the ear piece.

“What?!” Lady Banker and I cried in unison.

It took me a moment, but it slowly dawned on me that the living room had fallen to the enemy. “Please excuse me a moment. I think this is the work of foreign cannibals breaking through the basement foundation again.” I didn’t know if Lady Banker would buy my story, but I figured it would buy me some time while she considered it.

I rushed to the living room, and there was Little Sister, grinning in the full splendor of her 14 months and holding up the handset.

“I was on the phone with Lady Banker, Little Sister.

She holds the mortgage to our house, you know.”

The look on Little Sister’s face said it all: “You think that’s your biggest problem?”

I tried a few negotiation tactics, finally trading the handset for a limited edition huggy doll.

I returned to the phone. “The rebels are gaining ground, eh?” Lady Banker asked. I sighed.

It was true. Just yesterday, Little Sister scurried up the back staircase to the second floor. She had been playing right beside me, and I was certain she had just headed in the other direction to where her big sister was holding her mother hostage the living room.

But I had to make sure. I peaked my head around the corner toward the back staircase. Nobody. Then I saw it. Her little blankie lying at the foot of the stairs. I heard a thump above, and Little Sister’s lifeless body flashed before my eyes where the blankie lay. I raced to the staircase, up the stairs and around the corner.

There she stood, grinning at me with her “You think that’s your biggest problem?” expression again.

The revolution is gaining momentum. They hold the kitchen. They won the living room. Now they have a toehold on the upstairs landing. It won’t be long until the toddlers and their imaginary friends have overrun the house and declared it a free country. Bedtimes will be banned and candy will be the national currency.

When they leave home, I’ll need more than a five-year cruise to de-stress. Maybe ten years will be enough.

About the Author: David Leonhardt runs a personal growth happiness website. He is author of one of the best self-help books and many personal growth articles to reprint. Visit also his liquid vitamins website.

Source: www.isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=551&ca=Advice

Today Norm Goldman, Editor of www.Sketchandtravel and www.bookpleasures.com is pleased to have as a guest Dan Austin, Director of Operations of AUSTIN LEHMAN ADVENTURES. Dan is an expert on travel to Ecuador & the Galapagos Islands.

Good Day Dan and thank you for accepting our invitation to be interviewed.

Thanks Norm, it is a pleasure to have this opportunity.

NORM:

Please tell our readers something about yourself and your expertise pertaining to Ecuador & the Galapagos Islands.

Dan:

Norm, my “title” is Director for Austin Lehman Adventures. As Director I am responsible for the day- to- day operations of the company. I have been at this a little over 10 years now and love it. For the last 10 years I have had the incredible opportunity to spend endless hours with our guests and have really honed in on what it is that makes a great adventure vacation. I have taken these key learning’s and built trips all over the Americas, most recently a new trip in the Galapagos and Ecuador. After years of research and development I spent a good part of this last summer in South America with my family putting the final touches on this great new program. My kids are often my guinea pigs for testing a new program.

Norm:

Where is Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands and how easy is it to travel from the United States, Canada or Europe to this country?

Dan:

Ecuador is relatively small country (about the size of Colorado) bordered by Columbia (to the North), Peru (to the South and East) and the Pacific Ocean to the West. It straddles the Equator. The Galapagos Islands are located approximately 600 miles to the west in the Pacific. I need to emphasize that Ecuador is a lot more than just the launching spot for the Galapagos; it is a truly amazing country in itself. Rich with history and culture.

It really is quite easy to get to, in the same time zone as the Rocky Mountain States. You can fly non- stop to Quito (The capitol and 2nd largest city) from several US Airports, including Houston and Miami. Planes depart Quito for the Galapagos, scheduled to rendezvous with the ships that support the island tourist trade.

Quito is centrally located at about 9,000 ft and is the gateway to the jungles, the Andes and the Galapagos. It is a city worth spending some time in, one of the oldest cities in the Americas. Walk the cobblestone streets and visit the 16th century churches and you will feel like you stepped back in time.

NORM:

Would you consider Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands a good choice for a romantic getaway or wedding and honeymoon destination? Why?

Dan:

Norm, I found the Haciendas of the highlands of Ecuador amazing. People still live much as they did centuries ago. The locals were so friendly and accommodating. Riding horseback high into the Andes is sure to set off the romantic in any of us.

I am sure anyone would agree that sunset on a yacht; sailing off the coast of exotic and remote islands is as romantic as it gets. Spending the day swimming, snorkelling and hiking amongst the wildlife and then returning to the luxurious comfort of a small yacht for a nice sunset dinner, a little wine and relaxation, one forgets about the day- to- day grind back home. Then there is the unlimited stargazing on deck as you relax in the moonlight. Well you get the picture.

NORM:

When is the best time to visit Ecuador and the Galapagos from the point of view of weather, costs, crowds, and the availability of flights from the USA, Canada and Europe and Australia, etc?

Dan:

Since Ecuador and the Galapagos straddle the Equator, anytime of year is fine. There are very slight differences in the seasons, all having their pros and cons. The “Peak” season has nothing to do with weather; it is from June through September, as this is when most Americans and Europeans have vacation time.

As for weather in the Galapagos, June through September the air and water are a bit chillier and the winds will be present on most days. From October through May, the weather will be a bit warmer, but you can expect light showers almost daily.

In the jungles it rains year round, but especially hard from December through April. Temperatures average 80-90 degrees by day with cooler nights. Humidity hovers between 75-100%.

Around Quito and the highlands, you need to remember you’re starting out at about 9,000ft. June through September is considered the dry season, and the days are the coolest of the year. Last August we encountered a snow- storm at 11,000 ft while hiking in the highlands.

The temperature really only varies a few degrees year round, with day time highs in the high 60’s and night time lows in the high 50’s.

Norm:

How safe is it to travel to Ecuador and the Galapagos?

Dan:

Quito is like any Third World big city, one just needs to be aware of their surroundings and not put themselves in a dubious situation that can be avoided. That said, I traveled throughout the area with my teenage children and never once felt threatened or concerned. Traveling with a guide is always the best answer, these are professionals (some of the best I have ever met) and they know their way around. Due to the remoteness of the Galapagos it is basically crime free.

NORM:

Could you give our readers an idea of the costs involved if travel originates from the USA or Canada?

Dan:

Norm, traveling to South America is so unique in that you can travel at any expense level you desire. If you want to travel on a budget, you can stay in hostels and low budget rooms for dollars a day or you can go the Four Seasons route and experience South America in the lap of luxury or any place in between. The Galapagos of course is a bit different in that there really is limited access and the best way to see the islands is by yacht and the best yachts are not cheap.

Airfare from the US is like airfare anywhere, it varies up and down, based on time of year and demand. You can expect to pay in the neighbourhood of $600-$800 to get to Quito from most major cities and another $390.00 to get to the Galapagos from there.

For a first class experience encompassing the best of Ecuador and the Galapagos I would allow upwards of $400.00 a day.

NORM:

If you had to choose 5 unequalled venues in Ecuador and the Galapagos for a romantic getaway, honeymoon or wedding destination, what would they be and why?

Dan:

That’s a tough one. I think I would start with Quito and the Swiss Hotel. The service is exceptional, the rooms comfortable and the location to Colonial Quito excellent.

I would then say a trip to the highlands and one of the historic Haciendas would be next in line, example: Hosteria Hacienda Pinsaqui. A charming hacienda constructed in 1790 as a textile workshop. Located just outside Otavalo, makes a trip to the famous Otavalo Indian Market Place an easy must do.

Then of course it would have to be a week aboard a yacht (like the M/S Alta a 125ft motor yacht). Sailing the islands of the Galapagos by night and exploring the variety of islands by day.

An extension into the Amazon jungles and a few nights at a “tent camp” would be an incredible experience and a chance to “really get away”.

I would also suggest that as long as one is as far south as Ecuador an extension into Peru would be quite worthwhile. Depending on the time available, heading to Cusco and the heart of the Incan Empire and staying at places as romantic as the Hotel Montasterio (a five star museum hotel, once a 16th century monastery) would make anyone’s vacation highlight reel.

NORM:

What should people know about celebrating a wedding in Ecuador and the Galapagos from the point of view of requirements, experience of the various hotels, etc.

Dan:

I would first suggest they work with a good ground operator like Austin-Lehman or one of the others. Work with someone with contacts “in country” and that knows the lay of the land. There are several good books on the market; one of my favourites is Frommer’s South America. This book is filled with resources and good quality tourist information. Any of the many 5 star hotels would also be a good source of information and all too happy to assist.

Since things change constantly in South America as a general rule of thumb, checking with the Ministerio de Turismo is a good “plan”. But don’t expect too much. Also check with the Tourist Information Center, a center put together by a group of hotels and tour operators. They can be found on the web at the TOURISM INFORMATION CENTER, unfortunately it is in Spanish, but you can get to some “great” links from there. Another one (In English) is ECUATORIANISIMO

NORM:

How far in advance should a couple prepare themselves for their honeymoon, romantic getaway or wedding in Ecuador and the Galapagos?

Dan:

Since the Galapagos has such limited access the farther out one can plan the better. Six months would be a good target to have your plans in place. That is not to say that one should give up if they do not have that much lead- time, there is often last minute space, and it is always worth a call.

NORM:

What resources are available on the Internet pertaining to weddings and honeymoon vacations in Ecuador and the Galapagos?

Dan:

Again, I think I would start with the Tour Operators, they really know how to put these things together best. If you’re determined to go it alone, start with the

Tourism Information Center at TOURISM INFORMATION CENTER. From there you will find endless links to other great websites and resources. Probably the best site I have found is Exploring Ecuador there really is a lot of good information and links on this site. And of course your readers can just go to AUSTIN LEHMAN ADVENTURES and let us do all the work.

Thanks Dan. You can find a great deal of more information on Dan’s site: AUSTIN LEHMAN ADVENTURES - http://www.austinlehman.com/

No, Thank you Norm, it is easy to get excited talking about Ecuador and the Galapagos. Feel free to contact me anytime.

About the Author: Norm Goldman is editor of the travel site, www.sketchandtravel.com and the book reviewing site, www.bookpleasures.com. Norm and his artist wife, Lily, are a unique husband and wife team who meld words with art focusing on romantic and wedding destinations.They are always open to invitations to romantic destinations in the New England states and Florida.To find out more about them click on www.sketchandtravel.com

Source: www.isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=533&ca=Travel

Because most college students are using loans to finance their college education, the debt level of recent graduates is rising rapidly. On average, students graduate owing $12,000-$16,000 in student loans and another $2,000 in credit card debt. Is this the price you have to pay for higher education, or can you avoid college debt in the first place?

The secret to avoiding college debt is to plan wisely and take advantage of the many opportunities to reduce college costs before and during your college years.

Planning ahead
You can avoid college debt by making wise high school decisions:

Take advanced placement classes
Take all the advanced placement classes you can in high school–every AP exam you pass means one less class you need to take in college.

Keep your grades up
Scholarships can be competitive, and even the grades you make early in your high school years can mean the difference in winning or losing. Don’t make the mistake of thinking you can save the hard work for your junior and senior years!

Stay involved
Scholarships also may depend on community and school involvement.

Search for scholarships and grants
Scholarships and grants are the best money source for college because it is money that doesn’t have to be repaid. To find out about grants and scholarships, visit your high school career counselor and the Financial Aid Office of your intended college. You can also search the internet for scholarships and grants.

Investigate public service options
The United States Military, National Health Service Corps, and Americorps will give you money for your education in exchange for your signing up for a “tour of duty.” The time commitment ranges from 10-12 months to 8 years.

Living wisely
The chances to make wise decisions and avoid debt continue into your college years.

Start out in a community college
Most towns and cities have two-year community colleges where you can take your basic courses at less cost than at a four-year college or university. Just investigate to make sure your community college credits will transfer.

Take advantage of Work-Study programs
If you qualify for the federal work-study program, take advantage of it! You will have an on-campus job, possibly in your field of study.

Or work for the school
Many colleges give discounted or free tuition to employees and their family members.

There are lots of non-teaching jobs on campus that you can apply for.

Live frugally
Live at home or get a roommate. Avoid expensive spring break trips. Buy used textbooks, and sell your books at the end of the semester.

I already have a loan. Now what?
If you have a federal student loan, it is possible to have your loan debt discharged (canceled) or reduced, under certain specific circumstances:

You die or become totally and permanently disabled
Your school closed before you could complete your program
You work in certain designated public school service professions (such as teaching in a low-income school)
You file for bankruptcy (only if the bankruptcy court rules that repayment would cause undue hardship.)
As you can see, there are many steps to avoiding or relieving college debt. To best manage your debt it is wise to implement a combination of the strategies listed above that work best for you.

This article is distributed by NextStudent www.NextStudent.com.

About the Author: My goal is to help every student succeed - education is one of hte most important things a person can have, so I have made it my personal mission to help every student pay for their education. Aside from that, I am just a pretty average girl from SD.

Source: www.isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=521&ca=Advice

Dont be afraid you really can make money on the internet! Learning to develope consistant traffic for your products and services on the internet can be a daunting task for the internet “NEWBIE”. Getting those all important first sales to keep you going is crucial! People tend to quit real easy because they never receive any results or belief that what they are doing will work!

Please excuse my English, I am not very educated and I am not very good on the computer. My name is Richard weberg and this is my personal experience.

I started building my internet business about a year ago, it was really confusing! Every website would tell me somthing else, like if you dont use enzines or have a massive list you wont make any money! Every site I went to had some different philosophy, on how to make money on the internet. What I have found out from my experience is, it dosnt matter what you sell on the internet, you can sell anything! What matters is learning to develope a consistant flow of non stop traffic. Your traffic should come from many different advertising avenues.

I have used just about every kind of traffic program out their free and paid ones. Here is a list: auto traffic exchanges, manual traffic exchanges, start pages, pay per click search engines, I submitted my urls manually to all the search engines I could find, banner exchanges, link exchanges, viral traffic programs, posted to business forums, safelist. I tried to use every free traffic program I could find. I had a limited budget and couldnt afford alot for paid advertising. I did is much low cost paid advertising as I could! This may surprise some of you but I dont own my own website and I have never used an enzine and I dont have a massive list! This is exactly what I do

I started with a url rotator, and every day I will login by dial up and add 2 income urls plus 2 traffic producing urls to my rotator. Every Day I would do this, 7 Days a week for 3 months. I Never, Never considered I would fail.

I refuse to think I can fail at this. I was totally determined to earn an income on the internet. You see …I was unemployed, in the process of getting evicted from my apartment, my wife was on the brink of leaving me and I needed to build some form of personal wealth, to send my 3 sons to college. At this time, I was personally in debt and dead broke. I was motivated, but I am not one to whine about my financial difficulties.It took 3 months, but I had a whole bunch of urls on my Rotator, some for income and some to generate traffic.

Two Months Later …

In my mailbox, I received 22 CHECKS, each averaging $120.00. That’s $2,640.00 For That day. Every day after that I was receiving checks in the mail and in my paypal account, Now also my Stormpay account.
My Franchise Website is now earning over $25,000 a Month, My Supermall earns me about $8,000 a month all stores combined, and all my other income producing urls earn me another $14,000 a month.I do not judge the programs, I have no opinions, I simply placed it there, send traffic to it and allow it to earn me income. It’s building and growing now by leaps and bounds. Some are dead, but most is alive and that’s all I care about. The real trick I beleive to this internet thing is NOT GIVING UP AND POUNDING AS MUCH TRAFFIC TO YOUR URLS AS YOU CAN, I DONT CARE WETHER IT IS FREE OR PAID! It will pay off if you dont give up! You will learn as you go.

Here are two great traffic resources to get you started.
http://nehoma.com/rwmy206/
http://10000hits.net/default.aspx?userid=1285334

Sincerely,
Richard Weberg

About the Author: Richard WebergPOB 801Hibbing, MN 55746webergenterprises@msn.com http://nehoma.com/rwmy206/

Source: www.isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=505&ca=Marketing

Today Norm Goldman, Editor of www.sketchandtravel.com and www.bookpleasures.com is pleased to have as a guest Joshua Berman,(http://www.stonegrooves.net/contact.htmlco) author of Moon Handbooks Belize (http://www.moon.com/catalog/belize.html.

Joshua is an expert on traveling in Belize, and recently chose this tiny Central American country for his own honeymoon; he has also lived in and written extensively about Nicaragua and Honduras.

Welcome to Sketchandtravel.com and Bookpleasures.com Joshua and thanks for accepting our invitation to be interviewed.

NORM:

Please tell our readers something about yourself and your expertise pertaining to Belize.

Joshua:

I have been living, working, teaching, and traveling in Central America since the U.S. Peace Corps sent me to Nicaragua in 1998. I have been returning to the region ever since to write guidebooks, lead service trips, and visit friends and adopted families. Last year, I was asked by Avalon Travel Publishing to take over Chicki Mallan’s Moon Handbooks Belize, which, when it first appeared 15 years ago, was the first and most acclaimed guidebook to the country. I gladly accepted and proceeded to research and write the sixth edition, which was released in early 2005.

NORM:

Where is Belize?

Joshua:

Belize is tucked into the northeast corner of Central America, bordering Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula to the north, Guatemala’s Petén wilderness to the west, and the Caribbean Ocean to the east. Culturally however, Belize and its hundreds of cayes (islands, pronounced keys ) is more Caribbean than Latin. English is spoken everywhere (along with seven other languages). The diversity is astounding, especially considering there are only 260,000 people in the entire country.

NORM:

Would you consider Belize a good choice for a romantic getaway or wedding and honeymoon destination? Why?

Joshua:

·They can rent their very own waterfall for the day at Hidden Valley Inn.
·Couples can get Mood Mud Massages at Maruba Resort Jungle Spa.

· They can rappel into a vertical cave shaft together, at the bottom of which they’ll find a flower strewn bed next to a subterranean spring at Ian Anderson’s Caves Branch. The list goes on and on.

Belize’s size (smaller than Massachusetts), easy access (only a two-hour flight from Miami or Houston), and astonishing selection of small, intimate resorts and lodges seal the deal. In order to solidify my endorsement of Belize as a romantic destination, I even took my own bride here on our honeymoon (ah, the work never stops)

NORM:

When is the best time to visit Belize from the point of view of weather, costs, crowds, and the availability of flights from the USA, Canada and Europe and Australia, etc?

Joshua:

Some resorts distinguish holiday season from the normal high season, with even higher prices and lower availability around Christmas, New Year’s, and Easter be sure to make reservations during these periods. High season (re: more tourists and hiked prices) is generally mid-December through April; this is also the dry season during most years, although December, January, and even February can play to host to cool fronts that either blow right through or sit around for days.

Your best bet-be prepared, both with clothing and attitude! A week of stormy weather may ruin a vacation planned solely around snorkelling, but it could also provide the perfect setting for exploring the rainforests or enjoying a hot tub and fireplace in the Mountain Pine Ridge.

June, July, and August technically fall in the rainy season, and travelers during this time are rewarded with significantly discounted prices at most accommodations rain during these months may mean just a quick shower each afternoon, or it may go on for days. August is the big month for European backpackers and travelers, while December and February are dominated by North Americans. Some tourism businesses shut down completely during the months of September and October, the peak of hurricane season.

NORM:

Could you give our readers an idea of the costs involved if travel originates from the USA, Canada and Europe and Australia?

Joshua:

Conventional traveler wisdom calls Belize the cheapest Caribbean vacation spot and one of the most expensive Central American. There are plenty of mid-range and upscale accommodations throughout the country, running from US$25 to hundreds of dollars per night. Exact hotel rates are an elusive thing in Belize; seasonal fluctuations are compounded by various taxes and service charges, sometimes by as much as 25 percent additional. Always make sure the rate you are quoted is actually the same amount you will be asked to pay. And, of course, great deals are abundant in the low season (May through November), when room rates plummet across the board.

·For food, budget travelers can get by on less than US$20 per day, but you’re on vacation, right? Entrées run from US$5 to US$25, depending on where you are; at the trendiest restaurants in San Pedro, a fancy dinner can cost up to US$75 per person. A few resorts include meal prices in their nightly rates, which can be a good deal.

·Don’t forget to budget an extra US$40-80 per person per day for activities like scuba diving, sailing trips, and guided tours of Belize’s rainforests, ruins, and fascinating cave systems. Experienced, independent travelers can get around for less, but transport can be a hassle.

·US$10 per person per night is the bottom line for budget lodging, and it’ll get you anything from a cramped, stuffy concrete box in most towns to a generous wooden cabin at the Trek Stop (in Cayo) and other backpacker hotspots.

NORM:

If you had to choose 5 unequalled venues in Belize for a romantic getaway, honeymoon or wedding destination, what would they be and why?

Joshua:

First of all, remember that selecting a place to stay has a lot to do with where you want to be and what activities you would like to do during your stay: beach or rainforest? Diving or hiking? Reef or ruins? Do you want to get pampered with massages or get sweaty and muddy with your loved one on a jungle trek? Get an idea of what kind of trip you and your honey are looking for, then dive in and book it. Following are only a few of Belize’s upscale romantic accommodations that stick out in my mind for quality and intimacy. For more on Belize’s ample budget options, flip through a copy of my book, Moon Handbooks Belize.

·Starting on swanky Ambergris Caye, just inshore from Belize’s famous barrier reef and three miles north of San Pedro village, you will find Capricorn Resort, offering intimate beachfront seclusion in one of three bright and tasteful cabanas. Capricorn’s restaurant is one of the best (considered the best by many) on the island.

·Situated on 7,200 acres of private property in the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve, Hidden Valley Inn is a quiet paradise for hikers and birders who will have a blast exploring the resort’s 90-plus miles of walking trails and old logging roads and then cozying up in front of their cottage’s fireplace, listening to the birdsong outside (especially nice during the cool, misty, rainy season). The property encompasses lush broadleaf forest and pine tree habitat. The two diverse ecosystems are divided by a geological fault line, which marks the edge of a towering 1,000-foot escarpment. Numerous watercourses spring from the mountain and then cascade down the steep slopes, often into deep, inviting pools; Hidden Valley’s trail system runs through it all.

·On Placencia Peninsula, Kitty’s Place is one of the best and most unpretentious resorts on this long strip of beach resorts call it “low-key luxury,” and check your shoes at the front desk. Be sure to schedule a day trip or overnight on Kitty’s private isle, French Louis Caye, 12 miles offshore with great snorkelling and upscale accommodations.

·Two of Belize’s most romantic, beautiful, and expensive options are Francis Ford Coppola’s gorgeous pair of resorts: Turtle Inn and Blancaneaux Lodge, located on the Placencia Peninsula and Mountain Pine Ridge, respectively, and offering a number of collective packages. Both places feature breathtaking architecture and artwork from all over the world, and top-notch service and facilities.

·Located about an hour north of Belize City, Maruba Resort Jungle Spa pampers the body and soul, as evidenced by its acclaimed spa treatments and unique focal points spread around the grounds: A tiny, glass-decorated chapel; a palapa-covered stone chess table; two pools that seem to spring from the jungle complete with waterfalls. The rooms are spread out for privacy and are addressed by name Moon, Fertility, and Bondage, to name a few. All boast an eclectic neo-primitive motif carved masks, mosaic tile floors, standing candles, cement fountains, tiled tubs, screened shuttered windows and fresh flowers on the massive feather beds and in the bathrooms.

NORM:

What should people know about celebrating a wedding in Belize from the point of view of requirements, experience of the various hotels, etc.

Joshua:

Belize is gaining quite the reputation as the perfect place to tie the knot. A growing number of resorts cater to weddings of all sizes, some quite creatively (such as ceremonies underwater or atop Maya pyramids). If eloping, you must be in Belize three business days before submitting your marriage application to the Registrar General’s Office (tel. 501/227-7377, not open on weekends or local holidays). You get the paperwork back the following business day for your ceremony. If you have been divorced or widowed, bring a photocopy of the death certificate or divorce decree. The Government of Belize charges US$100 for the license and you’ll need a birth certificate or passport.

NORM:

How far in advance should a couple prepare themselves for their honeymoon, romantic getaway or wedding in Belize?

Joshua:

Honeymoons and getaways are easy and do not need much advance time when booking, except around the holidays and at the more popular resorts. If you are planning a wedding during the high season that will require numerous rooms for guests, book a year in advance if possible. Otherwise, a few months are usually sufficient.

NORM:

What resources are available on the Internet pertaining to weddings and honeymoon vacations in Belize?

Joshua:

Several wedding specialists can facilitate paperwork, ministers, flowers, book hotels, celebrations, etc. including Katie Valk for anywhere in the country, Iraida Gonzales on San Pedro, and Lee Nyhus in Placencia.

NORM:

Is there anything else you wish to tell our readers that we have not covered?

Joshua:

Yes, keep an eye on my WEBSITE for new links and developments regarding romance in Belize and beyond; I have the most popular Belize forums and news posted on my links page. Also, MY PUBLISHER’S SITE will soon feature sample itineraries and other excerpts from my book, to make planning your Belize trip even easier. Lastly, remember the words of Kurt Vonnegut’s prophet, Bokon: Peculiar travel suggestions are dancing lessons from God.

Happy trails, everyone, Joshua

About the Author: Norm Goldman is editor of: www.sketchandtravel.com & www.bookpleasures.com. The former is a travel site and the latter is a book reviewing site.Norm and his artist wife, Lily, meld words with art and focus their travel articles on romantic and wedding destinations.They are always open to invitations pertaining to properties and destinations located in New England, New York, Florida and California.

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Today Norm Goldman, Editor SKETCHANDTRAVEL.COM and BOOKPLEASURES.COM is pleased to have as a guest Shelley Jiang, editor of LET’S GO CHINA, 6th Edition, one of 57 guidebooks published by the bestselling budget series from LET’S GO PUBLICATIONS.

Good Day Shelley and thank you for accepting our invitation to be interviewed.

NORM:

Please tell our readers something about yourself and your expertise pertaining to China.

SHELLEY:

Born in China, I spent the first six years of my life in Beijing, the city that I will always think of as my first home. Though I moved to America and attended school there, I remain deeply connected with China through books, news, movies, family, and spending summers there every two or three years. During these summer trips, I often travel around the country and have visited many of the places in Let’s Go: China.

NORM:

Would you consider China a good choice for a romantic getaway or wedding and honeymoon destination? Why?

SHELLEY:

China is vast enough to offer something for everyone, whether you’re looking for a fast-paced weekend in Shanghai, a trip into China’s gorgeous outdoors, or an immersion in centuries of tradition and history. But don’t come expecting Paris or the Caribbean—China isn’t your average romantic getaway, but a destination for the free-spirited and adventurous. No resorts or pampering here—part of the excitement and romance of a vacation in China is experiencing a new culture and taking in the grit as well as the beauty.

For those willing to ditch the conventional and leave the beaten path, breathtaking natural sights and unique cultural experiences await. Otherworldly landscapes familiar from many a martial arts film (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Hero) can serve as the backdrop for your personal love story as well. Ancient palaces, pagodas, and temples invites travelers to step back into a past that stretches more than 5000 years. Cities like Beijing and Shanghai proudly showcase their past alongside their future, with skyscrapers rising one after another and an urban culture to rival those of any American or European city.

NORM:

What is the best time to visit China from the point of view of weather, costs, crowds, and the availability of flights from the USA, Canada and Europe and Australia, etc?

SHELLEY:

China’s peak travel times are around Chinese New Year (some time in Jan.-Feb., depending on lunar calendar), May 1st, July-August, and the first week of October. The best time to visit would be from late-April through June, when the weather is warm, students are still in school, and many establishments are still on low season pricing. The fall is also a pleasant time to travel without the crowds (but avoid the Oct. 1st holiday week) and see beautiful foliage, especially in the north.

Airfares to China are most expensive between June and September. Even flying on May 31 instead of Jun. 1st will get you a cheaper flight. Flying September-May will get you much cheaper flights. Plan ahead—the cheapest tickets for summer flights to China sell out by early March.

NORM:

Could you give our readers an idea of the costs involved if travel originates from the USA, Canada and Europe and Australia?

SHELLEY:

China is a budget traveler’s dream come true—with the exception of the airfare, which can cost anywhere from US$600-1500. It’s cheaper to fly from September-May. The best places to find low-fares are Chinese-run travel agencies in Chinatown—check the local Chinese newspaper or ask around to find their listings.

The budget-conscious can often spend anywhere from US$2-10 per night for lodgings in a hostel or basic room, depending on destination. Food can cost as little as US$4 per person per day for meals from street vendors and small family-run restaurants.

Of course, splurges and treats are everywhere. A comfortable hotel room will cost around US$25-50 per night, and lavish suites range from US$60-150 per night. For US$8-25, a couple can dine at fancier restaurants serving distinctive, gourmet cuisines.

The cheapest and most convenient way to get around China is via rail. Short journeys can cost around US$5-12 for a one-way ticket, while longer journeys will cost up to US$50. Expect to pay more than US$100, however, for a private sleeper compartment for two people.

The number of domestic flights in China is on the rise. One-way fares range US$90-200; round-trip fares are always double the one-way fare.

NORM:

If you had to choose 3-5 unequalled venues in China for a romantic getaway, honeymoon or wedding destination, what would they be and why?

SHELLEY:

Jiuzhaigou: Nestled deep in the mountains of northern Sichuan, the “Valley of the Nine Tibetan Villages” is known for its pristine lakes and waterfalls that sparkle a spectrum of shades under the sunshine. You may remember the impossibly blue lakes from the fight sequence filmed here in Hero. Nature lovers can hike beneath the shadow of snowy peaks, experience local Tibetan culture, and in nearby Songpan, embark upon horse treks into the wild. Convenient tourist services are nearby, offering everything from budget lodgings to five-star hotels.

Hangzhou: Those in love with classical China can head to this graceful city of the south and historic dynastic capital. Willows, gardens, pavilions, and delicately arched bridges dot the shores of the West Lake, the setting for ancient China’s most famous love stories.

Sip fragrant Dragon Well tea while dining at one of China’s oldest restaurants that once served emperors. The misty waters and city pleasures are enough to captivate anyone; if not nearby Shanghai promises a plunge back into modernity.

Yunnan: This province on the border with Vietnam and Myanmar is the ideal destination for the adventurous, with its 22 colorful ethnic minority cultures and diverse natural scenery. Its capital, Kunming, “City of Eternal Spring,” enchants travelers with flowers on every street, but the true attractions lie in the countryside. Pack your gear for a trek south into tropical rainforests and rice paddies, dotted by Dai villages and gleaming Buddhist stupas. Northern Yunnan is better known as “Shangri-La,” where red-robed monks walk the streets of mountain villages and snowy peaks beckon in the distance.

Xinjiang: Xinjiang takes romance and writes it large upon vast expanses of deserts and horizons. Experience the exoticism of a nomadic lifestyle with camel rides across the dunes and nights under the stars upon China’s last frontier. Or trek up to the legendary Tianshan Mountains overlooking the “Heavenly Pool.” Friendly Uighur musicians will be happy to play at Uighur-style wedding celebrations, filled with tasty food, fresh grapes and melons, and plenty of singing and dancing.

Hong Kong: Hong Kong offers a vacation as sophisticated and exciting as it is expensive. From luxury malls to teeming street markets, Hong Kong easily combines class and chaos. Dinner cruises on Victoria Harbour, stylish hotels and restaurants, and endless clubs, bars, and entertainment options ensure that you’ll never run out of things to do. Macau lures travelers away with its many casinos and Portuguese-influenced cuisine and architecture, but you’ll find yourself back in Hong Kong before long.

NORM:

What should people know about celebrating a wedding in China from the point of view of requirements, experience of the various hotels, etc.

SHELLEY:

Large fancy hotels are readily available, with the best and widest selection obviously being in Beijing and Shanghai. Restaurants make another good venue, and Let’s Go: China lists many of the best restaurants in Beijing. Book months in advance for celebrations in June and August, popular wedding months in China.

China also excels in gorgeously done wedding photo shoots, often involving lavish sets and costumes, professional make-up artists, and more. Popular options include traditional Chinese wedding garb, emperor and empress outfits, and turn of the century cheongsam robes. A full set often includes an entire album’s worth of photos, the cost of which averages US125-300.

NORM:

How far in advance should a couple prepare themselves for their honeymoon, romantic getaway or wedding in China?

SHELLEY:

For the cheapest airfares, it’s best to start planning at least four or five months in advance. Unless you are familiar with the country, it’s best not to leave a trip to China to the last minute.

NORM:

What resources are available on the Internet pertaining to weddings and honeymoon vacations in China?

SHELLEY:

CTRIP offers a great destination guide, often with photographs. Their flight search is helpful for planning, but only those with Chinese credit cards can make reservations.

CHINA TOUR COM provides a wealth of practical information, from visas to currency to vaccines. They also collect news stories related to travel in China, provide information on organized tours, and offer brief guides on Chinese culture.

TRAVEL CHINA GUIDE is another good resource for destination guides.

TRAVEL INFORMATION GUIDE is a forum for those traveling to China.

Thanks Shelley

About the Author: Norm Goldman is editor of sketchandtravel.com and bookpleasures.com. Norm and his artist wife Lily meld art and words in order to create an unusual travel story, which generates interest, particularly because of the fact that each painting appears to have been ‘custom-made’ for the story-original story and original art. Combining the watercolors with travel writing provides a softer, more romantic look at the places we visit. Their main focus is on romantic and wedding destinations. As they specialize in web-based content, their articles are featured on their own site, SKETCHANDTRAVEL.COM, where you can find out more about them. They are also regular contributors to some of the most popular Internet Travel Sites: LOVETRIPPER.COM:THETIMESHAREBEAT.COM:TRAVELLADY.COM:BOOTSNALL.COM: Visit Florida Online: Tropical Island Weddings Norm and Lily are always open to suggestions as to romantic and wedding destinations to visit, write and paint about.

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Today, Norm Goldman, Editor of Sketchandtravel.com and Bookpleasures.com is pleased to have as a guest well known author, travel writer and expert on the South Pacific David Stanley. David is the author of Moon Hanbooks South Pacific.

Good Day David and thank you for accepting our invitation to be interviewed.

NORM:

Please tell our readers something about yourself, your expertise and the books you have authored pertaining to the South Pacific.

David:

I’ve earned a living from travel guidebooks since 1979, when Moon Publications of Rutland published the 1st edition of SOUTH PACIFIC HANDBOOK .
In November 2004, Avalon Travel Publishing of Emeryville,
California, brought out the 8th edition of Moon Handbooks South Pacific. I’ve also written Lonely Planet guides to Eastern Europe, Cuba, and Canada’s Maritime Provinces. Lately I’ve been exploiting the power of the Internet with sites like SOUTH PACIFIC.ORG: MAP SOUTH PACIFIC and CUBA PICTURES.

NORM:

When we talk about the South Pacific what exactly are we referring to and where is it situated in relation to the USA or Canada?

David:

The “South Pacific” brochures printed by tour operators often focus on Australia and New Zealand, but those countries are quite different from the tropical Pacific islands. Moon Handbooks South Pacific covers 15 insular countries and territories from Easter Island to the Solomons. People tend to
consider this region remote, yet it takes only two hours longer to fly from Los Angeles to Tahiti than it does to fly to Honolulu. Fiji is midway between Hawaii and New Zealand, to the west of Tahiti.

NORM:

Would you consider the South Pacific a good choice for a romantic getaway or wedding and honeymoon destination? Why?

David:

All of the main South Pacific destinations have attempted to market themselves as wedding or honeymoon destinations. Fiji and the Cook Islands have been the most successful as weddings can be arranged locally with little fuss.
In French Polynesia, marriages can only be performed for persons with 30 days residency, which excludes most tourists. Instead, French Polynesia has developed an active honeymoon industry with Bora Bora highly favored by bridal magazine writers who enjoyed the hospitality of luxury resorts. In my opinion, Moorea is Bora Bora’s equal in all but name and is far less expensive. For a romantic getaway, I recommend Rarotonga in the Cook Islands. There’s a lot to see and do within a compact area, and prices are fair.

NORM:

What is the best time to visit the South Pacific from the point of view of weather, costs, crowds, and the availability of flights from the USA, Canada and Europe?

David:

Officially, the hurricane season in the South Pacific is from December to April, although with global warming it’s starting earlier and ending later.
Winter (May to October) is generally cooler, drier, and less humid throughout the region, the best time to go. May to August is the off-season in Australia and New Zealand; hence Air New Zealand’s low season South Pacific airfares apply those months. So by a happy coincidence, you can enjoy the best weather
for the lowest price if you schedule your trip at that time.

NORM:

How safe is it to travel to the South Pacific?

David:

Very safe. “Terrorists” would stand out like sore thumbs on these small islands. Violent crime (muggings, etc) is almost unknown, but petty theft does occur. Nothing will go astray if a few simple precautions are taken. Contrary to the image fostered by Hollywood and in the tourism brochures, the island societies are socially conservative and scanty dress is frowned upon.

Women traveling alone should avoid staying in isolated bungalows or wandering off on deserted beaches.

NORM:

Could you give our readers an idea of the costs involved if travel originates from the USA or Canada and how accessible is it to fly to the South Pacific?

David:

One-month roundtrip airfares from Los Angeles or Vancouver to Tahiti, Rarotonga, or Fiji start around US$1,250 in the low season, provided you book at least 14 days in advance and are willing to accept a 35 percent cancellation fee. If you fly on shorter notice during the high season (December to February), you’ll pay around US$2,000. The weekend travel sections of major newspapers carry ads for discounted fares, and websites sometimes sell tickets for considerably less than the prices quoted by airline agents over the phone.
For example, I recently flew from Vancouver to American Samoa for US$700 roundtrip on an Internet special. Such offers are routinely announced in the newsletter of the South Pacific Tourism Organization, available at SOUTH PACIFIC TOURISM ORGANIZATION.

NORM:

If you had to choose 6 unequalled venues in the South Pacific for a romantic getaway, honeymoon or wedding destination, what would they be and why?

David:
My first choice would be:

·Tahiti and its neighbours Moorea and Bora Bora.

The soaring green peaks and brilliant reefs of these islands are unsurpassed,
and the “exotic” French atmosphere combines well with the charm of Polynesia.

·Fiji is a very close second for its stunning variety and friendliness.

·Then there’s Rarotonga in the Cook Islands.

This is long a favorite holiday destination for New Zealanders. Rarotonga is small enough to explore in a week, and the facilities are excellent.

·My fourth choice is Easter Island. Although for those into hiking or archaeology, it should come first. Travel agents often book three-night stopovers on Easter Island, but only the highlights can be seen during such a short stay.

· Finally, I should mention Vanuatu for those looking for something really different. This little known Melanesian country offers a colorful mix of scuba diving, tribal culture, active volcanoes, and the South Pacific’s most beautiful capital city,
Port Vila.

NORM:

What resources are available on the Internet pertaining to weddings and honeymoon vacations in the South Pacific?

David:

Obtaining independent information on weddings and honeymoons isn’t easy as resort and tour company websites only promote their own products. That said, HONEYMOON FIJI and HONEYMOON VANAUATU are worth a look, and TRAVEL MAXIA is useful in that it covers the entire South Pacific. It’s also well worth perusing the official tourism websites of the island visitors bureaus, all of which are linked to SOUTH PACIFIC.ORG

NORM:

Is there anything else you would like to add that we have not covered pertaining to the South Pacific?

David:

The South Pacific should be recognized as a straightforward, trouble-free destination. None of the countries included in my book require visas of North Americans, Europeans, Australians, New Zealanders, or Japanese. Obstacles like erratic pricing, corrupt officials, violent crime, and security glitches are generally absent here. This sprawling region is best characterised by its amazing variety, with many distinct cultures, cuisines, histories, and environments to experience and enjoy. At US$24.95, Moon Handbooks South Pacific has the potential to save vacationers hundreds of dollars, while assisting them in making the best choices. It’s all in there.

Thanks David

About the Author: Norm Goldman is editor of sketchandtravel.com and bookpleasures.com.Norm and his artist wife Lily meld art and words in order to create an unusual travel story, which generates interest, particularly because of the fact that each painting appears to have been ‘custom-made’ for the story-original story and original art. Combining the watercolors with travel writing provides a softer, more romantic look at the places we visit.Their main focus is on romantic and wedding destinations.As they specialize in web-based content, their articles are featured on their own site, SKETCHANDTRAVEL.COM, where you can find out more about them. They are also regular contributors to some of the most popular Internet Travel Sites: LOVETRIPPER.COM: THETIMESHAREBEAT.COM:TRAVELLADY.COM:BOOTSNALL.COM: Visit Florida Online: Tropical Island WeddingsNorm and Lily are always open to suggestions as to romantic and wedding destinations to visit, write and paint about.

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There’s an inexorable law operating in business. I call it the law of UP — Unfulfilled Potential. One can see aspects of this law working in other areas:

For instance, in neurophysiology, humans are supposed to use only a fraction of our brains’ capabilities; in technology, superconductivity is not yet widely available; and in medicine, the harnessing of the body’s abilities to fight cancers is only just beginning to be understood and realized.

But the law of UP is particularly dominant in the business world — and especially in operations. Operations is the blocking and tackling of any organization, the fundamentals that create the foundation for consistent success.

It’s such an important function that in many companies the Chief Operating Officer is usually the next in line for the job of CEO. If a company is not doing operations well, all of its other functions are diminished.

Having consulted with operations leaders in a variety of top companies for two decades, I’ve seen that many are unfortunately strict adherents to the law of UP — for one main reason: They’ve neglected an all-important results-driver, motivation.

Clearly, many factors further operational excellence: capital, cycle time, technological advancements, quality, efficiencies, etc. But motivation is the most fundamental, operational determinant at all, for it drives all the others.

After all, operations is the sum of people doing many jobs; and when skilled people are motivated to accomplish those jobs, great results happen.

But many operations perceive motivation as “soft” — as opposed to the “hard” factors of cycle time, quality control, etc. — and so either ignore it or struggle with actualizing it on a daily basis.

I see motivation, however, as a “hard” determinant of operations that can be a concrete, a practical results-producer.

I’m going to provide four imperatives that you can use right away to achieve consistent increases in operational results. But before I do, I’ll offer a working description of motivation. For leaders often fail to motivate others because those leaders misunderstand the concept of motivation.

The best way for me to describe it is to describe what it is not.
Motivation is not what people think or feel. It’s what people do. Look at the first two letters of the word, “mo.” When you see those letters in a word, such as “motor”, “motion”, “momentum”, “mobile”, etc., it usually means action of some kind. Look at motivation as action too. If people are not taking action, they are in point of fact not motivated.

Motivation is not something we can do to somebody else. It is always something that that someone else does to themselves. Look back over your career, and you will see that the motivator and the “motivatee” were always the same person. As a leader, you communicate, but the people whom you want to motivate must motivate themselves.

Motivation is not a dispassionate dynamic. It is an “emotional” dynamic. The words “motivation” and “emotion” come from the same Latin root word, which means “to move.” When we want to move (motivate) people to take action, or in truth have them motivate themselves, we engage their emotions.

Put another way: People will not take action for more results faster continually unless their emotions are engaged.

Finally, the best way to enter into a motivational relationship with people is not by distant communication but the kind of face-to-face speech that has people make the choice to be committed to your cause.

Those are descriptions of what motivation truly is. But descriptions alone won’t help you meet the challenges of UP. You must follow clear imperatives to help you transform descriptions into results.

Here are four that will help you cultivate motivational operations.

1. Give leadership talks not presentations. The difference between a presentation and a leadership talk is what Mark Twain said the difference between the almost right word and the right word is. “That is the difference,” he said, “between the lightning bug and lightning.”

Let’s understand the basic difference between the presentation and the leadership talk. Presentations communicate information; but leadership talks have people believe in you, follow you, and, most important of all, want to take leadership for your cause.

My experience has taught me that 95% of all communication in business is accomplished through the presentations. However, if 95% of communication were accomplished through the leadership talk instead, leaders would be far more effective in getting results.

So before you speak to people, and leaders speak 15 to 20 and more times a day, ask yourself if you are simply providing information or are you motivating those people to motivate themselves to take action for results.

2. Create motivational systems. Most operational leaders are good a systemizing quality initiatives, cycle time, efficiencies, etc. But few understand that some of the most important systems they can put into place are systems that help people make the choice for motivation.

A particularly effective motivational system is one that saturates operations with “cause leaders.”

Unquestionably, people accomplish a task better if they are not simply doing it but taking leadership of it instead. When we are challenged to take leadership, we raise our performance to much higher levels. With that in mind, create systems that identify cause leaders, challenge them to take specific leadership action, and support those actions through systematized training and resource allocations.

3. See results not as an end but as a motivational process. Clearly, you have to get results. But many operations leaders misunderstand what results are about. I teach leaders the concept of achieving “more results faster continually” — not by speeding up but instead by slowing down and working less, by putting the motivational imperatives into practice. Leaders understand the “more results faster” aspect — but they often stumble when it comes to the “continually” aspect.

We can usually order people to get more results faster. But we can’t order people to do it on a continual basis. That’s where motivation comes in. Instead of ordering people to go from point A to point B, say, we must have them want to go from A to B. That “want to” is the heart of “continually.”

When we understand results this way, understand that we must achieve “more, faster” on a continual basis, then we begin to make motivational operations a way of life.

4. Challenge people to be motivational leaders. The imperatives are powerful when you use them consistently. But they are even more powerful when you have your leaders use them and teach others to use them. After all, you alone can’t create motivational operations. You need others to help you do it, especially those mid-level and small-unit leaders. If they are not putting the imperatives into practice every day, your attempts to raise the standards of operations to a consistently high motivational level will falter.

Define the success of your leadership by how well your leaders are leading, and you are well on your way to making motivational operations a reality.

Once you begin to institute motivational operations by applying the four imperatives, the law of Unfulfilled Potential becomes your competitor’s worry, not yours.

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2005 © The Filson Leadership Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
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About the Author: The author of 23 books, Brent Filson’s recent books are, THE LEADERSHIP TALK: THE GREATEST LEADERSHIP TOOL and 101 WAYS TO GIVE GREAT LEADERSHIP TALKS. He is founder and president of The Filson Leadership Group, Inc. – and has worked with thousands of leaders worldwide during the past 20 years helping them achieve sizable increases in hard, measured results. Sign up for his free leadership ezine and get a free guide, “49 Ways To Turn Action Into Results,” at www.actionleadership.com

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