DeanReview

Photography - an inspiration to us all

2009-05-20T11:23:00.012+08:00

With the advent of online digital photography, we have a new dimension of conveying words with emotion and vivid message emitted through photos. We use them to spice up blogs, news or even articles about daily things in life. What will life like with only texts and words.

Photography is an expression of feeling, moods and point of views – transmitting from the eyes to our brain, to the heart, and impact our behaviour and actions.
As they say a picture is worth a thousand words.

If you have got what it takes, why not join in the bandwagon.

Here are some good tips to get good photos:

TAKING BABY PHOTOS

LANDSCAPE PHOTO

TOP 10 DIGITAL PHOTO TIPS

10 TIPS FOR TRAVELLING PHOTOGRAPHERS

To really excel in photography, you need to get professional tips & tricks from those who have been in this profession for years to get maximum result from your digital camera..

This includes:
- How to be at the right time at the right place
- How to get inspiration from anything, anywhere
- How to deal with problematic situation and how to correct them
- How to transfer your digital file into a stunning work of art

One of the highly recommended resources that guide you into these areas is LEARN DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY NOW

The best part of photography is you just don’t stop at taking and collecting pictures.
You can share them with you loved ones, with your friends, or even with everybody and make money from it online.

So what do you need to make money with your photos. Basically, only thre things – a digital camera, a computer (PC or laptop) and internet connection. Seriously, those are the only things.

What types of photos that you can take for this matter? Generally the areas are Business, Car, Food, Nature, Night, Holiday, People, Medical and Abstract. You imagination is the limit. Have you ever written some articles, or project paper or simply put up an ads and in the process you need to find a suitable graphic to accompany your works, just to discover it hard to find an image that suits your situation. That is the role of stock photographer. If you can find an image that has universal appeal, chances are you will make good money on it.

The trick is however to actually make money by doing this, you need to know a few areas:
1. How to create photos that are in demand for months and years from now.
2. You also need the required skills to enhance your photos to make them juicer and more appealing to users, because not all photos turn out to be the fairy tale “happily-ever-after” results.
3. How to find the right target market for your photos including through manipulation of keyword search for your photos.

Now that you have created good photos with good appeal, how and where can you sell them. This is the role of micro stock agencies.

What is a micro stock agency?
It is a photography agency that specializes in collecting photos for use by advertisers, webmasters, and artists in their websites, banners, and even art work. Price of photos varies according to demand and quality – this include the focus, composition or even simplicity. This can be in the range of 25 cents to $20 per photo. How much money you make depends on the number of dowloads for your photos – that’s a recurring payment for you! Examples of the best are Shuttercock.com, Fotolia.com and iStockPhotos.com

So now that you know where to sell your photos, can you start right away? Hold on buddy, not that fast! They won’t simply take your photos and pay you good money. You need to know things such as:
1. How to get quality and sellable photos
2. Tricks and tips to get your photos to generate cash for you.

One of the recommended materials for this purpose is TURN YOUR PHOTOS INTO CASH

So, enough words said, it’s time to take some seriously good photos.
Good Luck with your quest to take amazing photos and make cold hard cash with them.

Are you inspired to be an artist?

2009-05-19T22:59:00.008+08:00

Art is a gift. To be able to create something that people appreciate and awe at is something special that someone is granted with in his or her life. To be able to create something that people will do anything to get and keep for themselves is another part of the story. Wouldn’t it be nice if we can create something that bring us satisfaction and contentment as an artist and at the same time can make good fortune and wealth from it?

So what is the secrets of being able to make a fortune from our artworks.
Here are some words of guidance from the experts:

1. Make your Portfolio
Create collection of samples of your work – preferably the best pieces as your "resume". You can enlarge the photos to paper size (8"X 11") and bind as a booklet with “killer” cover with a brief summary of your biodata

2. Set a price for your work
The basis will be how much you would like to make per hour, then multiply that by the amount of time it took you to make a price. This is really an arbitrary way to do it, but it's just a starting price. The idea is for you to value your time and be firm with it, others will respect your art too.

3. Showcase your works to the online community
Create a paid website using fairly cheap Yahoo website or you can use other free alternatives like Myspace, Facebook, Squidoo.or many other website providers. Don’t forget to use Youtube as you can see many artists such as Gary Reef aka CapricornArtist73

Life of an artist: Gary Reef

4. Get an agent
Find an agent if you want who are specialized in helping artists make a living. Do networking by visiting openings at galleries to meet potential agents and art dealers who might represent you effectively.
Find a business partner by contacting local businesses to commercially market your paintings. This can be local painters, builders and remodellers. Make appointment and show your portfolio. The idea is to cross market your products by linking to other areas such as wall murals for private home and business, graphic design and other thinkable possibilities.

5. Showcase your works and talent
Look for opportunities to showcase your art works in public galleries or local trade shows. Besides the possibilities of having your artwork sold, you are building contacts for your future business opportunities.

6. Get expert advice on how you can market your artwork
Here are some tips and advice from experts in the field:

Succeeding as an artist

Internet marketing

Selling your art or craft

You can also get a comprehensive material that can provide you with detailed information and easy to understand step-by-step instructions. Basically you should look for materials with proven system providing tips and techniques on:
- how to start and how to set price for your artworks sales
- how to use tools on the internet
- how to get good attention from your prospects

One of the programs available is called The Thriving Artist created by someone who has been through the whole process and has actually succeeded. It comes with 27 sections covering the following areas:

- Pricing

- Strategies for making different type of pieces (one of a kind, limited edition, signing)

- Wholesaling

- Creating for other artists

- Selling to galleries

- Weekend art shows

- Art freebies as business card

- Art for businesses

- Art for niche application

- Commission or custom work

- Series, Giftware, Collectors

- Networking

- Online sale

- Classes

- “How To” Book

Art is truly an inspiration to the people who know how to appreciate it, and a good source of income if you are guided into the right direction.

Improving your golf swing

2009-05-19T09:39:00.014+08:00

Golf is an addictive game. Once you have got the hang of it, you will find yourself hooked to the game. But it can be quite frustrating if you cannot master your swing and improve your handicap tremendously. So how can you improve your golf swing?

There are many elements involved in improving your golf swing.

Some of them are:

1. Improve your strength and body stability by doing exercises. This includes arm lift which can improve upper body strength & flexibility, therefore increasing the power of your swing. You can find different exercises for golf at health24.com

2. Practice your strokes & swings during training sessions as taught by professional golf instructors, prefereably those who are PGA certified. You can search for teaching aids at Golftrainingstuff.com. The average golf lesson with a non-certified gold instructor can cost from $25.00 to $100.00 per hour, while a PGA certified instructor can be in the range of $100.00 to $500 per hour.

3. Keep updated with new tricks or tips from golf magazines and sites like golfdigest.com and golfillustrated.com. Watching the PGA tournaments on television and study how the golf pros perfect their swing can also be a simple and free way to get some firsthand tips from the leaders in the golf industry.

4. Practice everyday to get a perfect swing, whether at the driving range (with real shots) or at home (with simulated shots) to improve your shots.

5. Do stretching exercise before beginning your golf game, as it will help improve muscles flexibility and loosen them to improve your swing. Flex band or a stretchy rubber exercise band can help you warm up before a golf game or practice. Take the band and pull the band apart as far as possible with your arms wide stretched from side to side, opening these muscles up and increasing your blood circulation. The band can also be used to provide resistance between both arms as you stretch with your arms behind your neck as well as side to side. Stretching with your arms while bending down and touching your toes helps to open up back muscles as well as to loosen rear leg muscles. Failure to stretch your muscles adequately in the arms, upper and lower back, shoulder, and leg before practicing your golf swing may cause muscle strains.

6. Learn proper set up position including your grip, alignment, stance, posture, and ball position before beginning the swing.

This video may help you to improve your setup:

7. Get a comprehensive reference material that can help you improve your golf swing with detailed instructions and cutting-edge trends and tips

There are many other techniques to improve your golf swing such as perfecting your stance, locating your sweet spot, perfecting your grip and utilizing the assistance of golf aids. Implementing different techniques at once into your golf game can actually help to enhance your overall golf. Practicing both on the course and at the driving range can help your body to adapt to different variables and improve your golf shots.

Source: Golflink and Helium

Other videos that can guide you:

David Blair Golf Swing Intro

Golf Swing Secret Intro

Sharpen your vocal at home

2009-05-19T00:21:00.033+08:00

With so many budding reality TV singers propping up like mushrooms, we tend to be seduced to try out our vocals just to be disappointed with the result. Of course, with no professional training it can be quite frustrating to try out without guided direction.

If you have visited Expert Village website, you might come across these videos which can be quite helpful to you to improve your vocal.

1. Warm up exercise

2. Mi Me Ma Mo Mu exercise

3. Motorboat

4. Humming

5. Singing with your diaphragm

If you read my article on Musical wonders on your PC I explained how computers have revolutionised music-making. In this article I will explain how it has impact on singing.

Check this video out and you will understand why.

This is a korean girl named Ailee with extraordinary vocal talent. But what is she doing with the PC?

There used to be a time when we need to visit a vocal teacher or go to a studio to actually practice to improve our voice. But now we can just do that in front of our PC.

The next step is a software that can actually guide you like a virtual teacher on your PC.

Introducing Singorama, a program that can do that with 28 lessons covering the following areas:

Introduction and How to Understand Your Own Voice
Warm Ups and Strenghtening
Breathing and Posture
Tone
Pitch, Staying in Tune
Chest Voice and Head Voice
Bad Habits to Avoid
Extending Your Vocal Range (Part 1)
Time Signatures, Key Signatures and Rhythm
Major and Minor Keys; Solfege
Intervals and Solfege
Different Styles of Singing
How to Become Sensational at Singing Harmony - Everyone Will Want to Sing With You!
How to Sing Different Genres of Music
Understanding the Meaning of A Song (Part 1 - Lyrics and Overall Tone)
Understanding the Meaning of A Song (Part 2 - Emotions Conveyed Through Music and How to Put Your Personality Into A Song)
Making A Song of Your Own
Learning A Full Song (Part 1)
Learning A Full Song (Part 2)
Solutions to Commong Problems
Your Future as A Singer
Extending Your vocal Range (Part 2)
Performance Tips
Auditions and How to Ace Them!
Writing Your First Song
How to Sing With A Band
Performance Anxiety
Final Overview

Singorama singing lessons program package also comes with additional programs to help perfect your pitch and turn your PC or laptop into a mini recording studio, not to mention audio programs to guide you with your vocal exercises.

Musical wonders on your PC

2009-05-18T22:08:00.035+08:00

The wonder of having a computer nowadays is the versatility of multitasking many things whether it is for business or simply for personal interests. Gone are the days where you need expensive studios to generate commercial beats and music, as nowadays people are doing it on their personal computers or even laptops. It doesn't matter whether they are professional music deejay, commercial songwriter or just techie music enthusiast.

When Sonic Producer was introduced it hit the industry like a storm, and if you haven’t heard of it, you’re missing a big chunk of the wonder in music-making industry.

Words are too complicated to describe the process. Just watch this video and it explains everything

Video demonstration

The interface is very straightforward and non-technical, more like a wysiwig interface and compatible with your professional music tools including keyboard and synthesizers.

Since you control the generation of the music from scratch, you don’t have to worry about copyright of the samples used which are provided at a small cost. Not to mention you can make it anywhere, anytime, even in your bed at home! The best part is you can render the final version of your music masterpiece into MP3. Online tutorials are provided to guide you into the more complicated stages involving your professional musical instruments.

Dashboard of the beat making interface

To sum up, you can listen to this sample rendered from this tool, and decide whether it’s worth it to try this music-making phenomenon

EXPERIMENT THIS MUSICAL EXPERIENCE WITH REAL TIME ONLINE DEMO

Who is Nick Vujicic

2009-05-11T21:54:00.009+08:00

Do you think your life suck and feel like you're failing all the time?

Check this video out, and think again...

Nick Vujicic is a Serbian, born in Melbourne, Australia with the rare Tetra-amelia disorder: limbless, missing both arms at shoulder level, and having one small foot with two toes protruding from his left thigh.

His life was filled with difficulties and hardships. One was not being able to attend a mainstream school because of his physical disability, as the law of Australia required, even though he was not mentally impaired. During his schooling, the laws were changed, and Nick was one of the first disabled students to be migrated to a mainstream school. He learned to write using the two toes on his left "foot," and a special device that slid onto his big toe to grip. He also learned to use a computer and type using the "heel and toe" method. He can also throw tennis balls and answer the phone. He can also shave and get a glass of water (demonstrated in speeches).

Being bullied at his school, Nick grew extremely depressed, and by the age of eight, started contemplating suicide. After begging God to grow arms and legs, Nick eventually began to realize that his accomplishments were inspirational to many, and began to thank God he was alive. A key turning point in his life was when his mother showed him a newspaper article about a man dealing with severe disability. This led him to realize he wasn't the only one with major struggles. When he was seventeen, he started to give talks, and eventually started his non-profit organization, Life Without Limbs.

Nick graduated from college at the age of 21 with a double major in Accounting and Financial Planning. He began his travels as a motivational speaker, focusing on the topics that today's teenagers face. He also speaks in the corporate sector, although his aim is to become an international inspirational speaker. He regularly travels internationally to speak to schools, and corporate meetings. He has spoken to over two million people so far, in twelve countries on four continents (Africa, Asia, Australia, and North America).

By the age of 25, Nick hoped to become financially independent. He wishes to promote his words through television shows such as the The Oprah Winfrey Show, as well as by writing books. His first book, planned for completion by the end of 2009, is to be called No Arms, No Legs, No Worries!

His motivational DVD, Life's Greater Purpose, was filmed in 2005, featuring a brief documentary about his home life, and how he does regular things without limbs.

Source: Wikipedia

Earth on 21st December 2012

2009-05-11T21:31:00.006+08:00

There have been so many opinions and great debates concerning Earth on that day.

These include:

1. Will Earth be destroyed on 21st December 2012

2. Will there be major catastrophes on Earth on that day

3. Is this issue just a conspiracy to serve certain purpose

4. Is it just a coincidence that calendars of different cultures will end on that day.

These videos are segments from a TV documentary of the matter.

If you haven't seen it, watch and judge for yourself.

PART 1

PART 2

PART 3

PART 4

PART 5

Please post your comment for me to know your opinion.
Thanks

How to enjoy life as it is

2009-05-11T13:15:00.013+08:00

What do you think is the most important thing for someone to enjoy life?

Is it the uncountable riches? Is it being famous - a celebrity or an icon maybe? Is it to have a mansion in Hollywood or your own private beach in Malibu or Carribean?

What if someone tell you that you can just enjoy your life by being your plain self. Chances are you will laugh and reject the idea, because of the struggles and strive you have with your life to make ends meet. Or the mountain of hardship you need to climb to reach your goal of success.

What have you got to lose? Just read on and give it a chance..

"I asked God for all things , that I might enjoy life. God gave life, that I might enjoy all things."

- Anonymous

10 Secrets To Enjoy Life

1. Be Happy

Happiness is not a result of a situation or happening, whether you got a promotion or just get married. Happiness is a choice we made, no matter what adversities or shortcomings we're facing. By being happy, we're sending positive signal to our entire body to make whatever things we're doing better and more interesting

"Happiness will never come to those who fail to appreciate what they already have. "

- anonymous

"Remember, happiness doesn't depend upon who you are or what you have, it depends solely upon what you think."

- Dale Carnegie (1888-1955)

American writer.

"Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful."

- Albert Schweitzer (1875-1965)

German theologian, philosopher, and physician.

2. Be Contented

Being contented with what you have doesn't mean you should give up hope and strive. It means to go for your goals and ambitions without neglecting the joy and abundance that you currently have.

To be contented, you need to see those people who are deprived of good things you are enjoying now. To be ambitious, you need to see those who have reached certain achievement that you want but haven't reached there yet.

"True happiness is to enjoy the present, without anxious dependence upon the future, not to amuse ourselves with either hopes or fears but to rest satisfied with what we have, which is sufficient, for he that is so wants nothing. The great blessings of mankind are within us and within our reach. A wise man is content with his lot, whatever it may be, without wishing for what he has not."

- Lucius Annaeus Seneca (4 BC-65)

Roman philosopher and playwright.

3. Be Adventurous

How many times in life when you feel like doing something big, but silently you just say "I don't know, maybe I'll do it later or someday", but in the end you never do it.

Life passes us by without warning or reminder, and before we know it we have lost much of our quality time without doing or accomplishing something good in our life.

Therefore, don't hold back or postpone or hesitate a great idea that you come across your mind to do a new exciting thing in life. Time is an opportunity that is easily missed. So why not take the action now, plan and do something about it!

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."

- Mark Twain (1835-1910)

U.S. humorist, writer, and lecturer.

4. Don't Be Greedy

Greed is an insatiable desire that no matter how much you have, you will not get enough or be satisfied. It is also the urge to have something that nobody else possess, to the extent of making the person(who has it) to lose what he has, just to make you happy. It is a contagious disease consuming you from inside, making you lose whatever you have and making this life miserable to you.

"If your desires be endless, your cares and fears will be so too."

- Thomas Fuller (1608-1661)

British clergyman and author

"Greed is a bottomless pit which exhausts the person in an endless effort to satisfy the need without ever reaching satisfaction."

- Erich Fromm (1900-1980)

American Psychologist

5. Be Helpful

If you think it's just a waste of time and your valuable resources, maybe it's a time to try it. The feeling that you got from it cannot be expressed in words. You can only feel it when you make it a habit and sincerely without expecting anything in return.

"He who helps in the saving of others, Saves himself as well."

- Hartmann Von Aue (1190-1210)

Swabian Knight

"In helping others, we shall help ourselves, for whatever good we give out completes the circle and comes back to us."

- Flora Edwards

6. Care About Others

How many time we care to get to know people that we met in the lobby or on the elevator, at least just to know their names. Do we know the name of the janitor or cleaning lady in our office building or apartment. Sometime we even neglect to look at their name on their uniform (if any).

Give it a try by greeting them and chat a little bit. You will realize that there's so many thing you can know about them and the things they know that will make your life more meaningful, not to mention new friends you will make from different social backgrounds.

"Happiness is an agreeable sensation, arising from contemplating the misery of others."

- Ambrose Bierce (1842-1914)

American newspaperman and short-story writer.

7. Share Joy And Happiness With Others

How many times you just feel like buying a box of chocolate, or buy some hot coffee or some donuts for your friends in the office. The joy and happiness others got from your words or action has a wonderful effect on you that is not detectable by hi-tech gadgets in the world. It's just a feeling deep inside you that has positive impact on your life.

"To have joy one must share it. Happiness was born a twin. "

- Lord Byron (1788-1824)

British poet.

"Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared. "

- Buddha (563 BC-483 BC)

Founder of Buddhism.

8. Appreciate Everybody Around You

Appreciate their existence, that they are not just a coincidence in your life. Value them as being part of your life. Yes, even your enemy or people you hate. Don't you think you will not know how patient or steadfast you are without them? They are also part of the mechanism to check and balance your life to make it better for you.

"Just as the wave cannot exist for itself, but is ever a part of the heaving surface of the ocean, so must I never live my life for itself, but always in the experience which is going on around me."

- Albert Schweitzer (1875-1965)

German theologian, philosopher, and physician.

9. Appreciate Your Existence As A Human Being

This is the most complicated thing to discuss because people have contradicting views of this life. Some people believe in afterlife. Some people think when we die we turn to mud. Some people believe we will be rewarded or penalised in the afterlife for what we did in this mortal life. Some people believe we will be reincarnated in the next life whether in human form, animal form or the elemental form. And so many other versions of belief.

The point is no matter what our belief is, we all share the idea that right now we do exist in this life on earth, and that we can make a difference for ourselves, people around us, and even every living creature on it. So appreciate that fact and do something about it to touch the lives of others.

"As far as we can discern, the sole purpose of human existence is to kindle a light in the darkness of mere being."

- Carl Jung (1875-1961)

Swiss Psychiatrist

10. Be Thankful For Every Single Day Granted In Your Life

What do you feel when you see a doctor today and he told you that you have only 3 days left to live? How do you feel about the three single days left for you? You will focus on the most important things to do for ourselves, for our love ones, for those we neglected or take for granted.

This is actually the most important secret to enjoy life as it is. We need to appreciate and make the most of every single day in our life. We need to be thankful before we shut our eyes to sleep in bed every night for what we are able to accomplish for the day. And that if I can complete another day for tomorrow, it is such a great bonus for me.

"Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. "

- Anonymous

"And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years. "

- Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865)

Politician. President of the United States.

"Let every dawn of the morning be to you as the beginning of life. And let every setting of the sun be to you as its close. Then let everyone of these short lives leave its sure record of some kindly thing done for others; some good strength of knowledge gained for yourself."

- John Ruskin (1819-1900)

English art critic.

"Dream as if you'll live forever,

live as if you'll die tomorrow."

- James Dean

THE END

New Year Resolution - How To Make Sure It Works

2009-05-11T12:40:00.028+08:00

You might be reading this at the beginning of the year, at the middle or even at the end of the year. It doesn't matter, because one question remain important all year round, and that is "Have you achieved your new year resolution this year?"

Can you still remember your answer when asked the big question "What's your new year resolution?" early this year. Maybe you're are one of those who answer with fiery heart full of ambition, or sparkling eyes full of excitement, as you spoke about new things you want to achieve. If someone ask you now about your progress, will you be as enthusiastic as before? Maybe you still are, but let's check how some people might respond:

1. "I never have one. I suck at making my new year resolution worked"
2. "I was eager in the first month, but now I'm not that excited to work on it anymore".

Is new year resolution just a psychological gimmick we tell ourselves to make coming into a new year an anticipated event, or is it an indication that we want to make a difference in our life?

Why are we so excited in the beginning but as months passed, it is just another agenda in our diary or organizer, or just another memory stored in our brain. Why are we so eager in the beginning, but become quite reluctant later. If you're not one of those, congratulation, maybe you should skip reading this article. For the rest of us maybe it's time to check why.

Introduction - watch this cool music video
How not to set your New Year Resolution a.k.a How to set New Year Resolution with guaranteed success...

These guys sure have good advice on how to set your new year resolution

Why doesn't my new year resolution work?

According to experts, there are a few common reasons:

1.Not enough commitment
This may be in the form of:
- not writing it down
- not sharing it with other people (maybe because of fear to be mocked or scorned at if not achieved by end of the year)
- thinking it as something extra which is good if can be achieved next year
- attitude that I can work this out next year if it doesn't work this year.

2. Not properly planning on how to achieve within the year

3. Goals chosen are too many, too vague, too complicated or too ambitious

Just another side agenda

Let's take the example of an important task given by our boss (if you're an employee) or an important job we need to do for our client (if you're self-employed). When we realize that we have a dateline to meet with tons or loads of work still to be done, our body system will trigger an adrenaline rush to our brain and entire body parts, causing us to panic a little bit and start to rush things up.

We know the consequences of not meeting the dateline - my boss will give me a big kick in the ass or I might lose a very important client.

Unfortunately in the case of new year resolution, we treat it as just another side agenda which is a bonus if I can achieve it. Maybe you're right that it's is a side agenda if compared to our job or business, but what does our attitude towards it tells about us?

It's all about goal setting

Maybe it's not entirely about whether you achieve your new year resolution or not, but it's more about our drive in achieving goals that we set. We tend to delay or procrastinate things which we treat as not that important, or to do things in the last minute when we are desperate or in dire need to. We rather let our lives pass without solid achievement in our lives, than to buckle up a bit to make a change.

So, where do we start?

How to make sure your new year resolution is achieved

1. Materialize the idea

Show your commitment to your resolution by writing it down in your organizer, or paste it on the wall. By making it visible in writing, you're taking a giant first step towards achieving your goal. Then remove your pessimism of not achieving it by sharing the idea with your loved ones and friends, so that they can positively remind you or motivate you when you're slacking in the process. If you show your enthusiasm to others, they will get the signal that you're serious and they will help you on your way.

2. Break down the process, and monitor periodically

Instead of having just one big goal, break it down into subgoals that you want to achieve in different parts of the year. For example, set subgoals or mini-goals concerning your resolution that you want to achieve in the four quarters of the year. Let say you want to quit your smoking habit and you smoke 20 cigarette a day, you can set to reduce your smoking habit to 15 by end of March, 10 by end of June and so forth. It sounds easier and makes more sense, don't you think?

It's not enough just to break down the process, but also to monitor the progress time to time. Give yourself a compliment if you're on track, and find out the reasons if you're slacking and how to get back on track.

3. Focus one goal at a time

Rather than having 10 resolutions that you either partially achieved or did not achieve at all, focus on having one that you successfully achieved for good!

4. Use expert advice

If you're confident that your approach will help you to succeed, then proceed with it. If you're not sure that it's the right thing to do, or not guaranteed for success, then get some help. See experts on the matter, or even people who used to have the same problem and now had successfully solved theirs.

Another option is to use various programs created in the forms of ebooks, videos or audios by experts in the field to help people who are tying to quit their habits or trying to solve their problems on their own. These programs are immediately avaiable and downloadable online, not to mention the cheap price - at a small fraction of the professional consultancy fee, if you're seeing one for advice that is.

I have collected a few in the market concerning the common resolutions. You can have a look if it's related to you and use them to make your resolutions this year a 100% guaranteed success.

I wish you all the best in achieving your resolutions this year. If you succeed, I believe you have a big reason to celebrate New Year on 31 December, not to mention the motivation and spirit boost you have to set new ones next year.

Materials recommended for your guide to success

Just check the heading whether that's your desired resolution.

1. I want to build some hard muscles

2. I want to lose some body fat

3. I want to be free from alcohol

4. I want to quit smoking right now!

5. I want to quit smoking today

6. I want to be calm and control my anxiety

7. I want to lose my back pain

8. I want to achieve something great in my life

9. I want to achieve tranquility without much effort

10. I want to get bliss and peace in my own home

Marriage - Making it last

2009-05-11T12:36:00.023+08:00

Marriage is a universal concept in any culture, ethnicity or religion; which basically means the sharing of life or living together of a couple in good times and bad times. Almost everybody knows the definition but the secrets of keeping it alive and longlasting is still beyond reach for some of us. It is so much easier to pop up the "bonding" question, to celebrate the beginning of you happy life together with relatives and friends, than to make this work for the rest of your life. It is in the beginning so blissful, ethereal and literally out of this world, but as time passes it feels like holding a sizzling hot iron bar and just a matter of time before it falls apart.

Perceptions of marriage

For some people it is like a fairy tale where a prince or princess meets his or her true love and lives happily ever after. Marriage for them is an end of living in solitude and a beginning of joy and pleasure of having a life companion.

For some people it is like The Matrix Movie where we are deceived to see it like a fairy tale but in reality is like a hell on earth. For them marriage marks the end of freedom. It is the beginning of living with torture, pain and suffering.

For some people it is like a new Lamborghini shining red hot, but as we leave in the hot sun without shade, it started to lose it's shine and become dull.

It's just a matter of time before decision to split and live separate lives comes.

What happened?

Well for a start we are misguided that marriage is a stage in life that everybody must go through and that it is full of happiness and excitement. But in real life it is a stage full of sacrifice, in which we need to compromise our objectives to bring up a happy family with responsibilities to our spouse and children we're bringing up. If you live in the society with active social life, then the temptation and challenges will be more trying if compared to countries with limited and closed social relationship where the divorce rate is low.

Another misguidance is when we're blinded to tie the bond of marriage solely based on good looks and good sex. That's the time when we feel like BAM!!! I meet my match made in heaven. As time goes by, the feeling starts to fade that we become less attracted to each other - due to physical deterioration and urge to look for new and greener grass. Marriage based solely on good looks and sex is hard, although not impossible, to make it last. We are tired and sick of so many broken marriages those that didn't work out, leaving children with separated parents. So if we're tying the knots for the first time, or given a second (or third and so forth) chance to do so, what should we do to make sure it works?

Why does a marriage fail?

Before we look for the solutions, let's look for the underlying reasons for dead-end marriages.

According to experts the common reasons are:
1. Lack of trust

2. Unprepared for the "big storm" ahead

3. Focus on other things in life such as career and quest for wealth, at the expense of marriage and family life

4. Third parties interference, whether its parents, relatives, friends or even getting involved in an affair or scandal.

5. Personal shortcomings that affects an individual's physical, emotional or sexual behaviour

6. Miscommunication a.k.a the "Pitfall of Doomed Marriage".
It started with small disagreement or comment, but if not addressed in the early stage will lead to unrepairable damage.

How does it start?
a) disrespect of the other party's thought in the tone that "I'm better than you"

b) misinterpretation of motive behind certain words or actions

c) closing doors for reconciliation and making up; by means of passing certain words (like asking to shut up) or doing certain action (like leaving the room abruptly) during argument, or by avoiding the reconciliation stage before it even started (like avoiding the topic during discussion or avoiding meeting each other).

7. Tired of the same routine, resulting an individual to look for external excitement or adventure through an affair or other things, neglecting responsilbility in the marriage

The secrets of a happy and longlasting marriage

How to enjoy marriage like it's your first night together everyday?
1. Be fully prepared physically, mentally and spiritually before you embark your journey in your marriage vessel to sail through the endless stormy ocean of temptation and challenges.

2. Communicate, communicate and communicate.
Avoid the "Pitfall of Doomed Marriage" by building trust in each other; and by sharing thoughts, feeling and ideas to get through hardships and difficult times.

3. Kindle love and affection like it is your first intimate time together. Don't let kids become an excuse. Find time, by hook or by crook, to have private intimacy time together, just the two of you.

4. Share pastimes, work out solutions and spend quality time together, and make it a routine.

5. Share joy and hardship together, in good times and bad times, till death do us part

6. Find loopholes in the law of nature.

We may not be getting younger, but there are ways to slow, if not reverse the process. Stay fit and healthy, look for solutions to sizzle up your sex life without the need for an affair, and discover new good things in your partner that will make your bond stronger.
A few things that might help to get your marriage going

Here are some of the things you can use to help turn the "excitement" volume higher in your marriage.

1. Learn 500 new ways to sizzle up your love life

2. Learn the secrets to know each other better like never before

3. Learn how to stay fit as you age increase

4. Learn how to work wonders with your "love tool"

5. Learn the secrets of how to satisfy your partner in bed

6. Learn the ancient love secrets used by kings and emperors

Good luck in your quest for happy and longlasting marriage.

What is Affiliate Marketing?

2009-05-11T11:38:00.027+08:00

The Big "???"

Are you one of those who are so excited to make some bling bling after hearing about the hefty profit reaped by those who succeed in the business, and started to look for resources to guide you to the same success; just to find out that there are so many resources available with tons of websites claiming their products, tools or approaches are better than others with candy-coated reviews that you feel like grabbing all at once at the same time?

That's exactly how I feel when I first heard of the idea while searching for something else online, and I believe hundred thousands others have the same experience too.

Let's Get Packing...

So where do you start to make some money online? And with so many products to choose, how can you be sure you choose the right ones?

Everybody has their unique experience in this online marketing business and I believe only a small fraction did strike their pot of gold in the first round. For the rest it was a series of mistakes and tweaking before they got their shares of sweet success, that is if they are still patient and persistent enough to stay on the game.

Affiliate What???!!

My recommendation is to start with affiliate marketing and build your knowledge of other options therefrom. Look for resources which give you some general idea by understanding basic terminology of the trade and some basic techniques. Then spend a lot of time researching online, reading articles to build your understanding and the current trends. Once you know basically how things work, you can start reading reviews of various ebooks in the market, because by now you have at least a general idea of what the books are all about. Then you can decide which direction you want to go. Do you want to make money as an affiliate selling other people's products and gain commission, or by developing domains to build up the traffic through membership subscription and then sell the them at a much higher price, or so many other methods?

Affiliate marketing has become more and more competitive these days as more and more people are joining the program (due to the promises of unimaginable wealth and the economic downturn). If you learn economics, its like the theory of supply and demand. Online customers are the demand, and the affliliates and marketers are the supply. As more people are splashing their ads pages trying to pitch customer, people will have more choices and the chances for affiliates and marketers individually to get sales will reduce. So in fierce competition like this you need to devise a different and competitive strategy to win customer's heart. The game here is to win your potential customers heart to buy from you. It is not impossible, but a very subtle and tricky game.

So how do people still manage to make money in this business?

Some of the thinkable reasons are:

1. they manage to find a loophole (by chance or by being a genius) in the system that attract huge sales for them

2. get constant and close coaching by experts in the business who know every trick of trade of the business, in most cases at a cost

3. have their own website, build traffics who trust them who over time become loyal visitors confident enough to make purchase from them.

And how can affiliates lose money in the business, who later become reluctant and in the end give up?

Some possible reasons are:

1. they set up an ad campaign without monitoring it resulting high cost of advertisement without getting any sales

2. have their affiliate links being hijacked or hacked, resulting them to lose commissions

3. become victim of "attention-stealers". This is the same like normal hard product selling where you wasted your energy and resources to persuade a potential customer to be interested enough to buy, suddenly is snatched by another cunning and slick marketer. This can happen on web pages where comment posting is allowed and a marketer promoting the same product will post a link to their own site, ending up with the customer purchasing from the latter.

In this online business, your "affiliate link" is your life. Got your life tampered or intercepted by others, then you lose your commission.

Well, are you still interested to start your online business to make money? Good, that's the spirit.

What Are The Tools?
It's not that easy to recommend which materials are suitable.

The reasons are:

1. different people have different approach of learning or method that they want to implement.

2. affiliate marketing is a very dynamic business which keeps on changing with new trends and techniques

To get a head start in affiliate marketing, I used these two books - Rich Jerk and Affiliate Payload. You can give them a try if you want.

Other books that I suggest are Newbie Cash Machine, Commission Blueprint and No Monkey Business. I suggest them because these books are introductory and widely recommended on the internet.

Some Words of Advice

Now that you have general ideas of what to do, what to watch out for and what resources to get, I suggest you start by following the instructions as directed in the manuals such as how to register, how to choose product to promote, how to put up a landing page, how to put up an ad campaign, and see how it goes for you. But my sincere advice is, don't expect an instant $2,000 in your account right away. But if by any chance you got it, hey congratulation!

Welcome To My Site

2009-05-11T10:05:00.001+08:00

Hi,

I'm Dean the Review Guy. It's an honour to have you here reading my humble words.

Feel free to read all my articles on different matters and hopefully from a different perspective.

Thanks for visiting and have an awesomely wonderful day (or night if that matters... :-) ).