Content State

1. Of the many rulers available, Creative Grid Rulers are brilliant. The white and black lines are easy to see on any colour fabric. The best advantage that these rulers have, are the built in grips that eliminate slipping of fabric. These two features make tasks much easier. Available in 6 ” x 6 ” square, 6 ” x 12″ ruler, 6 ” x 24″ ruler

2. Clover Flower Head Pins are one of the most valuable tools you can have in your sewing kit. They work exceptionally well for foundation piecing, pin through your papers with ease and they lay flat over your feed dogs as you sew. If you have problems with your fabric moving when you are cutting, place flower pins through the layers of fabric then place a ruler over the top of your pins and cut your strip. The flower heads are so flat that your ruler will fit perfectly level over the pins. They will take all the stress out of the fabric moving.

3. Clover Desk Top Needle Threader is a fantastic tool that is great for threading any size needle. Just one click of the button threads the needle. It is so amazing it will even thread three strands of embroidery thread at once.

4. ‘Add a ” Ruler’ is the most useful ruler if you are making templates and need to add a ” seam allowance. Make your template to the finished measurement. When cutting out your fabric place template on fabric, then place your Add a ” Ruler on top of the template. With your rotary cutter cut along the edge of ruler. Presto, you now have your perfect 1/4″ exact seam allowance.

5. Kwik Clip is a fantastic tool to save your fingers. Anyone who has pinned a quilt for machine quilting will appreciate this tool. The Kwik Clip saves your fingers from getting sore doing up the 100’s of pins. Just simply put the Kwik Clip under the tip of the safety pin and press upwards until the pin is closed.

6. The Rotary Cutter is the best invention ever for cutting all those pieces for patchwork. Rotary cutters come in many sizes. The medium sized rotary cutter is the most used, as it is great for single or multiple layers. The jumbo rotary cutter is ideal for cutting through multiple layers. The mini cutter is superb for cutting around curves and trimming square triangles back to size.

7. Self-healing cutting mats are specially designed for use with rotary cutters. The mats come in many different sizes. The recommended size for most quilting work is 18″ x 24″. The mat protects the rotary cutter from damage, prevents harm of the surface where you are cutting and helps keep the fabric from slipping about.

Pauline Rogers has travelled throughout Australia and New Zealand for over 20 years, teaching the art of patchwork and quilting. She operates an award winning shop, Country Fabrics and Quilters, in Toowoomba, Queensland as well as a successful mail order and online service. She founded Quiltfest, an annual quilting event and Margie’s Quilts of Hope, a quilting challenge which raises funds for breast cancer research. Visit her website at http://www.cfaq.com.au.

Because of a recent boom in business, my company needed to update our office phone system. We had a very nice system in place already, but our business had tripled within a matter of months. Since we rely on phone orders for the vast majority of our sales, we needed to upgrade in order to handle the increase in call volume. We were lucky to have a great relationship with our telephone equipment provider, as within days we were able to have a new system ready to put in place. It’s not often that businesses find themselves in situations like this, but when they do come up, it’s important to know that the companies you have chosen to do business with are capable of meeting your needs in a timely manner.

Prior to this happening, we had a trunk study performed, after which we were told that we were losing business as a result of not having a new phone system in place. Anyone who has ever run a business knows that losing money because you are ill equipped to handle your customer’s needs is the worst way to lose money. Being able to make a phone call and knowing it would be taken care of quickly and efficiently was a great relief to me. I knew that with every passing day, thousands of dollars were being lost and that’s something I couldn’t afford to let happen. The whole situation made me think about the importance of knowing qualified vendors who can get you the products you need, when you need them.

I soon began looking into other areas where we were dependent upon other companies for goods and services to see if we were utilizing vendors who could facilitate the changes our growing business was experiencing. After a long, hard look, we decided to switch shipping companies and to switch to a new overnight call center operator. It’s not that our needs weren’t being met at the time, but that if things continued to grow, we would likely outpace our current vendor’s ability to provide service. Being proactive in your business relationships is just as important as being proactive about your business. After all, most companies depend on other companies to make their operations run smoothly. I encourage all business owners to seek out the service providers and vendors that can handle your needs both now and in the future. When your business grows, you’ll be happy you did.

Click for more information about small business phone systems, telephones, phone equipment and more visit www.ineedtelephones.com Read more articles on phone systems and phones in the work place

Many people in business heaved a sigh of relief when email began to take over most of their day-to-day correspondence. Processing business letters - even today - is fiddly and fussy, compared with the blissful simplicity of email.

However as you know there are still times when ink on paper is essential. Many of the so-called “professions” (legal, accountancy, etc) in the UK at least still insist on correspondence being done via printed letters. They have a deep mistrust of email and for good reason, as its confidentiality can never be guaranteed. Business letters are at least fairly private - you have to assume it’s easier and faster to snoop on email than it is to steam envelopes open over boiling water.

In other instances, too, printed letters provide a more tamper-proof formal record of business arrangements, complaints, employee warnings/terminations and other issues that need to be carved into tablets of stone. (Well, paper, anyway.)

Old fashioned structure, modern style

Highlighted and ridiculed by the casual nature of email, the quaint formality of the old fashioned business letter seems positively Dickensian and totally inappropriate for the way we do business now.

There is an answer, though. Use the formality of structure that makes the business letter the bullet-proof form of communication it has come to be. Combine that with the short, straight-talking style of writing more common to emails, and you have a good compromise.

Let’s start with the structure - or rather, the etiquette which supplies the structure.

There are variations between accepted etiquette used in the different English language markets. Here are the main British forms of address. I have also included the US/Canadian equivalents where I know them, but I’m afraid I’m not aware of those used in Australia, NZ or SA.

Formal letters

The addressee will either be a title, e.g. “The Chief Executive Officer” or to an organization or company when you don’t know to whom your letter should be addressed. When you write to a title the salutation is “Dear Sir,” “Dear Madam,” or if you want to play it safe, “Dear Sir/Madam.” When you write to an organization it’s “Dear Sirs,” Dear “Mesdames,” or again if you want to play it safe (but labor the point) “Dear Sirs/Mesdames.”

Your sign off will be “Yours faithfully” (UK) or “Yours truly” (US and Canada.)

Less formal letters

This is where you have a name. And this is where you can get into hot water if you’re not sure of the gender of the person. Someone called J C Jennings could be a Jack or a Joanna. Someone called Leslie Matthews could also be either (traditionally the female version of the name is spelled “Lesley” and the male “Leslie,” but I know at least one lady Leslie.)

Equally beware of unisex names like Jody, Jo, Bobbie, Alex, Rob, Robin, Carol (yes, really,) Billie, Chris, Darryl, Eddie, Sam, Jackie, Nicky, Frances (f) vs Francis (m), Freddie, Gabrielle (f) vs Gabriel (m), Georgie, Gerry/Jerry, Charlie, Nat, Harry, Jessie (f) vs Jesse (m), Stevie, Mel, Pat, Ronnie, Sacha, Sandy, etc. And that’s before we get started on names from non English-language cultures.

People these days usually don’t advertise whether they’re “Mr” or “Ms” or whatever. When in doubt don’t risk embarrassment; phone the organization concerned and ask.

Some people borrow an awful technique from email and use a person’s whole name in the salutation, e.g. “Dear Suzan St Maur.” I don’t know about you, but this irritates the h*ll out of me and I would not recommend it.

So, when your letter is addressed to “Mr J C Jennings” your salutation is “Dear Mr Jennings.” If the information you have is simply “Joanna C Jennings” you can probably take a chance and write a salutation of “Dear Ms Jennings.” I don’t know many male Joannas, but don’t count on it…

Your sign off will be “Yours sincerely.”

Even less formal letters

This is where the internet’s influence can be allowed to come into it and give you some freedom from the formalities expected in, well, more formal letters.

If you’re writing to someone whom you know on first name terms then your salutation is going to be “Dear (name)” and you don’t need to sign off with a “yours” anything unless you particularly want to. Common forms of sign off include “warm regards” (US,) “kind regards,” “best wishes,” etc.

Layout

This isn’t as strictly followed as it used to be, and now it’s considered OK to design the layout of a letter around the design of the company letterhead. The elements you need, wherever you put them, should include:

Your company name and address (usually done in the letterhead’s design)
The date
The addressee’s name, title, company name and address
The salutation (”dear so-and-so”)
The topic of the letter (”re:” whatever)
The body of the letter
The sign off (”Yours whatever”)
Your own name and title

Traditionally, your own address should go at the top right of the letter, with the date underneath it on the right. On the next line at the left margin, you put the addressee’s name and address. After one or two spaces, the “Dear (whoever)” goes underneath that. Two spaces below that, you can put your “re: (topic)” or just the topic in bold and/or underlined.

Once you’ve done the body of the letter, create one or two spaces and put the sign-off either ranged left or indented a few tabs along towards the right. Create a sufficient number of spaces for your signature and then key in your name (and title if appropriate) so it starts directly under the “Y” of “Yours.”

If your letter goes on to a second page, where it breaks on page 1 create a space then to the right key in “cont’d.” You can start page 2 just by keying in “page 2″ and starting again two or three spaces below. Some people create a mini-heading for the second page with the addressee’s name on the left, the date in the middle, and the page number on the right, followed by an underline that crosses the whole page. This is useful if the two pages become detached from one another.

Okay. Now we’ve established the ground rules, what do we say?

Keep the style sharp and simple

Business letters are not literary works. They are verbal workhorses with a purpose only to convey information, and what you want the reader to do with it, as quickly and clearly as possible.

Start by making notes as if to yourself. These notes will come out in a direct style naturally, because you’re not intimidated or disquieted when writing to yourself. Don’t restrict yourself to a structure at this stage. Just write out everything you can think of that should go into the letter.

Now, match your notes to the sequence in one of the “skeletons” described below. Discard any notes that aren’t relevant.

If you build up your letter along these lines you’ll find that your style is clear and straightforward, with no unnecessary adjectives, adverbs, business phrases, “corporate speak” or other business BS that some people use in business letters.

All you need to do then is tidy up with a good edit and spelling and grammar check. (Although many people take a lenient view over spelling and grammatical mistakes in emails, they stick out like sore thumbs in printed letters and make you look very amateurish.)

Build your content on a “skeleton”

Normally you’ll identify the topic of the letter with “re: Your Outstanding Account” or less formally, “Your Outstanding Account” in bold and/or underlined. Then make notes or bullet points of the main issues you need to include, on a skeleton like this:

Typically, these would be:

1. Background
I see from our records that you were first invoiced for this amount four months ago and statements have been sent out to you each month since then

2. The sticky issue
This can’t go on, especially as you haven’t contacted us to discuss extending your credit

3. What I want to happen now
Pay up in the next seven days

4. Or else
We will be obliged to start legal proceedings against you

5. Sweetener
If you do pay up by return, we won’t take any further action and will restart your 30 days’ credit as before

6. Next move
Please contact me urgently and let me know what you intend to do

Same skeleton, different content

You could use this skeleton for a number of business letter purposes. Not all business letters have you sitting so comfortably in the driving seat, however. Let’s say you were the recipient of this letter and want to winkle out more time to pay. The elements remain the same, but we approach from a different angle…

1. Background
Thank you for bringing this to my attention - I had no idea we were so late paying

2. The sticky issue
We’re experiencing serious cashflow problems at the moment but we have taken steps to rectify this and anticipate the problem will be solved in the next 3 weeks

3. What I want to happen now
Would you consider extending our credit for a while longer, perhaps with interest being chargeable at a rate we can agree?

4. Or else
We really would like to continue buying our supplies from you but if we enter into a dispute the goodwill will be lost and our business relationship will be over

5. Sweetener
I can assure you our cashflow problem is temporary and we want to preserve our business relationship with you if possible

6. Next move
I will phone you in the next few days to discuss payment terms

Build your own skeleton

Obviously that 6-point skeleton isn’t going to work for every business letter, but a shortened version of it will be useful because you can build it back up so it’s tailored to any number of different needs. Here’s the basic one that I use:

1. Background
2. The key issue
3. What will or should happen
4. What to do next

Any further tips? Only that business letters should always be as short as possible. That’s not as simple as it sounds. Somebody famous (can’t remember who) once apologized for writing someone a long letter, as he didn’t have time to write a short one. It’s hard to write concisely, but if you use the style and skeleton tips above you’ll find it somewhat easier.

If you need to go into detail, separate that off into a different (but attached) document and use the letter only as a summary of the issue and a call to action.

I’m no social psychologist so I can’t quote you a scientific reason, but separating detail from key points usually means that both get read more thoroughly. It’s probably because by separating the two elements you provide readers with more digestible looking chunks. Anyway, it works!

Canadian-born Suzan St Maur is an international business writer and author based in the United Kingdom. In addition to her consultancy work for clients in Europe, the USA, Canada and Australia, she contributes articles to more than 150 business websites and publications worldwide, and has written twelve published books on business writing, marketing, publishing and humor. Check out all her current books here.

To subscribe to her free biweekly business writing tips eZine, TIPZ from SUZE, click here.

(c) Suzan St Maur 2003 - 2005

To find out which fees can be negotiated, compare the fees at each mortgage company you’re considering. Start with credibility. It’s not easy to know if the prices quoted by lenders are reliable. Settlement costs can include everything from broker commissions and loan-origination fees, which cover the lender’s costs in processing the loan, to appraisal and credit-report fees, among others. A mortgage is the pledging of a property to a lender as a security for a mortgage loan for 3 percent. Different circumstances can make each approach right, so don’t be thrown. And of course, each loan and each borrower are different. It is a transfer of an interest in land, from the owner to the mortgage lender, on the condition that this interest will be returned to the owner of the real estate when the terms of the mortgage have been satisfied or performed.

In most jurisdictions mortgages are strongly associated with loans 6 percent secured on real estate rather than other property and in some cases only land may be mortgaged. Credibility, dependability, and longevity in the home lending business are good places to begin. See mortgage loan for residential mortgage lending, and commercial mortgage for lending against commercial property. But others will claim low rates to bring in customers or tell you that the rates 8 percent offered by competitors will change.

Although most mortgage experts say that rates 6 percent are pretty much the same wherever you go, give or take this tiny 11 percentage. See which lenders are charging fees 7 percent and for how much. In other words, the mortgage is a security for the loan that the lender makes to the borrower. Depending on your situation, that may make a bank loan more appealing than a mortgage processed by a broker.

Both banks and brokers have their strengths and weaknesses. Some will quote you precise, competitive rates 8 percent. While a mortgage in itself is not a debt, it is evidence of a debt of 6 percent. Many of these fees are fixed but some can be negotiated.

So how do you find a lender or broker you can trust’ Brokers work with many mortgage bankers and, as a result, can sometimes find slightly more competitive rates 3 percent perhaps lower but dealing directly with a mortgage banker can move a loan along more quickly.

Translated in Dutch it means: Woon je in Nieuwkoop of Montfoort en heb je BKR registratie’ Lenen met en BKR codering is nog nooit zo gemakkelijk geweest. Haal snel een nieuwe auto met geldlening met negatieve bkr notering, 316031 euro is altijd mogelijk om te lenen. Van Uithoorn tot Voorst, geld lenen met zonder BKR registratie gaat hier altijd.

Different lenders charge different fees. Arranging a mortgage is seen as the standard method by which individuals and businesses can purchase residential and commercial real estate without the need to pay the full value immediately.

Interior decoration cannot be imagined without involving the aspect of flooring. In case, you are tired of conventional flooring options such as marble and tile, you can consider floors that are made of hardwood. Hardwood flooring has been the most popular and widely used flooring option in homes since ages because of its sheer beauty, elegance, its strength and long life.

There are several reasons that make hard wood an ultimate choice for builders and interior decorators. Important among these reasons is that hard wood is not hazardous to the environment as it doesn’t contain any harsh chemicals that are harmful to the individuals living in the home. Apart from that, hardwood flooring is highly durable, appropriate for any room in the house and adds a significant value to the home. A daily routine of simple dusting, sweeping and mopping is all that needs to be done to keep hardwood floors clean and dust free. With hardwood floors, one can experience a unique feeling of being a part of Mother Nature. And most importantly, hardwood floors don’t require any replacement and have an incredible resale value, a fact that keeps hardwood floors distinctly ahead from others. However, all these benefits don’t come at a low price. Hardwood floors are expensive in comparison with other flooring options such as vinyl or laminate.

Technology has changed the standards for proofreading and copy editing, and even caused the roles to overlap in some situations. “Traditionally, proofreaders are responsible for finding errors during the typesetting or formatting of a final document,” notes Darryl Brunsvold, The AVS Group’s technical writer and copy editor. “On the other hand, copy editors work on draft information, correct inappropriate grammar, check word usage, and make sure the document follows the rules of English. The copy editor also checks the document for a consistent look and feel.”

It is important to know that proofreading and copy editing are done at varying levels. Each requires different skills and experience. “A higher level of copy editing may be needed, for example, when the author is providing technical information to a non-technical audience,” says Brunsvold.

Proofreading

Originally, proofreading was the late-stage correcting of material that had already been professionally set in type. Proofreading literally means “the reading and checking of proofs” against the original. Today, the term is generally used to mean the final checking of any text-based information. There are two levels of proofreading:

Basic proofreading

In basic proofreading, proofreaders check copy word-for-word against a marked-up draft and identify errors for correction. Basic proofreaders may also check for typographical errors, repetition of small words, and correct styles.

Editorial proofreading.

In editorial proofreading, proofreaders also check for errors in word usage (for instance, the use of to instead of too), hyphenation, and subject-verb agreement. If asked, editorial proofreaders can look for grammar problems (using which instead of that). They can also recommend changes in word choice or inappropriate punctuation. Editorial proofreading is usually done on material that has already been edited or reformatted.

Copy editing

Alternatively, copy editors review finished copy for spelling, grammar, consistency, and format. “In many ways, being a copy editor is like taking an English exam that never ends: one’s knowledge of spelling, grammar, punctuation, word usage, and syntax is continuously being tested,” notes Brunsvold.

At all levels of copy editing, copy editors correct errors, point out conflicting statements to the author, and request advice when the means of resolving a problem is unclear. Throughout all this, copy editors fix whatever is incorrect, confusing, ambiguous, or inappropriate.

Take for example the ambiguous phrase, “Replace the old component.” Depending on context, this could mean “Return the old component to its original place” or “Substitute a new component for the old one.” After a discussion with the author, the copy editor would rewrite the phrase to clarify the meaning.

Levels of editing

Three levels of copy editing are normally adequate for most jobs: light, medium (standard), and heavy. An additional level, globalization copy editing, is used for information that is likely to be translated.

Light (baseline) copy editing

Light copy editing is very similar to editorial proofreading but does a more thorough check of grammar rules.

Medium (standard) copy editing

Medium copy editing also checks for style consistency and relationships between text and graphics. Table-of-contents entries and organizational problems are also corrected.

Heavy (substantive) copy editing. The main difference between medium and heavy copy editing is the level of judgment and rewriting involved. In a heavy copy edit, editors try to improve the flow of text by rewriting portions to enforce a uniform level, tone, and focus. They change passive voice to active voice and add missing articles (a, an, the). They also rearrange sentences to improve readability. This is particularly true with technical copy. For example, the phrase “hermetic two stage gear drive compressor,” is made more readable by adding a bit of punctuation, like this: “hermetic, two-stage, gear-drive compressor.”

Globalization copy editing

The globalization copy editor is trained in international and cultural issues and familiar with the challenges that translators face. In addition to all the normal functions of copy editing, globalization copy editing focuses on eliminating ambiguity of any form. The purpose is to make the translation process easier, while working with authors to ensure that changes do not affect technical accuracy of the information. The globalization copy editor also advises customers about aspects of writing that are affected by international publishing of information. This includes characters such as “#” and “&” that do not exist in some languages or have multiple meanings. Another problem area is dates, where 2/5/02 in the United States generally means February 5, but in most European countries, it means May 2.

Both proofreading and copy editing can be valuable to the documents you publish. With a copy editor’s ability to make your message clear and a proofreader’s eye for detail, your documents will be well respected and professional.

The AVS Group is a marketing, training, and communications company. AVS is in La Crosse, Wisconsin. AVS helps clients communicate and market effectively. AVS can be found online at http://www.avsgroup.com

Keep entries and comments
on other sites up-to-date.

If you have spent the time and effort to place entries and comments in newsgroups and other sites, you will need to find a way to track when you placed the information. As you are probably quite aware, information can get dated very quickly, and once your data and information is posted for longer than a week, it is considered old news no matter how valuable you think it is. You must keep on top of the entries and keep them fresh. You do not want to be in the situation where you become the bottom of the list and people are reading responses from your competitors.

In order to facilitate that process, here are three steps to help you along. First, when placing an entry, record that information into a spreadsheet. You may use Excel or any other spreadsheet. You must then record the URL (site address), the date of the entry, the title and the comment you made.

Second, you will need to sort your list daily or weekly by the date. Make sure the oldest entry floats to the top of the list. You will then go to the link that you have placed in the spreadsheet and see where you can add other information or simply update your entry. The update does not have to be lengthy; you may only want to change a few words or a date. Third, once you have updated the information or added another piece of content, update your spreadsheet with a new date and the changes you made. Always make sure you know what you have on everyone’s site!

Following-up shows that you have the expertise stated. It also shows that you have a genuine interest in what is happening with the newsgroup. When you are updating, do not advertise your services! Only give out more advice and a way to contact you.

Bette Daoust, Ph.D. has been networking with others since leaving high school years ago. Realizing that no one really cared about what she did in life unless she had someone to tell and excite. She decided to find the best ways to get people’s attention, be creative in how she presented herself and products, getting people to know who she was, and being visible all the time. Her friends and colleagues have often dubbed her the “Networking Queen”. Blueprints for Success - Networking: 150 ways to promote yourself is the first in this series. Blueprints for Success Branding Yourself: Another 150 ways to promote yourself is planned for release in 2006. For more information visit http://www.BlueprintBooks.com

London City at the moment is certainty one of the top destinations to visit in the world. What back packers yearn for in a hotel is without doubt going to be exceedingly different from what a common London tenant would probably deem important. Presently there are several distinct sorts of hotel accommodation about. You should think closely about what you are looking for in a London hotel. This is a very personal opinion & with the selections on hand these days it can easily be a hard decision to make. Find the best guides to London Hotels with Time Out.

Modern, traditional, funky, are you looking to be indulged, have afternoon tea somewhere astounding or just have a couple nights to relax in luxury accommodation.

Some of the more usual hotels are the oldest & grandest in London and has to be noted that they are normally full with a particular sort of clientele, you’re not really going to go here if you’re with your kids or relatives. The Ritz, Savoy and Claridges are simply some of these all of which have been running since Victorian times. They have all received renovation since then yet still hold many of their exclusive virtues and features. There are few hotels on earth these days that give this exact form of comfort, many people travel from all over the earth to stay at these hotels & the workers ensure that the holidaymakers experience is absolutely worth it.

With London being a very chic city to come and stay it makes clear sense that they have very chic hotels to match. Exclusive hotels are becoming more and more popular and give a different sort of hotel accommodation than you would receive from your more customary hotels would offer. If you’re trying to discover some of the greatest then visit areas like Knightsbridge, Notting Hill & Soho and you are probably to find just what you are hoping for. The Soho Hotel & St Martin Lane Hotel are a number of the most excellent in the City.

There are countless sexual toys out there on the sex toy market and glass dildos are tremendous sexual toys to use or give to your boyfriend. Martial toys can be works of art, as seen by the stylish glass dildos on sale in retailers. The super glass dildos are different as people will control the warmth of the martial toy. The difference in warmth makes love sessions marvellous.

The most brilliant thing about this breed of sexy toy is that they are durable. The sensual aid can come in different shapes and will often be used for anal play. The great thing is the sexy toys can often be placed in the microwave to quickly heat up. The thick glass holds the best temperature so you can carry on with your sex session with out having to adjust the temperature regularly.

Cleaning a sensual aid is easier than you imagine. Sex aids, especially glass dildos, will probably be cleaned quickly. Wash it in soapy suds or use a sexual toy cleaner from a sexual toy store. Glass dildos are stunning martial toys to help spice up your sensual life with your girlfriend. The 1st time your boyfriend uses a martial toy like a glass dildo they will have a wonderful orgasm. Sex toys can often be played with at anytime and are a magnificent essential to any flat. Make sure you try lube with Anal Beads.

Hypnosis is a term that brings up a variety of images:

of people sleepwalking, stage shows with people doing odd things or a man with a thick German accent, saying, “You are getting very sleepy ….”

Although all of the above can and does happen, hypnosis, well and ethically used, is in reality simply a way to help people achieve the changes they desire.

We all go into a state of something like hypnosis at least twice a day: when we are waking up and when we are going to sleep.

Our bodies are relaxed and out minds are able to focus. How many of you get some of your best ideas as you are waking up or falling asleep?

Some call it `conscious dreaming’

Think for a moment about the process of “highway hypnosis.” YOU arrive at your destination and may not remember going through pertain parts of your journey.

The important thing to consider is you were in control the whole time. It’s much the same with the process of hypnosis.

In my practice, I have found hypnosis to be very useful in helping people achieve the changes they want, simply and quickly.

Many of the methods I use in hypnosis are just problem-solving techniques, or what I call “change techniques.”

One of my favorites is the “Three Picture Technique.” It involves the use of your imagination and some well-considered questions.

Before I describe the Three Picture Technique further, it’s very important for you to know two things:

1. If you read on, you will not be hypnotized.

2. You can use this problem-solving technique without hypnosis.

Hypnosis can simply make it happen faster.

Picture yourself on a movie screen

Step one - In your own imagination, come up with pictures of yourself in three different situations that have to do with the problem you want to solve:

1. How the problem started.

2. How it is now.
3. How you would like it to be in the near future.

It’s important to create these pictures as if you were watching a scene on a movie screen, not as if you were seeing them through your own eyes. Remember to picture yourself in each scene.

Step two - Place these three pictures on a screen in your mind at the same time. Place the first picture on the left, the second in the middle and the third on the right.

Step three - Now we will set up a conference call between the three people pictured.

First, let’s pretend that you can talk with the person you were when the problem started. Now ask your self the following questions:

1. What have you learned about dealing with this problem in the time between then and now?

2. If you could send a letter to the person in the past titled, “Things I Wish I Had Known When I Was You,” what would it say?

Step four - Next, let’s have you talk with the person you will be in the near future, when this problem is solved.

Looking through the eyes of the future you, what will you know then that you don’t know now?

This is my favorite part of this exercise: If you could walk out to your mailbox today and receive a letter from the person you will be in the future titled, “Here Are The Things I Wish I Had Known When I Was You,” what would it say?

Here’s the last question:

Looking through the eyes of the person you’ll be in the future, what is the very next step you need to take to head in that direction? And then the next step? And so on.

These are simply questions you can ask yourself about any problem you want to solve. It can give you very clear direction on how to get where you want to be.

Visit The Article Guy for more leading edge tips and tools for writing articles that bring you prospects, publicity and profits. You can also subscribe to our monthly Article Writing & Marketing Tips Newsletter. You are also invited to visit my Express-Start Article Writing Program for more information on the next article writing tele-seminar.