Monday, September 23, 2013

How Good Is Your Memory? Are You Sure?

Hi Team,
 
I just listened to this TED Talk that is real good "food for thought" concerning our memories.
 
It raises the question....  How much does our brain (memory) lie to us?
 
Here is the description for this video.....
 
"Psychologist Elizabeth Loftus studies memories. More precisely, she studies false memories, when people either remember things that didn't happen or remember them differently from the way they really were. It's more common than you might think, and Loftus shares some startling stories and statistics, and raises some important ethical questions we should all remember to consider.
Memory-manipulation expert Elizabeth Loftus explains how our memories might not be what they seem -- and how implanted memories can have real-life repercussions"
 
And here is the link....
 
 
 
Best of health, wealth & happiness, Reggie Cochran
 

Thursday, September 19, 2013

Why You Need A Spirit Of Humility!

I just read a short blog post by John Maxwell that talks about the importance of having a spirit of humility.
 
In the article he list the following 4 ways to develop this type of humility:
 
  1. Don't think less of yourself, just think of yourself less.
  2. Allow yourself to fail, but know it's not the end of the world when you do.
  3. When mistakes are made, recognize the problem, solve it and move forward with new knowledge.
  4. Live with the mindset that there is always something to learn from everyone.
I recommend you take a few minutes to read the complete post & then see how it applies to you personally.
 
 
 
 

Sunday, September 15, 2013

Run Away? Don't Run Away?

Running away from your problem does not help... unless your problem is being overweight. Then you need to run away more often. Run away from food. Run away from the couch etc. etc.
 
For most.. losing weight is simply a matter of moving more & eating less. Don't over complicate it!
 
 
Best of health, wealth & happiness, Reggie Cochran
 
 

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

9-11-01 A Day To Remember!

Twelve years ago today, an event took place that still haunts many Americans.
 
My sincere prayers go out to everyone who lost friends and loved ones on that tragic day.
 
I also want to thank all our police, firefighters & military men & women who risk their lives to serve the citizens of our great country.
 
You are the real Heroes & Legends!
 
Best of peace, health, wealth & happiness, Reggie Cochran

Monday, September 9, 2013

Effective Ways to Deal with Day to Day Stress

Today's question is who isn't dealing with stress?
 
It seems as though everyone you know has some type of stress in their lives. Most families consist of two people who work along with a couple of children. Just the daily task of getting everyone up and out of the door each morning is stressful enough. Then on top of that you have to deal with your job, your boss and fellow co-workers. No wonder everybody is stressed out these days!

Once you arrive home in the evening your day doesn't stop. You are now faced with getting dinner, helping with homework and doing chores around the home. How can you possibly deal with all of this and keep your sanity?

One of the first things you can do to relieve stress is to prioritize things. This includes homework, after school activities and the housework. For example if you can leave the laundry and vacuuming until the weekend then do so. Then delegate these chores to all your family members. Even very young children can be given tasks to do such as putting away shoes in the closest and helping clean things up.

If your child has a ton of homework to do then see what needs to be done first. This will also allow you to help them reduce their own stress levels too. Do the homework which needs to be handed in first. This can also reduce the amount of homework that has to be done in one night. Look at just how many after school activities your children are participating in. If it is more than two things maybe it is time to cut back. This frees up both your child's time and your time.

Another important thing to help reduce stress is to make time for the family. Try to plan one evening a week where you do something as a family together. This could be make dinner together or sit and watch a movie or play some type of game. When it comes to sitting down and eating dinner make use of the time. Ask your kids and your spouse how their day went. This gives the person time to vent if necessary and allows you to discover if there are any potential problems lurking around the corner.
By making time for your family and being aware of what each member is dealing with you can help reduce family stress. Communication is essential and one of the best ways to deal with stress before it becomes a major problem.
 
Best of health, wealth & happiness.. Reggie Cochran

Saturday, September 7, 2013

AWESOME time at the Max International Convention

 
Just wanted to say thanks again to everyone at Max International who helped make the convention such an AWESOME success. It was a great time to catch up with old friends as well as make some new ones. Chuck, Gena & I are very excited about being part of the Max family & had fun sharing the stage with Steve & Shannon Scott.
 
Best of success to you... Reggie Cochran

Wednesday, September 4, 2013

How Do You Run Your House And A Home Based Business?

A lot of people ponder whether a home based business is right for them or not. One reason many people never get started is that they do not believe they can run a home based business and a home and family at the same time. Running a successful home based business means that you should be able to be at home to take care of the things that you normally wouldn't be able to take care of, while also earning money from your business.
 
There are several potential pitfalls you should be aware of in order to run a successful home based business and home. There are several things that you can do to make this process much easier, and if you do it right, you should easily be able to run your home business as well as your home, with very little hassle.
 
Keep It Real
 
The first thing that you will need to do is to make time for your home business and to make time for your home as well. When you work from home it is very easy to simply work for days at a time. Since your business is at home it can be open 24 hours a day, especially if you are online. You might be tempted to take on other projects or orders or to do more so that you can make even more money. However, if you don't set limits for yourself, you'll find that you aren't able to run your home as well, at the same time
.
In order to avoid this problem, the first thing that you need to do is set realistic business hours. Look at the hours you want to work. Just like a regular office your home business should have office hours and hours when you are not available. It is simply too easy to work all of the time, even if you need the money. But keeping hours and making sure that you keep them regularly is a good way to make sure that you will also have time to run your home, as well as your home business.
 
Your Office Space
 
The other thing that you have to remember is that you are going to want to be sure that you have your own office space for your home business that is different than your actual home. Even if you devote a corner of your kitchen or living room to your home business, there should be an area that is only fit for your business, which will make it much easier for you to keep the two things separated. If you can keep your home and your home business apart, you'll have a much better chance of doing them both well.
 
Stay tuned for more tips on how to run your own successful home based business.
 
 
Best of success to you... Reggie Cochran

Tuesday, September 3, 2013

What Kind Of Habits Are Holding You Back?

We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit. -Aristotle  
 
Yes... we are all creatures of habit. Some people just have better habits than others.
 
Want something different in your life, change your habits.
 
Want more money? Start creating more money getting habits.
 
Want to look & feel better? Create different exercise & eating habits.
 
Want to _____ ?  Then create different ______ habits.
 
 It's not Rocket Science :  )
 
 
Best of health, wealth & happiness to you... Reggie Cochran

Do You Take Responsibility for Your Financial Situation?

Probably your least favorite thing to do when you're in financial hot water is to fully accept responsibility for what's happened over the last few months or years. It's not so much about self-blame as it is about staying keenly aware of your finances so you can take action to protect yourself.
 
Perhaps you were laid off from your job or experienced a drop in your business due to the lagging economy. You might not have had much warning of what was about to happen to you financially. However - think of this: if you had been financially prepared for something like this, could your preparations have assuaged the negative impact of the crisis?
 
Recognize that you can take responsibility now to learn to live below your means, save for your future, and be diligent about how you spend money. In the meantime, it's wise to fully understand what your role was in getting to where you are today.
 
1. What happened; how did you get here? No, this step is not about kicking yourself. It is, however, about learning from your past experiences. How did you arrive at this place financially? Write down your answers to this question. Be very specific, thorough and brutally honest with yourself.
 * Maybe you opened every credit card account offered to you. You might have bought whatever you liked. Or you were trying to keep up with the Jones'. Did you want to impress friends?
* Developing financial habits like eating out several times a week, buying extravagant gifts, wearing expensive clothes, and feeling like you have to have every new gadget will sooner or later cause your financial life to take a dive, unless you're doing all this while still spending less than you earn.
* It's important to know the reasons for your financial condition so you won't repeat negative behaviors. You'll know what to correct and look out for in the future.
 
2. Have you consistently paid your bills on time? Recognize that paying your bills 100% of the time on time is very important. Why?
* Most creditors charge fees for late payments, so when you pay those fees, you're giving away money you could use elsewhere, not to mention your financial reputation is harmed by not paying bills when they're due.
 
3. How serious are you about changing? It's time to ask yourself, "Why haven't I done something to better my financial situation?" Once you face the answer to that question, you can then consider how serious you are about changing your financial habits
.
4.  Think positive about overhauling your financial condition. You have the power right now to change your financial situation. Believe it, because it's true. If you commit to making whatever changes are necessary, you'll discover a better financial life - the one you deserve.
Taking responsibility for your current situation will empower you to do something about it. It might hurt at first, but to correct an error, you must acknowledge it.
 
5.  Consider starting a home-based business. The average American spends over 35 hours a week watching television. That's almost the amount of hours of a full time job. So taking an hour or two a day, to build a home based business still leaves plenty of time to watch television. In fact... many home-based businesses can actually be built while watching television in the background if you just cant pull yourself away from it :  )
 
Reviewing how you got into this financial state, admitting late payments, being serious about changing, and thinking positively are all necessary in your quest to take responsibility for your financial condition. Then, sooner than you might imagine, you'll realize that now you're the driving force behind a bright, secure financial future.
 
 
 
Best of Success to you... Reggie Cochran

Monday, September 2, 2013

Richard Branson's 5 Secrets to Business Success

I just read a great short article from Entrepreneur where Richard Branson talks about 5 Secrets To Business Success.
 
#1 >  Enjoy What You Are Doing.
 
#2 >  Create Something That Stands Out.
 
#3 >  Create Something That Everybody Who Works for You is Really Proud of.
 
#4 >  Be a Good Leader
 
#5 >  Be Visible
 
I recommend you take a couple of minutes and read the complete article.
 
 
 
Best of Success to you... Reggie Cochran

Sunday, September 1, 2013

8 Tips To Increasing Your Energy

Many of us seem to live hectic, busy, over-scheduled lives. The idea that you can increase your energy by making a few simple changes to some behaviors or by adding some healthful choices and activities is quite attractive.
 
Revitalize yourself through making these simple additions and changes to your life:
 
1. Exercise 6 days a week. Even though the mention of exercise might make you think your schedule will be more cramped and you'll probably sap your energy doing it, facts are facts: Exercise kicks your energy up a notch.
* It can be a brisk 30-minute walk, bike ride, or jog. If you prefer, stop by your local health club and work out for an hour.
 
2. Eat your vegetables. Bump up your number of vegetable servings a day to 5 to 7. After the third or fourth day, you'll feel the difference.
 
3. Find your own ways to rejuvenate. Does snuggling up with a book for 30 minutes make your busy world fade and jump-start your energy so you can get through the day?
* Maybe doing some calisthenics for 15 minutes in your office with the door closed will work for you.
 * Try some simple stretches for creaky muscles to help you relax and re-energize.
* Whatever you discover brings you some quick energy, do it.
 
4. Rest your mind. What if you were to stare at your flower garden for 20 minutes or watch your 3-year-old dig in the sandbox?
* Let whatever thoughts vex you float off into the wild blue yonder and simply rest your mind.
* When you do, your psyche will be cleared out enough to re-load your schedule and tasks later on.
 
5. Breathe. Deep breathing has so many magical qualities. Everything that's going on in your body requires oxygen and your breathing process brings it in.
* When you take several moments to just breathe, you're subjectively stopping your world to imbibe in the sanctity of breathing.
* Try breathing in through your nose to the count of 4, holding it a couple of seconds, then exhaling through your mouth. Repeat 4 times.
* Perform this breathing exercise twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening. You'll unlock new energy and feel better.
 
6. Pick up the free weights. Did you know weight-bearing exercises for the upper body can boost your energy reserves? Whether you use one-pound, two-pound, or five-pound weights, perform some upper arm exercises for about 15 minutes 3 or 4 days a week.
* As your muscles build, your energy will strengthen.
 
7. Mind your stress. Stress can be one of the biggest energy drains you'll experience. So, it's wise to do everything you can to successfully manage your stress. Many of the points listed above will help with stress.
* Keep your schedule under control by allowing free time between appointments and time to catch up in order to control the level of stress in your life.
* Talk with your friends when you feel stressed. Refrain from using substances like nicotine and alcohol, as they are some of the biggest energy zappers of all.
 
8. Perform self-care, physically and emotionally. How you treat yourself is intimately related to how you store energy. Positive thoughts keep you feeling safe, comfortable, and healthy. Your emotional and physical worlds share a strong connection.
You have the power to perform vital behaviors to pump up your energy. Boost your revitalizing powers by putting these steps into practice.
 
Best of health, wealth & happiness to you... Reggie Cochran

Saturday, August 31, 2013

How to Teach Your Teens About Credit Cards

As the world becomes more complicated, you have the responsibility to guide your children the best you can. One of the most trying subjects to teach your kids about is how to appropriately manage money. More specifically, teenagers develop great interests in the almighty credit card. Credit cards are not to be taken lightly at any age, but especially during adolescence. How can you educate your teens about the use of credit cards?
 
These strategies will help them learn to use credits cards responsibly:
 
1. Ask where the money will come from. Insist your teens know specifically where they'll get the money to pay off the credit card charge before they charge anything.
 
2. Encourage responsibility. Explain that your teens are responsible for paying their credit card bill on time. In addition, require them to pay off their credit card balance within 30 days. Discuss how interest charges and other fees work and that paying such fees is like giving away their money for nothing.
 
* Take care to listen to how your teen takes part in this discussion. If you determine your teen requires more maturity or understanding of the information, avoid giving them a credit card and explain briefly how you arrived at your decision.
 
3. Consider starting with a limited balance credit card. Have your teenager save money until a certain amount accumulates, like $100.00. Then, accompany them to your banking institution or a store to obtain a pre-paid card for the $100.00.
 
* Even though your teen paid for the card with their own money, it's a good idea to tell them to make every effort to stretch out their use of the card. A benefit of this method is that your child saved the money up front before actually charging items.
 
* They can, therefore, understand that the credit card balance is tangibly their own hard-earned money. The downside of this method is it may not teach your child the responsibility of charging only what they can pay off within the next month.
 
4. Provide a credit card to replace weekly allowance. Consider converting their allowance to a monthly credit card balance. This method allows them to learn about credit card management.
 
Consider this example:
 
* You normally pay your teen $30 cash weekly allowance. When they turn 16, state you'll now provide a credit card rather than the $30 cash weekly. Explain that they can charge up to $120 per month (4 weeks times $30 equals $120) as you'll pay up to that amount monthly to cover their credit card purchases.
 
* Stress that if they charge over $120, they must come up with the difference to pay off any balance over the $120 when the statement arrives.
 
* If they charge over $120 for the month and are unable to come up with the difference, they must surrender the credit card until they pay you the difference owed (even though you'll go ahead and pay it off to avoid monthly fees).
 
* Using this method to teach your teen how to handle credit cards is a helpful lesson in managing their money with limited funds. Your teen learns to limit spending to stay within their means.
 
Teaching teens how to handle credit cards is challenging. The good news is that if you start early with your kids about how to earn, save and spend money, they'll easily progress to understanding the above concepts with your help and guidance.
Praise your teens' efforts when they manage their finances and credit card issues well. You'll build their confidence for the future when you teach them how to handle credit cards wisely.
 
 
Best of success to you... Reggie Cochran

Want Momentum?

Momentum to achieving your long term goals is created by setting small goals that you can accomplish quickly. The key is to complete many small goals on a daily basis. Not only will you achieve your long term goals quicker, you will feel more successful along the way.
 
 
Best of success to you... Reggie Cochran
 
 

Easy Marketing Tips For Your Home Based Business

Your home business success depends upon your promoting it as thoroughly as possible. There are many ways to market your home business idea, and they do not have to break your bank. One of the first actions you should take with your home business idea is to make business cards and a professional letterhead. These are an affordable and easy way to remind others about the presence of your home business idea. ( I will provide future training on the art of creating an AWESOME business card)
 
Next, you will want to network with as many people as possible. Begin to share your business with friends and family, making sure they all have business cards to give away to others they are in contact with. When promoting your home business, do not stop with friends and family members, as this is where many make their first mistake. Be sure to try to expand your network of potential clients as much as possible, sharing your business with anyone you come into contact with. One good way to do this is to join civic organizations, go to trade shows, be involved with parents and committees at schools, and participate in any other type of community involvement that may help promote your home business idea.
 
Another inexpensive and effective way of promoting your business is hanging flyers and business cards on community bulletin boards such as in grocery stores, etc. If you are on the lookout for these types of public bulletin boards, you will find them in a lot of places, and they can be an excellent and easy way of spreading the news about your home business idea.
 
Also, you can have the name, slogan and phone number of your home business idea painted on the side of your vehicle. This is very easy advertising! If you are nervous about painting your vehicle to advertise your home business idea, there is also the option of a removable magnetic sign. Do be aware that if you use these methods to advertise your business, you may need to make changes in your insurance policy or your registry with the Department of Motor Vehicles.
 
Sponsoring a contest with some type of prize is another way to easily and effectively promote your home business idea. (more training coming on contest in future articles)  If you work smart to make the most of everyday opportunities, you will find that getting the word out about your home business idea can be relatively easy and quite affordable.
 
Online marketing like Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Youtube & personal free blogs like www.blogger.com is also a must in todays world to share your business, product / service with others. There are many great free resources on the net that will help you get set up and started with each of these. www.MentorsClub.com Mentors share a lot of great tips on how to make your online marketing a great success.
 
Best of success to you... Reggie Cochran

 

Friday, August 30, 2013

Eating Healthy While Eating Out

When you eat at home, you know what you're getting. Head to a restaurant, and it's another story. The ingredients, method of preparation, and portion size can easily add excess calories to your diet. Restaurant menus have so many choices and are often full of unfamiliar terms. Is a food fried or baked? Does it come with a sauce or dressing? If you're not careful, you won't know answers to these questions and more until you ask them.

Before heading out to dinner tonight, here are some tips to enjoy a healthy meal.

So Many Options
When considering what to choose from dozens of options, you can easily become overwhelmed. Just as easy is to be tempted by the unhealthy choices. Thankfully, most restaurants these days include healthy options on their menus and label them accordingly.

For your main course, choose chicken, turkey, ham, or fish over beef. If it comes with a sauce, avoid creamy or cheesy sauces and go with a tomato or vegetable sauce. Additionally, try to include a salad, fruit, or steamed vegetable, and go sparingly on dressings, cheese, salt, and butter. Instead of chips, fries, or fried rice, choose boiled rice or potatoes. Need some extra seasoning? Leave the salt and butter alone. Instead, reach for some fresh herbs or lemon. And if the meal comes with bread, choose a whole-grain option and go with a sherbet, sorbet, or fresh fruit if you can't say no to dessert.

Food Preparation
Menus are often vague when it comes to the way the food is prepared. If you're not sure or the menu doesn't say how the food is prepared, be sure to ask. Remember—restaurant foods are full of fats, as fats help keep the food moist and yummy. To play it safe and to avoid excess fat, choose foods that are grilled, boiled, steamed, stir-fried, or poached instead of fried, baked, or battered. Also, take control of your food destiny by asking that your meal be prepared with olive oil instead of butter or other fats. When your salad arrives, opt for oil and vinegar rather than dressing. Or have your dressing on the side so you can limit the amount you use.

Terms to watch for include "lightly breaded," "wrap," "baked," and "vinaigrette." These may all sound healthy but may are deceiving. Foods that are lightly breaded are often deep-fried. A wrap may sound like a good option, but two slices of bread may have fewer calories than a 10-inch tortilla. Baked sounds better than fried, but it could possibly mean the food is baked deep-dish style and contains high-fat, creamy ingredients. While baked salmon is a good choice, baked lasagna is high in fat. And though vinaigrette dressing sounds healthier than a cream based dressing, it is mostly oil, so order it on the side.

Portion Control
Not only do portions keep getting bigger, so do the plates that hold them! With so much food sitting in front of you, it is sometimes hard to resist the temptation to eat it all—especially when you paid so much for it. To avoid the temptation to eat unhealthily large portions, split or share the entree, then choose a soup, salad, or extra side. If you know you'll get too much food, go ahead and ask for a to-go box when you order. That way you can divide the food as soon as you get it, so you won't have to stare at the extra food as you eat.

Know What to Look For
Knowing what to look for on a menu and what to avoid will help you choose healthier, low-fat options. If you find that your diet is lacking fruits, vegetables, or whole grains when you eat out, make up for it when you eat your other meals at home. Remember that healthy eating is only half of the battle when it comes to losing weight
Adjust Your Mindset
Eating out should be a luxury, not an everyday affair. If you find yourself choosing at restaurants more often than you'd like—especially if you're eating all the wrong foods, cut back on your eating out ways and watch your calorie intake drop instantly!
 
Best of success to you... Reggie Cochran