Archive for September, 2008

7 Key Steps to Unshakable Confidence

Monday, September 29th, 2008

Do you remember that day? Perhaps it was your first job interview. Perhaps you were speaking to a group for the first time. Maybe you were starting a challenging new career or meeting a special person for the first time. Your throat became dry and your knees wanted to shake.

You were about to leave a place of mental and emotional safety. You were putting your skills on the line and taking a risk. If you were successful, there could be great reward. However, self-doubt was trying to discourage you.

Confidence is essential in our lives; without it, we will not make the first attempt to do what we really want. Confidence allows us to move forward despite temporary discouragement. So where does confidence come from, and how can we become and remain confident? Here are seven actions that will help to develop unshakable confidence.

1. Expand Your Knowledge

Gaining new skills for any endeavor – personal or career – is the first step toward confidence. Identify key areas where you need more confidence to be successful. Then expand your knowledge by taking courses, reading books, and attending learning events. Tele-classes are enjoyable and convenient for learning and discussing ideas with a peer group. Continuous learning is essential for maintaining a high level of confidence.

2. Experience Small Successes

Confidence also comes from experiencing small daily successes. They are like rewards for putting knowledge into action. They may not be the final goal. Yet they are important. Even a pat on the back from a colleague or a compliment for a job well done will boost a person’s level of confidence. Keep track of each small success you experience. You will begin to feel your confidence grow day by day.

3. Exercise Passionate Faith

Confident people have faith that the Creator has a special plan for their lives. They appear to know inherently that when they follow this plan, they will be successful. If you want to achieve something, you absolutely must believe that it is possible for you. You must believe firmly in your potential. A passionate faith will lead you to find and follow that purpose.

4. Enable Firm Resolve

There will be disappointments and set backs. It is natural to become discouraged at times. However, disappointments are not the end of the road if we view them as learning tools.

Faith in your abilities will lead you past discouragement into a firm resolve. Resolve overcomes obstacles because it displays patience. Instead of giving up, you will meet challenges by continuing through difficult times. Keep your mind on your intended outcome, not on the obstacles. Think of reasons why you can, not reasons why you cannot.

With time, talents develop and abilities grow. Then you will get a taste of what is possible — a measure of success that leads you forward with enthusiasm. Enthusiasm keeps you fired up to achieve more of those small daily successes.

5. Enlist Expert Help

Enlist the help of experts in areas where you need more confidence. Experts can be found though books, articles, videos, seminars, or via a phone call. A professional coach will help you stay focused on your objectives and hold you accountable for taking the necessary actions to complete your plans.

Confidence also attracts more confidence. Experts will support your plans and offer to help you in tremendous ways if you are enthusiastic and believe in your goals. Moreover, when you show confidence in others, they will show confidence in you.

6. Envision Confidence

Envisioning confidence begins to make confidence real in your experience. Imagine how you will feel and act if you already had the confidence you need for a specific situation. See yourself in your mind’s eye, acting with courage and conviction. Hold that picture in your mind, and your vision will start to become real.

7. Expect to be Confident

Expectation is faith in action. Now that you have imagined how confidence will feel, act as if you were already confident. Move assuredly and energetically as you go for your goals. You are now seeing, feeling, and acting in a confident manner. You will achieve what you expect. Expect to be confident, and you will become confident.

Give yourself time to increase your confidence by using these actions during the next several months. Get a sheet of paper now and write down how you will apply each of these actions. They can make a tremendous difference by allowing you to move more quickly and assuredly toward your objectives. Today, you can begin developing an unshakable confidence that will bring you joy and success in every area of your life.

© Copyright 2005 by Steve Brunkhorst. Steve is a professional success coach who assists individuals to achieve their objectives and lead joyous confident lives. Get Steve’s popular ezine, Achieve! 60-Second Nuggets of Inspiration, bringing inspirational and motivational nuggets to help you achieve more in your career and personal life. Visit http://www.AchieveEzine.com

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What if Iran Says No (Part 2)

Thursday, September 18th, 2008

July 29, 2006

Almost two months ago, when European Union Foreign Policy Chief Javier Solana presented an incentives package to Iran to encourage the Islamic Republic to curb its nuclear activities, I wrote a column questioning what, if anything, the world community would do in the event that Iran rejected the proposal. In that column, I argued that Iran, in responding that the package of incentives required further study, was probably stalling for time while it continued its program without international oversight.

Responding to the August 22nd date put forth by the Iranian government for a formal reply to the package, many countries, including the United States and Great Britain, declared the date unacceptable, citing a maximum period of weeks, rather than months, for Iran to agree to suspend the enrichment of uranium and join in multilateral talks about its nuclear future.

However, the international community, in the form of the United Nations, has been unable to reach an agreement on the course of action to be pursued in order to press Iran on its nuclear ambitions. We are now at the end of July and the only thing that has been accomplished to date is a draft resolution requiring Iran to suspend uranium enrichment activities by the end of August or face possible sanctions. Iranian state radio is already reporting that such a resolution will be rejected and Iran will not be subject to international demands.

In setting a deadline, the members of the Security Council are seeking to send the message that they are united and they are serious. But as history has repeatedly shown us, rarely are the five permanent members of the Council anything close to resembling united, or serious.

Time and again, the United States, Great Britain, China, France and Russia find themselves at odds over competing economic and security interests. Just the threat of a veto can stall action and prevent a matter from ever coming to a vote before the Council. Consensus on serious matters is seldom achieved, and I expect more of the same with regard to the Iranian nuclear program.

There is little reason to expect the Iranian regime to accept the proposal to stop their nuclear agenda. The leadership in Tehran knows what everyone else knows, that there is little likelihood of any meaningful sanctions coming out of the Security Council, and there is absolutely no possibility of a resolution authorizing military action against Iranian nuclear facilities.

Which brings us back to the original question. What if Iran rejects the package of incentives and continues its uranium enrichment program, effectively telling the rest of the world to mind its own business and stop infringing on Iran’s national rights?

The United Nations will inevitably bog down in its own incompetence and no significant agreement among the permanent members will be reached. A nuclear-armed Iranian regime is a threat to the entire region, a threat that Israel cannot ignore. Will Prime Minister Olmert authorize a strike similar to the Israeli attack on Iraqi nuclear facilities at Osirak in 1981? Even if he wanted to, he would probably be restrained by the United States government in the interest of preventing further destabilization in the area.

Will the United States and Great Britain take matters into their own hands, either through sanctions or military action? Independently enforced sanctions are probably a safe bet, but direct military action is not likely. The Anglo-American alliance is working diligently with the Iranians in an attempt to quell the violence in Iraq by putting pressure on the Shiite militias that are engaging in the recent surge in sectarian fighting.

While the United States and England are certainly capable of executing a military strike against Iranian targets, despite concerns about their commitments in Afghanistan and Iraq, such a use of force would do more to increase tensions in the Middle East than it would to alleviate those tensions. A military strike would only add to the anti-American and anti-British sentiment in a region already torn apart by hatred and violence.

The end result is likely to be some form of accommodation on the nuclear program, with a promise of additional influence on Iraqi Shiites from the Iranian regime, along with some form of international monitoring of Iranian nuclear progress. In exchange, western nations will fulfill their pledges in the incentives package, including easing current sanctions, assisting with WTO membership, and upgrading the Iranian air fleet.

That will set the stage for more negotiations and more concessions from both sides. But in the end, I fear that we will see a radical regime dedicated to the destruction of Israel and a sworn enemy of the United States in possession of nuclear weapons. As long as the international community lacks the will to come together in the face of real threats, we should all be concerned about what happens if Iran says no.

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See The Benefits Of Welding Safety

Friday, September 12th, 2008

Welding is much more than taking two joints and soldering them together. It’s a precise trade that requires proper training and education to perform safely and accurately. There’s nothing “simple” about welding and, in fact, it can be quite a dangerous undertaking. Considering this, welding safety, including proper gear such as welding helmets, is vital for getting the job done right.

The process of welding is especially dangerous for the eyes. This is so for several reasons, including the brightness of the arc, the ultraviolet and infrared rays it emits and the fact debris can sometimes fly loose. Inasmuch, no smart welder gets started without a good helmet.

Knowing you need a welding helmet and choosing one that’s appropriate for you can be two different things. The sophistication of the helmet needed will, of course, depend on the type of welding being done and how often you need it. If you just need to do a solder once in a while, a basic helmet will do. A pro, however, will likely want a more sophisticated piece of protection.

Here are some features to look for in a helmet:

* Comfort. A welding helmet should be comfortable to wear and lightweight. If it’s not comfortable, or reasonably so, it can get in the way of the job, which can lead to accidents.

* It should be easy to use. A helmet should not be so difficult to use that welders try to avoid them or go without them when making a solder.

* Visibility. Being able to see what you’re doing while working a weld is vitally important. The helmet should not block all fields of vision.

* Degree of protection. Welding shields must block ultraviolet rays to be considered effective. These are not sunglasses and the arc you’re dealing with won’t even begin to compare to a 100-watt light bulb! They should also block infrared wavelengths.

The type of helmet necessary will depend on the job being done and the kind of weld being made. Depending on the materials, lung protection might also be needed as some fumes created during the welding process are toxic. There are some other features welders can look for in a helmet to help them with more advanced jobs. They include:

* Auto-darkening helmets. These are great for shop situations where being able to see more clearly when the arc hasn’t been struck is important, but taking a helmet on and off isn’t always practical.

* Solar and battery powered helmets. These help control the auto darkening features on some helmets and some other processes as well. Either is suitable, as long as a solid helmet is chosen.

* Fixed and variable shades. The fixed offers a single darkness factor on the shade, the variable allows different settings to be chosen.

* Other features in helmets can include: adjustability to make it easier for a person who wears glasses to find a comfortable fit, sensor bars to assist in determining when a helmet’s features should be automatically turned on, curved shields and so on.

The key to welding and doing it safely is to not only understanding the process and the equipment, but to also have a good helmet. The helmet is vital for protecting the eyes and the face from harmful light rays, burning and flying debris.

http://www.weldinghelmetsite.com

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Social Security Records – Why It’s So Important to Protect Them

Wednesday, September 3rd, 2008

People who are gainfully employed have Social Security records. Through tax deducted from your monthly payroll, you make a contribution to a social insurance program, forming the basis of Social Security records. These records contain your Social Security number as well as other relevant information such as your full name, date of birth, contact numbers, dependents, and others.

Social Security records enable you to obtain benefits for three major instances. The first is for disability, where you are temporarily or permanently unable to return to work because you became physically or mentally impaired. The second area for claiming Social Security benefits is for retirement from employment. The third and final incidence would be for death, wherein your dependents will be able to make a claim.

The Importance of Social Security Records

Familiarity with your own Social Security records is crucial for the obvious reason that you are mandated by law to make contributions to the government through salary deductions. You need to maximize your Social Security contributions by becoming aware of the benefits that you are entitled to at any time in your work life.

For instance, your retirement age is dependent on the year that you were born and if you retire earlier than the required age, then you will get a smaller benefit package. The reverse is also true since if you delay retirement, then you will be entitled to a much larger Social Security benefit package.

In recent years, Social Security records have had to be placed under tighter control and protection because of incidents of identity theft and fraud. Some people acquire the Social Security records of other people so that they can claim benefits that are not rightfully theirs. Indeed, there have been many instances where people diligently make their Social Security contributions only to find out that somebody else has robbed them of their benefits.

A worse scenario is when one’s Social Security records have been used by others to open bank accounts and obtain credit cards. In this case, the unwitting victim is accumulating debt and his credit record is being tarnished by others. All of these point to one thing – it is important that you regularly get a copy of your Social Security records so that you can monitor your records and report any false entries immediately.

So how do you access your records?

Your Social Security records can easily be asked for online. You can apply for your Social Security benefits online too in addition to being able to update your records, and block access of your Social Security information to others. It is undeniably cheaper, faster and more efficient to transact online. Another advantage of accessing online Social Security records is that they are ideal for persons who are disabled or incapacitated and cannot go to a nearby Social Security office.

Your Social Security information is one of the most important records you have so use it and protect it wisely.

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