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By JP Saleeby, MD Forget those Crystals As an integrative medical practitioner, I keep an open mind to new modalities of evaluating illness and treating disease. My interest and pursuit of complementary or alternative medical therapies has led me to selectively incorporate some of what I have come across. For example, in my practice, I embrace acupuncture for the diagnosis and treatment of certain disease states. Also, Traditional Chinese Herbal medicine and western herbs have been quite helpful and marked with successful outcomes for many of our patients. However, there are many who claim to be practitioners of alternative medicine who pray on the gullible and ignorant. This fact hit home as never before when I attended and participated in a Holistic Expo in Atlanta in mid September this year. I was a guest speaker on the topic of super nutrients in health and longevity and had a presence on the Expo floor to promote my dietary supplement line and integrative practice in Savannah. After viewing over 160 vendor booths and reviewing the list of topics being lectured I was appalled and horrified at what I saw. To my amazement the bulk of the practitioners present at this supposed health (Mind-Body-Spirit) Expo appeared to be charlatans, fakes and quacks. They offered no credentials and held no certification. There was no governing body that oversaw what they offered or preached. What amazed me more were the number of visitors to the expo who were duped into believing there was actually healing going on. I view these people as entertainers, but certainly not healers. Many of the vendors offered their services or wares for sale on the spot. A typical Divine Psychic reading could cost up to $35. A Channeling session with crystals was $5 per minute. And people were lining up for this. I was very uncomfortable and very out to place amongst this group. The vendor to my immediate left was comprised of three healers, a fellow who would sketch your spiritual drawing, and two females, one a psychic, the other a tarot card reader. Across from me was a vendor for a distance learning institution that offered degrees in nutrition, herbology, spiritual healing and Reiki. To my right was a massage therapist/channeler/healer who on several occasions had his victim on a table where he would rub them rather aggressively and wave rocks and crystals over their heads and chest. Yet another booth offered spontaneous healing where practitioners pranced around their victim chanting and waving their hands in an effort to expel the evil forces causing disease. They also showed a videotape repeatedly of a non-surgical way of extracting tumors from bodies seemingly through their skin with instantaneous healing. Those at the booths (and in the lecture hall) purported to be able to deliver unbelievable health advice from celebrities on the other side (Celebrity Channelers). Many were divine psychics, and one booth offer aromatherapy for people & pets. One Native American fellow in Indian garb spoke of Meeting your Totem Animal. Whats more, others talked about Sonic Angel music and Turbo Tantra. A couple had people buying crystal balls set in a wooden box that could diagnose illness under the name of Chakra Life. While others offered means of Accessing the Akashic Records. Astonished to see such a large number of people interested in such alternative healing claims lead me to ask the questions. Where did modern medicine go wrong to force people to accept or believe in the irrational? What have we done as physicians to push people to embrace such silly notions and odd alternative therapies? Why is the traditional physician despised by these people? Yes, there is genuine dislike of allopathic medicine and its practitioners. The rhetoric one overhears at these booths is ridiculous. Many complaints about medical doctors are based on misguided or casual observations, anecdotal horror stories with a lot of spin, and those with an axe-to-grind. Some complaints have legitimate grounds, I must admit, but never bad enough to consider the alternative. Have we sold or souls to the pharmaceutical companies as we have been charged? Have we been caught up in pressures placed upon us by the current atmosphere of managed care? Have we been embittered by our feelings toward governmental and private insurance reimbursements and the medical malpractice litigation? I am still hopeful in our ability to turn this trend around and salvage our reputations with these people and dissuade those seeking health from wasting their time, money and energy on such quacks and charlatans. Should we chose to ignore our patients, we will only worsen this movement away from what we as physicians know to be effective medical care and push them toward the circus of sometimes harmful caregivers. As one who subscribes to substantiated complementary medical therapeutics, while not turning my back on traditional allopathic medicine, I believe I have a license to be a critic and to write this article. I only embrace what has been shown, after careful scrutiny, to be effective and helpful as a treatment. Charles T. Sprading once said, Knowledge consists in understanding the evidence that establishes the fact, not in the belief that it is a fact. Therefore, this is a call to those out there seeking healing and wellness. Dont give up on the medical establishment just yet, despite a lot of negative press, we still offer the best health/patient-care around with a proven track record. And despite the disseminated misinformation many of us do subscribe to and uphold our Hippocratic Oath. Even a few of us are open minded enough to realize our Allopathic education does not give us all the answers and we continuously seek new and better ways to take care of our patients. JP Saleeby, MD is an Integrative Physician and Medical Director of LCNHC in Savannah, GA. He also co-directs the Emergency Department at LRMC in Hinesville, GA. He can be reached for comment at jpsaleeby@aol.com. More info visit http://www.saleeby.net or http://www.docsaleeby.blogspot.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=JP_Saleeby,_MD http://EzineArticles.com/?Watch-Out-for-Alternative-Medicine-Charlatans!&id=41170 buy discount phentermine kenwood pharmacy phentermine little pharmacy phentermine american pharmacy phentermine

By Sharon Hurley Hall When loved ones pass away, you’ll want to make sure that they have the funeral they deserve. Here are the main aspects you need to consider when planning a funeral. 1. Viewing When someone dies, family members and friend may wish to view the body of their loved one. Viewing can assist with the resolution of grief. It can help people accept that death has occurred. Each family member’s viewpoint on visitation or viewing may be different, and this is a very personal decision. The best option in most cases is to leave the option of visitation open to an individual’s own emotional needs. Before or shortly after death some people may be adamant that they do not wish to view the deceased, then change their mind a short time later. By presenting the option of visitation, all family members’ individual emotional needs can be met. 2. Flowers, notices and memorials In many communities it is traditional that friends and family pay their respects by sending flowers or making a donation to charity. Your local funeral director can organise flowers for you. They can also collect, record and distribute donations to charity on your behalf. The obituary notice in a local, national or other publication announces the death and funeral details and can also become a tribute to the person who has died, by perhaps containing a verse. Some people like to place acknowledgement notices in the newspaper after the funeral, thanking people who have supported them. Some people also like to compile a book of compliments, reflections and memories about the person who has died, written by family and friends attending the service or afterwards. You don’t have to decide whether to put a memorial on the grave or on the site of the burial of ashes until after the funeral. The regulations about what kind of memorial can be put up, and when, vary considerably from place to place. Your funeral director can advise you on this and make any arrangements on your behalf. 3. Transport You’ll need to decide on the size and makeup of the cortege (the hearse and the cars following it). Other questions to consider include: Will it be a standard, motorbike or horse-drawn hearse? How many cars will be needed? Where will the cortege leave from? Will it take a special route? Will you require wheelchairs for elderly or disabled mourners? Where will you return to afterwards? 4. Bearing the coffin Some families decide that they would like to bear the coffin themselves at the ceremony, instead of the funeral director’s staff. Bearers may be friends, family members or colleagues of the person who has died. 5. Music Many people now ask for specific pieces of music to be played at the service. Your Funeral Director will be able to advise you on this and make the appropriate arrangements for you. 6. Eulogies A eulogy is when someone pays tribute to a person’s life by saying a few words that will help remember that person at the service. You can prepare a speech yourself for this, or you may prefer to read a favourite poem or passage. 7. Catering You may wish to offer guests refreshments after the funeral. You will need to decide who will provide the catering and where it will be provided. You may prefer to offer refreshments at your home or at a location close to where the service has been held. 8. Burial or cremation? If there is no grave in existence and a new grave is required, this can be arranged directly with the cemetery or through the funeral director. New graves are expensive and the costs can increase significantly in some areas if the deceased lived outside the cemetery authority’s boundary. The family organising the purchase of a new grave should know what costs are before finalising the funeral arrangements. Burials in churchyards are subject to rules and regulations of the church authority concerned. These rules are often very strict in relation to the type of headstone or memorial that can be placed on the grave following the funeral. The restrictions can also extend to what is written on the headstone. Those responsible for the funeral arrangements should be aware of what memorial restrictions are enforced before the interment takes place to avoid any unnecessary distress later on. If you opt for cremation, this will take place shortly after the funeral committal service is over in the crematorium chapel. Each coffin is cremated individually and after each cremation the ashes are removed and kept separately so that each family receives the remains of their relative. If required these are usually available for collection the next working day and can be placed in the Garden of Remembrance at the crematorium. The ashes can also be kept by the relatives, interred in a new or existing family grave, or scattered in a place deemed as appropriate by the family or as requested by the deceased prior to death. This is an option that will have been specified in someone’s Will or prepaid funeral plan. So these are the usual options to consider. Other possibilities can be discussed with your funeral director or funeral plan provider. Sharon Hurley Hall is a freelance writer who has co-authored a book on UK legal services. For more information on prepaid funeral plans, visit Silver Birch Solutions To contact Sharon, visit http://www.doublehdesign.com/ Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sharon_Hurley_Hall http://EzineArticles.com/?What-To-Do-When-Someone-Dies:-Tips-On-Organising-A-Funeral&id=107292 phentermine us pharmacy buy phentermine for cheap buy phentermine hcl to buy phentermine 37.5

By Sharon Hurley Hall It makes sense to plan your funeral in advance. Here are some of the areas you may be concerned about. 1. What happens if the funeral plan provider goes out of business? While this is considered unlikely, monies paid by you for your funeral plan will be received in accordance with the code of conduct of the UK’s National Association of Pre-paid Funeral Plans (NAPFP) and will be fully protected. The money for your funeral is held in a a trust - a separate legal entity - which is regularly audited by independent actuaries and accountants. So your funeral would still be carried out according to your guaranteed funeral plan and the funeral director would be paid from the trust fund. 2. What if I move home? Your guarantee is simply relocated to another funeral director convenient to your new home. If you decide to live abroad, you may apply for a refund. If you move home, please notify your funeral plan provider as soon as possible so we can ensure all records are up to date. 3. What are the advantages of paying for my funeral now? Why not put the money into a savings account? Once you have paid for a pre-paid funeral plan, you will never have to pay any more for the funeral director’s costs no matter how much these costs may rise in the future. No savings account can provide such a guarantee. In recent years funeral expenses have increased in excess of inflation. So why not secure your funeral requirements at today’s price and then use the remainder of your savings just how you want! 4. What happens if the designated funeral director ceases to trade? Your funeral plan provider will make the same arrangements with another local funeral director. 5. Are there any age or health limitations on who can purchase a funeral plan? No. And no. Simple as that. 6. What if I want to take out a plan for someone else? No problem, as long as the plan is suitable and required by that person. 7. What about insurance based funeral plans? They have several disadvantages. Principally they don’t guarantee to cover funeral costs or allow you to specify the arrangements. Even if you are in reasonable health, you may well end up paying much more in premiums than the insurance company will ever pay out and the funeral would need to be paid for, often well before the insurance paid out. 8. What if I die away from home? Each plan includes collection from within a specified distance. If you are travelling away from your local area additional costs may be incurred. If you travel abroad you should obtain travel insurance to cover all eventualities. 9. Do funeral plans include burial? Nowadays, most people are cremated. Accordingly the cost of a burial plot is usually not included. However, should you wish to be buried your funeral plan provider will be pleased to discuss this with you, with a view to you purchasing a plot at a cemetery of your choice. The cost and availability of a plot varies considerably throughout the country. If you already have a burial plot please provide the funeral plan provider with the information. Sharon Hurley Hall is a freelance writer, ghostwriter and editor. For more information on prepaid funeral plans, visit Silver Birch Solutions To contact Sharon, visit http://www.doublehdesign.com/ Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sharon_Hurley_Hall http://EzineArticles.com/?Funeral-Plans:-Your-Questions-Answered&id=107282 phentermine to buy online buy phentermine online no rx buy phentermine by cod phentermine 37.5 mg online

By Rose Lindy Often people are interested in tummy tucks and liposuction are those who have had a significant weight loss or a women who has had multiple pregnancies. In both of these circumstances you can be left with folds of skin hanging down over your abdomen. Due to the excessive stretching the skin has been through, it loses its elasticity and no amount of diet or exercise can get rid of the excess skin. If you are one of these people, you may want to consider liposuction abdominoplasty. Liposuction abdominoplasty is also called a tummy tuck with lipo. This procedure will eliminate the excess skin hanging off your abdomen and at the same time get rid of those bothersome extra fat deposits. At the same time your abdominal muscles will be tightened and the overall effect is a taut, smooth stomach and a contoured waist. During a tummy tuck procedure the surgeon makes an incision just above your pubic area from hip to hip. Then the skin is then separated from the abdominal wall so the abdominal muscles may be tightened. The skin flap is stretched down and excess skin is removed and the incision is stitched closed. If your surgeon approves it liposuction is performed at the same time. The liposuction part of this procedure will help to get rid of even more fat for a very sleek and contoured look. Be sure to ask about this when you have your consultation A tummy tuck is major surgery and therefore should not be taken lightly. In your one-on-one consultation with your surgeon be sure you ask plenty of questions. One way to prepare yourself for this meeting is to do as much research as possible on your own. This is very easy with the Internet. Keep a notebook a jot down any questions you think of as you are doing your research. Here are some common questions to ask. Which tummy tuck procedure is good for me? Do I qualify for a tummy tuck? What is the cost? What is the recovery time? What type of anasthesia will you use? What are some potential complications that may arise? Also be sure to check their credentials and their references. After liposuction abdominoplasty you will need time to recover. Your body needs to heal so be sure and fit this recovery time into your plans. The length and success of your recovery time will depend on your general overall health, the skill of the surgeon and your willingness to follow the instructions your doctor give you prior to surgery and after surgery. You should expect to see a lot of swelling and bruising. Also, be aware the scar will never completely disappear, but it can be covered up with your clothing. Go to Rose’s site, tummytuckresource.com for more information on tummy tucks. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rose_Lindy http://EzineArticles.com/?Combining-Liposuction-With-Abdominoplasty—For-a-More-Contoured—Thinner-You&id=390917 buy phentermine 30 mg prescription free phentermine purchase phentermine without prescription no prescription needed for phentermine

By Cindy Ng Shellfish are one of the 12 foods most likely to cause the classic symptoms of food allergy, including upset stomach, hives and angioedema (swelling of the lips and eyes). The others are berries (blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, strawberries), chocolate, corn, eggs, fish, legumes (peas, lima beans, peanuts, soybeans), milk, nuts, peaches, pork and wheat. Like raw meat, raw shellfish may carry various pathogens, including Salmonella bacteria. These organisms are destroyed by thorough cooking. Otherwise, it will cause parasitical, viral and bacterial infections or food poisoning. People whose blood-cholesterol levels are abnormally high are considered at risk for heart disease, but experts disagree as to the effects of dietary cholesterol on serum cholesterol. Patients with hypercholesteremia, a metabolic disorder that influences cholesterol production in the liver, may benefit from a diet low in dietary cholesterol, but there is no conclusive proof that lowering a healthy person’s consumption of dietary cholesterol will significantly change the amount of cholesterol he or she produces. In 1986, the American Heart Association issued new guidelines suggesting that healthy adults reduce their consumption of fat to 30 percent of total calories and limit cholesterol intake to 300 mg per day or 100 mg per 1000 calories, whichever is less (3.5 ounces of squid or octopus have 300 mg cholesterol). Cindy is the host of http://www.asianonlinerecipes.com, a Free Asian Recipes website dedicated to all things on Asian Cooking and Culinary Guide with thousands of Cooking Tips. Besides, she is also the co-host for http://www.vietnamese-recipes.com and http://www.asianhomerecipe.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Cindy_Ng http://EzineArticles.com/?Adverse-Effects-Associated-with-Seafood&id=56820 rx pharmacy phentermine discount pharmacy phentermine buy phentermine site phentermine diet pills without a prescription

By Kadence Buchanan For some time now I have been watching an Emmy-winning television personality and author who hosts at least four different programs on U.S. cable television’s Food Network. Rachael Domenica Ray, has become one of my favorite culinary experts as her energetic personality and her smile have been enough to keep me in front of the TV screen to watch her teach simple recipes that she claims can be prepared in thirty minutes or less. Being an amateur cook myself, I was pleased to discover that she shared the same view that I have in relation to food measuring. As she emphasized, “it takes away from the creative, hands-on process of cooking.” Her “eyeball it” expression has stayed with me every time I am about to experiment with something new and taste my efforts. Even though she has been heavily criticized for her appearance, her voice, her gestures and her energetic manner, I declare to be one of her funs, at least in relation to her recipes. But over and above Rachel, I was amazed to discover that the U.S. television has a cable channel totally devoted to food preparation, at-home entertaining, restaurants, food and eating habits. The New-York based Food Network reaches more than 85 million households and it is broadcasted to other countries as well due to its interesting programs and live shows. One of the most famous this channel broadcasts is that of “Emeril Live.” As a kid, Emeril Lagasse worked in the local Portuguese bakery and today he is one of the most famous culinary personalities. After opening a series of successful restaurants, hosting popular TV shows and becoming one of the most recognizable chefs of all time, Emeril Lagasse remains devoted as ever to using fresh, top-quality ingredients and employs cottage industry ranchers, farmers and fishermen to ensure that he always gets the best. He constantly invents new recipes, much to the delight of his regular customers and the fans of his Food Network specials and shows “Emeril Live” and “Essence of Emeril.” From what it seems, the Food Network is committed to exploring new, different, and interesting ways to approach food - through pop culture, adventure, and travel - while also expanding its repertoire of technique-based information. The only thing I have to wish to its management team and its shows is the best of success for the rest of 2006 and for the years to come. Kadence Buchanan writes articles on many topics including Food, Home Improvement, and Outdoors. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kadence_Buchanan http://EzineArticles.com/?Food-on-TV&id=319886 buy phentermine using mastercard buy adipex phentermine buy phentermine with master card cheap phentermine no rx

By Richard Hamer The sex appeal of great market research data often fades after it’s presentation because companies don’t know what to do with it. The central issue is linking your new and terribly interesting research to your own customer and prospect data. Fortunately there are straightforward ways to get to market segmentation and break the pattern of mass marketing that leads many companies to also ran status. We call this reverse segmentation and it can create legends in the business world. Here’s how reverse segmentation works. Almost everybody has a customer database and knowledge of vendors who can provide lists of prospects. We can use data commonly found in these databases to develop market segments. For example, using data from a client’s customer list, we took income, education, and marital status as the basis for segments. Once these segments were formed, we psychographically profiled each segment using new market research. The key was that the market research project captured the three key demographics as well as great customer need and attitude information. This allowed us and our client to array common customer data against what really matters — customer needs, concerns, and motivations. It also allowed us to ascribe probable market attitudes and behaviors to every customer in the clients’ database. Market research that captured psychographics and buyer-graphics produces particularly valuable information because it can be used to show differences in segment loyalty, profitability and the best messages for reaching targets. With this information, teams can target segments of existing customers and new prospects with the priority and intensity needed for greater success. In fact, reverse segmentation like this is often what is needed to justify purchasing outside targeted lists. Careful analysis plus some trial and error may be necessary, but I am confident, this gets companies to a better marketing position. Richard Hamer is a Principal at Deft Research, LLC, http://www.deftresearch.com. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Richard_Hamer http://EzineArticles.com/?Why-is-Reverse-Segmentation-So-Sexy?&id=243812 buy tramadol cheap 120 prescription what is tramadol ultram 50mg buy by cod money order order tramadol

By Ronald F. Patterson AS LONG AS I can remember, I’ve been fascinated by wild birds. I have to think it is their freedom of flight. Ah yes, to come and go wherever and whenever. Birds soaring in the wind, how grand that must be. I started feeding birds at age 10 and really began to garden for birds when I was 30 years old. Things began to happen as my bird garden grew. Other wildlife besides birds began to make my yard part of their home. Not lions, tigers and bears, oh my, but squirrels, chipmunks and raccoons, bunnies and other furry creatures. I figure it goes with the territory and I have remedied most of that with baffles etc. Other forms of winged life. Insects, lots of different insects came a calling. Oh sure, we all have out battles with aphids, mites and other plant sucking and chewing bugs. However, these bugs attract other good insects and attract more birds and even bats. Throughout the seasons, my yard is now home to butterflies, dragonflies, ladybugs, katydids, praying mantis and a host of other beneficial insects. My yard is full of life! The various movements of flight and color. Different insect sights and sounds fill the air from spring throughout the summer into fall. My birds find a place to nest and plenty of food to feed their young. I have birds doing nose dives in the ground cover. Birds fluttering in the shrubs to grab the protein needed to survive. There is something special in watching a Cedar Waxwing or Tree Swallow catching dinner on the fly. Now that is what I call “Fast Food!” Yep, never mind the 30 minute meals for my birds. Frogs and toads have found a home as well. Three different species of frogs have adopted my little water garden. Toads help to keep the slugs and ground insects in check. Several insects help to pollinate the blooms (In return, I’ve learned to plant several HOST PLANTS to keep the cycle going.) The old blooms produce seed, berries and nuts for the birds and other wildlife. Insect larvae and eggs offer protein for my birds in the cold winter months as well. By offering fresh water, shelter and a cornucopia of food, my yard always has something new in store for me. My yard is always alive! Planting for wildlife has paid huge dividends for me. What’s in your yard? Ronald PattersonWindStar Wildlife Habitat NaturalistMichigan Certified NurserymanKentwood, MIhttp://www.backyardbirdingtips.com/ Ronald Patterson has a passion for wildbirds. He’s been feeding and caring for birds for more then 40 years. Ron is a “Wildlife Habitat Naturalist” and “Michigan Certified Nurseryman.” He also lectures and writes about birds and other wildlife. His expertise and knowledge on birds, habitats, and plants makes him the ideal person to help you learn to garden for birds. Ron Patterson’s writes a weekly newsletter called “Backyard Birding Tips.” You can sign up today and have Ron give you friendly and often humorous advise on Attractting, feeding and caring for wildlife. Go to: http://www.backyardbirdingtips.com/ Sign up for Ron Patterson’s newsletter today and start learning from one of America’s backyard birding experts. http://www.backyardbirdingtips.com/ Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ronald_F._Patterson http://EzineArticles.com/?Whats-In-Your-Yard&id=235266 buy tramadol cheap 120 buy consultation free hydrocodone online tramadol buy ultram without prescription buy cheap xenical vioxx valtrex ultram zyban order online

By Andrew MacGill Listen to your customer. Change your product to meet the customers needs or change your market. You have heard this from every business advisor in the business. Kathleen Dahlberg (Founder of numerous companies and currently the CEO and Founder of oVention, a technology firm ensuring hard returns on technology) says that entrepreneurs spend too much time creating their product and not enough time selling it. They must change the product to meet the demands and needs of the customer. If the customer doesnt like it, it doesnt matter what you think of it. They wont buy it. Great, what if the customer doesnt know what s/he wants? How do you get the right balance of what they want and what makes sense from a profit perspective? How do you know what they will want in the future? This is tough stuff says John Fox (President of Venture Marketing and author of The Marketing Playbook. Venture Marketing is a marketing consulting firm focusing on its clients top line revenue) Kent Nelson (CEO of HRH Illinois; formerly TJ Adams. HRH is the 8th largest insurance brokerage in the U.S.) recognized most of his competition (insurance brokerage) used the simple approach of shopping for expiration dates and quoting lower prices to find new business. That solved the customers cost issue, but only until the next broker came along with a lower price. But the customer has many more issues than just cost. In response his commercial property and casualty business offered safety classes, introduced wellness classes, and provided blood screening to small businesses. The value added was obvious to the customer, and shopping price quickly evaporated. Customers no longer jumped to another insurance broker because HRH offered so much more. Cross-selling eliminated the price war, and everyone within HRH selling each of the services participated in the commission. Nelsons customers didnt know they wanted wellness classes and blood screens. But it has broadened their attitude toward their insurance broker and the value they offer. Nelson has now expanded his brokerage service to include an HR outsourcing solution for small business (5 to 2500 employees). By introducing these different services, HRH has multiple points of value with prospects. Its no longer just quoting premiums, but truly hassle free solutions in areas small businesses cant afford to hire independently. Ben Carnevale (Former President of Oxford International, a high growth Chicago based multinational corporation serving the OEM automotive industry) says, Keep an open mind and recognize the opportunity provided by the relationship. By working hard to understand Chrysler and working closely in a give and take relationship, we saw needs well ahead of our competition. Oxfords close communication with Chrysler allowed them to develop technology that solved problems. We began combining elements that led to higher efficiency within Chrysler. We saw the need for automation and delivered the first automated plant of the 80s. The result was a better, more competitive product for both Oxford and Chrysler. But the customer doesnt always know what they want? What then? John Fox tells the story of a major manufacturer of garage door openers who sold millions of remotes each year, but failed to see the automotive industry offering the remote as a standard item in newer cars. Now, they sell less than 100,000 remotes a year. The customer could not have told them this..so how should they have known what the customer wanted? Oxfords thorough understanding of the automotive industry not only brought better efficiency to Chrysler, Chrysler saw them as a problem-solver. Here is how we did it. We sent three people into the assembly line to study their process. What happened to our product when it went in? We noticed we could reduce cost on packaging, we could provide a lighter product, and better quality was the result. We were perceived as going beyond the scope of the vendor just by listening.” So whats the so what of all this? How do you listen to the customer when they dont know what they want? Your success is tied to the questions you are not asking as well as they ones you are. What does that mean? Instead of merely asking the customer what they want, become the customer for a day. Invest time in understanding themand their businesses. Ask them how they do things? Why they do them? How much it costs to do them? What keeps them up at night? What are their priorities for the next 12 months? If they could change three things about their business what would they be? Take specific ideas to them and ask, what if? What would be the benefit to them? See the world through their eyes. This isn’t easy, but it must be deliberate and become a formal part of operating your business. 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By Samantha Hartley Why do small business owners get such poor results from their marketing? You can sum this up in three reasons: They don’t know what to do, or they don’t know how to do it. Sometimes, even when they know both of these, they just don’t do it! Not marketing is bad for business. Marketing is by far the most misunderstood aspect of small business. Many people think it’s selling, which it isn’t. Some people avoid doing marketing, because they fear it’s too pushy and will make them feel needy. Nothing could be further from the truth. If you love your business and love your customers, you can love marketing. After all, it’s just talking to people you love about something you love, which is your vocation. Convinced? OK, maybe not yet. Let’s take a look at the three elements of marketing that are the absolute minimum you can do and still have a successful business. Marketing is about creating awareness in your target audience. Unfortunately, most people don’t have psychic powers to sense that you are out there, available to help them. Instead, we have to make them aware of ourselves. And then, we need to communicate to them in a way that lets them know how they will benefit from whatever we do. So the first piece of this is a target audience. Since I don’t like the idea of shooting my audience with an arrow or a bullet, I prefer the term “intended audience.” Whom do I intend to serve in my business? Again, we have to be specific. “Everyone,” “people” and other general terms like this are no good. Even “women” is too general. What kind of women are they? “Brides-to-be who want to capture their wedding memories on film” is better. “Mothers of children with autism” works well, too. Articulating your intended audience with precision is one of the three things you must do. You will not be successful if you don’t do this step. Now that you know who they are, how will you reach them? Where do they go? What do they read? How could they find out about you? If you’re a restaurant, you may rely on nothing more than an excellent location to create awareness (like in a food court in a mall). Most of us have to do more. A residential cleaning service may put up flyers at the supermarket or hang something on neighborhood doorknobs. A financial planner may attend networking events or speak at trade association meetings. A catering company could advertise in a local bridal magazine. A pressure washing service may go door-to-door, knocking. Getting in front of your audience - whether literally in person, with an ad or an article, or through product sampling - is the second thing you must do. Again, no success without this step. The third and final “least marketing you can do” is to craft a message. If you know your intended audience and get in front of them, what will you say - or broadly, communicate - to them? How will they know that what you are offering is something they should buy? The core part of your message is your value statement. This is when you tell your intended audience why you are exactly the right choice for them. Think beyond your process what you do and how you do it to the final result, the benefit; think big! Recently, a hotel events planner gave her value statement this way: “When you’re planning a business meeting and there’s no room for mistakes, we ensure a seamless event.” The caterer we talked about could specialize in vegetarian meals, and might say: “I offer vegetarian meals that are so delicious, even the carnivores will want seconds.” You can vary your message all you want, but the requirement is that there is one. Be sure, when you have the awareness of your intended audience, they leave not with a question mark over their heads, but with an understanding of your value. Now, that is the least marketing you can do and still be successful. Samantha Hartley of Enlightened Marketing helps socially responsible and values-driven business owners to start up, operate and grow more consciously and effectively. To get more FREE marketing tips by email, sign up for our eZine at www.enlightenedmarketing.com/index.php/site/freestuff or visit our blog blog.enlightenedmarketing.com. You really can increase sales without selling out! Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Samantha_Hartley http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Least-Marketing-You-Can-Do—and-Still-Have-a-Successful-Small-Business&id=340620 tramadol order by 3 cst purchase tramadol onlinefast tramadol without a prescription next day fedex no prescription 180 ultram