Bell Canada and other big telecom companies can now freely impose usage-based billing on independent Internet Service Providers (indie ISPs) and YOU. Big Telecom companies are obviously trying to gouge consumers, control the Internet market, and ensure that consumers continue to subscribe to their television services.

This means we’re looking at a future where ISPs will charge per byte, the way they do with smart phones. If we allow this to happen Canadians will have no choice but to pay more for less Internet.

This will crush innovative services, Canada’s digital competitiveness, and your wallet.

We need to stand up for the Internet.

Sign the Stop The Meter petition at:

Stop The Meter

This decision is a blow to consumer choice, to access, and to free expression. Independent Internet service providers (ISPs), such as TekSavvy, pay incumbent telecoms like Bell for access points in their networks. In applying usage-based billing (UBB) to these indie ISPs, the CRTC has allowed Bell to determine and limit how many gigabytes of usage their independent competitors can provide to their customers.

- This severely limits competition in the telecommunications market, which is bad for innovation and diversity of content.
- This also means that the cost will necessarily be passed down to you, the consumer.
- Usage-based billing, or metering discriminates against certain forms of information insofar as it charges consumers more for content that requires the use of a large amount of gigabytes, such as audio and video.
- This also means that those who produce media-based art, and depend on the Internet to show the world their work, are less able to produce and disseminate their content freely. This means less innovation and more control of art, film, music, and other forms we may not yet know of!

Sign the petition and save the freest medium we have ever known (again!). Stop the Meter and save our net!

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Check the rules, join the cruise and claim your Christmas offer! ]]> http://rodmacbeth.com/motivation/seo-powersuite-christmas-special.htm/feed 0 http://rodmacbeth.com/motivation/how-to-follow-through-on-goals-8-essential-tips.htm http://rodmacbeth.com/motivation/how-to-follow-through-on-goals-8-essential-tips.htm#comments Thu, 09 Sep 2010 16:31:29 +0000 Rod Macbeth http://rodmacbeth.com/?p=381 You aspire to greatness, have good intentions, and set worthwhile goals, but somehow life keeps getting in the way, leaving much of your potential unrealized. You do not have to deal with unrealized goals. You can achieve greatness in both your business and personal lives, leaving behind a trail of successes rather than shattered dreams. Here you will learn how to follow through on goals: 8 essential tips that will help you reach your objectives.

1. Be certain: don’t be “iffy.”

Your goals should be certainties, not possibilities! If you do not believe that you will achieve your goals, you will actually work against yourself. Whether you doubt your ability to achieve or if you think your goals are impossible, your mind will hold you back from them. Create challenging goals that require significant effort to reach, but are not impossible to attain. When you get your mind on your side, you will achieve much more in life.

2. Don’t pay attention to your feelings

Just as children would rather play Xbox games than do homework, most of us would rather relax than do work. You might not feel like moving toward your goal today, but who’s to say you will feel like it tomorrow? Get over your feelings and work toward your goal now so later on you will have the pride of achievement.

3. Use a pen and paper

Put your goals in writing. Make them a visible, tangible reality rather than a concept that is only in your mind. This is essential for clarifying your goals and for holding you accountable to what you say you want to achieve.

4. Take one step at a time

No one has built a cathedral in a day or circled the globe in an instant. If you are going to build a better life you must place one brick at a time. Some days you may get a few bricks laid, but other days you may only get one put into place. The important thing is to keep moving toward your goal in achievable increments rather than pursuing it as a unified whole.

5. Make it a must

You don’t have trouble getting up to go to work every day, do you? You may not enjoy the process, but you do it because you have to do it. Don’t make your goals (or steps toward your goals) optional. For every step, write down reasons why you must get something done now, and then let those reasons compel you to take action now.

6. Limit your goals

You may have unlimited potential, but you need to limit the number of goals you have at one time. This not only will help you remember what your goals are, but this will keep you from spreading yourself too thin. Try focusing on a handful of goals that you’re working on now and then add in new goals once your old goals are achieved.

7. Get motivated

Especially as you get started toward your goals, find incentives to make you work hard to achieve them. Once you find ways to motivate yourself, you will establish a new personal habit of achieving goals rather than just setting them.

8. Persevere through setbacks

If achieving great things were easy, everyone would be great. Achievement requires hard work that doesn’t always seem to pay off right away. In fact, life is full of unexpected circumstances that can cause your efforts to literally or figuratively go up in smoke. Those who conquer discouragement and keep in mind the rewards of achievement are the ones who ultimately get what they want in life.

Here you have seen how to follow through on goals: 8 essential tips that will help you reach your objectives. Change your life with these tips now and lay the groundwork for an outstanding tomorrow.

James Adams covers newly released tech products and analyses hardware such as the HP Q6000A for a supplier of toner cartridges in the north of England.

1.Prioritize: Sometimes people get so focused on work and the problems of life that they forget about some of the things that are most important. With lots of good things to do, take some time to put everything its place. Decide what things are most important to you and discipline yourself not to leave them out. This will help you reach the end of life with fewer regrets.

2. Do what you hate first: After you have determined the priorities in your life, there will always be things you don’t want to do. Rather than letting those things drag you down throughout the day, tackle those things right away. When you get those things out of the way, you can spend the rest of the day free from dread and from the potential consequences of procrastination.

3. Enjoy something useless: Learn to write backwards, learn to mimic foreign accents, paint with your mouth, or do something that is just plain silly. This will help you enjoy just being alive.

4. Learn to use Google: Wouldn’t it be nice to learn all those power user tricks the younger generation uses with Google? The giant search engine has more features than you can shake a stick at, so the time is now to spend some time tweaking your searches and ferreting out that information that you always knew was there but couldn’t find it. It might take a hundred years to learn it all, but at least you can get started.

5. Get out of your online rut: Sometimes it seems like people get hung up around the same handful of Web sites all the time. Take some time to expand your horizons by going to some random sites. StumbleUpon is a good place to start. It will take you to random Web sites based on your stated interests.

6. Continue learning: Studies show that those who keep learning are those that stay young in heart and mind. Trade your time spent watching TV for time spent attending an online college class. You can also visit iTunes U where you can learn from a wealth of lectures and studies. You’ll be surprised at how much knowledge you can pick up in just a short period of free time.

7. Learn a foreign language: If you think your busy schedule will help you function in a global, multicultural world, you may have your head in the sand. Take some of your free time every day using online language tools such as BBC Languages or get a course on DVD and start today.

8. Cooking: If you have only enjoyed food by eating it, you’ve missed out on most of its pleasure. Use your free time to learn new cooking skills and then invite some folks over to enjoy your creations with you.

9. Be a Mr. or Ms. Fixit: Sure, you can save time by hiring someone to fix all that goes wrong around the house, but with the help of the Internet, you can quickly learn new ways to decorate, fix plumbing, install light fixtures, eliminate pests, clean carpets and more.

10. Self-help: Rather than spending your free time loafing, why not learn some ways to make yourself a better person. Whether you need help with financial management, self esteem, positive thinking, decision making, or recognizing your unlimited potential, you can find sites online that will coach you as you build a better life.

These useful skills to learn in your free time can help you make the most of your life while you still have it. Get started now and you’ll be surprised what you can accomplish.

This post was contributed by James Adams, a staff writer and analyst at an online ink cartridges store where he covers the latest tech news and releases. On a normal day he can be found writing reviews of products like HP 901XL ink and working on posts for their design blog.

1. Drink your water

Dehydration saps your energy and power. Water gives your body what it needs to keep functioning at its best. Fill your water bottle and take a long sip. You can almost feel the water permeating your pores.

2. Eat a piece of fruit

Oranges and berries are great for giving your body a natural jolt of energy. Your body doesn’t have to spend its time processing the sugars that fruit contains. It tides you over, keeping you from eating the higher calorie foods.

3. Drink peppermint tea

Peppermint tea is a wonderful stimulant. Try it out with a little bit of honey to get that perfect flavor. The scent will get you to feel active once more.

4. Have a granola bar

The combination of fruit, nuts and honey will give you the perfect tool to get you going again. There is enough sugar in a granola bar to get that immediate rush, and the nuts will back it up with long lasting energy. They are healthy snacks to get you back in the game.

5. Add some veggies

Leafy greens are healthy foods and powerful. They assist in clearing out the harmful irritants within your body, adding that extra boost.

6. Bask in the sun

If you don’t have a place with natural lighting, take a break and go outside to enjoy the sun’s rays. Pay attention to the way that the rays flood over your body and absorb the healing light.

7. Power nap

Recharge with a small power nap. Lay your head down on your desk and take ten minutes to reinvigorate yourself. The time lost is inconsequential when compared to the productivity that you feel.

8. Jog

Close the door and jog around the desk for a minute or two. If you don’t have an office, jog in place in the bathroom.

9. Work out in the morning

You’re doing great by working out in the evening after work. Moving your workout to the morning will keep those endorphins (natural pleasure chemicals) working for you through the rest of the day.

10. Laugh

Laughing invigorates the body, reduces stress and puts a smile on the face. Think about something silly or take a small break to look at a YouTube video. Try to laugh at something at least once a day.

11. Take some deep breaths

Bring some oxygen to your brain and muscles by standing next to your chair, placing your hands upon your hips and taking several deep breaths. Breathe from your belly to get the full effect.

12. Let the power of smell compel

Citrus and peppermint are invigorating scents. Take a deep whiff at the first available opportunity.

13. Get under the water

Cold water stimulates your circulation. If you’re at work, splash a little cold water onto your face and hair. Practice your best hair band hair tossing in the bathroom.

14. Sing

Create memorable moments by singing with your coworkers. You can bond with your coworkers and learn about the embarrassing songs that they know. Best of all, you’ll be head bobbing for the rest of the day.

15. Instead of smoking…

Instead of smoking, walk around the building. Take the break that you have been given and use it to get away from the stresses of work rather than adding more stress to your body. You are getting more stress relief and energy from being outside than from that cigarette.

When your energy is flagging, take time out to eat some fruit or stand up near your desk. Your body will thank you with more energy and productivity.

James is a staff writer for a leading ink cartridges store based in England where he covers new product releases such as the HP 901XL ink cartridge as well as writing on developments in hardware and design on their blog.

1. Side Stretches: This exercise is calming and excellent for your side muscles and waist. It can be done at your desk, in a chair, standing up, or just about anywhere. To do a side stretch, simply place your hands on your hips or above your head and lean as far to one side as you can. Then lean to the opposite side.
2. Neck Rolls: Sitting at a desk all day can make your neck sore and tense. Roll your neck by reaching your head as far forwards as possible. Roll your head across your shoulders and then as far back as possible. This will relieve tension in your neck, improve your posture, and help calm you down.
3. Stand Up: Most people think that having a desk job means that you have to sit in a desk all day, but this isn’t the case. Most employers will not mind if you work standing up. Standing up for all or part of your work day will improve your posture, aid blood flow, and improve your over-all well being.
4. Leg Lifts: Stand up and lift one knee as high as you can, holding it there for several seconds. Repeat this exercise with your other leg. If you do this exercise several times in a row, you can avoid leg cramps and increase your circulation.
5. Sitting Leg Lifts: You can perform sitting leg lifts while at your desk. Simply raise both legs as high as you can and hold for several seconds. Let your legs drop to the ground and then repeat the exercise. This exercise will improve the circulation in your legs and will also stretch your back muscles, which is calming and will improve your posture.
6. Awareness Breathing: This exercise can help you cope with frustrating or stressful situations in the work place. Simply become aware of your breathing for a period of five to ten minutes. Focus on the air going in and out of your body and feel the sensations of the air expanding and deflating your lungs.
7. Deep Breathing: Deep breathing is another way to calm yourself. When people are stressed, they tend to breath rapidly and shallowly. It’s important to use the whole capacity of your lungs. Take a deep breath and hold it for five to ten seconds. Exhale slowly and feel the emptiness in your lungs. Repeat this exercise several times to achieve a calming effect.
8. Hip Exercises: Stand up and do a brief hip exercise to relieve stress and tension. Stand with a slight gap between your feet and move your hips in the pattern of a figure eight. This is an excellent way to tone your stomach and relieve stress.
9. Arm Raises: Raising your arms periodically throughout the day can relieve wrist strain and improve your circulation. You can perform arm raises while standing or sitting. Raise your arm above your head and reach towards the sky. Slowly lean your arm as far over your head as possible. Let your arm drop to your side and perform the exercise with the other arm.
10. Butt Exercises: You can perform a simple butt exercise by clenching your butt muscles as hard as you can, then releasing. This will increase the circulation in your butt and help prevent your legs from falling asleep. This exercise will also help tone your butt.

Performing these exercises several times a day can spice up your work, improve your posture, and help relieve the physical and mental stress of a desk job. The most important thing to remember is to choose exercises that make you feel great.

James Adams is a full time, desk-bound blogger who works with an online store specialising in franking machine cartridges and various other supplies. For more of his writing about art, advertising and design, check out their blog.

Increased efficiency and maximized productivity are not just traits that work addicts strive for…faster, harder, more, where “enough” is always just beyond reach. Most of us have rejected that insane lifestyle in favor of one that offers equilibrium between a fulfilling, productive work life and a satisfying personal life that has plenty of room for people, leisure, hobbies and more. That balance defines the good life and here is a key to attaining it: getting our work load done quickly and effectively. Whether you take a “GTD”– Getting things Done approach that emphasizes methods – or a Life Hack route that employs technology, we’ve got a list that will give you vital tools to build a more satisfying, well-rounded life.

1. Focus on the Most Important Tasks First

When it is accomplished take a moment to celebrate the small but important victory and then move on to the next most important thing to do. Yes, this is Time Management 101 – and it is surprising how many of us who know it don’t really do it! It is an essential part of a “Win this Day” mentality that will have you striving for what is most significant in your life.

2. Learn and Use a Web Calendar

There are many good ones including Google Calendar and Calendar Hub. Both can be optimized for personal or group use and are accessible from any connected device so you’ve always got access to your schedule. Getting on track and staying on track is made easy and the fruits will be well worth it.

3. Start Your Work Day Earlier

Study after study backs up the anecdotal evidence from your friends. Starting one to two hours before everyone else enhances productivity by 25% or more for most early birds. Whether you work in an office or from home the results appear to be the same. The backside of this principle is important, too: Plan to quit earlier and you will remain more focused and motivated throughout the day. With commitment, you’ll get more done in 8 hours than you used to get done in 10 or 12.

4. Use a Getting Things Done Tool

Organizing your work is essential to getting it done efficiently and with outstanding performance. Give VitalList.com, Nozbe.com and Simplegtd.com a try and employ the one that fits your style.

5. Work Offline When Possible

Obviously related to the above, working offline reduces the temptation to keep track of the ballgame, check the weather (again – still calling for rain), reading frivolous emails or feeds, and whatever else slows you down. It’s not just the time – it’s the distraction from the task. Remember, multi-tasking usually means multi-failing. Pick a task and accomplish it. Earn a break and enjoy it!

6. Use a Web Based To-Do List

There are a bunch of these and they all work – if you use them consistently. Take a few moments before you knock off for the day to organize the next day’s work, determining your “must do” project and assigning values to the rest (do your “a” things before “b” things, for example). Then start fresh and focused in the morning. See MyToDos.com or ToDoist.com for starters.

7. Only Meet If/When it is Essential

If you must meet, schedule it short and to the point, with an agenda emailed ahead of time. Or use GoToMeeting.com for cutting out travel. Don’t meet over food or coffee during work hours. The more you work during work hours the more you can play, relax, relate, create, etc., when work is done. You’ll be more satisfied with both aspects of your life with this approach.

8. Track Your Time

Budgeting your time is just as essential as keeping watch over your cash flow. GetHarvest.com, MeeTimer.com, and SlimTimer.com will help you cut the fat from your computer and internet usage by tracking what you’ve been up to. Viewing your usage report will first shock you and then motivate change, if you’re like most people!

9. Reject the Tyranny of the Urgent

Only your personal life and work experience can determine what in your life is urgent but not essential. Learn to say, “no” or “not know” or “not this year” more often. Keep it simple. Skip more “opportunities” that won’t serve you well. Of course, essential to this principle is having a very solid grip on your life goals and purposes so you know what simply doesn’t fit. Clarify those before you get much further down life’s road, if you haven’t done so already.

10. Choose to Do What You are Passionate About

If you love what you do then work becomes a joy, part of a fulfilling life, one in which you don’t constantly feel like you are under the pile, faced with a list of undesirable tasks, and longing to be done with it. Not that there won’t be things you don’t like doing – that’s unavoidable. But the satisfaction you experience from the job as a whole will take much of the sting out of those things and allow you to stay motivated, sharp, efficient and very successful.

Becoming an effective person in each aspect of your life takes a plan, with clearly defined goals and action steps. You’ve now heard that for the 1,001 time! Implementing it, however, is where those who look back with deep satisfaction over their life separate themselves from the pack. These simple tools will help you get things done…and will help you build a life of true significance.

James Adams, your author, is a technology analyst and product reviewer who works at an online store supplying ink cartridges and franking machine ink to businesses and homes in the United Kingdom.

photo credit: h.koppdelaney

Ideas are tricky things, they come to the brain without provocation but you have to find something to do with them. If your mind is open and willing to take action, inspiration can come from daily life. Here are ten things to do to spur the imagination.

1. Exercise: Staring at a computer all day is an activity that is done by a lot of people. When you find that your brain is going numb, take a walk around the house or office. It usually takes fifteen or twenty minutes and it really gets the brain working. Exercise focuses individuals into creative work.
2. Watch the sunrise: Every sunrise and sunset is different, awash with colors and beautiful. They are divine poetry, written for all to see. If you need writing inspiration, take a few minutes to describe that fleeting moment on paper.
3. Look to your dreams: Dreams can tell stories of what’s going on in your daily life from a completely different perspective. They will often be abstract and take you to places that you’ve never been. Who better to capture the flavor of your dreams than you?
4. Write Poetry: To many, there is nothing so fun as wordplay. See how many words you can rhyme together and try to make them connect. Use some of the different styles of poetry to frame your fun. Dip into iambic pentameter and round out your fun with a limerick. While not guaranteed to bring forth a great work of your own, it will get the brain working.
5. People Watch: Go to the mall or your favorite bookstore and watch the people around. Make up stories about the strangers that you see, how they interacted with others. If you get a chance, listen to their conversations and gather ideas about how they talk.
6. Change the Venue: Get out of the house and go look at something that you’ve not seen before. Travel to one of the many state parks and see the sights there. Benches abound and the fresh air will do you some good.
7. Check out some books: Libraries are great sources of ideas and inspiration. If you don’t feel like reading one of the many books, look through the card catalog to see what others are interested in. Passion is something great to see in almost any venue.
8. Volunteer: Volunteer opportunities are available in most towns. Take a few minutes out of your day to help others with their needs. Not only will it give you a great feeling, it has the potential of telling you a few stories that will get your own creativity going.
9. Let the routine slide for a day: Try taking a different route to work and paying attention to the scenery that’s along your way. If you can slightly alter the way, you will be amazed at the various shops and restaurants that grace the path. Remember that a path to work might be longer, but it can be more fulfilling.
10. Talk with friends: Friends are great fountains of information. They have wonderful stories and they offer a different perspective from where you are. They’re the ones who are keeping an eye out for your interests and can inspire you to do your best.

Inspiration is usually found when you’re doing something else. Actively searching it out, there might not be as much luck as the day that you just let it all go. If you’re seeking inspiration to do a craft, keep in mind that something usually comes if you’re continually doing that craft.

James is a tech writer and analyst who works for a UK based specialist in supplies such as the HP 350 ink cartridge and other printer inks.

photo credit: Clicksy

A man found a cocoon of a butterfly.
One day a small opening appeared.
He sat and watched the butterfly for several hours
as it struggled to squeeze its body through the tiny hole.
Then it stopped, as if it couldn’t go further.

So the man decided to help the butterfly.
He took a pair of scissors and
snipped off the remaining bits of cocoon.
The butterfly emerged easily but
it had a swollen body and shriveled wings.

The man continued to watch it,
expecting that any minute the wings would enlarge
and expand enough to support the body,
Neither happened!
In fact the butterfly spent the rest of its life
crawling around.
It was never able to fly.

What the man in his kindness
and haste did not understand:
The restricting cocoon and the struggle
required by the butterfly to get through the opening
was a way of forcing the fluid from the body
into the wings so that it would be ready
for flight once that was achieved.

Sometimes struggles are exactly
what we need in our lives.
Going through life with no obstacles would cripple us.
We will not be as strong as we could have been
and we would never fly.

So have a nice day and struggle a little and teach well.

Authour Unknown

photo credit: LOLren

As many blogs become less pastime and more money making venture, there is often quite a bit of pressure that may come with the task. Finding ways to reduce and manage this stress can benefit you and your blog in numerous ways. By decreasing stress, your writing may become less rigid, productivity could rise, and your energy levels could increase, which could leave you finding your work more enjoyable.

1. Break Times – Breaks can be a fantastic way to reduce stress when you’re blogging. While you obviously don’t want to overdo it when it comes to taking breaks, a brief stoppage to your work can be refreshing and allow you to recoup and regroup.
2. Networking – By utilizing those in your network, you may reduce stress by communicating with those you enjoy and find interesting. These people may also offer tips, techniques, and helpful information to assist you in your work that can help reduce stress.
3. Look at Other Blogs and Website – While you probably don’t want to spend the majority of your time on frivolous websites, you may find that you can correlate a little work with your breaks or downtime by checking out other websites. This may allow you to find inspiration and new ideas in fun and interesting places while networking and reducing your stress levels at the same time.
4. Put it in Perspective – Blogging can be a ton of work and certainly have its stressful moments. However, many bloggers often have the ability to work from home, and there is the opportunity to make money from your blog as well, maybe even turn it into a full time job. This could be a much more attractive option than having to sit in an office all day at the typical 9-5 job.
5. Step Back From it All – Sometimes you might just need to step back from it all. Consider taking a walk, getting some exercise, calling a friend, or playing with the kids or dog. Remember, you’re working on a blog here, not sewing garments in a sweatshop, or hacking meat in a slaughterhouse – all things considered, it could probably be much worse.
6. Workspace – Sometimes our workplace or space adds to our stress. While a home environment can be a wonderfully stress-free place to work on your blog, it might also incorporate many aspects you may not even realize are stressful. The barking dog, screaming children, ringing phone, the need to do laundry, wash dishes, make dinner, etc., can all add stress to your life. Consider finding a spot where you can work on your blog while attempting to avoid more of these stress-inducing factors.
7. Make a List – Sometimes, seeing everything down on paper can make things feel just a little better. Having your tasks written down or typed so that they won’t be forgotten, may take a little extra strain off your brain, and leave you feeling like at least one small burden has been lifted from your shoulders.
8. Organize and Prioritize – Just having a list or knowing what needs to be done, often isn’t enough. You may want to take a moment and organize your list into categories or even sub-categories based upon what items are most important, what needs to be taken care of first, and other pertinent aspects of your to-do list.
9. Stay Within Your Pace – When you become flustered or fall behind in your work, you may be more apt to pick the pace, possibly making more mistakes in the process. Sometimes quicker isn’t always better and it is important to recognize that staying within your work pace may not only help you reduce stress when working on your blog but eliminate the number of errors you make as well.
10. Rest Your Eyes – Resting your eyes, especially after working in front of a computer for extended periods, may help you come back refreshed and re-focused. Sometimes, with your eyes closed and brain free from processing outside information, you may better process thoughts and organize your ideas.

Whatever techniques you use to help keep your blogging stress free, it’s important that you find what works for you. Tips and advice can prove helpful, but as the saying goes, “different strokes for different folks”. Just because you’ve read that something works for others, it doesn’t mean it will work for you, and you may still have to attempt a variety of de-stressing techniques to find what suits you best.

James Adams is a blogger and designer who works with an ecommerce store offering HP 351 ink and supplies. Much of his time is spend editing and writing posts on the CreativeCloud, a blog about design and advertising.