How to Become Financially Free in 5 Years

Ultimately it is everyone's goal to be financially free. Everyone has the goal of one day retiring and being able to live and afford things without being required to work for the money. A lot of people work hard all their lives only to get to retirement and discover that they don't have enough money to live well and in their final years they find themselves sick and broke. But why wait until you are 65 before you are financially free when you can become financially free in just 5 years.

Becoming financially free is a lot easier than a lot of people believe it is. The only reason it is difficult is because most people are uneducated into how to become financially free. They spend their lives working for money and then when they get their wage (after being heavily taxed by the government) they don't know how to spend it so they will become rich. So instead they buy things that make them poorer and force them to work harder and harder.

In this article I am going to share with you some basic fundamentals that you will need to know if you want to be able to live without working. I am not going to teach you everything (you could write 100 books and still not cover everything) but this will be a great platform for you to continue your learning and to work towards becoming financially free in 5 years.

Understand What Being Financially Free Means

A lot of people struggle to become financially free because they don't know what it means, so they never set it as a goal. Instead they play the lotto with the desire to become instantly rich, and they continue to work hard at their jobs and buy things that make themselves poorer.
Being financially free means that your passive income (income that you don't have to work for) is greater than all of your expenses. So you can live indefinitely without ever having to work in order to pay your expenses. If you can understand this, and set this as your goal then you are one step closer to being free for life and never having to work again.

Think Cashflow, Cashflow, Cashflow

A lot of people have the goal of becoming rich. They see being rich as a dollar amount, maybe it is $1,000,000 in their bank account. But they don't think in terms of having your passive income greater than you expenses and having your money work for you. If you want to be able to retire you need to invest for cashflow. If you desire to be financially free in 5 years then you need to invest in assets that generate an income.

For example, when it comes to real estate some who wants to be 'rich' without really knowing what being rich means will often buy real estate for capital gains. The real estate will cost them money every month and they hope that they will get that money back when they sell the house. When they sell the house they use the extra money to buy a bigger 'investment' that costs them even more money every month, tying them to their jobs even more. But if you want to be financially independent then your goal is to having money coming into your pocket each and every month that you can use to live off. So instead of buying just for capital gains you want to buy for positive cashflow. This means the income from your investment is greater than the expenses and thus you receive cashflow each and every month.

Cashflow is what pays you bills and buys you food, and if you want to be financially independent then you need to be investing for cashflow. Let me ask you a simple question:
Based on your wage how many investments could you afford to own if each investment cost you $1,000 per month to own? The answer would certainly be limited. But how many investments could you afford to own if each investment earned you $1,000 per month. The answer is only limited by the amount you can get your hands on. So by purchasing investment for cashflow purposes you are generating an income that will fund you when you stop working. If you want to be financially free in 5 years then you need to invest for cashflow.

Have A Plan

Investing, to put it simply, is the act of following a financial plan to reach a financial goal. A lot of people make investing sound complicated and difficult. If you want to be financially free in just 5 short years then you need create a plan. In order to create a plan you need to know where you are now financially and you need to know what passive income you will require to be financially free.
Then you need to choose your investment vehicle of choice. It might be real estate, it might be stocks or bonds, it might be businesses. Everyone is different so your investment strategy will be different to everyone else's, but one thing needs to remain clear, you should ultimately be investing for cashflow.
Then you need to work out exactly how many investments you need. For example, if I chose real estate as my investment strategy and I know I can earn $100 per month on each property I buy, and I need $1,000 per month to live then I will need 10 properties in 5 years. Or an average of 2 properties per year. By doing these basic sums you can get a better understanding of what you need in order to stop working.

Unfortunately I didn't have enough time to cover a lot about becoming financially free in just 5 years. That is why I have created a free email newsletter that will give you helpful training and advice every week. By signing up today you will receive a free audio teaching on "How To Become Rich Without Earning More Money". Sign up now at http://www.richacademy.com but hurry while it is still free.
Becoming financially free in just 5 years is possible for anyone. It doesn't matter what your current financial situation is, you can become rich and never have to work again in just 5 short years. You don't need a high paying job or a get rich quick scheme, you just need real training on creating real strategies for getting rich.

Go to http://www.richacademy.com and sign up now to start you free training on "How To Get Rich Without Making More Money". Don't waste any time, start training yourself to be financially free today by signing up for your free teaching.

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How to Write Travel

Good travel writing has the power to motivate others to invest time and money exploring a town, city, state, or country that someone else has described with mesmerizing effectiveness. The art and aim of travel writing is to paint the best picture possible of a destination in order to educate, enlighten, or entice readers. To accomplish successful travel writing, a writer must identify their audiences and learn how to effectively present different types of writing for the travel genre.

Different Types of Travel Writing
A writer may choose between an array of approaches regarding travel writing, which spans guidebooks, newspaper articles, magazine spreads, advertising and corporate work, and website content. Within each sub-genre of travel writing, a variety of techniques and tactics help writers to efficiently introduce well known- and lesser-known locations around the world. It is important to recognize that the flow and depth of information for each sub-genre will differ. For example, writing a guidebook on Florida travel for families is much different than creating a guidebook for the college student.

Guidebooks
Today, guidebooks serve as a peek into the history, art, sightseeing, activities, cheap accommodations, theater, museums, and culture of a particular destination. Some of the best guidebooks blend sightseeing information with helpful advice and facts. Depending on the target audience, a writer will vary their approach and use specified styles of writing. An easy-to-follow writing style that touches upon theme parks, casual restaurants, and kid-friendly points of interest suit family-oriented guidebooks.
Student travel guides tend to focus on affordable eateries, clubs, concerts, drinking and drug rules, and youth hostels. The style of writing is often bolder, "hip," and laidback, including interesting facts with brief sections of text. Some guidebooks target a specific subject regarding a destination, such as "Top 20 Museums in Italy" or "Restaurant Guide for Mexico." The style of writing is typically straightforward and aimed to interest a wide-ranging audience.

Travel Narratives
A travel narrative is quite similar to writing a novel, where a fiction-writing background comes in quite handy. The writing is very descriptive with a goal of keeping the attention of readers through detail. A travel narrative may include fictitious characters written in the third person, utilize dramatic narrative (stories with a beginning, middle, and end), and include a hint of conflict and character development. Characters may also speak to one another through detailed dialogue taken from the author's memory.
An example of a travel narrative may include a publication titled, "A Year in South Africa," which traces the exploits of a business executive who abandons his career to explore the nooks and crannies of South Africa, embarking on a soul-searching journey that explains the connection he makes with the inhabitants, culture, and natural wonder of various locations.

Magazines, Newspapers & Brochures
Every magazine and newspaper approaches the subject of travel quite differently. Usually, a writer can draw upon a wealth of experiences pertaining to just one trip that are later written down to accommodate specific target audiences and publications. The writer who visits Italy may review a restaurant in Rome for a food-related magazine, show how to cook Sicilian Lasagna for a local newspaper, rate popular museums in Florence for a travel and leisure magazine, or list new clubs in Verona for a passage in a student travel brochure. Description, anecdotes, and travel tips are quite helpful in this type of writing.

Want more tips on writing go to
[http://www.novelmaster.com]

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3 Ways To Sell Physical Products Using Fulfillment By Amazon (FBA)

Did you know that Amazon is not the seller of everything on Amazon? Did you know that ordinary people like you and me can sell physical products on Amazon? This opportunity has been around for a while, but it is becoming very popular right now due to educational courses that are popping up everywhere.

There are three ways you can sell physical products on Amazon: sell other people's products on Amazon and ship the orders yourself; sell other people's products on Amazon and let Amazon ship and sell your own products on Amazon and let Amazon ship them.
The first way is called merchant fulfilled. You list your merchandise on Amazon's website, but you actually fulfill or ship the orders yourself. The last two ways are called FBA.

Merchant fulfilled may be the easiest way and least costly to get started, but it is a lot more work. You list your products on Amazon's site. When the products are bought you are responsible for actually shipping the products to the buyer. You can even sell things that you have around the house using this method.

You can also use FBA to sell other people's products. In this case, you go to the store and find things that are already selling on Amazon, purchase them, put your own unique UPC label on the product, pack it, create the listing, ship it to an Amazon warehouse and wait for the buyer.

There are smart phone apps that you can use to scan products before you buy them to help you determine if you can make a profit. If you like to shop, are good at finding bargains and can ship a box, then this may be the business for you. The other great thing about using FBA is that your products are eligible for the Amazon Prime program. People who participate in this can get free 2 day shipping. Many people are willing to pay a little more for a product for this convenience.

The second way to use the FBA program is to actually sell your own products. You find a product that you can sell, find a private label manufacturer, create your own brand and sell you product. This is the most lucrative of the ways to sell on Amazon; however, it requires more capital up front. Also, it is more risky because you have to order inventory.

As you can see selling on Amazon is definitely something that you can do to earn extra income or become your full-time business. If you are looking to start an online business or you want to add an additional income stream to your existing online business than you should definitely consider FBA.

To learn more about selling on Amazon check out FBA Genie. Visit The Online Newbie if you are interested in learning more about Adrienne Dupree or starting an online marketing business TODAY to get out of the rat race, take control of our own destiny and stop trading time for dollars.

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Living Life to the Fullest: How to Enjoy the Simple Things in Life and Improve Your Self Confidence

Every day on the way home from work I sit on the train and observe the goings on in the carriage around me.People, dressed in their constrictive little penguins suits, shuffle around so they don't have to sit next to one another or (God forbid) look at one another. 

Plugged into their little white earphones they are completely oblivious to anyone sitting around them. 

Carefully arranged bags make the seat next to them look just uninviting enough to deter anyone who might want to attempt sitting next to them. 

Since when have we become such a self involved and insular community? People are, for the most part of their day, shut off from all the amazing experiences around them.

The thing is this... It all makes me feel really lucky. Since I experienced my own quarter life crisis and started travelling life has become a completely different experience for me and has opened my eyes to world around. I really hope that others can experience the same kind of excitement about life as I have right now. 

Many people are scared to let go of their preconceived notions of what their lives have to be and they become depressed by it. I'm so fortunate that on my travels I have met so many other people who, like me, are experiencing life to the full. It gives me inspiration to keep on going.

There is also not just one way of going about experiencing life, which is partly what makes it so great.Even just taking a different route to work or watching less T.V and going for a walk can be enough for some people to shake off the shackles of their day-to-day stupor.

I really explored this concept this after attending some excellent courses run by Karma Jiga. Karma Jiga was a senior monk at the world-famous Samye Ling Monastery in the Borders of Scotland and the founder and Project Director of Rokpa Dundee. He opened my eyes to a lot of things including the theory of mindfulness and since then I would encourage anyone if they have any interest in getting rid of stress and living more in the moment to attend some meditation classes. They don't have to be religious if you have no interest and can be used as a really effective life tool for all sorts of things. Some of the most important principles were very straight forward: 

Take notice of the world; focus on whatever you are doing; commit random acts of kindness; be thankful for yourself and your life just the way you are. However, these are things that most people forget on a daily basis. Too many people spend their lives wishing their lives away. Psychology today also recently printed an interesting article on trying to live in the moment.

For some, maybe the way to reconnect is just looking a little harder at what is going on around them. A few weeks ago I went to see an exhibition by the artist Louise Hawson Who, In 2009 decided to spend a year exploring and photographing one new Sydney suburb a week. The suburbs of Sydney vary hugely from place to place and i think most people would be surprised if they headed out from the CBD to Auburn, for example, which has a high population of Islamic people and a plethora or Iranian, Turkish and Middle Eastern restaurants. 

Louise shares her experience here on her blog, 52suburbs.com.au She has now extended her project and is looking at suburbs around the world. I'd highly recommend her blog to anyone and it is a fantastic insight into some of the lesser known suburbs In the city.

For others, maybe the way to discover happiness is by travelling and I am so fortunate that I have so met so many other people who, like me, are experiencing the world though travel. For some really interesting blogs based on travel check out my section on fantastic blogs which will be being updated periodically. 

When I talk about my travels many people express how they WISH they could travel too but can't because of commitments or finances. I'm never sure exactly what to say to them except go for it! You will never regret the things you do... only those that you don't. For some more practical advice the other day I read a fantastic blog by The Nomad Grad who explains how she manages to finance a nomadic lifestyle... so now there are no excuses!

I'm aware this has been a bit of ramble but I hope it inspires people to go out there and start living... or at least let someone sit next to them on the subway without a grumble. Who knows what interesting stories they might have to tell or where it might lead you!

If you want to read more about the adventures that I have had since I decided to take that first step towards self discovery then read more at my blog: Scottish Nomad

http://scottishnomad.wordpress.com

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Following the 9 Steps to Financial Freedom

Now is the time to step up and achieve financial freedom! How many years have you been broke? For how many years have you been looking for a solution to bail yourself out of debt?
How many times have you thought that winning the lottery is the only solution to your neck-deep financial problem?

Many people are like you, there are hundreds and thousands of people all over the world who want to achieve financial freedom think that they do not have the resources to do so.

Being financially stable and free is not all about the money.
Learn from these 9 steps to financial freedom:

1. Change your way of thinking. Many people think that having a lot of money is the true measurement of success. And so, a lot of individuals are putting on a show.
For other people to think that they are successful and that they have a lot of money, they buy things that they don't need. Most are just a status symbol. They buy expensive things that are not really essential.

What happens next? They spend the rest of the year trying to earn what they owe to the bank. If you are like this, your entire life is tied to the bank. You earn basically just to pay off your debt.

2. Earn more than you spend. It is not a sin to live a modest life. It is not a crime to wear second hand shoes or to drive a 10 year old car.
Well, these 9 steps to financial freedom won't leave you living a fancy life if you can't afford it. Manage your earnings well by keeping more and spending less.

3. Create passive income. If you learn to spend less, you will have more savings. You can use a portion of your savings to invest in a business. Another would be to invest in the stock market.
Instead of saving your money in the bank, your money can yield more interest in the stock market than in the bank. However, you should also realize the consequences of investing in it.
Look for a knowledgeable person who can walk you through how the stock market works so you'll learn.

4. Avoid swiping your credit card. Better yet, do not get a credit card. Credit cards will let you feel that you still have a lot to spend when in fact, you really don't.
It is wiser to carry cash, so you'll know how much is your spending limit for the day and you won't overspend.

5. As much as possible, buy only the things that you need and a little bit of what you want. Even if you're following the 9 steps to financial freedom you also need to reward yourself once in a while.

6. Increase your financial limit. When people think that a hundred dollars is enough, they stop striving hard when they have reached their target which is a hundred dollars.
But, when you think that your financial limit is a million dollars then you don't stop earning and doing your best until you reach that million!

7. Think Positively. Thinking positive attracts positive vibes. If you will it then, it will happen. It is a just a matter of conditioning.

8. Have self-discipline. Changing your way of life and redirecting your spending is a very hard thing to do. You need utmost self-discipline to succeed with that. Think of the end in mind to motivate you and help you discipline yourself.

9. Avoid that little indulgence. If you have disciplined yourself for so long, what will give you away is giving into little indulgence. When you feel that you are so deprived, go back to step number five of the 9 steps to financial freedom and reward yourself a little.
However, avoid giving yourself a reward before the time for the reward is due. These little indulgences will break your self-discipline.

Daniel Dwase is a well-known home business and financial freedom mentor who has helped thousands to earn money online. Get his FREE money-making step-by-step guide at Future-Success.org

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Learning To Be A Writer - The First Three Steps in Becoming A Writer

Becoming a writer is hardly a simple feat. To become a writer one must practice and work hard. It can be said that many writers are writers, but few of them know how to become a writer. The label "writer" is just simply a label, it is all the hard work and determination of reaching that status that truly gives the writer that makes them worthy of the title.

There are three simple steps that any writer can take that will enable them to achieve the title of "writer," while making them worthy of it. The first step to becoming a writer is to start to think of yourself as a writer. Many writers believe that they cannot be known as writers until they are published, but this is not true. Anyone who thinks of themselves as a writer, and writes on a regular basis should talk about themselves as a writer.

Many unpublished writers have the habit of saying they want to write, or saying that they write, instead of saying "I'm a writer. When learning how to become a writer, it is necessary for writers to realize that you don't have to be published to be known as a writer. Although, it may seem ideal for introductions and make it easier for others to see you as a writer, being published does not make one a writer. Writers should see themselves as people who write, and not as people who write for a living.

For most writers, being published is validation of their status as a writer and even the start of the path to success. However, there are many published writers who are not very successful, famous, or rich. Obviously, being published is a great way to show your work to an audience, and gain recognition, no matter how great or small. On the path to becoming a writer there are many who lose sight of the fact that they don't stop writing once they are published, so it is not wise to only write to be published.

There are many ways to start to think of yourself as a writer, and in this first step on the learning path of how to become a writer there are smaller steps that help you proclaim yourself as a writer. Firstly, take a moment or two to say the words "I am a writer" aloud to yourself. Then keep repeating them as many times as possible until you sense yourself starting to acknowledge that yes it is believable!. Next, find a specific place in your home for your writing. It can be a room, section of a room, or a studio. Now you are starting to think like a writer because you have your writing space.

It is also important to make the "writing space" as comfortable as possible, and to ensure it meets your writing needs. Of course it is important to get the proper writing tools, such as pens, pencils, notebooks, and a computer that is used specifically for your writing. Aspiring writers can also find lessons on how to become a writer in style books, which should be kept as a writing tool also. It is also helpful to befriend other writers, and read their work and others as a writer and discuss passages of books or chapters with other writers.

The second step to becoming a writer is to make time to write. When learning how to become a writer, novices will always be advised to make time for their writing. Many aspiring writers often mess up on this step, and although they want to be writers they slack on how much they write, You would not believe how many writers are left with unfinished works. It is important to set aside a particular time or day for writing and to stick to that schedule, because deviance from a writing schedule usually means unfinished work.

The final step to becoming a writer is by far the simplest. To become a writer it is imperative that you write. Writing is the simplest step to becoming a writer and the most important step. When learning how to become a writer, you must take some time out and write!

Paul Duxbury writes extensively on a wide range of subjects and has received many accolades for his writing. He has recently released How To Become A Writer [http://www.how-to-become-a-writer.com/]

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Simple Start With Amazon FBA

Amazon created something called Fulfillment By Amazon which works a lot like eBay, but in my opinion, is MUCH better.

For a while, eBay was the only place to sell things online. eBay is great, but it requires a lot of work on your part: sourcing, listing, shipping, customer support etc.

If you plan sell to online, then you should strongly consider Amazon's fulfillment program called FBA. FBA stands for "Fulfillment By Amazon" which makes it a fulfillment company. A fulfillment company provides storage and shipping services for their clients' products. FBA is unique because Amazon is also the marketplace for those items so they have an active interest in seeing the items sell. What makes FBA even more extraordinary is that its items are also eligible for Amazon's shipping promotions including Free Super Saver Shipping and Amazon Prime.

It is important to understand how FBA works and how other businesses are using FBA.

Amazon buyers use Prime so they get free shipping. They easily spend more for things like spices, coffee, tea, socks, toilet paper, towels, detergent, etc. They spend much more because they absolutely TRUST Amazon. This is good for sellers because it means that you will make more and sell more.

Amazon is a master of internet commerce and has set the bar very high for their customers, vendors and owners. Customer service is critical for them and we are tapping into this using Fulfillment by Amazon. You as the product seller no longer have to deal with the customer service after the sale. You simply keep sending more products to Amazon and they take care of the rest.

This article will only cover only setting up your Amazon account for FBA. We will go more into sending your products to Amazon, storing and shipping your products at Amazon, and managing your FBA inventory in upcoming articles.

1. Open an Amazon Account

If you have never purchased nor sold on Amazon and do not have an account, simply go to the Amazon website and click on the Selling on Amazon link at the bottom of any page.

2. Set Up Your Amazon Account

Once you have an Amazon selling account, contact the Amazon customer service department to set up your account for FBA. Having an actual FBA rep on your account will help you with any issues in the future. The rep will actually walk you through your first shipment.

So if you get this far, you have done your initial due diligence and you have an FBA account.

I'll be back soon with more hints to get you moving forward with Amazon FBA!

Learn how you can sell your products on Amazon FBA by visiting [http://www.dropshipcompanion.com]

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Working From Home Is Like an Island, Where You Start Talking to Yourself

Isolated in your Micro-Business?
Working from home often means you are at home for hours at a time with little contact with any other person. We take for granted the huge number of personal and business contacts we make everyday as employees for other organisations.
Instead of being left isolated and a great way to boost small advertising budgets is to develop your own networking strategy. Too often home business owners talk about relying on word of mouth sales to generate sales, but then do nothing planned about getting them to work.

Scan your local newspaper
Look for community events that are free or very cheap that might have some of your customers or clients attending. Take the time to try and book one in each month.

When you attend take some business cards with you and decide how many you will hand out before going back to your isolated workplace.
This is a great way to stay connected with the local community and build your home business awareness.

Find your local business network
Even in small regional towns there will be a collection of business owners that have started their own network group of like minded individuals.
Attend a meeting and really consider joining. It is worth a small outlay for this form of advertising and networking. This way you will become aware of any changes in your local business area.

Turn to the Online Community
The power of social media for networking is vast in our time and any home business owner that is not active in at least one or two platforms is missing out.
"Caution needs to be taken when online as you are not meeting them face to face and this has its own problems. Social media networking does not serve for all your networking as you need to keep your personal interaction skills as well."
Be very selective about which blogs, forums and social arenas you choose to participate in as your comments will last almost forever. This form is a very cost effective way to advertise your home based business if managed correctly.

Go for a walk
Wait for a nice day to go for a walk. Not only will this help clear your mind and give you a chance to leave your computer, but if planned properly will build more networks for your home based business.
Take at least 50 business cards with you, dress appropriately and map out a walking route that takes you along shops or businesses you haven't visited before.
As you go past each business, have a look to see if they would be suitable to know as a supplier, client or alliance partner. Then walk in and introduce yourself and what you do.
Start talking and the rest will happen naturally.

Information supplied by Paul Baker
Over twenty years of business development & change management strategies successfully used in National organisations across Australia. The focus is on continuous improvement of business systems to stimulate growth through our principles of Initiate, Inspire, Innovate.
Customer-centric focus using our extensive experience in consumer behaviour and business process operations to find ways to help business owners manage their organisations.

Avatar Business Intelligence

avatar@startingbusinessadvice.com.au

SOURCE

Top Online Jobs Without Investment From Home

If you are looking to work online jobs without investment from home, it can be a very rewarding experience. You can wake up when you like, not have a set schedule, and look after your kids if necessary. 

However, it can be a daunting venture if you are not experienced. To find online jobs without investment from home is tough. Because this is a highly sought after line of work by folks all over the world, there are countless online scammers that are ready to take your money. They promise really large paychecks for minimal work, and they require an upfront fee to get you started. There is nothing legit about these businesses. Their business goal is to take your money, plain and simple.

There are however, certain online jobs without investment from home. The first is affiliate marketing. It works like this. You advertise and market products for a business, and if you sell something, you earn a commission. Plain and simple. 

There are lots of free ways to market online without having to pay any money. You can write articles with your affiliate link and submit them to article directories. If people are interested, they will click on your link and buy the product, earning you a commission. You can create a free blog and write product reviews. You could even turn the table. If you know a great deal about something that people are interested in, you could write what's called an eBook. Then you could have affiliates sell it on your behalf for a cut of the profit.

There can be some investment involved with online work, but not what the scammers tell you. Working online, you are your own employer, freelance if you will. If you want to build a legitimate website, you will have to pay for the domain name and web hosting. This is a small fee, perhaps ten to fifteen dollars a month, but it is still an investment. However you have to look at it this way. It does not go in the scammers pocket, it is truly an investment in your own work.

If affiliate marketing is not your cup of tea, there are still other online jobs without investment from home. One rapidly growing way of earning money online is called micro jobs. There are websites for example Fiverr.com, that allow you to post 'micro jobs'. You might only make a few bucks per job, but if you can do something that people are interested in, you will make sales and get paid. Websites such as this usually pay you via PayPal, so it would be a good idea to sign up for a free account if you have not already.

There is indeed money to be made working online. Do a lot of research, but once you have found something you would like to try, then try it! Do not get caught up researching everything under the sun or you will never get any work done. Now, go do some online work and live the dream!

In the never ending fight to find the top online jobs [http://www.free-online-business-success.com] without investment From Home there are programs out there that really do work. You just have to find them, this is one of those programs. So if your really tired of looking for an online business your at the right place go to: www.free-online-business-success.com [http://www.free-online-business-success.com] and change your life forever.

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Life Begins At 40 - Essential Tips To Live Life To The Full

"Life begins at 40", the old adage goes. So, you're 40, you're full of energy and you want life to begin - you want to live life to the full for as long as you are able. What should you be thinking about or doing to ensure you can?

This short article will give you a few pointers to the essential things you need to deal with that can have an effect on the quality of life both now and well into the future.

The most essential problem to deal with, affecting the vast majority as they age, is weight - the dreaded "middle age spread". Now, weight alone can be dealt with - reduced - in only one way, and that's by, on a daily basis, consuming less calories than you use. There's no doubt that cutting back on calories so that the daily intake is less than the daily usage will result in you losing weight. But is that enough? A simple cut back on calories alone, as well as reducing your weight, may also reduce your energy level and your feeling of wellbeing.

What you need is not a crash diet of reduced calorie intake but a program of managed weight reduction including a planned diet with a nutrition content to keep you healthy and maintain energy level together with a structured exercise program to keep you toned - and which will also help keep up your energy level!

The right, nutritious diet combined with exercise will also help to keep you in good general health and avoid a lot of age related problems. Using your body will keep it in working condition. There is an abundance of so called "anti-aging" remedies and supplements on the market but beware. Most of them will make little, if any difference. You'll probably age better by generally keeping fit and with a balanced, nutritious diet that provides the necessary intake of "essentials".
Skin problems also arise with age. Apart from medical conditions there're the problems of wrinkling and stretching. These can often be delayed or "covered up" with creams and potions. There are thousands that don't have much benefit but many - particularly some of the more natural, herbal products - that really do improve matters and will not set you back a fortune!

By the time you reach 40 you really should be thinking about your financial future. Do you work? Do you need to work? How long will you need to work? How well are you providing for later years?

What do you need to do to improve the position? If you get your finances right you'll have so much more freedom to live life to the full so this really is something you must consider. This article isn't here to sell working from home or internet business products to you but it would be remiss not to mention the abundance of opportunities on the internet for producing or topping up income.

Finally - happiness. Know what you want from the rest of your life, plan it and go get it! If you need to, get hold of some good self-help reading to get you started and keep you on track but don't use your age as an excuse. You're never too old and it's never too late to go for it!
Please note that this article is for your information and is not technical in nature. Before adopting any course of action please take appropriate medical or other professional advice.

Nigel Moysey
For more information have a look at the website for women over 40: http://www.yourlifebeginsat40.com. We also have a blog and Facebook page linked from the website.

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10 Things You Didn't Know About Affiliate Marketing

Most people have heard of affiliate marketing, even if they haven't actually started doing it. Affiliate marketing is basically referring people to various products and services around the internet. For each sale you generate through your affiliate link, you earn a commission. The size of the commission depends on the products themselves, who is selling them and the percentage offered by the seller to the affiliate.

But what is actually involved in affiliate marketing? What do affiliates do on a daily basis? How do they earn money and how do they learn what to do?

1 An Example Of A Successful Website

There's several ways of marketing products and services online. Many affiliates create a blog first and sell products and services through their blog. Martin Lewis has a very successful website called moneysavingexpert.com. This is also an affiliate website. By creating content and helping people decide which service to use: which credit card offers to choose, the best interest rate etc. moneysavingexpert.com makes money by sending website visitors to various offers. If a sale is made through this website, the link this credited to it and a commission is made. By creating content, offering value and helping people make sensible choices, the website has built a reputation and become more prevalent over time. Google ranks the site highly in the search engines and thousands of people use it to make purchasing decisions every day.

2 How Can I Get Started As An Affiliate?

Affiliate marketing is huge. There are thousands of people already making their main source of income from the internet. To get started as an affiliate you need to learn some basic strategies and build various methods of generating traffic from the internet to those offers. A lot of affiliates start with a simple blog. Many travelers 'blog' about their travels. If you don't have a passion or interest to blog about, you can start by following an online course which will help. See my bio for more info on this.

3 How Long Does It Take To Make A Living?

Some people go into affiliate marketing with the intention of creating a second income. Some people want to make big money. Depending on how much time you can dedicate to your affiliate business, and how dedicated you are to it, is a big factor in determining your results. Results vary from person to person. With a large advertising budget and the right business model, some affiliates have replaced their living in 6-12 months. For others it can take years before it replaces their existing income. Depending on your approach, advertising budget, and business model, it can take between 3 months and several years to build it to a point where it can replace an existing income.

4 Can Anyone Do It?

One of the great things about affiliate marketing is that the technology is now available to allow anyone to build their own online business. As long as you are prepared to learn and implement that knowledge, anyone who can operate an email, can use online platforms and tools to build their own online business. The main thing you need is the desire to learn. Affiliate marketing isn't for everyone though. It does take a lot of hard work and it can take years before you are rewarded financially.

5 What Are The Pitfalls Of An Affiliate Business?

You need to dedicate some time to your affiliate business for it to work for the long term. Some people go into affiliate marketing thinking it is some magic pill which will pay them instantly in cash. Much like a job you can't expect to get out more than you put in. Affiliate marketing is performance related. This means you don't get paid unless you can successfully sell products and services online. If you don't know what you are doing it can take years to do this. You can't be a dabbler and expect to earn the big money. The big earnings are created over years of hard work. Don't expect to achieve this with only a small amount of input.

6 What Are The Best Things About Affiliate Marketing?

Affiliate marketing offers an incredible amount of flexibility and freedom. You can work an affiliate business from anywhere in the world providing you have a laptop and an internet connection. You can choose your own hours and build it up around existing work. Many people come into affiliate marketing because it offers this kind of flexibility. They can choose their priorities in life: spend more time with family, choose your working hours, travel and work abroad. No more commuting to work or working long hours for a boss you don't like.

Affiliate marketing also offers incredible scalability. A business which is local is always limited to the people who can travel to that business. An online business can be global. Using digital products in conjunction with a global reach, you can scale using tools and software to reach thousands of people through digital technology. By using automation much of the work involved with an online business can be pre-built. By building automation into the business model, you can focus your activities on reaching a larger audience through content creation and paid advertising.

7 Why Am I Struggling With My Affiliate Business?

A lot of people struggle with their affiliate businesses.This can be for a number of reasons. Firstly building up an affiliate business takes time. You need to dedicate a lot of time to an affiliate business in the first place. Only when you reach a 'tipping point' do you really start to see your progress. Many affiliates simply don't realise how much work is involved. They underestimate how much time they need to dedicate to their online business to make it work.
Paid advertising can allow you to grow your affiliate business quickly. But it costs money and you need the right products too. You can't advertise small value items with paid advertising. You won't generate enough profit to cover your advertising costs. You need a range of products and an email list to advertise through. 

Content marketing takes much longer to work, depending on your chosen area of business. If you find an untapped niche to market your blog in, you can make some fast progress. However, with a competitive niche you will struggle to get noticed above all the other content which you will have to compete with. There's several reasons why you might struggle. The main one is lack of knowledge. Get the right education first and your affiliate business will move much faster.

8 What's The Best Affiliate Model To Use? 

There are many different affiliate models, all offering something different to suit the individual. Some affiliates target search traffic and aim to get their content found on Google. Some create their own products and sell them directly to customers. However, having a range of products which you can sell over and over to existing customers is a great model for long term success. Selling a single item online is limited. It means you can only make one commission from each sale. By choosing membership products to promote which also offer back end sales and a built in sales team, you can benefit from monthly commissions and up-sell commissions for the lifetime of any given customer. Selling membership products is definitely a game changer when it come to affiliate marketing because you make an income from each customer, rather than a single commission. But a good model to choose is one in which you have a passion for and can keep doing for the long term. Choosing products which you have no interest in is a short sighted plan. Think about what you would like to do online to generate an income. If you choose to go with your passion, your business will last much longer, and be more successful.

9 Can I Just Sell My Own Products?

Many affiliates create their own products to sell online. However, when you are starting out it is a good idea to learn the basics of marketing first. That way you can start earning more quickly from your affiliate business. I spent a long time creating my own products when I first discovered affiliate marketing. But I didn't sell anything because of a couple of reasons. Firstly I didn't research whether my products would have a big enough demand. Secondly I didn't know how to market them. By joining a program which teaches you how to market products first, you can start making money more quickly. Don't waste time creating products if you don't know how to sell them. Marketing is a much more important skill for making money online. Once you know this skill, you can then apply it later when marketing your own products and services. Also your own products will be limited in range. By using an existing product range, you can benefit from products which are already selling. You can choose a program which offers high ticket commission, monthly memberships, back end sales and a built in sales team. Building your own products which offers all of these things not a possibility for most people when starting out.

10 What's The Point Of Affiliate Marketing?

Some people struggle with the concept of affiliate marketing.They think it sounds too 'salesy'. When I understood affiliate marketing I immediately found it appealing simply because I needed a flexible way to work around my contract work. I had to drop what I was doing at a moments notice if the phone went. This meant other jobs were awkward to juggle around. No-one wants to employ a 'flaky' employee. I wanted to work from my laptop and affiliate marketing gave me that opportunity. For many people this is the reason why they choose affiliate marketing. They can earn an income from their laptop, choose their working hours and not have a boss or place of employment. You don't have to sell directly to anyone or even talk to a customer. There is no stock to hold. Added to this, the scalability of affiliate marketing which lets you scale up to a global audience and deliver products on autopilot, makes it the best flexible business of the future.

Grab my eBooks "Niche Blogging For Profit" and "The Ultimate Guide To Online Marketing" plus learn how to build your own online business. Access a free video series: http://tim-halloran.com

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Breaking Free From the Mold and Living Life to the Full

Sometimes we are so wrapped up in our hectic daily lives that everything seems to be routine to us. We take everyone for granted and we ignore the little things in our lives. For many people change is not an option, or at least they think it's not. But what if you didn't want to be mediocre like most people? What if you just wanted to break free from the 'normal' life we are all programmed to live?

Taking control of your own life and not settling just for mere existence requires you to have self respect and a passion to succeed in becoming something better than you already are. But it also means that you need to step outside the box and look at what you can change and what you should keep close in your life.

Here are a few suggestions in taking those vital small steps that will make a difference to changing, and living life to its full:

Be Unique - Everyone is unique in their own way, and that is a gift to us all. In this crazy world we live in, everyone is trying to 'mold' everyone else into something that they want. Just don't accept it. You are who you are and yes you are unique in your own way. Don't let people 'program' you into something you are not.

Appreciate People who Care About You - Sometimes we are so reserved by the lies that people tell us that we actually ignore the truth and honesty that we receive from people who actually care about us. You know who cares about you and who is jealous. Who are the people you would call if you were in trouble? Who would have nothing to gain from your downfall and who would take sacrifices to help you? We often take advice from the wrong people; usually people who are fun to be around instead of people who actually care for us.

Embrace Change in Your Life - People usually look at some form of change in their lives as a burden. Don't be afraid to experience change in any form since it has come to you for a reason. A new challenge or maybe a new opportunity you need to explore. You won't find out until you accept and tackle it making it work to your advantage. Life is a roller coaster with its ups and downs, and what you become is how you deal with it.

Enjoy the Little Things in Life - I am sure you have heard the phrase "the best things in life are free". Don't be materialistic and enjoy every moment with your loved ones. Look at the details and not just the whole picture. Don't take everything for granted and look at the small things because one day you might realize that they were actually the big things that made the difference.

Listen to Your Inner Voice - Choose to listen to your inner voice and not everyone else's opinions. Accept opinions but then you decide which road is best for you since it's your journey in life. Remember that the choices you make have an impact on your life. You will have good days that will give you great happiness and bad days that will give you experience.

Let go of the Past and Live the Present - Sometimes what holds us back from living the present and planning our future are the dreadful mistakes or consequences of our past. We all have regrets of the past but guess what; we are all given a 'present' of forgiveness which is called 'the present time'. Letting go can be difficult but sometimes starting all over again can be the best option, whether it's a career move, a new relationship, or just having a new perspective of life.

If today is the day that you want to change your lifestyle, then do it today, because the more you put it off until "Next Week", the less likely you are to ever start. Just take a quick look at this site today to get some free tips about living a better lifestyle www.whatyoucanachieve.com [http://www.whatyoucanachieve.com]

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10 Highest Paid Jobs You Can Do From Home

Getting Started Building a Successful Online Business!

 

It is true you can make money on the internet. You can make a lot of money on the internet. Online business is growing rapidly and there's a reason for that.

But starting an online business and starting a successful online business are not one and the same thing. Many people ask "How can I start an easy online business?"

However, like any successful business idea the notion of an easy online business is a myth.

A successful internet business needs the same attention to forethought as any successful business. Whether you are looking to start successful online store or successful home business the early stages require good planning, good organization and hardwork.

You will make money online with good planning!

The first step of starting a successful business online is the same step as starting any successful business. You need to plan your new online business as much as any other business. A home based online business is going to need to planning just as much as a home based cake business or delivery firm in order to succeed and make money online!

Only fools rush in!

Often, when people are starting a new online business their first impulse is to get online! This would seem to make sense. I mean how can you start an online business without being online? They then waste a lot of time and money searching the net for good hosting and snapping up web domains so they can quickly get started in their new online business. In truth though you are already online! And you are already working on your new internet business.

What kind of Online Business do you want to start?

The first thing you will need to plan for in your online business is what kind of business that will be! Are you trying to sell items on eBay? Start an online store selling a product of your own? Or start an online store selling someone else's products? Are you going to start a website to market affiliate products?


Get a clear idea of what kind of online business you want and research it.

Having a clear idea of where your new online business is going is going to save you a lot of wasted time and money. Good research into what you will want to market in your online business will help you to choose wisely when choosing domains. How much traffic or web space you will need for your online store or your new online business website will determine which hosting option you choose and where you plant those domain names - especially, if you plan on having multiple sites.


What products will you sell and how will you market them?

Marketing tactics are going to be crucial to your online success. Knowing which path you are taking and what marketing methods you will be using is going to save you a lot of time and money in the future. It will determine what kind of site you will need and what marketing tools you will use. Good choices early on will help your business to achieve its aims quickly and mean any money you did spend on hosting and domains starting an your business was money well spent. Having a clear business idea and choosing the right products to sell on your website will increase it's effect and help you decide the design and content of your site.


Get the proper training and online resources.

If you are completely new to internet marketing and online internet business, one thing that often proves crucial to success is proper training. Getting help and advice form the experts can save you a lot of time in learning skills of online business and have you running your internet business much more quickly and profitably. This needn't break the bank and there is a lot of information out there.

Decide on a budget and research where best to spend it.

Lastly, decide on a budget! If you know how much you are prepared to spend investing in starting your business and how much money you want to make online then you can research the most cost effective way of achieving online success!


So in short! How to get started in building successful business online?

1. Make a plan and research it!

2. Decide what kind of business you want.

3. Decide what products are best for your business.

4. Decide how best those products will be marketed online.

5. Get the proper training and advice form experts.

6. Decide how much money you want to invest and plan
accordingly.

7. Stick to the plan and don't get distracted.


With the proper planning and strategy your business will be a success.

Of course this is only Step 1 to starting a new business online. But if you are serious about starting a business then this should be your most important step!

For the very best in news, tips and training on how to get your internet business started come and visit our web page and sign up for our newsletter at [http://commissionsmachine.com]

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Design Guide: Creating the Perfect Home Office

Working from home is on the rise. Census. Gov states that in the last decade, the number of Americans who work from home at least one day a week has increased by a staggering 35% (that's 4.2 million Americans!) in the last decade. The importance of having a well-planned, well-designed, and well-organized home office space cannot be underestimated. Having a clutter-free, organized home office space integrated into your interior design can vastly impact your productivity, stress levels and overall well-being. Here is a practical guide to designing your perfect in-home office space

1.) Choose the right space:
The answer may not be as obvious as you might think. While, geographically, that corner in the living room may seem to make the most sense, its important to consider the level of distraction you may be facing in the future. Televisions, children, telephones, and pets can all come as unexpected distractions to your productivity. Choose a space with minimal traffic, minimal use, and minimal access to distractions.
Also, its important to be able to separate work life from home life- the ability to shut a door and "leave work" is absolutely crucial for reducing stress levels and reducing the risk of "burn out". Perhaps an unused dining room, or formal living room could be a better option than using a spare bedroom.

2.) Compliment, not Contradict:
Your home office should compliment the rest of your home. If your home has a traditional design with lots of warm tones- then stick with that. Your home office space should seamlessly blend into the design of your home, not scream "cold, soul-less cubicle". You also want to avoid clashing design themes- you may have that great desk your mother-in-law gave you- but if it clashes with the flow of the room, it may be worth the additional cost to avoid those architectural hiccups. After all, you want your home office to give you a sense of comfort and ease- not be a stark shock to the senses.

3.) Built-in storage:
It may seem like a superfluous or excessive expense to incorporate built- in organization or storage into a home-office when the option to run to a local store and purchase a desk or shelf (with assembly required) is always there, but adding furniture to a home can cause clutter- and when it comes to home office, clutter is the enemy. Talk with your designer about incorporating built-in shelving, cabinets, and drawers into your space. This will not only increase how seamlessly your home office space blends into your home, but will also avoid potential issues with purchasing organizational tools which inevitably add to the problem rather than solve it.


4.) If you invest in nothing else, invest in a good chair:
Likely one of the most crucial elements of any home office- the perfect office chair should be of utmost priority. When it comes to picking the perfect office chair- spare no expense. You'll be spending a huge portion of your time sitting in that chair, so make sure it is as comfortable and functional as possible.

5.) Disregard the Norm:
Make your space uniquely "you". Forget the muted, office beige (unless that's what works for you) and paint or accent your space a color you love. We've already had some discussion about how color can affect your mood, and when it comes to productivity in the office place- we all know how much mood can affect productivity. Set your space up to be relaxing, permanent, functional, comfortable, and is tailored to your needs and wants. Don't be afraid to be daring- as long as the space is functional,then who's to say you can't design your desk to have a built-in snack bowl, perch for your kitty to sleep next to you, or even something as radical as a place to put a patch of grass underneath so while you're working you can take off your shoes and feel the grass under your feet? If you're working from home, you have the distinct freedom to toss aside convention when it comes to design- use it!

6.) Don't underestimate a good view:
In an ideal situation- we could all build our home offices to overlook the skyline of our city, or overlook a white sand beach, but the reality is that we have to use what we can. Giving yourself something more interesting to look at during those brief moments when looking away from a computer will make you more comfortable. A window is ideal- but even a picture or painting you really enjoy can provide those mental breaks that are so important to a productive work environment. No one likes staring at a blank wall, so while most of us can't be afforded the perfect view, treat yourself to the best of what you can.


7.) Illumination:
Give yourself plenty of light. Of course natural light is preferred, but the daylight hours are limited- so make sure that your office space provides ample, bright light with a good hue. You will likely need more light than you'd anticipate- so adding additional light fixtures is an important consideration. Increased light will reduce eye strain and prevent those pesky headaches. Don't forget to choose a bulb that offers light in a spectrum that works for you! Pale, crisp light sitting nearer the blue side of the spectrum often offers added energy and produces ample light. Stick around 900 Lumens minimum (depending on space) and make sure that your light source is in easy access from a seated position.


8.) Ergonomics are your best friend:
We see this word a lot- but when you're setting up your home office design, make it priority. You can save yourself so much time and energy while avoiding serious long-term problems by making sure that your home office space is as ergonomic as possible. We spent hours a day at our desks, and studies show us more and more how negative being seated in the improper posture can wreak havoc on the body. Protect yourself, your safety, comfort, and well-being: make sure you do whatever you can to make your space friendly to your body.

9.) Greenery:
Consider incorporating office plants into your home office design. Adding a plant or two to your office space can have more of an impact than you may think. Studies have shown that having live greenery in a work space can improve air quality, make your room more comfortable, reduce stress, and increase productivity. A plant is a welcomed and reasonable distraction in the moments you take to care for it by watering or pruning- and besides, they look fantastic!


10.) Cable Management:
Often over looked and unjustly so. Nothing can create more of an eye sore in a home office than a nest of cables cluttering a desk or floor. Velcro cable ties are your friend! Talk with your designer about incorporating ways to hide a mess of cables. Make sure that your space is set up for any connection you might need, including adequate electrical outlets. Make sure to leave your equipment layout open to be altered- you never know when you'll be getting some new piece of office tech, or when you may decide to remove a piece of equipment. If the cables are hard to access, or difficult to add to- you'll end up at square one with a nest of cables. Increasing ease of access and efficiency is key!
In building a home office- you should invest as much as is comfortable for your budget. It cannot be said enough how important to mental well-being, productivity, and mood it is to have a working environment that entices you to be there and doesn't add any additional factors which may cause stress. You'll be spending more time in your home office than you will in most other spaces or rooms in your home- so make sure that your home-office reflects that and suits you perfectly. Experimentation is key- and with a great interior designer- the possibilities are endless

 

To read more articles on Interior Design, visit our blog: Leib Designs Blog
For more interior design ideas and inspiration, see our complete Portfolio
Leib Designs is a New York Based Interior Design Firm.


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