Happiness Comes In A Simple Package

Do you tend to look down instead of up? Are you wading in a stream of mud wishing you were someone else or that you had more beautiful or were more handsome? Time to look up to the sky and see the potential for you to be happy that is already there!

There is a made for TV movie about a man that varies people to write letters of encouragement to. He is an older man and focuses not on his health limitations or lack of money but decides to spend his extra time and energy on writing letters. It is amazing to watch what happens when people receive his letters. He never signs them. He gives them to people he knows and sometimes people he does not know.

Did you know there has been research done to prove that people who serve others are more prosperous and happy? Would you like to be happy for the price of a stamp? Here is a strategy to help you not only lift and cheer others but in doing so you can feel good about yourself!

Give some time and thought to a couple of people you know that could use a cheerful thoughtful note. Try and compliment them for things that you think they do well. What are their talents? Do not hesitate to drop to your knees and pray for inspiration in writing a letter that will make this individual feel better about their self and their life. If you are not so good at expressing things in just the right way, look in a book of inspirational quotes. Sometimes a quote from famous people who have been through hard times and survived would have just the idea you are looking for. A great website for such thoughts is LDS.org. (Great site filled with inspirational thoughts!)

Set aside some time to write the letter. You can make the letter as simple or as fancy as you want. You can type it on the computer or embellish your letter with stickers and scrapbook decor. Whatever you like, just remember that what you write in the letter is the most important. You can sign it or leave it unsigned. Then drop it in the mail or leave it on a doorstep. Either way can bring a warm smile to the face of the person who gets your heartfelt letter.

Once you have written a few people that you know, branch out and write a few letters ahead of time. When you are shopping, out for a walk, or playing at the city park, have a letter ready in your purse or pocket to hand to someone who looks like they need some cheering up. You do not have to say a word, just hand it to them or tell them I thought you could use this today.

You never know how much your letter might help or influence someone who is having a bad day. You could help make a difference on this old earth one letter at a time! By serving another person, happiness will come back to you as well. Make someone's day and find the happiness that comes in a simple package!

Instant Happiness and Addictions

Addiction does not have any boundaries. It can be in several forms. If a person eats too many hot dogs in a day, he or she will also be labeled as addicted to it. What is weird is when people associate addiction only with drugs, alcohol, tobacco, porn or sex. It's much to do with the fact that we only find those things harmful which are taught to us by the society. We never focus on the other things which make us weak and vulnerable from inside. Strangely is not?

What is the connection between instant happiness and addiction?

Anything which helps us move through the difficult times can be considered as instant happiness. For an example -: if a person who just had a breakup, would certainly be looking for ways and means to divert his mind from it. And the process of doing something to get a move on to achieve the temporary happy state can lead to wrong choices resulting in addiction. It all depends on an individual to what choices he or she needs to make keeping in mind the consequences attached to it.

There can be so many examples of it. We always have had people around us who shop more or probably eats more in depression. Is not also a kind of addiction? Did we ever think why they do it? It's because we do not notice these things as long as we see them putting an effort to get through.For some reason, it is the effort that catches our attention not the path attached to it.

Food addiction is a very common example these days because it gives you a good and satisfying feeling by consuming certain food but having a constant urge to eat it when you are not even hungry brings a lot of serious consequences to it, it could be physical, social or even emotional. The result of over indulging in that particular food which brings you joy could be digestion problems, low self - esteem, depression etc.

Let's talk about relationships. We all have seen and experienced the immunity pleasure of being in love. But relationships can not be taken for granted, we never know when it will get over and when it does, what we can do to get over it. I would like to mention about this friend of mine who would do anything to be in a relationship.Whenever he goes through a breakup, he would look for another person to fall in love with. This completely shows that he can not remain single for a long time. Maybe by being in a relationship, he gets his happiness. But how many times a person can fall in love, it sure looks like he is addicted to relationships. But does he know that?

We are certainly aware of the fact that not all the choices leading to the instant happiness result in the addictions but most of the times we tend to lod in wrong choices. Is not worth pondering about?

The question here is can we see us becoming addicted to something behind the curtains of instant happiness? It's the pain that we suffer makes us go to any depths to recover from it and thus leading to the dangerous path of unknown addictions.

Most of the times it is very difficult to foresee the consequences of efforts we put in to go for the instant happiness which we seek and desire. I am sure the circumances play a pivotal role in the choices we make but at the end of the day, we must accept that we are strong enough to control the circumstance.

The only thing that can be done is to be more observant about the choices we make to move through the difficult times. One should never think of finding the short cuts for it, rather we should all embarrass the difficult times as a challenge for better future without having to face any unexpected and oblivion ramifications of our need for instant happiness. It is difficult but absolutely a secure way of permanent happiness.

How to Set Up a Home Classroom and Curriculum For Homeschool

Deciding to homeschool your children is a decision many families struggle with. It's a difficult choice to make and families may decide to homeschool their children for many reasons. Families may choose to homeschool to provide children with one-on-one lessons and attention, for religious reasons, to allow children to learn at their own pace, or for many other diverse reasons. Once you've decided to homeschool your children, your next step is to find a curriculum and homeschooling supplies.

Setting Up A Homeschool Classroom

A homeschool classroom can be as simple or as involved as you choose. One of the most important things to think about is how your children learn best. Some children need the strict structure of a proper classroom with desks, bookcases and other homeschooling supplies. Other children are fine with a more relaxed environment and can easily learn when sitting on the couch or at the kitchen table. It's important to remember that all children thrive in different educational environments and you should do what works best for your children.

If your curriculum for homeschool involves using computers, it may be best to place the computer in a dedicated bedroom or family area instead of a child's bedroom. Even the most dedicated homeschool students can get distracted and you may need to gently remind them to stay on track when working on computer lessons.

Many homeschoolers set up a support network of other families to allow their children to interact with other children their age. Some of these networks get together outside the home for physical education or music lessons, providing that homeschoolers are not limited to learning in the home.

Finding Homeschooling Supplies

Once you've decided where to place your bedroom, it's time to focus on the necessary homeschooling supplies. Homeschooling supplies can include everything from desks, pencils and paper, computer equipment, books and other homeschool curricular materials.

If you're setting up a separate area dedicated to your bedroom, homeschooling supplies like posters for the walls and a comfortable reading area can do a lot to create a learning environment that's welcoming and conducive to learning.

Deciding On A Curriculum For Homeschool

The curriculum for homeschool you choose depends on many factors: the age of your children, your religious beliefs, and whether the children are expected to go on to college or university. Many sources of curriculum for homeschool offer all subjects taught in a typical school such as math, reading, science, social studies and language arts. It's also possible to find electives such as art, music and foreign language, as well as curriculum for homeschool guides for parents that explain different learning styles and explain how to teach individual subjects.

Many families who choose to homeschool do so because of religious beliefs and many curriculums for homeschool infuse Christian beliefs into lessons from preschool to high school.

Deciding to homeschool is a personal choice for many families and it's not a decision made lightly. Parents who homeschool dedicate many hours to their children's education, from creating a welcoming environment that's conducive to their children's learning styles, to finding homeschooling supplies and utilizing a curriculum for homeschool that will help their children thrive.

WoW - Skinning Leveling Guide 1-450

WoW Skinning






So you want to learn skinning? Sure the sound of it is kewl, and you will be racing around cleaning up after your own mess. So why not! And I totally agree.

But before you get started, racing around skinning any little furry mob you see in sight, have a read of this 1st, to give you an idea of how to level skinning even quicker! Because the only thing better than leveling up your skinning, is leveling skinning faster.

Where to Start






The main things to know here is, Trainers, Items(bags) & Leather types. Lets cover the basics.

Trainers:






They are everywhere, and for both Alliance and Horde. So where do you find them? Here is a list of the starting locations for both Alliance and Horde and their respective skinning trainers.

Ranks you can learn from these trainers:

(Apprentice, Journeyman, Expert, Artisan)

NB: These are all the skinners you should find around the original World of Warcraft game.

Alliance Skinning Trainers

o NightElf (m), Radnaal Maneweaver - Northwest of Ban'ethil Hollow - Teldrassil

o NightElf (f), Eladriel - Craftsmen's Terrace - Darnassus

o Human (f), Helene Peltskinner - Goldshire - Elwynn Forest

o Human (f), Maris Granger - Old Town - Stormwind

o Dwarf (m), Balthus Stoneflayer - The Great Forge - Ironforge

o Human (f), Wilma Ranthal - Stonewatch Falls - Redridge Mountains

o NightElf (f), Jayla - Silverwind Refuge - Ashenvale






World of Warcraft: Burning Crusade (only)

o Furblog, Gurf - Stillpine Hold - Azuremyst Isle

o Draenei (f), Remere - Traders' Tier - The Exodar

Horde Skinning Trainers

o Undead (m), Rand Rhobart - Southeast of Brill - Tirisfal Glades

o Undead (m), Killian Hagey - The Rogues' Quarter - Undercity

o Tauren (m), Yonn Deepcut - Bloodhoof Village - Mulgore

o Tauren (f), Mooranta - Middle Rise - Thunder Bluff

o Orc (m), Thuwd - The Drag - Orgrimmar

o Tauren (m), Dranh - Camp Taurajo - the Barrens

o Troll (m), Malux - Shadowprey Village - Desolace

o Tauren (m), Kulleg Stonehorn - Camp Mojache - Feralas






World of Warcraft: Burning Crusade (only)

o BloodElf (m), Mathreyn (upto journeyman only) - West of Silvermoon entrance - Eversong Woods

o BloodElf (f), Tyn - alk of Elders - Silvermoon

Tools (Items):






OK, so now you have learnt your skill for Skinning, and are ready to go skin some mobs. Wait wait, hang on a second. You need some tools. or in the games terms, items.

o (Required) Skinning Knife

o (Suggested, but optional) Leather working bag like the 'Bag of Many Hides'






You can get away without a skinning knife, if you attack with an axe, knife or sword. But only until a certain level, and this only frees up 1 bag slot. And YES, your MUST carry the skinning knife with you.






Which is why the 'Bag of Many Hides' is so great, it can be used to store all your leather and skinning knife in, and its BIG. Another great advantage. Definatly worth the gold.

Leather Types:






I saw this somewhere, and thought it was quite interesting. A list of all the leather types available in the Original World of Warcraft and what level mobs you can expect to see them on. In the expansions, there are only 1 type of skinnable leather from mobs.

o Ruined Leather Scraps - expected mob level: 1-16

o Light Leather - expected mob level: 1-27

o Light Hide - expected mob level: 10-27

o Medium Leather - expected mob level: 15-36

o Medium Hide - expected mob level: 15-36

o Heavy Leather - expected mob level: 25-46

o Heavy Hide - expected mob level: 25-46

o Thick Leather - expected mob level: 35-63

o Thick Hide - expected mob level: 40-59

o Rugged Leather - expected mob level: 43-63

o Rugged Hide - expected mob level: 47-63

NB: You can upgrade your leather with Leather Working. Sometimes, I would just get a guildie or friend to do this for me in exchange for some leather goods.

Lets Get Skinning!






OK, so we have got the skill, got the tools, learnt a little about the skinning leathery stuff. So now we need to know where to start. Well if you are doing this with a new toon, then pretty much the 1st place you can kill a mob, you can skin a mob. But here is a list of suggested areas which can really help you speed this process up.

Level your Skinning from 1-25






Horde

o Undead - Hounds around Brill

o Orcs and Trolls - Mottled Boars and Scorpids around Sen'Jin Village

o Tauren - Prowlers and Plainstriders around Bloodhoof Village






Alliance

o Humans - Boars around Goldshire

o Gnomes and Dwarfves - Crag Boars and Wendigo's South of Kharanos

o Night Elves - Nightsabers and critters around Dolanaar

Level your Skinning from 25-50






Horde

o Undead - Worgs and Moonrage Gluttons around Silverpine

o Orcs and Trolls - Boars, Scorpids, Crocolisks and Raptors around Orgrimmar

o Tauren - Prowlers and Praire Wolves around Thunderbluff






Alliance

o Human - Prowlers and Bears around Eastvale Logging Camp

o Gnomes and Dwarfves - Wolves around Brenwall Village

o Night Elves - Moonstalkers and Bears around Auberdine

Level your Skinning from 50-100Horde

o Most Horde races - Plainstriders, Raptors and Prowlers around Crossroads






Alliance

o Humans - Goretusks all around Sentinel Hill

o Gnomes and Dwarfves - Bears and Crocolisks around Thelsamar

o Night Elves - Moonstalkers and Bears North of Auberdine

Level your Skinning from 100-130






Horde

o Most Horde races - Stormsnouts and Thunderhawks around Camp Taurajo






Alliance

o Most Alliance races - Crocolisks and Raptors around Bluegill Marsh and Whelgar's Excavation Site

o Alternative - Whelps and boars around Lakeshire

Level your Skinning from 130-150






Alliance and Horde have 3 areas to level now

o Bears and Mountain Lions around Hillsbrad Foothills

o Ravagers and Wolves in Duskwood

o Bears, Stags and Ghostpaws in Ashenvale

Level your Skinning from 150-170






Alliance and Horde

o Yeti Cave in Hillsbrad Fields

o Mountain Lions on the "Daggers"






NB: these are the bits of land between Hillsbrad and Alterac Mountains, one is called Corrans Dagger, so hence the nickname

o Hyenas, Lions, Wyvern and Thunderhawks in Thousand Needles

o Bears, Stags and Ghostpaws in Ashenvale

Level your Skinning from 170-180






Alliance and Horde

o Raptors in Arathi Highlands

o Turtles and Basilisks in The Shimmering Flats

Level your Skinning from 180-220






Alliance and Horde

o Raptors, Panthers and Tigers around Nessingwarys Camp in Stranglethorn Vale






NB: you could actually get your skinning level all the way to 300 in and around STV as the mobs range from level 34 to level 50

o Raptors and Crocs in Dustwallow Marsh

o Thunder Lizards, Kodos, Basilisks, Scorpids and Hyenas in Desolace

o Whelps in Swamp of Sorrows

Level your Skinning from 220-250






Alliance and Horde

o Raptors and Gorillas around the Gurabashi Arena

o Panthers, Jaguars and Crocs in Swamp of Sorrows

o Dragonkin, Coyotes and Ridge Stalkers/Huntresses in Badlands

o Wolves around Feathermoon Stronghold in Feralas

Level your Skinning from 250-275






Alliance and Horde

o Snickerfangs and Boars in North Blasted Lands

o Silvermanes and Gryphons in The Hinterlands

o Stags and Hippogryphs in Azshara

o Hippogryphs, Apes, Bears, Wolves, Screechers and Yetis in Feralas

Level your Skinning from 275-300






Alliance and Horde, lots of choice here, try out your skills around:

o Jagueros and Gorillas on Jaguero Island






NB: Large Island to the East of Booty Bay where Princess Poobah is being held

o Yetis, Chimeras and Bears in Winterspring

o Bears in Western Plaguelands

o Plaguehounds and Plaguebats in Eastern Plaguelands

o Turtles by Raventusk Village in The Hinterlands

o Turtles and Chimeras in Azshara

o Dragonkin, Worgs and Scorpids in Burning Steppes

OK, I did say I would take you all the way to 450 didn't I. Well here is the Burning Crusade Skinning Guide. From here on out, its the same for both factions.

Level your Skinning from 300-330

o Hellboars & Ravagers around Hellfire Peninsula

Level your Skinning from 330-350

o Talbuk's and Clefthoofs all over Nagrand






NB: it's possible to keep going all the way to skinning 375 here unless you want a change of scenery

Level your Skinning from 350-375

o Netherdrakes around Stormspire in Netherstorm

o Netherdrakes around Netherwing Fields in Shadowmoon Valley

o Raptors and Wind Serpents around Blades Edge Mountains

And here is my World of Warcraft Skinning guide for Wrath of the Lich King.

Level your Skinning from 375-405

o Shoveltusks around Howling Fjord

Level your Skinning from 375-405

o Mammoths around Borean Tundra






NB: There are usually heaps of dead ones just lying around here as well

Level your Skinning from 405-430

o Deer, Infected Grizzly Bears, Wolves and everything else on the Grizzly Hills

Level your Skinning from 430-450

o Giraffes, Mangal Crocolisks, Gorillas and pretty much anything in Sholazar Basin

OK, and thats some of the best places to level skinning profession from 1 - 450 fairly quickly. I think the quickest I have seen someone do this is in about 9 hours. Feel free to tell me your score! And if you can prove it, I will make a special write up about your techniques!

Master of Anatomy






I remembered I was going to mention this, and since WotLK, there is no skill level vs character level restrictions anymore. So if you want to make a twink @ 19, you can still craftily level you skinning all the way upto 450!

o (75-149) Master of Anatomy Rank 1 - increases Critical Strike by 3

o (150-224) Master of Anatomy Rank 2 - increases Critical Strike by 6

o (225-229) Master of Anatomy Rank 3 - increases Critical Strike by 9

o (300-374) Master of Anatomy Rank 4 - increases Critical Strike by 12

o (375-449) Master of Anatomy Rank 5 - increases Critical Strike by 20

o (450+) Master of Anatomy Rank 6 - increases Critical Strike by 32

OK, that's it for now, I hope this guide has been helpful to you and your skinning efforts in the World of Warcraft.

The Solution to the Problem of How to Make Money Online

If you want to be your own boss, and learn how to make money from home or on the Internet, online network marketing is for you. There are many ways of generating money on the Internet, but how to make money with online network marketing provides the most potential for income growth.

There are three things you need to do in getting started with online network marketing: Sign up with a network marketing company, master the art of Search Engine Optimization (SEO), and create high-profile Facebook and Twitter accounts. By reading this article, you will learn how to make money and everything you need to know to get started on the path to financial independence and begin to earning an income online.

Options Galore

You can choose among hundreds of network marketing companies that will help you learn how to make money. Network marketing companies, also known as multilevel marketing (MLM) companies, exist for almost every product category. The biggest companies tend to focus on weight loss, nutritional and body care products because of the lucrative income potential, but smaller direct selling companies provide even eccentric individuals the opportunity to sell something in line with their interests. Whatever your interests, you can find a company that will fit you, and your ways of making money. Signing up as an MLM distributor is easy, and most companies will offer you a very generous commission, up to 50% plus various production bonuses for each sale you make.

Why SEO is Absolutely Indispensable

SEO provides the diligent online network marketer with many online making money opportunities. The Internet marketplace is a very competitive place. If you want to succeed in it and learn how to start building a second income, you need to learn everything you can about back links, targeted keywords, niche blogs, and optimizing HTML tags. Of course, you can outsource or have someone else do the advanced SEO. Putting up a website advertising your products is not enough.

Mastering SEO requires time and effort, and you must continually update your SEO knowledge as the Internet landscape changes. Learning how to make money on the Internet is a continuous process. If you start to feel discouraged by the difficulty of learning SEO, remember that SEO practices can help you earn money just like road ways make money for tollbooth operators. Tollbooth-equipped road ways make money by collecting tolls from travelers. SEO enables you to build virtual road ways that bring people in to buy products from you.

Catch the Social Media Wave

The use of Facebook and Twitter to market products is known as Social Media Marketing (SMM). SMM is an excellent way to drive traffic to your network marketing sites in order to make greater earnings. SMM is a younger cousin of SEO, and SMM techniques are not as developed as SEO techniques. Because the SMM playing field is not nearly as competitive as SEO, you can have a much better return on investment, and there are more ways to make money.

Learning how to make money on the Internet isn't easy; online marketing is really different from earning a paycheck in a traditional job. Online efforts can be a real challenge, but with the use of intelligent strategy and hard work, it is possible. Find a company that appeals to you and gives you enough ways to generate an income, and start marketing your products online using SEO and SMM. It is worth taking the time to learn how to make money in a new way. Seek reputable and qualified instruction in how to make money online quickly.

Recognizing Navigational Tools For the Future of Education

I have to laugh when I think of the times I watched the television program, "Flash Gordon," as he putted through outer space in his make-believe space ship, talking on his make-believe wireless radio, and dressed in his make-believe space suit. Well, I'm not laughing anymore. Today we have shuttled astronauts into outer space, have men living in a Space Station, have space suites that take your temperature and gauge your heart rate, and wireless communication devices that send pictures to Planet Earth. Far fetched from reality? Not anymore. As we speak, the future is starring us in the face, waiting to see how we will promote her in the next 5-10 years.

How did science-fiction become reality over the past 50 years? Let's consider one aspect of innovation: the learning environment - post secondary education. Why post secondary education, you may ask? As post secondary education population increases, programs to accommodate students will develop into curriculum that affords students the freedom to create and design systems they toy with on a daily basis. Are there risks involved in this adaptation process? There are risks involved when change occurs, and leadership should be aware of how to diplomatically confront the risk areas that could slow down progress. Some of the risks that could be encountered due to change are:

o Systems risks

o Subsystem risks

o People

o Financial/economic risks

o Societal/Cultural risks

If communication between systems, subsystems, people, and cultures within the organizational environment has established a strong communication system, risks factors will be at a minimum as long as the creative teams are honest and upfront about their reservations to change.

Let's look into the future through 'futureoculers' and see how the universe of learning can be brought into the present. I want to introduce to you five (5) key trends that I believe affect the current learning environment, can create change, and renovate the perspective of learners and educators for students of the future. These trends could be the key in creating a new perspective in post secondary education for an institution. The key trends are:

o Competitive classroom learning environments - campus on-site/online/distant

o Increase in technological tools

o Teaching/learning environments-more hands on

o Global expansion capability-internal and external

o Student input in the creative learning process

Navigational Systems

Before the five (5) key trends are defined, there needs to be an acknowledgement of how the trends will be supported and regulated through a changing environment. According to de Kluyver, and Pearce, II, having the right systems and processes/subsystems enhances organizational effectiveness and facilitates coping with change. Misaligned systems and processes can be a powerful drag on an organization's ability to adapt. Therefore, check what effect, if any, current systems and processes are likely to have on a company's ability to implement a particular strategy is well advised. Support systems such as a company's planning, budgeting, accounting, information and reward and incentive systems can be critical to successful strategy implementation. Although they do not by themselves define a sustainable competitive advantage, superior support systems help a company adapt more quickly and effectively to changing requirements. A well-designed planning system ensures that planning is an orderly process, gets the right amount of attention by the right executives, and has a balanced external and internal focus. Budgeting and accounting systems are valuable in providing accurate historical data, setting benchmarks and targets, and defining measures of performance. A state-of-the-art information system supports all other corporate systems, and it facilitates analysis as well as internal and external communications. Finally, a properly designed reward and incentive system is key to creating energy through motivation and commitment. A process (or subsystem) is a systematic way of doing things. Processes can be formal or informal; they define organization roles and relationships, and they can facilitate or obstruct change. Some processes or subsystems look beyond immediate issues of implementation to an explicit focus on developing a stronger capacity for adapting to change. Processes/subsystems aimed at creating a learning organization and at fostering continuous improvement are good examples. As an example, processes or subsystems are functional and maintain the operation of the system; the system may be Student Services and the subsystem may be the Financial Aid office or Admissions. Subsystems can be more in depth in relation to office operations, which involves employee positions and their culture; financial advisors, academic advisors, guidance counselors. These operations are functions performed on the human level and could have a positive or negative impact in the development of key trends. If employees are valued and rewarded for their dedication and service, the outcome will be responsible, committed employees for the success of their subsystem.

The Navigator

Every navigator needs a map, a plan, a driver to give direction to for a successful trip. In this case, the driver is several elements:

o Service integrity, reputation

o Affordability with an open door concept

Hughes and Beatty relate drivers as Strategic drivers; those relatively few determinants of sustainable competitive advantage for a particular organization in a particular industry or competitive environment (also called factors of competitive success, key success factors, key value propositions). The reason for identifying a relatively small number of strategic drivers for an organization is primarily to ensure that people become focused about what pattern of inherently limited investments will give the greatest strategic leverage and competitive advantage. Drivers can change over time, or the relative emphasis on those drivers can change, as an organization satisfies its key driver. In the case of post secondary education, drivers help measure success rates in the area of course completion ratio, student retention, and transfer acceptance into a university and/or the successful employment of students. Because change is so rampant in education, it is wise for leadership to anticipate change and develop a spirit of foresight to keep up with global trends.

Drivers can help identify the integrity of internal and external functions of systems and subsystems, as mentioned previously, by identifying entity types that feed the drivers' success. They are:

o Clientele Industry - external Market - feeder high schools, cultural and socio-economic demographic and geographic populations

- Competitors - local and online educational systems

- Nature of Industry - promote a learning community

- Governmental influences - licensed curriculum programs supported by local, state, and federal funds

- Economic and social influences - job market, employers, outreach programs

o College Planning and Environment - internal

- Capacity - Open door environment

- Products and services - high demand curriculum programs that meet, local, state, and federal high demand employment needs

- Market position - Promote on and off-campus activities that attract clientele

- Customers - traditional and non-traditional credit and non-credit students

- Systems, processes, and structures - trained staff and state-of-the art technical systems

- Leadership - integrity-driven, compassionate leadership teams

- Organizational culture - promote on-campus activities promoting a proactive environment for students

According to Hughes and Beatty, these functions can assimilate into the Vision, Mission, and Values statements to define the key strategic drivers for developing successful environments.

Navigating Towards a Destination

With the recognition of systems, subsystems, and drivers, we can see our destination in the distance and their value in building a foundation to support the five key trends. The five (5) key trends will help define strategic thinking in a global perspective; the understanding of futuristic thinking that encompasses: risk taking, imagination, creativity, communication among leadership, and a perspective of how the future can fit into today's agenda. The five (5) key trends are:

1. Competitive Classroom Learning Environments - campus on-site/online/distant

One of the major attractions in education today is to accommodate a student at every level: academically, financially, and socially. These three environments are the mainstream of why one school is selected over another school. Today there is a change in tide. Students who once competed for seats in post secondary schools are becoming a valued asset as post secondary schools compete between each other for students. High schools are no longer the only feeder into colleges. Today, students are coming from home schools, career schools, charter schools, high risk schools, private schools, religious schools, work environments, and ATB tested environments. So, how can the educational system attract students and keep them motivated in an interactive learning environment they can grow in? Wacker and Taylor writes that the story of every great enterprise begins with the delivery of a promise, and every product a great enterprise makes is nothing but an artifact of the truth of that promise. So what great enterprise can be created to attract new students? By creating learning/teaching environments, post secondary schools can prepare students to meet the demands of everyday life and their life in the community. Schools can consider incorporating a learning model to enable professors and/or community leaders/entrepreneurs to team teach in the classroom/online environment. Team Teaching will contribute valuable views into the learning environment, as well as, give students the working community's real-time perspective. In an excerpt from "The University at the Millennium: The Glion Declaration" (1998) quoted by Frank H.T. Rhodes, President Emeritus of Cornell University, for the Louisiana State Board of Regents report, Dr. Rhodes wrote that universities are learning communities, created and supported because of the need of students to learn, the benefit to scholars of intellectual community, and the importance to society of new knowledge, educated leaders, informed citizens, expert professional skills and training, and individual certification and accreditation. Those functions remain distinctive, essential contributions to society; they form the basis of an unwritten social compact, by which, in exchange for the effective and responsible provision of those services, the public supports the university, contributes to its finance, accepts its professional judgment and scholarly certification, and grants it a unique degree of institutional autonomy and scholarly freedom. To experience education is learning, to exercise knowledge is freedom, and to combine them is wisdom.

2. Teaching/learning environments-more hands on

As post secondary educators relinquish hands-on-chalk-board teaching styles and establish group teaching models, students will develop a greater understanding of the theme of the class environment as well as the professor in developing an understanding of the class cultures' stance in learning. Educators are discovering that inclusive learning styles are revamping the teaching model and becoming a positive influence in retention, better grades, camaraderie among students, and a greater respect for the professor. As professors learn to develop relationships with students, interaction will transpire, lecturing will be condensed into a time frame and interactive learning between students and professor will enhance the classroom environment.

3. Global expansion capability-internal and external

Students are surrounded by virtual global environments or are impacted by global elements: the clothes they wear are made overseas, the games they play on their electronic toys are created overseas, the war games they play are created to identify with global war games, etc. The only draw back to this scenario is a truly global learning experience. What they are seeing is not what they are getting; a real time global experience. James Morrison writes that in order to meet unprecedented demand for access, colleges and universities need to expand their use of IT tools via online learning, which will enable them to teach more students without building more classrooms. Moreover, in order for professors to prepare their pupils for success in the global economy, they need to ensure that students can access, analyze, process, and communicate information; use information technology tools; work with people from different cultural backgrounds; and engage in continuous, self-directed learning. Christopher Hayter writes that post secondary schools need to be 'Globally Focused' for the 21st century that includes a global marketplace and be internationally focused. This means ensuring that skills needed to compete in a global marketplace are taught and that the mastery of such skills by students is internationally benchmarked. It may also mean a new emphasis on learning languages and understanding other cultures and the business practices of other countries.

More and more businesses are expanding into the global marketplace, opening corporate offices in foreign countries and hiring and training employees from those countries. Are our college graduates being trained to assimilate into cultures and work side-by-side with employees who may not be able to relate to them? Developing curriculums accommodating social and cultural entities will propel a student into higher realms of learning and create change in the individual student as well as support their career for their future.

4. Student input in the creative learning process

Professors are the gatekeepers in education. However, as Baby Boomer Professors begin to exit the educational workforce and head down the path of retirement, younger generation professors will take their place bringing with them innovative teaching methods that can expand the learning process. Are post secondary educators equipped to prepare for the onslaught of younger generation educators needed to be trained for this mega shift in the workforce? Most important, will those professors caught between Boomers and Xer's be willing to adapt to change in the education industry to accommodate incoming generations? I believe younger generations will impact even the technological industry and challenge change that will equip them for their future. Previous generation students slowly adapted to technological advances. The good news is change can occur, and educators can utilize life experiences from students familiar with technology tools and create fascinating learning environments.

5. Increase in Technological tools

In an Executive Summary written for the National Governors Association in a report called "Innovation America - A Compact for Post Secondary Education," the report reads that while post secondary education in the United States has already achieved key successes in the innovation economy, the public post secondary education system overall risks falling behind its counterparts in many other nations around the world-places where there have been massive efforts to link post secondary education to the specific innovation needs of industries and regions. According to this report, American post secondary education is losing ground in the race to produce innovative and imaginative realms in education. Can this trend be counteracted? With the cooperation of post secondary educational institutions within each community, leadership can create co-op learning environments that can be supported through e-learning and online teaching that can provide virtual reality technology to enhance real-time learning environments. Through Business Development operations currently established in post secondary institutions, a shared technology program can be created that will afford students access to ongoing virtual business environment settings and prepare students with knowledge and insight into a specific industry. As students prepare to transfer, graduate, or seek employment after completing a certification program, virtual experience in the job market can help a student assimilate education and work experience to their advantage. This concept could challenge Human Resource departments to create new mandates in accepting virtual-experienced college graduates as they enter the workforce.

Reaching the Destination

As Flash Gordan lands his Spacecraft on unclaimed territory, you imagine yourself slowly turning the handle to the spaceship with your spaceship gloves, opening the door with explosive anticipation. Your heart racing, sweat running down your brow, and your eyes at half mask waiting to see a new world; a world filled with beauty and potential when suddenly, the television shuts off and your Mom is standing in front of you telling you to get up and go clean your room and stop daydreaming! Ah, Mom, you say to yourself, you just destroyed my imaginary planet! Oh, by the way, did I mention that this was you as a child growing up and using your imagination?

Now that I've created a visual world of potential for you can you see the power within to see the future from the present and help others visualize the potential benefits of change in their lives and the lives of others in an organization? T. Irene Sanders states that thinking in pictures helps us link our intuitive sense of events in the world with our intellectual understanding. Now, more than ever, we need to integrate the techniques of imagination and the skill of intuition with our analytic competencies to help us see and understand the complexities that vex us daily. Visualization is the key to insight and foresight-and the next revolution in strategic thinking and planning.

Can you SEE the systems, subsystems, drivers, and the five (5) trends with a visual perspective in a post secondary educational environment? This is the nature of Strategic Thinking, which can or is taking place in your organization; a cognitive process required for the collection, interpretation, generation, and evaluation of information and ideas that shape an organization's sustainable competitive advantage. The need to stay abreast of progress, technology, and global opportunities will be the change in drivers that will validate the creative elements needed to stay attuned in a global perspective. The author's intention of introducing Flash Gordan into the paper was to create a visual image and demonstrate imagination fulfillment to a present day reality. Is there anything out there that cannot be done if it is fine tuned and prepared for a service of excellence? What are the risks involved by not exercising strategic thinking in the elements mentioned in this article?

Education is not about the present it's about the future. The five (5) trends are only a beginning adventure into an unknown space. Do you remember when you were in college and wished things were done differently, be more exciting, more adventurous? Consider the age groups becoming proficient in technology. Will post secondary educators be prepared to teach/instruct future students? Educators must invite strategic thinking into the system and take the risks needed to build post secondary education back into the global futuristic race of achievement. In an article written by Arthur Hauptman entitled "Strategies for Improving Student Success in Post secondary Education" (07), he concluded his report listing four elements:

1. While there is a growing rhetorical commitment to student success, the reality is that policies often do not mirror the rhetoric. Whether intentional or not, policies in many states are at best benign and often antithetical to improving student success.

2. Policy focus in most states has been to lower tuitions or the provision of student financial aid. This ignores the importance of ensuring adequate supply of seats to accommodate all students as well as providing a proper set of incentives that encourage institutions to recruit, enroll, and graduate the students who are most at-risk.

3. Some progress has been made in developing contemporary practices that have great potential for providing the right incentives in place of redress this traditional imbalance. But much more needs to be done in this regard.

4. Efforts to create incentives for students to be better prepared and for institutions to enroll and graduate more at-risk students have the potential for greatly improving rates of retention and degree completion.

Can the five trends be a stepping stone in rebuilding or strengthening the weakest link in the system? The evidence of deficiency is public, and that's a good start. Educators have the choice to rebuild and prepare for the advancement of our future; our students. I encourage you to take the five (5) trends and see how they can accommodate your institute of higher learning.

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.