No Rules 101: The Key to College SUCCESS

Ah, a new college year. Few things are more exciting than the beginning of a new college year: new classes, new professors, new students, and new adventures. I remember the anticipation as I walked into a new class for the first time. I remember sizing up the professor, checking out the other students and eagerly awaiting and dreading the new syllabus all at the same time. How many tests will I have to take? How many papers will I have to write? How many times can I miss class?

But I also remember the underlying pressure to figure out what I wanted to do for the rest of my life or, the more popular, who I wanted to be when I grew up. Let me save you some trouble now - you're never going to know what you want to do for the rest of your life so STOP WORRYING ABOUT IT!

Right now you may be saying to yourself, "But, that's not what my parents told me." Or "that's not what my teachers told me." Or "that's not what my best friend's sister's boyfriend's brother's girlfriend told me." Have no fear...Tonya's here! I'm here to debunk the rule myths that have plagued your life - starting with Rule Myth #1.

Rule Myth #1 - Your major will determine the rest of your life.

We all know that the days of working somewhere for 20 years are gone, but we haven't changed the way we go about things to reflect this. Of course, there are some people who find a career field and a job they love and are content staying with it, but they are an exception. For the most part people change their careers numerous times throughout their lives. I'm a great example of this. I've worked at a Fortune 500 IT company as a global marketing specialist, worked as a project manager for Goldman Sachs, been a caregiver in an Alzheimer's unit, taught college courses, been a diversity trainer, been the business manager for a used car lot, obtained a Master's degree, enlisted in the Army, and been a counterintelligence special agent with the Department of Defense, all after obtaining my bachelor's degree. And now I'm the President and CEO of my own business.

Despite my story and many like it, we still buy into the idea that your major in college somehow creates the path your life will take or that it somehow must. Now don't get me wrong, every step takes you somewhere. I'm not saying your choices don't have consequences, but let's be real about those consequences. The only thing your major in college determines, without fail, is the bulk of your course topics while you're in school. That's it. So choose wisely. Definitely get your degree. I'm 100% in favor of college and the education it provides. But, choose your major because it interests you. Choose your major because it affords you the opportunity to take the most number of courses that appeal to you. I took every course with the word "sex" in the title in college AND managed to work them into my educational plan. It can be done!

The guidelines and advice most of us enter college with are out-dated. I used to tell my students the best thing college can teach you is that the behaviors and attitudes you develop now will serve you - or disserve you - the rest of your life. If you abide by rules others create for you now, you're likely to continue that practice. Make college work for you and you'll learn how to make your life work for you. And remember...There Are No Rules!

TonyaDawn.com

Tonya Dawn's heart and soul lie in two things: her family and her passion to change the world. She and her husband, Justin, founded TJ Recla. Her vision is to "Change the World by Redefining POWER."

Using their academic achievements and years of counterintelligence experience, they built a company that provides vital information for individual and organizational success.

Tonya's books, The 3-Day Abundance Challenge and WAR: The Ultimate Guide to Personal Power and Safety, provide practical, easy-to-use tools and are an essential read for anyone who wants POWERful, positive change.

From her experience as an Army soldier and US government spy-catching counterintelligence agent, Tonya delivers POWERful cognitive, emotional and physical tips.

Tonya's campaign "Live in the Pink!" is her testament to living life in awareness and harnessing the POWER in each moment.

Don't miss an opportunity to hear her story and take advantage of the training she designed to help individuals declare WAR on their fears and Live in the Pink!

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President Obama Says the Republicans Want Business With No Rules - That's a False Charge

The other day, I was listening to one of President Obama's stump speeches as he jet set around the country in Air Force One soliciting campaign contributions for his 2012 run against the Republicans that have the higher approval ratings. President Obama said something very interesting when it came to over-regulation, and the cries from the business community.

He said that; "Republicans want business with no rules!" That is simply false, that is not true, and all of the small businesses, and the corporate executives that I know, and I know quite a few, just want a fair shake, and they are;

Tired of the duplication of rules and regulations at every level of government
Tired of the double jeopardy of lawsuits from private sector and government
Tired of Consumer Extortion
Tired of Competing with Foreign Firms that Don't Follow the Rules
Tired of Crony Capitalism, Unbalanced Playing Fields, and Government Picking the Winners

It is really unfortunate that we have a President of the United States who has never run a business, and perhaps never even run a lemonade stand for all I know. You can go into any small business in your town, talk to the owner, and verify what I've said here in this article. You can ask them to see all of their licenses, permits, and registrations. Most small businesses have no less than 20 pieces of paper showing that they are legitimately allowed to run their type of business on that premises.

Many folks that have never run a business don't understand, they think running a business is easy and all you have to do is get a business license. But that's not really true, you need all sorts of other licenses, and you have to pay all kinds of fees, taxes, and the harassment, well, it really never stops. Further, on any given week you might be visited by several regulators from various agencies at the city, county, state, and federal level.

In fact, it's amazing the amount of micromanagement the government does, and all the enforcement that goes on. The federal government is perhaps the most arrogant of all, because they believe their rules trump every other jurisdiction, and they act as they have the power to shut you down on the spot. The way the legal system works in this country, they actually do. Still, we are a nation that believes in capitalism and free enterprise, including the right to free contract. It is amazing how the federal government has infiltrated its way into every single transaction that we do.

If we truly want jobs back in America, we are going to have to lighten the load on our small business community with regards to all the regulations. Since President Obama has been in office the regulations have increased, not decreased. And Congress, the regulatory agencies, and even the president himself through executive orders have done nothing more than stifle free enterprise and commerce. Excuse me for saying so, but that's just totally unacceptable.

It additionally, the arrogance of President Obama to make such a statement and to label the Republicans as wanting to allow businesses to run with no rules whatsoever is absolute poppycock and utter hokum. Of course, it makes sense that a socialist leaning president would use such a populist message, and class warfare categorization to promote his own personal agenda and political career. But as I said; it's simply unacceptable. Please consider all this and think on it.

Lance Winslow has launched a new highly-charged and provocative series of eBooks on Future Concepts. Lance Winslow is a retired Founder of a Nationwide Franchise Chain, and now runs the Online Think Tank; http://www.worldthinktank.net/

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Jingoism Rules At Tory Party Conference

Another Tory party conference draws to a close and perhaps a good time to reflect on the beast which is Conservatism. As the economy falters, delegates, cabinet ministers and party leader alike have all resorted back to type, which is gratifying because at least it is honest. There is nothing more sickening than a Tory trying to convince us that he is in favour of big society when what he really wants is a country with strong defences to protect the privileged few who will benefit from the stream of elitist measures we can expect to see in the future. They are a paranoid lot on the whole, the Tories, and think the whole world is against them. They want to reduce the influence of Europe on their affairs, as if that was a bad thing, they have vetoed plans for a European military headquarters, they plan to raise the barriers against an influx of more mad foreigners, and are reopening embassies abroad to keep tabs on the big bad world. No budget is too big when it comes to stiffening our defences against the Frog and the Dago!

What a sorry display of retrogressive colonialism. Hague even suggested we revitalize that great institution, the Commonwealth. Why don't they bring back slavery while they're about it? They are still singing to the tune of Rule Britannia, when the fact is that unless Britain learns to get on with its neighbours in a far less patronizing way, it will become even more sidelined in the power games of the future than it is now. Will the USA, assuming it recovers its authority, really prefer to negotiate with an isolated UK rather than a unified Eurozone? Will the growing influence of Russia and China give a hoot about the Commonwealth? The sort of jingoism we heard this week from the Tories only gets up people's noses and turns the UK into a joke abroad.

And where do their partners in government fit in to all this? It seems any pretence of kowtowing to the Liberal Democrats has finally been abandoned. How will the Libdems feel about ditching the Human Rights Act, for example, as proposed by Theresa May? The cracks that were starting to show before will surely widen to threaten the entire edifice in the wake of this conference. All this shows what a mistake it was for such two unsuitable partners to get into bed together in the first place. This torn coalition is weakening further the recovery which was already beginning under Labour. With growth barely happening at all (revised down to 0.1% in the second quarter) they had better start focusing on the important issues of jobs and housing before bothering about diplomatic havens abroad for their pals.

Milton Johanides is a retired businessman, church elder, writer and artist. He has been featured on BBC TVs Songs of Praise, owned numerous art galleries and once ran an award winning picture framing business in Scotland. The views expressed in these articles are his own.
email: miltonjohanides@yahoo.co.uk
http://www.x-ibit-it.com/
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New Rules - If You Get a Job The Government Cuts You a Check

Indeed, it seems rather obvious that the government cannot be trusted to dictate economic policy or create jobs. Why would I make such a damning comment? Well, look at the scoreboard folks, isn't it abundantly clear? Now then, we have all sorts of politicians some of them with very elaborate stories and strategies to help increase job growth and decrease unemployment in the United States.

There is only one problem with all this, and that is that nothing has worked so far that any politician regardless of what side of the aisle they are on, all their plans are bunk. I suppose it goes without saying that "Paying People Not to Work is Unwise!" May I ask why we are extending unemployment benefits for months on end even past 99 weeks? We are basically paying people not to work, and in doing so we are giving them an incentive to stay out of the labor force. Such a disincentive for employment growth seems ironically ill-conceived.

How about some new rules? Why don't we pay people to go find a job. Individuals are fairly resourceful when they are getting something for it, and if we're going to give them free money for getting a job, I bet you that a large portion of the unemployed will find a way. If they find a job and get themselves hired, they can have half of the money as part of their prize, and the other half after they've worked there for three months they will get their second half. At which time the employer will also get a check for the next three months as long as they work up until six months.

Pay people to work, don't pay people not to work!

You see, you may not know this, but previous studies have shown that when people's unemployment benefits end they generally get a job within three months, at least 40% of them. What this tells me is that people will stay unemployed as long as a check is coming in the mail, provided the post office doesn't go out of business, which is a whole different issues isn't it. You see, even if that unemployment check is less than they might make if they were actually working, they just adjust their budgets and get paid not to work; however, when that check stops coming, all the suddenly they get busy and find a way to find a job - surprise, surprise?

Indeed, I don't know about you, but I am tired of listening to the Teleprompter speeches by these various politicians about how they might lower our unemployment rate in the US. Then each side has a different plan, and they argue over it. Of course, I certainly don't like any of the plans and strategies that the socialists, I believe you call them "Democrats" have come up with lately, they are just throwing more good money after bad, and it isn't even their money they're throwing around, it's the taxpayers money.

The only people we need to have unemployed in this country are the politicians. And with that said; I hope you will please consider all this and think on it.

Lance Winslow has launched a new highly provocative series of eBooks on Future Concepts. Lance Winslow is a retired Founder of a Nationwide Franchise Chain, and now runs the Online Think Tank; http://www.worldthinktank.net/

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Women's Group Success Practices - Setting the Ground Rules

Every women's group needs to establish basic ground rules to be successful and keep your women coming back. Our suggested rules of the road are easy to understand and easy to maintain, and most importantly must be adhered to for the group to remain cohesive.

These Group Success Practices are meant to be followed at all times during your meetings but are most important when discussing your main topic. It is at this time the group should be a bit more formal, always adhering to the following:

Everyone is to be treated with respect

Each guest is coming to a group to learn and grow. Not everyone will have the same views on topics; not everyone will have the same education or financial stability; not everyone will be on the same page. Snickering, annoyed sighing or eye rolling should never be tolerated.

All ideas are welcomed and there are no right or wrong ideas

Everyone should feel free enough to offer up her ideas or suggestions without worrying that she will be criticized or humiliated. An idea is just that, an idea. It is neither good nor bad, right nor wrong, better nor worse. It is just something to be presented and thought about by everyone.

One person talks at a time

Many groups have a speaking stick, a talking object or some other prop that is passed to and held by the person who has the floor. Your meeting's Facilitator, or if you have a designated Timekeeper, may stop anyone else who interrupts the speaker, gently reminding her that she will have to wait her turn. Most times the talking object holder should expect to speak for about two to three minutes. Remind your guests that you will nudge them to finish up if they get too long-winded.

Practice listening as well as speaking

Remember, it's not always about you. It is said we were given two ears and one mouth because we should listen twice as much as we speak. When others are speaking, they have something worth listening to. Other people have important and differing thoughts than you, and you may learn something new from actively listening.

Confidentiality is crucial

It is often said, "What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas." Thoughts, feelings and opinions discussed within the confines of a women's group meeting are to be cherished as something all who attended are privy to. Nothing should be repeated to others outside the meeting. It is only the concern of those who are part of your group. Confidentiality leads to trust, which allows even the most reticent participant to open up and participate.

Remembering these five simple Group Success Practices will ensure that your members feel free to open up and participate actively in your discussions. Safety and security within the confines of your group are essential.

Karen Fusco is co-founder of Boomers In Motion, LLC where 'we talk to women'. She is co-author of Essentials for Starting a Women's Group and "Busy Moms: The Heart and Soul of a Home." Maximize the value of the women in your life by visiting Karen's WomensGroupBusyBites blog.

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