Monday, April 28, 2008

The Benefits of MonaVie Juice

Drink it. Feel it. Share it.

That’s the slogan of the company. I have been drinking the juice now for one month. I stopped all my other vitamins which I took a whole hand full everyday. Instead I am drinking one ounce of MonaVie Active in the morning and in the evening. My husband and I salute each other with the drink every night, and it feels very good. I like the benefits of the glucosamine on my joints, since I have had problems with my legs and right shoulder. We have already shared it with some of our friends and neighbors. It is an exciting time. I don’t want to be pulled down by the economy or any other negos. Please refer to my blog on "Business Trends (3-31-08)" Paul Zane Pilzer’s “The Next Millionaires.”

Benefits
• Delivers powerful antioxidant protection
• Provides the right variety and balance of phyto-nutrients
• Serves as a delicious alternative to encapsulated nutritional supplements
• Supports healthy joint function with glucosamine and esterified fatty acids (MonaVie Active and MonaVie Active Gel)


The Acai Berry has an ORAC Value that's Off the ChartsORAC means Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity. According to the University of Michigan, Comprehensive Cancer Center, the measurement of ORAC is just a fancy way of saying, "How well does a certain food help my body fight diseases like cancer and heart disease?"

Key Ingredient
The açai berry is the crown jewel of the MonaVie blend. When properly freeze-dried, acai boasts an ORAC score of 1,026 per gram—higher than that of any other fruit or vegetable tested to date. It’s no wonder that for ages the indigenous cultures of the Amazon have revered açai as a source of health and vitality. Recently, modern science has validated the remarkable health benefits of this fruit, and studies have shown açai to contain the following beneficial nutrients:
• Polyphenols
• Vitamins and minerals
• Amino acids
• Essential fatty acids (omega 3, 6, and 9)
• Plant sterols
• Fiber
Studies have also shown that freeze-dried açai powder has an ORAC score that is 79 times higher than that of red grapes and an anthocyanin (purple colored antioxidants) level that is 20–30 times that of red wine. The final blend of MonaVie incorporates the flavors and benefits of the açai berry and 18 other healthful and delicious fruits.

To learn more about the company and the juice, please go to my website:
http://www.mymonavie.com/raysolution/
and watch a video:
http://www.mymonavie.com/raysolution/opportunity_powerofyou.asp

Orrin’s Benchmarking study on companies in the networking industry:
http://orrinwoodward.blogharbor.com/blog/_archives/2008/2/5/3506904.html#1079996
The proof is in the pudding:
http://orrinwoodward.blogharbor.com/blog/BusinessFinance

I trust the leadership of the TEAM and the direction we are taking.

Monday, April 21, 2008

How to Overcome the Fear of Speaking in Public

“Do the thing you fear and the death of fear is certain.”
-- Ralph Waldo Emerson --

For many the fear of speaking in front of a group is overwhelming. The fear of public speaking is on top of all other fears like fear of spiders, snakes, darkness, loneliness, etc.
Fear can be your friend says Sean Hockensmith in his book Smashing the Wall of Fear. Fear communicates feelings of warnings of danger or a means of protection. If we can ask ourselves, "Will I harm myself or others by facing this fear?" If the answer is, no, then we can trust in the guidance of fear to lead us to face this fear and eventually overcoming the obstacle. That helps us to expand our comfort zone. It will also create confidence and empowerment.
Susan Jeffers, Ph.D. wrote a book Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway. She teaches some dynamic techniques for turning fear, indecision, and anger into power, action, and love.

Going back to the fear of public speaking, my husband Paul and I have joined a local Toastmasters International Club, STANDING ROOM ONLY
(http://standingroomonly.freetoasthost.ws/). We meet twice a month for an hour to hour and a half.
Toastmasters has clear guidelines for each meeting, where we prepare speeches, have spontaneous table topics, and finally learn to give each other feedback on how we did. Each speech has a certain objective like an icebreaker where we just introduce ourselves to the group. Other objectives are how to structure the speech, how to use body language, eye contact and tone of voice, or use certain visual aides. Each speech is only 5 – 7 minutes.
These get-togethers are so much fun and very educational. For serious students there are contests and seminars for leadership training.
For those interested in Toastmasters, please visit: http://www.toastmasters.org/
For a quick guide on how to prepare a speech, please visit: http://www.freetoasthost.org/A_Quick_Guide_to_Public_Speaking.html

Many accomplished speakers and leaders have gone through the Toastmasters training. My favorite so far is by Mike Dooley. He speaks on: Thoughts Become Things (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8x4sVR67wCk&feature=related).


Dale Carnegie (creator of the Dale Carnegie Training), wrote in his book The Quick & Easy Way to Effective Speaking, about how to develop confidence by overcoming the fear of speaking in public. First of all, he says, it is very common for people to have stage fright. Next, the uneasiness we feel when we stand in front of people will eventually help us to express ourselves better, faster and with greater intensity. Even professional speakers never lose the uneasiness completely. Finally, he mentions, that it is unusual for anybody to stand up in public and that the only cure for stage fright is to do it again and again.
We may never become public speakers, but if is helps to overcome certain fears, it’s all worth it. It is certainly a wonderful learning experience.

Monday, April 14, 2008

What is Your Humor?

Hippocrates, the Father of medicine, classified four types of humors in people. Each type was believed to be due to an excess of one of four bodily fluids, corresponding to their character. The personalities were termed humors such as choleric (yellow bile), sanguine (blood), phlegmatic (phlegm) and melancholic (black bile). The four fluids were formerly considered responsible for one’s health and disposition.
Florence Littauer in her book Personality Plus, gives each of these personalities a clear description.
Cholerics are powerful, driven, born leaders.
Sanguines are popular, the life of the party, creative and charming.
Phlegmatics are peace-loving, gentle, patient and sensitive.
Melancholics are seeking perfection, precision, and doings things right.

As we learn an individual’s temperament, we can anticipate his/her reaction to different situations. It can also be a powerful tool for self-improvement and growth when we recognize strength and weaknesses connected to each personality.

A few months ago I went to a leadership seminar in St. Louis. One of the speakers was Dr. Robert Rohm. Dr. Rohm approaches the personalities from the DISC concept.

Robert drew a circle first, dividing it into four quarters. He determined the top half as outgoing and the bottom half as reserved. He declared the left side as task oriented and the right side as people oriented.

The choleric become the Dominant Personality, being direct, determined, decisive, doers, directors, dogmatic, dreamers and diligent. They need challenges, choices and be in control. On the negative side they are defiant. About 10% of the whole population has this personality. They are motivated by results.

The sanguines become the Inspiring Personality, being influencing, inducing, impressing, interesting, impressionable, important, interchangeable, interested in people, imaginative (dreamer), and impulsive. They need recognition, approval and popularity. On the negative side they are illogical. About 25-30% of the population has this personality. They are motivated by fun.

The phlegmatic become the Supportive Personality, being steady, stable, secure, serving, sweet, submissive, shy, status quo (don’t like changes), sentimental, and like sameness. They need appreciation, security, and approval. On the negative side they are suckers. About 30-35% of the population has this personality. They are motivated by peace and harmony.

The melancholics become the Cautious Personality, being competent, cognitive, careful, calculating, critical thinking, compliant, conservative, correct, conforming, and consistent. They need quality answers, excellence, and value. On the negative side they appear cold. About 20-25% of the population has this personality. They are motivated by quality answers, value and being correct.
When we look at the DISC, we find that in relationships, the opposite quadrants seem to attract each or complement each other best. Many people are a blend of two personality styles. We all can learn from each others styles, becoming more integrated with each other as we grow and learn about each other.

Knowing about the personality styles has helped me a lot in my working environment. My personality is Supportive with some Cautious influence. I have had some very strong Dominant personality bosses lately. The only way I could deal with them successfully was what I learned about the different styles. I knew that I could contribute a lot through my supportive style and learn to be more assertive and upbeat.
My husband is the Cautious personality. When he is around I feel very secure and protected. My daughter is a mixture of Dominant and Cautious. She challenges me and keeps me grounded. My son's personality is much like mine. He is very laid back and sentimental.

I believe that it is part of our purpose here on earth to learn and grow. The awareness of the personality style brings insights and many rewards to our daily lives. I go back to my notes often and also read Dr. Rohm's book Positive Personality Profiles.

Monday, April 7, 2008

Change is Constant (in the Physical Realm)

Right now we are experiencing the beautiful season of spring. We let go of the heavy clothing of winter, spend more time outdoors and enjoy the longer daytime hours. We prepare different meals and think of vacation. We understand and accept the changes in our external world as normal and necessary.
What about the internal and emotional changes? Kids want to grow up badly. They can’t wait for another birthday to come along. Change is part of growing up.

Why do we resist change? In our culture we are accustomed to think of ourselves as physical beings only. In a book by Wayne W. Dyer, “You’ll See It When You Believe It,” Mr. Dyer talks about us looking in the mirror and questioning that momentarily face: Who am I?

But if we look at pictures of days gone by, we looked different. We are still the same person who smiled from that adorable baby picture; or that First-grader with no front teeth; or that teenager on his first date in a suit; or that beautiful bride in the white gown with a veil hanging down to her waste; or that young mother holding her first baby, etc. Are we the same person? Really?
Wayne’s book is about transformation. He explains how we can go beyond our form (physical), become aware of our energy nature and then take actions toward accepting responsibility for our personal growth.

I come to understand that we are spiritual human beings. Beings made of energy with infinite possibilities in thoughts, light, sounds and dreams. One of my favorite YouTube videos is of Mike Dooley: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8x4sVR67wCk&feature=related. Mike makes a presentation through Toastmasters International on “Thoughts Become Things.” Mike explains how, through imagination, we can “dream” thoughts into realities beyond our wildest dreams.

We are now in the Information Age. Part of it opens up possibilities like the internet where we can learn and explore endlessly any subject or question. Even 5-year olds are learning keyboarding today in Kindergarten. Starting an education often can confront us with changes where the subjects one started studying at the beginning of one’s studies are outdated by the time one finishes and is ready to start one’s courier. This is the time were we need to become accustomed to change more than ever.

I learned that by accepting what is, any situation or difficulties comes to me for a reason. I can learn from it, watch it and decide if it takes me to fulfill my purpose or not. If the circumstance would take me further from my destination, then I have to decide against it. I always have a choice. Between the stimulus and my response there is the moment of decision. Change gives me that choice.

"To exist is to change, to change is to mature, to mature is to go on creating oneself endlessly."
Henry Bergson - French philosopher

Change happens in the physical world. The only thing constant is God and His universal principles. God is unchanging, eternal, omnipotent, omnipresent, beyond space and time.
Let’s replace our old ways of thinking (based only on the physical reality) with becoming the person we were meant to be. Let’s plug into the infinite reservoir of the internal universe, through prayer, meditation, studying scriptures and experimenting with our life of faith. Maybe then we can SEE IT WHEN WE BELIEVE IT.