Want your own Personal Cheering Section?

Everybody's got goals in life. Aren't they easier to accomplish when someone's cheering you on?

If you're like most people, you've got things you want to get done — lose weight, learn a new language, make more money, go back to school. But, let's face it, sometimes it can be less than easy to stay motivated. And, hey, who's watching to make sure you keep on track anyway? Well now you can have hundreds of thousands of fellow achievers watching your back.

43Things.com is a social networking site where users list their goals, share their progress and cheer each other on. Start by creating your account (it's free), then sharing your objectives. Your list will be compared to the goals of over one million other 43Things.com users and you'll get to see who's in the same boat as you. Next, keep people up-to-date as you knock down each goal so they know that it's doable. Finally, cheer people on and they'll cheer you on, too!

You don't have to do it alone. Check out 43Things.com and get your own personal cheering section. Visit 43 Things

Looking for a Way to Help Others?

On Kiva.org, you can help the world's working poor reach economic independence. But you don't just give your money away — you loan it. Because on this site, your generosity gets repaid.

Kiva.org (a non-profit organization) is home to more than 130 entrepreneurs from the developing world looking to start up or fund a business. And whether it's raising cattle, repairing cars or selling clothes, there's one thing they all have in common: they need your help. But they're not looking for handouts — just a 6-12 month loan to get them on their feet. Which you can help with safely and easily right through Kiva.org.

The lending process is simple. Find a person you'd like to loan to, then do so using your credit card through PayPal. Kiva then transfers the funds to their local microfinance partners, who distribute the money to each business. Periodically, the partner collects repayments and provides detailed updates on how your loan is helping. Once your loan is repaid, you can either withdraw the funds or re-loan to someone new!

Kiva.org also supplies information about each of their field partners, including delinquency and default rates, the number of entrepreneurs they're sponsoring and their risk rating, so you can have a better idea of how your loan will be repaid.

Just think of it as a temporary donation. Visit Kiva

You Have Always Been Brilliant

Life changing, motivational books are only effective if a connection is made between the author and reader. The reader must believe what the author is sharing and then make changes in their own personal life. Through “Release Your Brilliance,” Simon Bailey has connected with the reader as a real person, sharing his own personal story and using symbolism that is understandable to all readers in order to share the knowledge he has gained through his own life experiences.

Throughout this journey, we are compared to magnificent diamonds that are already “Brilliant.” We are taught through the process of reflection and journaling exactly how to release the brilliance that is within each of us. Reflection is the key component and Simon helps the reader to reflect on many parts of their life in a new and inspiring way.

We are encouraged to examine all relationships, goals and “Facets” of our life. Once our “Facets” are polished and refined, our inner “Brilliance” will begin to shine and others will notice the positive changes we have made in our lives.

In addition, real-life “Brilliant” people share their stories with us which help to clarify, focus and motivate the reader to answer questions and develop plans to enhance the individual’s own life.

In addition to this book, Simon has many additional tips and resources available on his website and DVD.


“Release Your Brilliance”
By: Simon T. Bailey
Publisher: Collins
ISBN: 978-0-06-145187-4

Resolve to “Feeling Better” in the New Year

How our mind interprets chronic and annoying (non-life threatening) symptoms is a topic that has recently gained much research and respect in the medical field. Through their successful 6-Week Program, Dr’s Barsky and Deans tackle many of the annoying and often debilitating issues facing a very large, stressed and overworked human population.

If any of the following symptoms sound familiar to you: anxiety, migraines, headaches, stress, depression, fatigue, arthritis, lower back pain, insomnia, indigestion and you have not found relief from your medical provider, I highly recommend reading and following Barsky and Deans “6-Week Mind-Body Program to ease your Chronic Symptoms.”

Through their step-by-step plan you will slowly change the way you perceive your symptoms and the way you approach life. You will spend time reflecting, journaling, becoming more active “in life,” finding and using stress reducing activities on a regular basis, concentrating on better nutrition and discovering an exercise program that will work for you.

In addition to examples and strategies, real-life stories and examples are provided for the reader. This is the type of self-help book that should be read more than once to gain the full benefit and to reinforce positive thinking and goal attainment over a period of time. I challenge you to resolve to “Feeling Better” in the New Year.


“Feeling Better”
By: Arthur Barsky, M.D. & Emily Deans, M.D.
Publisher: Collins
ISBN: 978-0-06-076614-6