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Often times, your kids bedroom is the most disorganized and cluttered room in the house. Of course, children are a bit messy by nature but if you have inadequate storage or a disorganized storage plan, this can make things even harder. Here’s some tips on creating more storage in your kids closet which can help declutter the whole room.

The first thing you should do before you even start organizing the closet is to go through everything in the room and throw out anything that is not used. To accomplish this effectively, you should sort everything into 2 piles - the “keep” pile and the “toss” pile. You can further break down the toss pile into items that can be donated and items that should just be thrown out.

Using a closet organizer in your kids bedroom closet can really help to add extra storage space to the room. You can use one of the simple wire organizers that have some shelves and two tiered racks or go hog wild with one of the nice wooden ones with all kinds of drawers and other storage areas.

No matter what type of closet organizer you have (or even if you just have a pole with a top shelf) you want to make the most use of your closet space. Since the very top shelf is not easily accessible for your child you want to store off season clothes and other items up there. Buy some plastic containers and put the clothes inside - label the outside of the box and you will be able to easily see what is in what box. You can also store clothing from an older relative that might be too big this year but will fit next year in boxes up on the top shelf.

Another way that you can double the closet space is to use hanging racks or double up on the rods. Since your childs clothing is not very long, it is not necessary for a full length from rod to floor - adding a second rod will double the amount of space you have to hang clothes. Most closet organizers come with this type of system, but if you don’t have a closet organizer, you can buy a simple hanging rod that hangs from the top rod to double the space.

Help your kid to get his dirty clothes up off the bedroom floor by using a tall garbage can or tall cloth laundry bin inside the closet. Children are more apt to use a hamper if it is near where they are taking off their clothes and putting it in the closet will create more room in the bedroom and keep the dirty laundry out of site.

A wicker basket can be placed inside the closet on the floor or on one of the shelves of a closet organizer in which to store stuffed animals and dolls. You can also use a hanging shoe bag for small toys and stuffed animals.

Use another basket or shallow container to store shoes - this will help keep them together instead of all jumbled up all over the room.

If you have small children, you can organize their clothing for the week by choosing several outfits and then placing each outfit inside a hanging accessory bag. That way your child can simply go to the bag and take out everything he need to dress himself!

In addition to the closet, you can organize shelves and use the space under the bed by storing toys and mementos in plastic storage bins and wicker baskets. The wicker baskets can look nice on shelves or in open areas and can even add to the décor while the plastic ones can go under the bed and in other “hidden” areas.

While organizing your kids bedroom closet in this way can’t guarantee that he or she will always be neat and put stuff away, it surely can’t hurt!

Plastic model airplane building appeals to a wide variety
of people and age groups. The subjects range from early 20th
century flying machines to modern day jet airplanes. The
included instructions are a good place to start, but creating a
highly-realistic model requires a bit of extra knowledge. Here
are some tips for creating a fantastic model:

The parts are made by injection molding, and are covered with a
material to help release them from the mold. This release agent
will also prevent paint from sticking to the model. Wash the
parts in soap and water, then air dry. Use a hair dryer if
you’d like to speed up the process.

Assemble and paint the cockpit next. The cockpit will be
permanently enclosed within the fuselage halves, and will be
nearly impossible to paint later.

Use only a thin line of glue on each side of the
fuselage, or each side of the wing. A small spot of glue
(applied with a pin) is enough to attach small parts. Excess
glue gets onto the surface of the model and must be cleaned up
later with sandpaper.

Take care to line up the wings and tail relative to the
fuselage, as a crooked airplane really stands out. Use tape to
hold the larger pieces together to check the alignment,
before adding glue.

Sometimes after gluing there will be gaps between
pieces. Fill these gaps with hobby putty, or with super
glue. When the filler is dry, remove the excess and smooth with
sandpaper.

If painting by brush, get a range of sizes (wide, medium
and fine). Try not to overlap your brush strokes, or repaint an
area that is still wet. Wait until the paint is dry then apply
another coat if necessary. After painting, clean your brushes
thoroughly with the recommended thinner, and store them upright
in an old cup.

Paint from a spray can will give a smoother finish than
the brush. Cans cool down during use, which reduces the paint
flow. Place the can in warm (not hot) water for ten minutes or
so to fix this.

The airbrush is the ultimate tool for painting model
airplanes. It is like a spray can with much more control. The
air pressure and paint volume can be controlled, allowing the
user to paint finer lines than with a spray can. If you plan to
keep building models, it is a worthwhile investment.

Canopy. The clear plastic canopy has frames that need to
be painted. Doing this with a fine point brush can be tricky
and error-prone. A better idea is to use masking tape to cover
the canopy, then use a sharp hobby knife blade to cut and remove
tape from the frame portions. Then paint, and after drying
remove the remaining tape.

Clear Coats. The water-slide decals (markings) that come
with the kit work better on a gloss surface. A clear gloss
overcoat should be applied, then after drying apply decals.
If the airplane has a naturally flat (non-glossy) surface, then
after applying the decals, paint again with a flat clear
coat.

Apply these tips, and take your time building the model. Most
importantly, have fun doing it!

If you’d like to know more, visit our website for detailed
instructions on making a museum-worthy World War 2
Airplane Model.

This article may be reprinted if proper credit is given and all
links left intact.

Copyright©2005 World War 2 Airplane Model

Have you ever tried to negotiate a deal for software, computer equipment, or consulting services with a technology company? The task can be daunting. Unfortunately, the sales forces of most IT companies are armed to the hilt with techniques to get the best deal for them, and not necessarily the best deal for you. And even worse, most of us computer folk (like myself) have never been trained in the art of negotiation, so it can be difficult to spot a snake in the grass. Before you begin negotiating a technology deal, know what you’re getting in to.

Solicit, Don’t Be Solicited

I receive at least three calls each day from technology vendors interested in selling something: hardware equipment, software tools, consulting services, etc. Usually, these calls are “cold”. My name somehow landed on a telemarketing list in the hands of some vendor who is calling me out of the clear blue sky hoping that what they sell somehow matches what I need. You can waste hours on the phone letting some non-technical, script-reading, telemarketer or sales representative chew your ear off about their latest and greatest gizmo. Very rarely do these types of calls ever translate into a real business opportunity.

The most popular cold call opening is “Good morning. This is Joe from the XYZ software company. We offer break through whatever solutions to help you reduce your total cost of ownership for whatever. Let me ask you, are your responsible for managing your companies whatever investment?” I get so many of these calls that I can answer them in my sleep. Years ago, I used to engage in some level of discussion with these people and it always went nowhere. Unless you really think they’ve got something you might want to buy, cut them off immediately. And just like any telemarketer, they have a scripted response for anything. If you answer the above question with “No. I am not”. The immediate response will be “Could you direct me to someone in the company that is responsible for whatever”. If you hand out a name and number, you’re just passing the buck to some other poor soul in your organization. My favorite response is “No. We don’t respond to phone solicitations.” Nine times out of ten, they will give up.

Sometimes, the cold caller will make another run at it and re-state their purpose or as they close the call, sneak in another sales pitch. “Yes sir. I understand. We offer something really great for your company and would love to send you a free trial version at absolutely no cost. Its free to try.” You could be tempted to say “Free? Tell me more.” Again, this type of response will just open up the sales speech flood gates and you will be wasting your time trying to get a word in edge-wise. Stick to your guns: “As I said. We don’t respond to phone solicitations.” is the proper response. If they make yet one more run at it, the final blow would be “Not sure if you’re deaf, but I said we don’t respond to phone solicitations. Tell me your name and transfer me to your supervisor.” You will either hear apologies or a dial tone. Either way, you’ve just gotten yourself off of a call list and will never be bothered again.

If you’re interested in buying something, you do the calling, not the other way around.

Put The Horse Before The Cart

Never begin looking for technology solutions without knowing what you’re looking for. Know the business problem you’re trying to solve. If you know you need a software package that automates statistical analysis, flush out a more detailed set of statistics requirements (types of model, sample sizes, etc.) before you begin to shop around. Usually, software products have bells and whistles that, although look cool, are not absolutely needed. Before you begin comparison shopping, define your basic technology and business requirements. Knowing what you really need will give you confidence and leverage in a negotiation.

Always Comparison Shop

No matter what, always evaluate multiple options. If you’re looking for software, don’t get excited and latch on to the first package that looks good. And certainly don’t give a sales rep. the impression that you’re overly interested in their solution. They will be less likely to move during a negotiation. The IT market is over abundant with hardware, software and services solutions. Probably, you will have many options to choose from. Be picky!

Create Your Game Plan

Before you begin negotiating a deal with any technology vendor, plan your negotiation carefully. I have included some general planning questions that you should answer in preparation for a negotiation. The questions I have listed below may not make sense for your negotiation, so feel free to modify them for the occasion. The point here is to prepare in advance. You don’t want to figure out the answers to these types of questions in the middle of a negotiation as it may give an inch to the sales person. I would even recommend writing the questions and answers on a sheet of paper for reference.

(Price) How much do you think you should pay for this software or service? What is the market rate or street price? What are you prepared to spend? What is the highest price you would be willing to pay?

(Features) What key features and capabilities are you looking for? Force rank the features. What does the prioritized list look like? Of the features you need, categorize them into two categories: “must have” and “nice to have”.

(Service Levels) Do you expect some level of performance from the equipment, software, or service? Are there up-time requirements? Do you need 24×7 technical support? Do you expect the vendor to incur a penalty if they don’t perform up to your service levels?

(Trades) What is most important to you: price, features, or service level? Force rank these in order of importance. Would you be willing to trade items between categories? For example, would you be willing to give up a certain service level for a lower price?

(Suppliers) Which vendors offer something that you think could meet your needs? How long have these companies been in business? Are you doing business with them already? Do you have a good business relationship with them?

(Gravy) If you had your druthers, what extras would you like the vendor to throw in for free? Would you like training or extra manuals? Would you like special reporting?

You will probably have more questions in addition to the ones listed above. Take the time to write them down and create the answers. Once you have established your position, you will save a great deal of time evaluating your potential vendors and negotiations will be less painful.

Lead The Dance

When you are ready to face off with a vendor, do your best to drive the discussion. Get as much information about the vendor and their product and service before price enters into the discussion. Just like car buying, pick out your car (or choice of cars) before you negotiate a price. If you find that the discussion is prematurely heading toward pricing, bring the conversation back to understanding the product or service itself. If you’re not ready to talk price, say something like “Right now, I am just evaluating your product (or service). Unless I think there’s a real opportunity, I’m not prepared to negotiate price right now.”

Pricing for hardware, software, and services follow very different models. Hardware prices are fairly standard unless the product is new. Usually, the mark-up on hardware is very small (1-15%). On the flip- side, the mark-up for software is huge (100%+). Software is priced based on value, not the cost to the vendor so you can usually negotiate software prices down substantially. Services are usually based on labor rates and are marked up based on the demand for those skills (15-50%).

When you are ready to discuss pricing, take the lead in the dance. Here are the steps to follow (in this order):

1. Make the vendor throw out the first offer. Never be the first one to suggest a price. Although rare, you could hear the question “how much would you be willing to pay for our product?” A good response would be “As little as possible. What’s your offer?” This response puts the ball firmly in the vendor’s court. Remember, if you’ve done your planning, you really do have the answer to this question, but your job is get a price far below your maximum, so don’t tell the vendor up front!

2. Express concern. Never get excited about the first offer no matter what. If you’re considering other alternatives, you may be able to get a better price. My favorite tactic is to say nothing and simply make a non-verbal expression of concern. Usually, the vendor will come back with either “but I’m sure we could sharpen our pencil”, or “we could probably come down lower if that price is too high”, or the ever popular “but we’re willing to work with you”. You may also be prodded with “You don’t seem to like that price. I seem to be out of the ball park. What price would you be comfortable with?” Here’s where the dance gets interesting.

3. Make the vendor throw out the second offer. This can be difficult, but by making the vendor throw out more prices, you are lowering the ceiling of the negotiation going forward. If, in step 2, the vendor says “we could probably come down lower if that price is too high.”, immediately respond with “How much could you come down?” or “It seems you didn’t give me your best price to begin with. What’s your best price?”. Latch on to what a vendor is saying and keep asking questions. Stay on this step as long as possible and try and keep the vendor to continue to provide better pricing.

4. Counter offer. Propose a different price than what’s on the table. Be reasonable. If you’ve done your homework and checked the going price for the product or service, you know what the range is. If you throw out a price that you know is ridiculous, it will look like you don’t know what you’re doing. However, if you counter with a price that demonstrates that you’ve done your homework, the vendor will know you are serious. Justify for your counter offer. For example, you may want to reveal that you’ve done some market analysis by saying “I’ve researched the market a little and think my offer is more in line with market prices.” Obviously, the vendor may disagree, but at least you’re backing up your counter price.

5. Trade. Unless you can land on a price outright, there will likely be gives and takes on both sides. Go back to your to plan and begin proposing trades. Always make trades that bring you little to no value but may be perceived as valuable by the vendor. This can be very difficult, but can pay huge dividends. Here is a perfect example. Let’s say you want a service contract to outsource your help desk (technical support phone service). Let’s say you really want the help desk to answer your calls within 1 minute (you’ve already figured out this requirement in your plan) but the vendor’s first offer is to answer your calls within 30 seconds. Let’s also assume that price is more important to you than having your calls answered 30 seconds faster (remember- the vendor doesn’t know this). And let’s say the offer on the table is $5 per call. A great trade proposal would be “Your price is too high for me. I can recognize that you need enough people to answer those calls within 30 seconds and that has value. I would be willing to sacrifice an extra 30 seconds on each call if you could bring your price down.” If the vendor responds with a counter-offer, circle back to steps 4 and 5. Try and keep the counter offer / trade cycle going as long as possible.

6. Nibble. Just as you and the vendor are about to agree to terms and everyone starts smiling and shaking hands, start asking for the gravy. Let’s say you’ve just negotiated a software deal and you would really like some training. Just when you think the vendor believes the negotiation is at its very end, you could say “I am really glad we could work this out. I’m looking forward to using your software. One more thing- would you mind spending a couple days showing me how to use your product. A little training could be useful. Is that ok with you?” You run the risk of opening up the negotiation, but you stand a better chance of getting a few extras free of charge.

7. Walk The Talk. If you’ve set your maximum price and you can’t seem to negotiate what you want even with trades, walk away. Be firm and truly be prepared to walk away. Be blunt. “It seems we’re not getting anywhere. I think I’ll take my business elsewhere. Thanks for your time.” Shutting the discussion down can sometimes break the log jam. If a vendor really thinks they’re going to loose the business, they may suddenly move.

8. Patience is a Virtue. Negotiations take time. Before you begin, know what your timeframe to make a decision is. Never act hurried or anxious. Come across to the vendor as relaxed and confident (but not cocky). The message you want to send to the vendor is “I’ve got all the time in the world.”

9. Never Lie. Although this happens in many negotiations, telling lies will hurt your reputation and could poison vendor relationships. I am not a proponent of outright fibbing. Be honest but don’t give away your hand.

Follow these steps, and you will strike better deals and build confidence in your ability to negotiate. What I have left out in the steps above are standard questions that vendors love to ask. Let me leave you with these questions, their underlying motive, and what you should say. The trick is to always put the ball back in the vendor’s court to better your position:

• Question: “What’s your budget for this project?”

  Motive: Setting the price floor

  Answer: “That’s confidential. Why do you need to know that?”

• Question: “What’s most important to you? Price or service levels?”

  Motive : Prioritizing your trades

  Answer : “They’re both important to me. I’m looking for the best package”

• Question: “How soon do you need to make a decision?”

  Motive: Setting the timeframe

  Answer : “I will make a decision when I can get the overall best deal”

• Question: “Can you make decision quickly. I’ve got to make my sales quota and our quarter is ending soon. I can’t guarantee I give you the same discount”

  Motive : Apply pressure

  Answer : “I’m not going to rush my decision because of your company’s business calendar. We may need to re-think things…”

There are others, but always maintain your control, patience and poise and always take the lead in the negotiating dance!

About The Author

Andy Quick is co-founder of Findmyhosting.com (http://www.findmyhosting.com), a free web hosting directory offering businesses and consumers a hassle free way to find the right hosting plan for their needs. Feel free to contact Andy at andy@findmyhosting.com in case you have any questions or comments regarding this article.

Fancy a beach stag weekend in an Ibiza-like atmosphere that’s close to home? In this case, Bournemouth in Dorsett is the closest to your preference. What is it that makes Bournemouth so unique? While Bournemouth was previously branded as a blue-rinse paradise, this destination is currently populated with bars and clubs, all located within close proximity and thus turning this city to popular stag weekend destination.

However, stag weekends in Bournemouth are not all about night activities. There are lots to do in the daytime here as well. In fact, Bournemouth is also a popular team building event destination, with group packages available just for this purpose. For instance, activities such as the Mexican Railway and Ground Action Learning Tasks are some of the team building activities that can be organised by a corporate event organiser such as Chillisauce.

Other than that, your Bournemouth stag weekend will be short of exhausting as you are provided with a platter of daytime activities to choose from. Be a spy for a day as you enroll in the Spy School at Bournemouth. Learn how to use spy equipment, drive like a spy and more importantly, shoot like one!

If this is not extreme enough for you, learn how to be a Hollywood stuntman instead. Discover how knock-out scenes are done through hands-on workshops, and learn the secrets of firing semi-automatic and automatic guns in a movie setting.

Do you long for an exhilarating time in the water? Your Bournemouth stag weekend will not be complete if you don’t try out the 3 hour speedboat wakeboarding session across Poole Harbour. Show your stuff to the other lads as you are pulled by a 310hp Mastercraft, one of the fastest wakeboarding boats around.

End your stag weekend days with a wholesome session of night partying at the various pubs and bars lining the streets of Bournemouth. If you are up for more exclusive evening activities, you can bring the stag to a Bournemouth casino and gamble away at the variety of Blackjack, Roulette and Stud Poker. Otherwise, opt for a cocktail making session with lessons conducted by experienced bartenders, as well as cocktail games that would be fun for the lads.

Are you enticed to get a taste of Bournemouth yourself? Just contact Shane Williss from Chillisauce www.chillisauce.co.uk, a full-bonded tour operator in the UK and around the world. With the vast experience gained from organising stag weekends, Chillisauce will show you the best that Bournemouth has to offer for your stag weekend.

Piano students need to have knowledge and understanding of musical concepts in a way that they can apply to their playing. For example, students often have difficulty understanding the musical term syncopation. They can memorize the definition, but don’t know what it sounds like or how to do it. Here’s an easy way to explain this to kids taking piano lessons.

Rock music follows a strict 4/4 tempo, or four beats to every measure. The first beat of the measure is emphasized. Similarly, cheerleaders follow a 4/4 beat to scream their cheers. Try this count a steady 4 beats and keep repeating.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4, 1 - 2 - 3 - 4, 1 - 2 - 3 - 4, 1 - 2 - 3 - 4, 1 - 2 - 3 - 4, 1 - 2 - 3 4…

Clap on each beat emphasizing the first beats. This is a steady rock beat or an “Indian” beat that cheerleaders and the marching band might use during half-time at a football game. It doesn’t have a rhythm really, just a steady single beats.

Now create a syncopated rhythm. Clap the beats out, but hold out beat 4 and don’t clap on the next, or first, beat. Instead emphasize the 2nd beats. Like this:

1 - 2 - 3 - 4…hold - 2 - 3 - 4….hold - 2 - 3 - 4….hold 2 - 3 - 4….hold - 2 - 3 - 4….

Syncopation means to emphasize what would normally be a “weak” beat. Not playing on the first beat creates a sense of anticipation gives music a jazzy feeling that makes your want to tap your toe.

The Entertainer, by Scott Joplin, which was popularized by the 1973 movie, The Sting, has a syncopated rhythm common to ragtime music. Ragtime music has a steady 4/4 bass beat that supports a “ragged,” syncopated melody that keeps trying to interrupt the bass.

Have your child in piano lessons try the exercise above. Then get a CD or the sheet music of The Entertainer. You can find a simplified arrangement for children taking piano lessons online or at your local music store. It would make a nice Birthday or Christmas gift and you’ll love hearing them play this syncopated, ragtime music written by Scott Joplin (1868-1917).

For great home piano activities parents can use to help children ages 5 to 11 develop their musical talent, visit Piano Adventure Bears Music Education Resources You’ll find a treasure box filled with piano resources to create an exciting musical adventure for your child - right in your own home! Visit their website and subscribe to their f’ree internet newsletter so you can download f’ree piano sheet music and mp3s of original piano compositions.

These exciting stories, games, piano lessons, and inspirational gifts feature the Piano Adventure Bears, Mrs. Treble Beary and her new piano student, Albeart Littlebud. Young students follow along with Albeart to learn what piano lessons are all about in a fun way that kids readily understand appreciate. Click here to visit PianoAdventureBears.com For a wealth of information about piano lessons, visit tallypiano.com

After about a year of planning for your wedding, you and your
fiancé have most of the major components finalized…the
catering, wedding flowers, decorations, guest favors,
photography, etc.

One of the “finishing touches” in the wedding plan is
transportation. How you arrive at the wedding and depart from
the ceremony and reception is a large part of the wedding day
celebration. Many couples choose to travel directly to the hotel
after the wedding reception or to an airport to fly off to a
distant resort. The best weddings involve creativity, unique
style and planning on the part of the couple, and transportation
is no exception.

Of all the types of wedding transportation available, a limousine
service is one of the most popular and is a classic symbol of
luxury. Most limousine services are very flexible and can offer
a chauffeur for the entire day, or just an hour or two. The
choice depends on what your wedding day involves. White
limousines are the most formal type, and although the standard
seating is 4-6, many can hold up to 12 people at a time. Of
course, in addition to a limousine, other cars can also be used
for the transporting of the wedding party or family members.
Many traditions call for the bride to ride with the father to
the church. Of course, the remaining parents and
guests/attendants would follow. How you choose to create your
wedding experience is up to you and your loved one. Here are
some quick tips to help make your bridal experience with your
loved one a romantic and memorable one.

Do some research on any prospective service to make sure it
follows the correct guidelines, and always write a contract.

Inquire whether the service is part of the National Limousine
Association (www.limo.org). More information about limousine
service vehicle guidelines can be found there.

Are you able to decorate the vehicle? According to tradition,
the groomsmen do the decorating. Of course, many wedding vehicle
decorating involves the bridesmaids, brides, parents of the
bride and others. Remember that good etiquette usually calls for
a driver gratuity.

The origins of the very first lamp dates back to 70,000 BC. The first lamps were of course very primitive, cavemen used to burn animal fat and then placed it in a hollow rock to illuminate the darkness. Later on in history, Greeks evolved the lamp by using terra cotta as an element to hold the flame, but instead of animal fat Greeks began using wicks that gave them more control over the flame.

As time progressed other fuels were discovered, such as olive oil, beeswax, fish oil, other types of oils, and other similar substances. Then later on in the 1800s gas become more common place, the invention of the kerosene lamp was born in Germany. As the 1900s came, gas lamps were invented. The introduction of street lamps were common in all the large American, as well as European cities. The evolution continued and low pressure sodium and high pressure mercury lighting were introduced in the market. Then cam the modern day incandescent lamp.

The modern lamp

The biggest invention was the electrical lamp, and thanks to the invention of the incandescent light bulb from Thomas Edison, it eventually replaced gas as the primary source of energy for lamps. Since the late 1800s there have been many types of electric lamps such as, neon lights and fluorescent lamps that are very popular for both commercial and home uses. Another type of lamp is the sodium-vapor tube, which is usually used for street lighting, as well as other large scale areas such as mall parking lots. As the light bulbs got better so did the styles and design of lamps.

Lamps are aren’t made for strictly for street lighting, obviously residential lighting is huge indoors and outdoors. Indoors lamps can come in a number of types from floor lamps, desk lamps and more. Lighting has become about style just as much as it is about illuminating your home.

Some of the most popular styles include, Tiffany, contemporary, rustic, victorian and tropical. Basically there is a style for any type of interior design ideas that you may have. The most important thing to do when choosing a lamp for your home is to consider the amount of light you need and the style you are going after, everything is easy from there on in.

Richard Gazzo providing info on all types of lighting fixtures, from track lighting and landscape lighting. lighting-tips.com

Wilderness travel is relatively dangerous. Backpacking, floating a river in a canoe, or four-wheeling down isolated two-tracks - they all mean leaving the safety and predictability of civilization behind. Fortunately, there are some things you can do to make it much safer, without taking away from the adventure. Here are six tips for doing just that.

1. Prepare. I’ve seen hikers eight miles from the nearest road, at nightfall, with no water, and facing a sub-freezing night with short sleeves. They had underestimated the time needed for the trip, and probably didn’t make it back to their car before some suffering. More importantly, they hadn’t prepared for the possibility of their hike taking longer than expected, or for possible changes in the weather. Try to think of all the possibilities, and have some preparation and planning for each before you leave.

2. Carry a map and compass. Know how to read your map. Any map is better than nothing. Many people lost in the wilderness have hiked farther into empty country because they had no idea which direction to travel to the nearest road. A compass is a good idea too, but be sure you know how to use it. Practice near home, and start using it before you need it, just to keep in practice (and to keep from getting lost).

3. Learn other navigation skills. Can you use a watch and the sun to determine direction? How about a stick and shadow? Because compasses break, and maps get lost, you should know at least one or two ways to determine direction. Also note the direction most likely to take you out of the wilderness before you start. If you remember that a highway runs along the entire south side of the area you are in, you know which way to go in an emergency.

4. Learn survival skills. Know a few basic survival skills and wilderness travel becomes safer as well as more interesting. Knowing that sleeping under a pile of dry grass or leaves can keep you warm could save your life someday. Learning to identify a few wild edible plants can feed you when you lose your food, and make a trip more interesting in any case.

5. Practice fire making. Make a fire and light it with one match. Do it in some woods near home when it is raining, and try it in the snow too. A fire can save your life. Rarely does anyone die from starvation in the wilderness. They commonly die from exposure. Know how to keep yourself warm and dry. Always carry matches and a lighter, and know how to start a fire.

6. Get help from others. Nobody can come to the rescue if nobody knows where you are. Leave an itinerary behind with someone. You may also want to carry a cell phone. I don’t care for them myself, but they save lives all the time, so take it and just leave the ringer off until you need it. Be sure to charge the battery before you go.

Do more than read these tips. Take them and apply them. Not only people new to the wildeness, but experienced outdoorsmen too have paid the ultimate price when they forgot or refused to follow the basic rules of wilderness travel.

Steve Gillman is a long-time advocate of lightweight backpacking. His tips, photos, gear recommendations and a free book can be found at http://www.TheUltralightBackpackingSite.com

(Excerpted from The Power of Ambition series)

What is the origin of true ambition? There exists really only one place to find true ambition and that is within you - in every thought, in every movement, in every motivation. Your ambition is an expression of who you truly are, your own self-expression.

Self-expression. Isn’t self-expression really self-direction? How you think, how you move, how you motivate yourself. Ambition is a result of self-direction and self-direction is one of the six key principles necessary for building ambition. Positive self-direction says, “I know who I am and I know where I want to go. I’m accumulating knowledge and experiences and feelings and philosophies that will help prepare me for opportunities that I know will show up without notice or any help on my part.” Because you know where you want to go, you have already been working on the parts of your personality that will make you better. Working on your attitude, working on your health, working on your time management skills. Putting it all down on paper. And you constantly see yourself in the place you want to be, going in the direction you want to go.

Direction determines destination. So here is a question you must ask yourself, “Are all the disciplines that I’m currently engaged in taking me where I want to go?” What an important question to ask yourself at the beginning of the month, the beginning of the week, the beginning of the day. Because here is what you don’t ever want to do - kid yourself. Kid your neighbor, kid me and kid the marketplace, but don’t kid yourself - fingers crossed - hoping you will arrive at a good destination when you’re not even headed that way. You have to ask yourself often, Am I? Am I doing the disciplines that are taking me in the direction I want to go? Don’t neglect to ask these important questions, questions that help determine your direction, the set of your sail, your destination.

Is this the direction I want for my life?
Is this someone else’s direction?
Is this a goal I have been ingrained with since my childhood?
Is this goal my parent’s, my spouse’s, my boss’, my children’s or is it Mine?

Ask yourself these questions and then debate them. After you have answered these questions within yourself, then take it one step further and ask, “What am I doing that is working or not working?” Debate it all. Work with your mind to figure out the best possible direction for you - your self-direction. And then ambitiously pursue your own self-direction. Let the power of your own ambition take you where you want to go, to do what you want to do, to create the life you want to live!

To Your Success,
Jim Rohn

Reproduced with permission from Jim Rohn’s Weekly E-zine.
Copyright 2005 Jim Rohn International. All rights reserved
worldwide. To subscribe to Jim Rohn’s Weekly E-zine, go to
http://Jim-Rohn.InspiresYOU.com