January 31, 2008

3 Freebies That Guarantees Constant Traffic

Filed under: Traffic Hub — admin @ 8:08 pm

In 1931, Ted and Dorothy Hustead decided to
move to a town that had four things; a good
school, a Catholic Church, a doctor and an
opportunity.

They wanted to open their own pharmacy.

They eventually chose Wall, South Dakota, as
the perfect location. To others, however,
Wall seemed to be in the middle of
nowhere - somewhere between the Black Hills
and the Badlands.

The first year was a tough one - thick dust,
intense heat, and strong winds.

In their desire to move on to a more
welcoming place, tired, throat - perched
travellers rarely stopped. Then, Ted and
Dorothy came up with an idea.

They made a sign that read: Free Ice Water At
Wall DrugStore.

The sign became something of a novelty. They
made more sighs and put them farther and
farther from Wall - eventually, as far as
other countries of the world.

All druggists, of course made “free” ice
water available for their customers. Nobody
however, had thought of advertising the
luxury.

Eventually, some 4000 to 6000 customers a day
stopped at Wall DrugStore.

Josh Billings remarked, “Common Sense is
instinct and enough of it is genius.

“When it comes to attracting traffic,
everybody has ideas BUT it all seem not to
work!”

I was almost ready to quit when I found a
blend of strategies that work. Top Internet
marketers use it to achieve tons of results,
brand their names all over the Internet,
explode sales and achieve record breaking
list size in minimum time with little or
absolutely nothing spent.

It is all captured in the word FREE and
truthfully, if you have nothing FREE working
hard for you out there, it is time to get
down to work and get up with one!

Here are 3 easy to implement freebies you
can start with right now.

1. Give Out A Collection Of Free eBooks.

Go around the web and harvest a collection of
free ebooks, then give it away for free on
your website in exchange for people doing
something e.g. signing up for your newsletter.

2. Write Articles and Give It Away Free.

I wrote 2 articles last year and got 700+
subscribers from it without lifting a finger
after submitting it to a few article
submission sites.

It is surprising to note that my list still
grows today as a result of those articles.

3. Pull Your Articles Into A Report and Give

Away Reprint Rights To it Free.

This sounds insane but if you are smart, it
can make you a success overnight.

All you need to do is bury your other
programmes in the middle of your ebook and
“wham,” you start getting dangerous results.

January 30, 2008

How The Risk Of Golfer Elbow Injury Can Be Reduced

Filed under: Living With Sports — admin @ 7:56 pm

A golfer elbow injury has got to be one of the most dreaded injuries on any golf course.

And it is not too difficult to figure out why. To begin with a ‘golfer’ elbow injury will usually take a long time to heal properly and quite often recurs shortly after a golfer gets back to the course. Golfer elbow injury is very similar to tennis elbow, which tennis players equally dread.

It is the sort of injury where a doctor will prescribe total rest well away from the course. For many a keen golfer, this may be even more punishment than the nagging, and often sharp pain from the ‘golfer’ elbow injury.

The reason why a golfer elbow injury takes so long to heal and in some cases may never really go away, is because it is the sort of injury that involves a joint. Usually injuries on joints are troublesome.

One of the reasons is that it is difficult to rest a joint completely and one ends up using the muscles whenever they make any slight movement.

Therefore any advice or tips to help reduce the risk of ‘golfer’ elbow is extremely important to any golfer.

Stretch exercises designed for golf specific muscles or muscles that are used while playing golf can help a great deal in strengthening and conditioning the muscles involved.

By strengthening golf specific muscles a golfer ends up putting much less pressure on the tendons that join the muscles to the bones around the elbow area. This greatly reduces the risk of this injury in golfers.

Warm up exercises before getting into a round of golf and a warm down as well, at the end of your game, also help tremendously in reducing the risk of golfer elbow injury.

Warm ups ensure that the pressures involved in playing the game are not exerted on cold muscles, which usually dramatically increases the chances of all sorts of injury and not just the ‘golfer’ elbow.

About The Author: Mike Pedersen is the featured expert for Golf Magazine’s GolfOnline.com site, one of the top golf performance experts in the country, author and founder of several cutting-edge online golf fitness sites. Take a look at his just released golf fitness dvds and manual at his golf swing tips site - Perform Better Golf.

January 29, 2008

Forget Painful Shaving, Waxing and Sugaring - the Philips Epilator - Your New Best Friend

Filed under: Online Gender Issues — admin @ 7:59 pm

Among some of the top rated epilators on the market today are
Philips Epilators. They have some wonderful epilators using the
best technology for smooth skin and even with pain softeners.

As examples of two of the most popular epilators we will look at
Philips Epilator HP6443 Satinelle and Philips Satinelle Epilator
HP6409.

The Philips Satinelle HP6443 is a two speed epilator with pain
softener which improves the epilation. It is designed for all
body areas, including the bikini line and underarms. The unique
Pincette system uses 21 rotating discs that will remove even the
shortest hair of 0.5mm. You will be able to choose from 2 speeds
for fast and comfortable hair removal. The pain softener
attachment is very easy to remove for cleaning. It comes in a
mellow pink finish and includes a very nice storage or traveling
pouch, cleaning brush and protective cap.

The Philips Satinelle Epilator HP6409 has all the great features
as the one above but comes in a smaller compact size which is
easier for traveling and carrying with you. The soft precision
cap is awesome and will reduce the number of active discs which
will provide you with a gentler epilation on all your sensitive
areas. The rubber fingers are in a row on the cap and massage
and stretch your skin which also reduces the pain. The shaving
head of the Philips Epilator HP6409 is exchangeable for when you
prefer to shave instead of epilate. The two speed setting will
give you the freedom to adjust the speed for thin or thicker
hairs. This epilator comes in pumpkin orange with pearl white
trim.

These are just two of the most popular epilators on the market
today that will give you smooth skin and give you the freedom of
being hair free for up to 4 weeks. You will not have to worry
about your bikini line or your underarms any more when you have
a Philips Epilator close at hand.

January 28, 2008

Cosmetic Surgery Costs - Get A FREE Holiday With Savings Of Up To 75%!

Filed under: Beauty For You — admin @ 9:48 pm

It’s true, you can get savings of up to 75% on your cosmetic surgery costs and the savings fund a FREE Holiday, When you have them done in India and you get world-class treatment as well.

As cosmetic surgery procedures allow you to recover quickly, you can have treatments done and then go and enjoy the holiday of a liftime.

If you have never thought of combining a face lift or boob job with seeing the Taj Mahal or going to the beautiful beaches of Goa well now you can.

Western hospitals cannot compete on price

Why pay inflated prices in the US or Europe when you can have cosmetic surgery costs dramatically reduced and get a free holiday as well? Of course the savings are great but what about the standard of treatment.

World class facilities

The answer is its as good as anywhere else in the world yet, is far cheaper in India due to the lower infrastructure costs, which mean that many other countries simply cannot compete.

Inferior medical care would not be worth having even if it were free, however the hospitals in India are some of the best in the world, and are staffed by medical doctors and nurses that have been trained abroad meaning many people in the US and Europe already have experience of this expertise and professionalism.

The facilities they work in provide the most modern and advanced procedures available.

Millions of tourists are now undertaking their surgery in India getting lower cosmetic surgery costs and also getting a free holiday as well.

Costs are so low in India, that it makes sense to combine surgery with a holiday and enjoy a relaxing break as well.

Savings of 75% or more

All the following are available of savings of 75% or more giving you far lower cosmetic surgery costs than in the US or Europe. A broad range of procedures are carried out that include the following:

Breast reduction - mammoplasty

Breast augmentation, breast implants

Breast Uplift Mastopexy, mastopexia

Ear surgery Otoplasty, pinnaplasty, correction of bat ears, ear pinning
Blepharoplasty, eyelid reduction

Facelift - Rhytidectomy

Liposuction - Fat removal

Rhinoplasty Nose job, nose reduction, nose reshaping

Tummy Tuck - Abdominoplasty

Cosmetic dentistry

And many more. So you can get the look that you have dreamed about and relax afterwards in one of the most beautiful and diverse countries on earth.

India the # 1 Choice to reduce cosmetic surgery costs
The above advantages of cost, world class treatment and the prospect of a free holiday and maybe money left over ( depending on the procedure ) combine to make India the number one choice for medical tourists.

Arranging your trip

There are many companies who do all in packages that include: Arranging all the treatments, all travel arrangements and finally your holiday.

These companies aim to make your trip and holiday as stress free and relaxing as possible. Think about it, you can have a facelift, boob job, cosmetic dentistry or any other treatment and can then go and relax, have a stress free break and maybe even have some money left over.

A new look and a relaxing holiday

A new look, huge savings and the holiday of a lifetime is a concept that is appealing to more and more people and is worth considering

For more free information on lower cosmetic surgery costs and the range of treatments available please contact us for free brochure and free no cost or obligation quote:

http://www.medicaltreatmentsindia.com/

January 27, 2008

Top Ten Ways to Spruce Up Your Yard

Filed under: Online Gardening — admin @ 8:17 pm

1. When it comes Spring, do you notice brown patches, even under
the new growth of green grass? That means your lawn needs
de-thatching, or a good, deep raking to lift out dead weeds and
grasses from the previous season. Once that is done, you can
encourage lush, new growth by using a rolling application cart
to deliver both fertilizer and weedkiller to the lawn. Repeat
fertilization in late Spring, and again in autumn.

2.
Mowing is not just whacking down the grass and letting it lay
there. You need to learn how to mow properly to keep it at its
best and greenest. If you have a mulching mower, it will cut so
that the grass is scattered in small bits, back onto the lawn,
fertilizing as it goes. For regular mowers, purchase a bag
attachment so that the clippings come off the lawn with you, or
mow at a higher setting, and more often, so that you take off
just the smallest amount, and it can remain on the lawn and not
interfere with the growth.

3. If your yard has “bare”
on thinly grassed spots due to shallow, dense tree roots, hard
soil, or an excess of shade, there are a number of remedies to
make it look more attractive. Providing there is sufficient
soil, rake it up well, water, and scatter a variety of grass
seed that is specifically for shaded areas, if that is the
problem. For sunny areas, choose the appropriate seed. When
there is not enough earth, invest in some topsoil, and seed
after it is spread. Should you find that even properly cared
for, the grass does not grow well, you might try some of the
hardier ground cover plants from your local garden center.

4. For adding a little color to the yard, especially
after the “blahs” of winter, try planting some flowering shrubs.
>From the brilliant yellows of Potentilla, and the reds and
whites of Spirea, to the lavender of Forsythia, you’ll have all
the pleasure of flowers, without the work of a garden.

5. Consider planting bushes that will develop berries that
linger into the fall and winter. Not only will they provide
color on the bare branches, chances are they will attract birds
that your whole family can enjoy watching and identifying.
Another tip for color in the colder season, is to choose
varieties such as the Burning Bush, a deciduous plant that grows
green through the summer, and turns flaming red in the Fall.

6. Have you got a fence that you need, but don’t really
like to see? Try planting climbing plants along the length of
it, including the annual Morning Glory, or floribunda roses.
Clematis will also climb clothesline poles and turn them into a
tower of beautiful blooms. Hide unsightly posts by planting a
few low maintenance Canna Lilies. These summer bulbs and tubers
grow plants up to 6′ high, with brightly colored blossoms.
Unless you’re in zones 7-10, they’ll need to be taken up in the
Fall.

7. Perennial gardens are well worth the work of
the first year, and even the next Spring, in establishing them.
If you take the time to research varieties and growing
conditions, you can plant a bed with enough different flowers
that you’ll have blooms throughout the whole season, and plants
that come back every year.

8. For something different,
try putting a pond in the backyard. This doesn’t necessarily
mean a lot of excavation and twiddling with the ground. There
are pond liners that will slip into the area you have dug out.
If you’re planning on keeping fish, you’ll need a circulating
pump, as well. Plant some water-loving greenery and flowers
around the perimeter, and you’ll have a neighborhood
conversation piece.

9. If you have chosen not to have
flowerbeds, you can still add an element of distinction to your
yard, with outdoor d

January 26, 2008

Adult Acne Products

Filed under: Beauty For You — admin @ 4:59 pm

Teens aren’t the only ones plagued by acne. True, while acne tends to develop more commonly on the oily skin of teenagers, it chooses a combination or even a dry skin to sprout during the later years.

Often adults sample products available for teens and end up with dry, damaged skin. Teen acne products have a higher concentration of Benzoyl peroxide and other chemicals, which can be damaging to adult skin.

Products recommended for adult acne are usually gentle herbal or natural remedies available as cleansers, herbal tablets, and face washes.

Suited for both adults and teenagers, ZEN MED has a variety of products, proven to be effective in treating acne. ZEN MED Derma Cleanse System which has three productsan acne gel, facial cleansing gel, and cleanse capsulescontains Salicylic acid, Aloe Vera, Vitamins, Allatoin, and more, treating skin, from within and without.

While ZEN MED Scar and Pigmentation Treatment treats scars, ZEN MED Body Acne Combo combats body acne. And products such as 10 1E Acne Getaway and Refresh Acne Solutions are made from Chinese herbs.

Enriched with vitamins and herbs, Actimine is another very effective herbal acne treatment. In contrast to medicated products, Actimine flushes bacteria from within and replenishes vitamins to prevent further skin problems.

Desert Essence 100% Pure Australian Tea Tree Oil and Desert Essence Thoroughly Clean Face Wash with Organic Tea Tree Oil and Awapuhi are two excellent antiseptic toners Tea Tree Oil, which cleanse dirt, while unclogging pores.

Kiss My Face Organics Break out Botanical Acne Gel and Clearasil Adult Care also work to prevent acne.

Though we can’t banish acne forever, we can successfully treat and control it with the right products.

Acne Care provides detailed information about acne care, acne care skin tips, acne skin care centers, and more. Acne Care is affiliated with Acne Skin Care.

January 23, 2008

Hot New Designers You Have To Know About

Filed under: Online Gender Issues — admin @ 9:07 pm

The fashion world is a constantly changing place that serves as a revolving door for the hottest fashion designers. Fashionistas strive to stay on top of the fashion world by keep an eye on the up and coming designers that are producing the top trends on the market today. One great way to stay aware of the newest designers is to regularly look at the fashion magazines. Most magazines have a special section devoted to the designers who are working to make a name for themselves in the world of fashion. Also, check out the cable channels that specialize in fashion and style to see interviews and tips from these top designers.

It seems the hottest trend in fashion today is clothing collections designed by actors. This was made the most popular by the Sean Jean fashion label designed by rap mogul Sean, “Diddy” Combs. More recently, the “Jenny from the block” songstress, Jennifer Lopez has begun her own labels of clothing known as “Sweetface” and “JLo.” These urban wear companies feature many items made from authentic fur, causing quite a stir between Lopez and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. Another singer who has experience a great success in the fashion industry is Gwen Stefani with her label, “L.A.M.B.” The former No Doubt lead singer entered the fashion world and has received tremendous acclaim for her revolutionary “Love Angel Music Baby” line of clothing.

Urban clothing labels are especially popular these days, with Kimora Lee Simmons experiencing a great deal of success with her “Baby Phat” clothing line. The Baby Phat line is extremely sought after and has pieces at a variety of price levels so individuals of every budget can proudly bring home pieces with the familiar cat logo.

As always, classic fashion houses like Chanel, Gucci, and Vuitton are always favorites with the fashion community as new designers are welcomed into the house and given the chance to create a lovely addition to the season. The best time to see what the fashion designers have unveiled for the upcoming season’s collection is undoubtedly New York Fashion Week. Everyone from fashion royalty to Hollywood starlets are seen sitting front row at these legendary fashion shows, licking their chops at the tasty fashion offerings displayed. Most fashion magazines have excellent coverage of both the shows and the collections available at these shows, so check it out to stay on top of the fashion game.

Bridget Allen has worked for many years in the fashion industry, at a senior level, and she has written an amazing totally free fashionista minicourse that will thrill, entertain, and most importantly educate you about what you absolutely need to know about fashion. Get the free course ” Fashionista Essentials” now at www.i-stylish.com

January 22, 2008

Gender Bias in Stroke Care

Filed under: Online Gender Issues — admin @ 7:20 pm

I can’t think of any adequate excuse for women to receive medical care that is less good than that which is received by men. However, evidence for this continues to surface. The latest study to demonstrate this unsettling fact was published in the September 27, 2005, issue of Neurology, the official journal of the American Academy of Neurology. Melinda Smith and co-investigators looked at stroke care between 2000 and 2002 in the seven acute-care hospitals of Corpus Christi, Texas, which includes all of the hospitals of Nueces County.

Patients hospitalized for stroke, a condition in which interrupted circulation causes damage to the brain, should receive a core battery of testing. Every stroke patient should receive an echocardiogram, a soundwave-based test that shows images of the heart and its various components in motion. This is useful in showing if the heart might have generated the stroke by sending clots or other material into the circulation feeding the brain, and also to identify complications affecting the heart itself. Moreover, patients believed to have a stroke to the front part of the brain (which applies to most cases) should receive testing for narrowing or blockage of the carotid arteries. The carotids are the two pulsating blood-vessels in the front of the neck which convey blood to the front of the brain.

The researchers found that while 57% of the men with strokes received an echocardiogram, this test was given to just 48% of the women with strokes. And while 71% of the men received carotid imaging, this test was provided to just 62% of the women. Statistics showed that these differences were too large to account for by chance alone. Moreover, the researchers diligently searched for legitimate medical reasons to account for the unequal testing–like differences in stroke risk-factors or differences in recognition that a stroke had occurred–but found that these could not account for the differences, either.

In truth, the extent of testing in even the men fell below standards of care–and probably does so in other communities as well–but for the current discussion, the emphasis is on the differences in care provided to the two genders.

So, if these results can be generalized to practices elsewhere, the sad truth is that if you are a woman with a stroke, your care will not be as good as if you are a man. And, unfortunately, the gender bias in stroke care demonstrated by these researchers was not an isolated example. The authors reviewed the results of other studies that showed:

  • Sixty-two percent of stroke deaths in the United States occur in women.
  • Women have a lower incidence of stroke but worse outcomes than men.
  • One hospital’s study showed that in their emergency department women with strokes were evaluated less quickly than men with strokes were.
  • A multinational, hospital-based study showed fewer brain-imaging, heart-imaging and blood-vessel-imaging studies in women than in men.
  • Women with strokes were less likely to receive blood-thinners than men were.
  • And, women were less likely to receive surgery to the carotid arteries than men were.

What is more, gender differences in medical treatment of coronary artery disease have also been demonstrated in Corpus Christi and elsewhere. So, as indicated by the authors, gender differences in medical care probably extend beyond the evaluation and treatment of strokes.

One conclusion is unavoidable: The medical community still has a long way to go in providing equal care to all the patients entrusted to its care.

(C) 2005 by Gary Cordingley

Gary Cordingley, MD, PhD, is a clinical neurologist, teacher and researcher who works in Athens, Ohio. For more health-related articles see his website at: www.cordingleyneurology.com

January 21, 2008

Ukulele Tab: Learn To Play Christian Favorite Song Amazing Grace

Filed under: Music Tips — admin @ 8:35 pm

Ukulele is a fantastic little instrument. You can play chords on it as you sing but you can even play melodies. With the help of ukulele tab notation you can learn to play Amazing Grace in a few minutes. Let’s start!

Amazing Grace is one of the most well-known Christian hymns. The words were written by John Newton. Here are the lyrics to the first verse:

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound

That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found
Was blind, but now I see

You don’t need to know sheet music notation on your ukulele. Instead we will use a form of notation known as ukulele tab.

The ukulele tab notation I will use is my own form of tabs that are readable on article sites. You will find the more common ukulele tab notation on my own site with ukulele tab and free sheet music.

When you hold your ukulele in playing position you will have the first string nearest your feet. It is the string with the highest pitch and it is usually an A.

Here comes an example on how to ukulele tab:

01 11 31 11 01

The first digit in the pair tells you what fret to press down. The second digit what string to play. 01 means that you play the first string without pressing down a left hand finger. In other words you play on the open first string.

11 means that you press down a left hand finger on the first fret on the first string and play. Now you can play the easy ukulele tab above.

Let’s play the first part of Amazing Grace:

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound

03 12 01 12 01 32 12 23 03

03 means that you play the third open string. Play the notes with your right hand thumb or in some other way you like.

The length of the notes is not indicated with this type of ukulele tab notation. I guess you will find out how to play the notes by your self.

Let’s play the next line:

That saved a wretch like me!

03 12 01 12 01 32 01 31

What left hand finger should you use when you play?

Even if it can be a little bit difficult at first I suggest that you play the notes on the first fret with your first finger, the notes on the second fret with your long finger and the notes on your third fret with your ring finger.

Of course, you can play all notes with your first finger but when your left hand fingers get used to playing the way I suggested it will actually become easier to find the right notes.

The next ukulele tab comes here:

I once was lost, but now am found

01 31 01 12 01 32 12 23 03

You know how to read this ukulele tab by now so I don’t need to help you!

The last line with lyrics and ukulele tab follows:

Was blind, but now I see

03 12 01 12 01 32 12

Now the melody is complete and you can play Amazing Grace with ukulele tab!

This melody can be played on guitar too with the use of the above ukulele tab notation! The first three strings on a guitar are tuned in the same way but in a different pitch.

May I recommend you to take one ukulele tab line at a time and practice it until you know the whole song by heart. It is fun to have a repertoire with songs to play anywhere and anytime!

Peter Edvinsson is a musician, composer and music teacher. Visit his site Capotasto Music and download your free sheet music and ukulele tab at http://www.capotastomusic.com

January 20, 2008

The reasons for my low self esteem

Filed under: Political Groups — admin @ 7:14 pm

I have had many confidence issues in my life, all of which I have either dealt with or overcome. I have written about some of these issues below.

1. The Bald Patch


2. My height


3. My weight


4. The stutter


5. My lack of belief in myself


6. My career


THE BALD PATCH


Even though to some people it may seem trivial, I was born with a bald patch the size of a ten pence piece. As I went through childhood and especially the teenage years I became more and more self-conscious and paranoid about it.


It was especially noticeable when it rained or when I went swimming as my hair would become wet. People at school would ridicule me and I was forever trying to hide and cover the bald patch even though most people knew about it.


It hurt when people laughed at me and eventually I stopped going swimming altogether.


MY HEIGHT


Out of all of my close male family and friends, I am the shortest at 5ft 4. This probably should not influence my confidence however with people continually looking down on me it did. I have been called many names, the nicest being “Shorty”.


I was always jealous of other people taller than I was. I hoped that one day I might have a late spurt. This never came.


My height affected me with sport. I wanted to be a striker at football however the coaches only wanted people over 6ft tall. At snooker I am constantly have to use the rest which makes it difficult to play up to the best standard and at tennis I was constantly being lobbed.
It also meant that I only felt comfortable dating women 5ft 3 and under which reduces the available market considerably.


MY WEIGHT


During senior school I was very thin. This may have been the result of my parents turning vegetarian when I was twelve. At the time there were very few replacement foods and it seemed as though we went from having meat and two veg to just two veg.


As my parents cooked the food I had little option but to also turn vegetarian. After a few weeks I approached them and told them that I missed and wanted to eat meat. They were understanding to a degree and said:


“If you want it, you cook it”


At this age I could only really be bothered to cook properly a few days of the week and that gradually became less and less.


People at school would call me names like skin and bone and my weight became another area of paranoia for me.


THE STUTTER


At the age of four I developed a stutter. This became gradually worse as I became older even though my parents were told that I would grow out of it.


For what fluent people would class as simple tasks like reading from a book at school, answering questions, saying my name and address, ordering items at the bar or in a restaurant, and speaking on the telephone became a constant battle.


It was a very frustrating impediment, as I seemed to be able to talk quite fluently to people I knew well and whom I felt comfortable with, but at other times especially under any form of pressure could not say a word.


At the age of twenty two after about eleven months of sheer hard work and practice I managed to overcome the stutter and I now help other people who stutter to achieve fluency as well as helping people with confidence problems.


For more information about how I overcame the stutter please refer to http://www.stammering-stuttering.co.uk or contact me for an information pack.


MY LACK OF BELIEF


I always had a lack of belief in certain areas.


I would notice a female in a bar for example and would want to go over and talk to her but would have the negative attitude of I’m not good enough, why would she be interested in me? I stutter, I have a bald patch, I have a menial job and I am very thin.


Even if I approach her and am successful, I would then be expected to buy her a drink, possibly phone her, possibly meet her parents, and maybe even get married! The thought of attempting these things with a stutter and with a lack of social confidence was far too daunting for me.


I left school at sixteen mainly due to a lack of confidence and the stutter, but then had the problem of finding a job. Again my lack of belief came shining through. Who would want to employ somebody with a stutter, who has a lack of confidence and who is shy around people?


MY CAREER


After leaving school at the age of sixteen I now had to find employment. Suffering with a stutter and a general lack of confidence meant that work involving the phone or regular interaction with other people were not really an option.


I decided that I could probably cope with filing duties in an office and eventually gained a position at an insurance company.


I started at the lowest grade, a grade two and the work was routine and mundane. The average time to stay at this level before being promoted was six months. The grade three post involved sharing a phone and this is something I found very difficult to use.


To become upgraded you had to apply in writing to the personal officer and then if you passed the interview were then promoted. My attitude was that if I don’t apply I would stay as a grade two, which is what I wanted. I was probably the only person in the country who did not want to be promoted.


My boss would ask me at regular intervals why I was not applying and I would make up an excuse. To keep him happy I took the insurance exams.
After three years I had completed the first qualification which was a set of five exams. To my horror my boss congratulated me by stating that he was upgrading me to a grade three starting Monday without the need of an interview.


This promotion should in effect have given me a confidence boost however with my stutter out of control under the pressure and some of my colleagues mocking me I became more and more withdrawn and depressed.


I would be invited to social events and would make up excuses of why I could not go as I had a lack of belief that I could cope with the occasion and all the socialising involved.


If you are interested in a free link exchange program where you receive ten backward links please click here (link to www.internet-webdesign.co.uk).

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Stephen Hill is somebody who has overcome a stammer/stutter and who now helps other people to achieve fluency. Stephen runs one to one speech courses held in Birmingham, England. For people who are unable to attend there is a seventy minute dvd available. His main website is at http://www.stammering-stuttering.co.uk.