How You Can Become a Certified and Profitable Proofreader

A certified proofreader is one that has taken a few courses and learned the proper way to do proof reading work. It is essential that individuals who want to become proof readers, have qualifications that can help them to prepare work that is of high quality. There are many different things that you can do to get this security in your work, but for a proofreader getting to be certified is a solid step in the right direction.

Many people are searching for a career they can call their own. For those looking in the writing and editing fields, freelance work is an attractive option. But in order to get jobs and provide work that is of high quality, an individual needs to maintain a high level of educational standards. Becoming certified is an outstanding investment. There are many different options including help in writing clearly, without grammatical errors that are embarrassing and often costly. A proof reader can gain the qualifications they need to excel here.

For anyone who is looking at becoming a qualified proof reader, it is necessary to get the training you need. Because being a freelance agent means that you have to generate your own business it is necessary to make sure that a great job is done from the beginning. It is vitally important that the proof reading you do is perfect for the clients' needs. By getting certified, you can be well on your way to impressing clients time and time again! These simple seminars or courses can help you develop the skills that you need to deliver effective copy each and every opportunity you get.

What makes it even better is that many courses are available right online. You can get the training you need from home while working on building your freelance career. Can it get much better than that?

Visit http://www.FreelanceWritingResource.com for more Articles, Resources, News and Advice about Freelance Proofreading Jobs.

Copyright ? FreelanceWritingResource.com. All rights reserved. This article may be reprinted in full so long as the resource box and the live links are included intact.

Scottish Roadtrips -- Encountering Porridge with Salt and Other Dangers

Edinburgh and beyond

Roadtrips around Britain

It's hard to overstate the poetry of Edinburgh. Even when crossing the North Bridge in a screaming gale, fearing you lost your nose five streets ago. It's hard to be grumpy with the magnificent Old Town spread out in front of you, and Arthur's seat rearing up to your left.

But if you're in Edinburgh for a while, I highly recommend getting out and driving through some of the countryside. As those who live in Scotland (but not in Edinburgh) like to say occasionally, Edinburgh isn't as Scottish as the rest of the place. So if you really want to get a feel for the soul and history of this porridge-with-salt, haggis-neeps-and-tatties country, you'll need to get out.

Spires, spectres and spirits (of the whiskey kind)

So have a float around Edinburgh, and soak in the ? this might naff, but really the only word to describe it ? soak in the majesty of it all. Really. Go there. You'll see. Pop up the Royal Mile and drop in on the city's number one tourist attraction ? that castle. For a dose of depressing and chilling history I vigorously suggest you take a night tour of Edinburgh's graveyards, which still sometimes have pieces of bone surfacing if it rains too hard. Interesting, and cheaper than a colostomy.

For those who're fond of brisk walks and the best views in town, there's Arthur's Seat ? an extinct volcano sitting plum in the centre of the city. And for those fond of a drink ? welcome to the happiest time in your life. The Grassmarket is a probably the best place to start, with pubs like Biddy Mulligans, and The Last Drop. Whistle Binkies on the South Bridge for live music. And to finish the night? Well, this is a quick plug for the Penny Black. Be warned, it opens around 6am and it's not always pretty. But it's a damn good romp if you're already seeing double.

To get out and about to see the surrounding areas, you've got trains and buses which can take you to most places, but if you want to be able to go where you want, when you want, it's very hard to beat renting out a little car for a few days. If you're booking through the internet to save money, sites like http://www.vroomvroomvroom.co.uk (Car Hire Edinburgh) are good because they have contracts with all the biggest car rental companies, and you can then directly compare prices and grab a good deal.

Nearby for a quick trip

So, once you're motorised, you should wander through nearby border towns like Peebles. Great for a pint and chat in beautiful surrounds. The Tweed River is great for fishing too, if you feel you're up to facing the weather.

A must-do would be Stirling, visiting its castle, and wandering around the site at Bannockburn where the Scottish won their independence fighting the British hordes in 1314. There's also the National Wallace Monument nearby ? a tribute to the country's most famous freedom-fighter. He was the poor man who was embarrassingly portrayed by Mel Gibson sporting a dodgy mullet in Braveheart. Where's Ewan McGregor when you need him?

Onwards and upwards for monsters, battles and hairy people armed with firewater

Then, keeping onwards, and sort of to the West, you've got Oban and the little ferries which can get you to the Scottish Isles. Because you're in the area, it'd be very silly not to go to Fort William (only a millimetre or two away on the map). From here you can explore Glen Nevis ? the area is the natural wonder version of the man-made beauty to be found in Edinburgh. You'll need a lucky streak, though, if you want a cloudless day when climbing to the peak of the area's most popular mountain, Ben Nevis.

From here you could either start heading back in a roundabout fashion turning east and frolicking through Perth, Dundee and St Andrews, or set your car to speedy and head on up to Inverness to take a trip out monster-hunting on the freaky dark waters of Loch Ness. Another battlefield heavy with history is a small trip away from Inverness ? the moor of Culloden. The last battle to be fought on British soil ? it was bloody and quick, and followed by a very nasty period of brutality and suppression of the Scottish way of life, even though the battle wasn't really Scottish versus English. It was more a spat between rich boys over a crown.

If you haven't turned back by now, it would seem you're in for the long-haul. Further on up would then be your only option ? the beautiful and lonely Highlands await. Go, and drink firewater with the reddest and hairiest Scotsmen of them all.

Alyssa Betts
http://www.vroomvroomvroom.co.uk

Recognizing Self

I come face to face with self whenever you come into my life and I want to thank you.

I always maintain that I am writing these articles, my books and creating the website for myself. It is my way of expressing myself physically and to demonstrate where I am along my chosen path and it is my sign post that says this is me and this is where I am. I learn by teaching and writing about what I want to learn, the articles that I write help me to grow spiritually. For the most part the articles that I write are spontaneous, I don't know what I am going to write about until I sit down and start writing and then I have to go back and read the piece to know what I have written.

Although I am in truth in this world alone, I am reminded often that there are 6 billion different aspects of myself in this world all experiencing physical life uniquely in their own way, in ways that no others can do.

Ambrosia left a comment in my guest book this morning that was typical of how most of us feel. She didn't know that there were others out there that believed as she does. I envision that she has been feeling isolated, confused and probably misunderstood by family, friends and others. I can imagine that it was a great relief to find out she shares the thoughts of others.

When I started out years ago to actively find myself and a system of belief that would work for me I felt the same way and I still do sometimes. I will often disassociate myself from my readers believing that there is no one out there that wants to read these articles, I forget that I am sharing them with the world. The truth is I am doing it for myself, Ambrosia and all the others that are seeking, that are beginning to awaken. My truth will always be my own and I have no wish of creating a new religion, we are taking the road less travelled and laying stepping stones for others to follow and move past us. They will in turn lay stones that I will follow later on, they will create choices for me and that is all that I am doing here, experiencing life through choices.

I am helping others out of the box and opening up new areas that they may never have thought about I am creating new choices. I am not alone nor is anyone else, in that we are all one body with many eyes all seeing and experiencing life from a different perspective and sharing that experience with our internal connection.

My ego may have thought that it left a gift for Ambrosia, but as always the gift was given back many times over. Ambrosia is my left hand shaking hands with my right hand, acknowledging that they both exist and are part of the same body.

My writing is an expression of self and it is mirrored back by those that read it and benefit by it. All of us express ourselves uniquely and that expression is a sign post for others who will acknowledge it and move past it.

I would encourage Ambrosia and others to keep going, to create their own path and lay down their own stones and sign posts. Others will follow and make themselves known to you, lead the way do not be led.

I am now over 200 books behind in my reading; they look really nice on my bookshelf and are very inspirational just looking at them from my desk. I slowed down on my reading some time ago for good purpose, I didn't want to be influenced by other writers anymore. I wanted to create my own style and philosophy. I love to go into book stores and brief through the new books and occasionally read a chapter or two.

The one thing that stands out while I'm doing this is that I am writing the same things that others are writing about with the added twist of my own style. We are moving in the same direction and have the same new thoughts confirming to me that there is communication at some level of sub consciousness and we are of the same mind.

I started out with some of these authors years ago and we are still on similar paths. When I take a turn in thought they are there, so I hypothesize that I am still growing and I am joined in a common pool of thought that is working in harmony with a movement towards enlightenment.

I find gratification in knowing that these common thoughts will eventually branch off into other areas of experience that will again bring more choices. Life is always moving and I am a part of that movement that is a stepping stone that will encourage others to move farther.

I am alone, but not alone, I am here but I am also everywhere else and every once in awhile a part of me will return to self with a tap on the shoulder to remind myself that I am doing this for all. All of us are contributing to the whole no matter how we see ourselves in this inclusive relationship. The one hand may be elbow deep in doo-doo while the other is shaking hands with abundance, success and joy. Both hands are part of the same body and moving in the same direction, it's the experience that is different and neither hand is better than the other for that experience.

You cannot know doo-doo unless you know its opposite. It is the head that is acknowledging both aspects of its experience and has predetermined how it will feel about it. The experience is simply acknowledgment of those predeterminations.

I am no less or better than those that I bring into my life, for they are reminders of who I am and how I have portrayed myself to the world. They are living sign posts that I have planted along the road less travelled.

No, Ambrosia you are not alone, we are together, and we are one, none of us can ever be lost. The illusion of separation is necessary so that life will go on trying to reconnect to itself in an endless perpetual cycle searching for perfection. You are not just one in the crowd, you are the crowd and no puzzle is complete without all the pieces.

Roy E. Klienwachter is a resident of British Columbia, Canada. A student of NLP, ordained minister, New Age Light Worker and Teacher. Roy has written and published five books on New Age wisdom. Roy's books are thought provoking and designed to empower you to take responsibility for your life and what you create. His books and articles are written in the simplicity and eloquence of Zen wisdom.

You may not always agree with what he has to say. You will always come away with a new perspective and your thinking will never be the same.

Roy's style is honest and comes straight from the heart without all the metaphorical mumble jumble and BS.

Visit Roy at: http://www.klienwachter.com

First, Fast, And Foremost . . .

First - being before all others. Fast - moving or able to move quickly. Foremost - first in rank, order, or place. Wouldn't you like to be first, fast, and considered foremost in your business. Obviously, the correct answer is yes. Here are nine tips, hints, and practical ideas to get you on your way. These sales tips work.

1. First - All potential customers have needs. All potential customers have problems. All potential customers are never 100% completely satisfied with their current supplier. A professional salesperson recognizes these simple facts and uses prepared questions to uncover the hidden needs, problems, and dissatisfactions that every potential customer has. Once these have been uncovered, always try to have your potential customer quantify them for you in dollars. Every quantifiable problem is begging for a solution. That's where your products and services come in.

2. First - The way to achieve number one is based on your ability to ask rock-solid and open-ended questions. Develop and use a minimum of ten questions. Your questions should get your potential customers to talk about their business, responsibilities, challenges, priorities, current supplier, current product, criteria for making a decision, the decision making process, expectations, and how they measure success. Note, that the person asking the questions is usually in control of the sales call.

3. First - Make every customer presentation a personalized one. If you ask enough questions, you'll learn about your potential customer. The more you learn, the better your opportunity will be to tailor your presentation. The goal is to get the customer thinking your presentation is awesome. Run-of-the-mill presentations are neverawesome. When your product fits the customer's specific needs it then becomes awesome.

4. Fast - Today more than ever, our biggest challenge is too much to do and not enough time to do it. Moaning and groaning aren't solutions. Learn to prioritize everything. Start each selling day with a six-pack. No, not that kind. Have a written list of all the things you want to do each day. Prioritize your list by writing the numbers 1-6 next to the six most important things. If this is so easy why do so few people do it?

5. Fast - In sales we tend to over promise. We're so anxious to get the business we make commitments based on perfect alignment and unreasonable assumptions. Every broken commitment, regardless how small, is a credibility deduction. Be slow to commit and quick to deliver and you'll have a significant reputation.

6. Fast - Someone once said, "If you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you always got." Pledge from this day forward you will never utter these words again, "I've always done it this way." They are limiting words during these rapidly changing times. Ask these two questions often: How can I do it better? How can I do it faster? You headed in the right direction if you're always attempting to do things better and faster.

7. Foremost - There are V.I.P.'s and F.I.P.'s. You don't want to be the latter. A F.I.P. is a formerly important person. To remain a V.I.P. in your customers mind, mix high touch with your high tech. Buy and use an old fashioned fountain pen. Send two handwritten notes everyday. (10 per week, 500 per year, 5,000 per decade, and 10,000 over twenty years). It's a real touch of class during these busy times. Also, go to egreetings.com if you want to send (free) greeting cards suitable for any occasion.

8. Foremost - You don't have to be a lot better than your competition to win more sales. You need only be a little better. Having an edge doesn't give you a lot, it gives you a slight advantage. Join the 1% club. Seek to do everything that affects your business 1% better. Imagine the consequences if you were 1% better in these areas; your questions, your prospecting, your networking, your telephone, your time management, your communication skills, your negotiation skills, your closing skills etc. Big things happen when you focus on being a little better.

9. Foremost - The principle tool for salespeople is words. You use words to make appointments, to build rapport, to ask questions, to make presentations, to handle objections, and to ask for the order. Words are the real key to success. To avoid getting mugged by your own mouth, choose your words carefully. You will take your skills to the
next level if you prepare and practice your words.

First - being before all others. Fast - moving or able to move quickly. Foremost - first in rank, order, or place. If this isn't your style, you could always be last, slow, and lagging.

Jim Meisenheimer is the creator of No-Brainer Sales Training. His sales techniques and selling skills focus on practical ideas that get immediate results. You can discover all his secrets by contacting him at (800) 266-1268 or by visiting his website: http://www.meisenheimer.com

Attention PR Shoppers!

As a business, non-profit or association manager, what do you want?

Publicity that delivers newspaper and talk show mentions, or behavior change among your key outside audiences that leads directly to achieving your managerial objectives?

Special events that attract a lot of people, or public relations that persuades your most important outside audiences to your way of thinking, then moves them to take actions that help your department, division or subsidiary succeed?

Zippy brochures and videos, or a way for you to do something positive about the behaviors of those external audiences of yours that MOST affect your organization?

What I believe you need to know about PR are two realities:

1) The right PR really CAN alter individual perception and lead to changed behaviors that help you succeed, and

2), your public relations effort must involve more than special events, brochures and news releases if you really want to get your money's worth,

The underlying truth about PR goes this way: people act on their own perception of the facts before them, which leads to predictable behaviors about which something can be done. When we create, change or reinforce that opinion by reaching, persuading and moving-to-desired-action the very people whose behaviors affect the organization the most, the public relations mission is accomplished.

And it can generate results like prospects starting to work with you; customers making repeat purchases; stronger relationships with the educational, labor, financial and healthcare communities; improved relations with government agencies and legislative bodies, and even capital givers or specifying sources looking your way

Once the program gets rolling, you also should see results such as new proposals for strategic alliances and joint ventures; rebounds in showroom visits; membership applications on the rise; community service and sponsorship opportunities; enhanced activist group relations, and expanded feedback channels, not to mention new thoughtleader and special event contacts.

That's a lot of results from even a high-impact blueprint.

It almost goes without saying that your PR crew ? agency or staff ? must be committed to you, as the senior project manager, to the PR blueprint and its implementation, starting with target audience perception monitoring.

Is it crucially important that your most important outside audiences really perceive your operations, products or services in a positive light? Of course, so assure yourself that your PR staff has bought into the whole effort. Be especially careful that they accept the reality that perceptions almost always lead to behaviors that can help or hurt your unit.

Sit down with your PR team and review the PR blueprint in detail, especially the plan for monitoring and gathering perceptions by questioning members of your most important outside audiences. Questions like these: how much do you know about our organization? How much do you know about our services or products and employees? Have you had prior contact with us and were you pleased with the interchange? Have you experienced problems with our people or procedures?

Professional survey people obviously can handle the perception monitoring phases of your program, IF the budget is available. But always remember that your PR people are also in the perception and behavior business and can pursue the same objective: identify untruths, false assumptions, unfounded rumors, inaccuracies, misconceptions and any other negative perception that might translate into hurtful behaviors.

What about your public relations goal? You need a goal statement that speaks to the aberrations that showed up during your key audience perception monitoring. And it could call for straightening out that dangerous misconception, or correcting that gross inaccuracy, or doing something about that damaging rumor.

When you set a goal, you need a strategy that shows you how to get there. You have three strategic choices when it comes to handling a perception or opinion challenge: create perception where there may be none, change the perception, or reinforce it. A bad strategy pick will taste like marinara sauce on your brownies, so be certain the new strategy fits well with your new public relations goal. For example, you don't want to select "change" when the facts dictate a "reinforce" strategy.

Because persuading an audience to your way of thinking is awfully hard work, your PR team must come up with just the right, corrective language. Words that are compelling, persuasive and believable AND clear and factual. You must do this if you are to correct a perception by shifting opinion towards your point of view, leading to the desired behaviors.

Sit down again with your communications specialists and review your message for impact and persuasiveness. Then, select the communications tactics most likely to carry your words to the attention of your target audience. You can pick from dozens that are available. From speeches, facility tours, emails and brochures to consumer briefings, media interviews, newsletters, personal meetings and many others. But be sure that the tactics you pick are known to reach folks just like your audience members.

You've heard the old bromide about the credibility of a message depending on its delivery method. On the chance it's true, you might think about introducing it to smaller gatherings rather than using higher-profile tactics such as news releases or talk show appearances. The need to produce a progress report will sound the alert for you and your PR folks to return to the field for a second perception monitoring session with members of your external audience. Using many of the same questions used in the first benchmark session, you'll now be watching very carefully for signs that the bad news perception is being altered in your direction.

If impatience enters the fray, you can always accelerate things with more communications tactics and increased frequencies.

Finally, like a military unit, your public relations effort can use an action-oriented motto: the right PR really CAN alter individual perception and lead directly to changed behaviors that help you succeed.

Please feel free to publish this article and resource box in your ezine, newsletter, offline publication or website. A copy would be appreciated at bobkelly@TNI.net. Word count is 1170 including guidelines and resource box.

Robert A. Kelly ? 2004.

About The Author

Bob Kelly counsels, writes and speaks to business, non-profit and association managers about using the fundamental premise of public relations to achieve their operating objectives. He has been DPR, Pepsi-Cola Co.; AGM-PR, Texaco Inc.; VP-PR, Olin Corp.; VP-PR, Newport News Shipbuilding & Drydock Co.; director of communi- cations, U.S. Department of the Interior, and deputy assistant press secretary, The White House. He holds a bachelor of science degree from Columbia University, major in public relations.

mailto:bobkelly@TNI.net

Visit: http://www.prcommentary.com

10 Tips for Making Daily Physical Activity Part of Your Childs Life!

Here's some of the bad news about sedentary lifestyles:

? Forty percent of children ages 5 to 8 show at least one heart disease risk factor, including hypertension and obesity, which among children has doubled over the past two decades.

? The first signs of arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) are appearing at age 5 ? something never before seen in anyone under the age of 30.

? Children 6 to 10 are dying of sudden cardiopulmonary arrest.

? According to a recent Centers for Disease Control study, American children born in 2000 face a one-in-three chance of developing Type 2 diabetes ? what used to be called adult-onset diabetes!

? This is thought to be the first generation of children that won't outlive their parents.

The good news is that it doesn't take much to turn things around. We just have to make sure our kids are physically active! Following are some tips for making that happen:

1. Turn off the TV! Research shows children are being electronically entertained an average of five to six hours a week. Without electronics, they'll have to find other ways to keep themselves entertained.

2. Encourage your children to engage in active play. Research shows that the children who are most active are those whose parents have encouraged them to be active.

3. Play with your children! Blow bubbles for them to chase, play tag and hide-and-seek, put on an up-tempo song and boogie in the living room, or put on a John Philip Sousa march ? or break out the pots and pans ? and hold a parade around the house!

4. Serve as a role model, taking part in physical activity ? cheerfully ? yourself.

5. Take the children to parks, playgrounds, beaches, and on hikes during vacations and weekends ? instead of to amusement parks, where they'll stand in lines and then sit on rides.

6. Don't send the wrong message about physical activity by endlessly circling the parking lot for the spot closest to the door. Instead, make a game out of parking as far from the door as possible and finding different ways to get to it (walking backward, tiptoeing, jogging, or skipping).

7. When it's time for gift giving, select items like hula hoops; balls in a variety of shapes, sizes, and textures; roller skates; or a wading pool or swing set. When shopping for games, Twister has more to offer than a board game. And CDs with lively music are a better choice than movie videos.

8. Don't expect organized sports to take care of your child's physical activity needs. There's more waiting than moving in most organized, adult-directed games.

9. Fight to keep physical education and recess in your child's school ? or, if necessary, to get them back! The research shows that, among other things, physical activity contributes to a better attitude toward school and improves academic achievement and test scores!

10. Make sure your child associates physical activity with FUN!

Rae Pica is a children's physical activity specialist and the author of Your Active Child: How to Boost Physical, Emotional, and Cognitive Development through Age-Appropriate Activity (McGraw-Hill, 2003). Visit her and read more articles at http://www.movingandlearning.com

Stress: Guilty As Charged

How To Defend Yourself

Do you ever find yourself feeling overwhelmed? Do you sometimes feel like you just have too much to think about? Does it make you tired, irritable, or even depressed? What can you do about it?

People rarely go to the doctor to say "I think I have stress," and yet the National Institutes of Health say that 80% of illnesses are caused by stress, directly or indirectly. Hormones, such as adrenalin, are released into your blood when you're stressed. This causes a rise in blood pressure, a faster heart and breathing rate, and faster conversion of glycogen into glucose. These are good things if you need to escape a charging grizzly bear, but when these effects are prolonged, the immune system is depressed, and your body suffers other negative changes.

Common effects of prolonged stress include fatigue, pain in the muscles and joints, headache, mental confusion, depression, anxiety, and irritability. Stress reactions cause your body to use too much energy, which can result in physical and mental weakness.

Managing Stress With Meditation

Years ago at Stanford University, an analysis of 146 meditation studies was done. The conclusion was that meditation not only was beneficial at the time of practice, but that it significantly reduced anxiety as a character trait. The studies focused on transcendental meditation, but it's probable most methods have similar results. (Reported in the Journal of Clinical Psychology 45: 957?974, 1989.)

The bottom line is that stress is a killer, and that meditation really can help you defend yourself. Traditional meditation may have the most beneficial effects, but maybe you're short on time, or uncertain about learning to meditate. In that case, there are two simple techniques you can learn in a few minutes, and start using today.

The first is a breathing meditation. Close your eyes, let the tension drain from your muscles, let go of your thoughts (to the extent possible), and breath deeply through your nose, paying attention to your breath. As thoughts or sensations arise, just acknowledge them and return your attention to your breath as it goes in and out. Do this for five or ten minutes.

To use the second technique, stop whatever you're doing when you feel stressed, and take three deep breaths. Watch yourself until you identify what is bothering you. Are you worried about something? Is there a letter you need to write? Maybe your neck is sore. Note everything you find.

Now deal with these stressors. Write the letter that's on your mind, take an aspirin, put things on tomorrow's list. If the best you can do is recognise there's nothing you can do right now - then do that. With practice, you'll get better at finding what's just below the surface of consciousness, irritating you. After you address these things, close your eyes, take three deep breaths, and you'll feel more relaxed and able to think clearly. Try it now.

Steve Gillman has meditated and studied meditation for over twenty years. You can visit his website, and subscribe to The Meditation Newsletter at: http://www.TheMeditationSite.com/newsletter.html