Entrepreneur? - What the Heck is That?

Entrepreneur - a word that is hard to spell and its meaning is tied to business. But what does it really mean? Before becoming one, you need to know what it is. Perhaps you are already one? Are you an entrepreneur?

According to most dictionaries, an entrepreneur is a businessperson who willingly takes a new idea, concept or enterprise. He or She will take on the full responsibility for the outcome. They provide more then capital. Just providing capital would make them an investor, not an entrepreneur. An investor usually will let someone else handle all the day to day business activities.

Any person who invests in a business enterprise and then also runs it can be called an entrepreneur. An entrepreneur is someone who develops a fresh and new product, a new way of manufacturing, or an innovative market. A large number of new ideas, products and ways of creating are developed by entrepreneurs. Often, they are then picked up by bigger companies and mass produced. Smaller companies can devote their ideas to a narrow niche and not have to spend the expense of mass production and advertising. This means more of their resources are spent on being innovative.

Some people just naturally have the spirit of an entrepreneur. You can see it early in life. The way the child problem solves. Usually they are more thinkers and often scheme their brothers, sisters and other relatives into getting them what they want. They set high goals that often seem impossible to those around them as they age but yet they often manage to reach or at least come near to reaching them. However, a person not born with this natural spirit can develop it.

The first key is to set a goal and let nothing stand in your way. A true entrepreneur does not worry if something does not work the first time. They just try another route till they find the way through the maze or difficulty. This means the number one quality that must be developed is to be a bit of a risk taker. Leadership skills can be learned. If one is not creative, linking up to creative people can also be achieved. But the biggest key is to have a goal that is solid in a person's mind that the drive and passion fuels the disappointments and roadblocks.

Though entrepreneurs are known to be risk-takers, they still have to make sure that they are entering a good business. There are thousand of opportunities available in our electronic culture and even in areas of health and wellness. Take the time to study markets. Find one that you believe in.

Becoming an entrepreneur is an exciting and challenging task. Learn what you need to know before moving forward and then do not hesitate to introduce something new to the market. Customers often like to be the first to have the latest idea, concept or product. What are you ideas? Is the area your considering starting in, have a need for your idea? What is your competition? When you have the answers and you are prepared. Step to the edge of the platform and leap! After all, faith in yourself and what you create are more powerful then any static!

Cheryl Matthynssens
cheryl@thebalanceguide.com
Balanced Freedom

Weightloss Energized - Fitness Happens - Are you in the Game?

Written By Drinkact and brought to you by .. ME!

DrinkACT - GAMEON




Whether you are looking for cutting edge products to achieve your personal weight and wellness goals, or if you are looking to build a successful business that suits your lifestyle, the A.C.T.™ Game On™ Weight Management System is for you!

The Problem:
With obesity increasing at an alarming rate worldwide, weight management is at the forefront of the current health care crisis. Excess weight affects people of all ages. 120 Million Americans over the age of 20 are overweight and a staggering 59 Million Americans over the age of 20 are obese! One in five children between the ages of 6 and 11 is overweight.

The medical community reports that excess weight directly affects the health and well-being of millions of Americans. Increased risk factors for conditions such as Cardiovascular Disease, Heart Disease, Liver Disease, Diabetes and Arthritis are directly related to excess weight. Yet, the problem just gets bigger and bigger!

According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), “American society has become ‘obesogenic,’ characterized by environments that promote increased food intake, non-healthful foods, and physical activity. Policy and environmental change initiatives that make healthy choices in nutrition and physical activity available, affordable, and easy will likely prove most effective in combating obesity.” This is the REAL healthcare crisis.

Identify the Problem
An easy way to gauge your health is to compare your current height and weight to the BMI chart. Body Mass Index (BMI) is a number calculated from a person’s weight and height. BMI does not measure body fat directly, but research has shown that BMI correlates to direct measures of body fat.



When Body Mass Index (BMI) exceeds 30%, the relative risk of death related to obesity increases by 50%. ( American Obesity Association)

The Solution:
Let’s face it, your weight is not going to change unless you do something different. The solution starts with a solid commitment to losing weight with the goal to maintain a healthy weight. This commitment is often the hardest part but once you’ve made this important decision to take charge of your life and your health, you are well on your way to improved health and a better quality of life.

We suggest to keep a food diary to help make you aware of what you are eating. Being informed empowers you to make intelligent choices. You don’t have to give up great food to achieve your weight loss and health goals - many great foods are good for you! Avoid heavily processed foods such as potato chips, sugary snacks, fried foods, and soft drinks. Many energy drinks or soft drinks are loaded with refined sugar and caffeine, these simple carbohydrates are terrible for you. Make the decision to eliminate these types of foods from your daily life. Make each food choice a healthy one! Eat fresh, non-processed foods and, replace those daily burger meals and fries with a terrific chicken or Caesar salad. Replace sugar and calorie-laden drinks with healthy drinks. You’ll feel better and you won’t suffer from the dreaded “sugar crash”, which only perpetuates the downward spiral of your health.

Now put one foot in front of the other and get moving, moderate exercise is invigorating and healthful too! 10 to 15 minutes of moderate exercise each day is a great start. Take a walk, ride a bike, make time for yourself and take a pilates or yoga class – it’s good for YOU! Moderate exercise is good for your body and your mind!

Maintaining your healthy weight is like balancing your check book or bank account. You can eat a specific number of calories per day to maintain your weight, exceed this number of calories and you could see your weight increase. To lose weight, consume less calories than this base line number or increase your activity level. Making better food choices and increasing your activity levels are great additions to your new healthy lifestyle.

This Revolutionary System includes:Power Up™ AM Thermogenic Action
This proprietary formula was specifically developed to boost energy and metabolism. Simply take two capsules in the morning and mid morning with at least 8 ounces of purified water to get your morning started and to Power Up your energy and thermogenesis to promote optimal metabolism.

Body Trim™ On-the-Go Weight Management
This natural, great-tasting pink lemonade drink supports and promotes a healthy weight and blood sugar levels with only 20 calories per drink. Body Trim™ comes in convenient “On-the-Go” Slim Pouches. Simply add this amazing drink in place of a mid-morning snack. Great to drink during your workouts too. Body Trim™ is a terrific source of natural soluble fiber as well, helping to satisfy your appetite without adding a lot of calories.

FORMŪLEEN™ Stealth Food Fiber™
A unique and proprietary formula developed exclusively for A.C.T.™ Studies show that most adults are not getting enough soluble fiber in their daily diets. Soluble fiber helps maintain healthy weight, balanced blood sugar levels and healthy digestion. This exciting product has been deemed a “Stealth Food Fiber™” because when added to most foods, FORMŪLEEN™ takes on the taste and texture of those foods. This amazing product has virtually no taste, but can actually accentuate the flavor of your favorite foods. Add FORMŪLEEN™ to hot cereals, soups, salads, meat or pasta dishes, throughout your day. Taken as directed, FORMŪLEEN™ adds an additional 7 grams of high tech Stealth Food Fiber™ to your daily diet.

Shake Down™ Meal Replacement Shake
Finally, a meal replacement protein shake that tastes great! Offered in Chocolate or Vanilla, Shake Down™ was developed to shake down the weight, by reducing the amount of calories you consume. Simply replace one meal, such as lunch or dinner, with a delicious Shake Down™ Meal Replacement Shake and a low calorie drink such as Body Trim™. It’s a simple way to assist in portion control. Shake Down™ contains 35% of the RDI of most essential vitamins and major minerals, while also providing 15 grams of the healthy protein your body needs.

Power Down™ PM Cleansing Formula
A proprietary blend of gentle cleansing herbs that is an integral part of the Game On™ Weight Management System. Many health professionals believe optimal health begins with the digestive system. Power Down™ helps cleanse and purify the body by supporting detoxification of the digestive system. Simply take 1 to 2 capsules before bed with at least 8 ounces of purified water. Power Down™ helps your body cleanse and renew itself as you wind down from your busy day.

Join the game at: http://drinkact.tv/cherylmatthynssens

Kids Group for Dogs and Kids gets Energized!

(Free-Press-Release.com) October 4, 2009 -- This week, Kids & K9S club leader, Linda Shelton worked with a leader from the DrinkACT energy drink company to create a fundraiser for the kids she works with. Everyone is very excited because instead of having the children out door to door trying to sell fundraising items or being limited to their geograpic location, they have created a website to refer customers to.

DrinkACT has provided a website at: http:drinkactweb.com/kidsncanines
The children's club will get all the retail profits AND if individuals sign up to get DrinkACT wholesale or want a business through their site, the club gets those residual checks as well.

When asked why she chose an energy drink company. Linda replied, " I found out that 90 million energy drinks are served every day. Most of these are loaded with sugar and sodium. I was looking for three things. 1) Someone who would work with us. 2) A product people could use that was better for them and most important 3) Something the kids could raise funds with in a safe manner."

Further investigation found that this A.C.T. has only 4 grams of fruit sugars per serving with a low glycemic index. DrinkACT's A.C.T. energy is reported by them as "all natural ingredients that all work together on the cellular level. The resulting formulation creates a large, healthy, mental and physical boost that starts working in minutes and lasts for hours!"

Linda stated that even though they will focus on the energy drink, people wishing to support the kids will find there are many products for nutrition, energy and weightloss. They even have Suzanne Somers - Suzanne Essentials: Sip of Sunshine. A drink designed to deliver Vitamin D to the body.

Linda shared that the funds earned will first go to make sure every dog has proper care and supplies while the kids are working them. Then, they will use funds to pay for their entries and support during the Grays Harbor County Fair and then lastly to send each club participant to Camp. If there are funds left over, they will be donated to the local 4-H club to offer camp scholarships to other deserving children that can't afford to attend the yearly summer camp that 4-H holds in their local county.

Linda was asked what support she would need. She smiled and just stated, "Stop by the website instead of 7-11 and pick up your energy drinks from us. Better for you and if you sign up (free to sign up) to get them wholesale, cost the same as your favorite brands."

DrinkACT is truly on the cutting edge of fundraising. For more information on how to set up your own fundraising account, Linda stated she would be happy to help. She can be reached at balanceguide@gmail.com or call her consultant she is working with at 1-360-820-3392. Linda stated that they will set up your fundraising account for free. You just need your EIN number.

http://drinkactweb.com/kidsncanines

Do I really need to lose weight?

It is a very small group of people that are actually happy with their weight in this world. If you are one of them, then you should stand with pride for your optimistic outlook on your life and your body image. Even if you do have such an outlook, healthy weight loss may still be needed. Even if a person is happy with their body, they may not have reached their healthy weight.

If you are overweight, even by a small proportion, you are at a risk for a number of diseases. The primary concern is, of course, the strain on the heart and then heart disease itself. This can lead to a heart attack. Extra weight and then heart disease causes the heart to work harder to pump blood through the body. This can cause the heart to become fatigued. The primary cause of a fatigued heart is weight, high blood pressure or high cholesterol.

In addition, heart disease and high cholesterol levels can put you at risk for a stroke. Strokes occur when blood, and therefore, oxygen cannot reach the brain. This is usually caused by a clot when the cholesterol causes a build up of fatty deposits in the blood vessels. A piece of this faty tissue, plaque breaks off and that is what causes the clot.

For women who wish to become pregnant, being overweight can interfere with this as well. Obesity changes the hormones in your body and if you don't get the right nutrients in the body, the body does not produce the right chemicals for the hormones needed to ovulate or carry a child. Even if you become pregnant, being overweight can increase the possibilites of complications such as miscarriage or even a type of diabetes that only shows up during pregnancies.

With obesity increasing at an alarming rate worldwide, weight management is at the forefront of the current health care crisis. Excess weight affects people of all ages. 120 Million Americans over the age of 20 are overweight and a staggering 59 Million Americans over the age of 20 are obese! One in five children between the ages of 6 and 11 is overweight.

The medical community reports that excess weight directly affects the health and well-being of millions of Americans. Increased risk factors for conditions such as Cardiovascular Disease, Heart Disease, Liver Disease, Diabetes and Arthritis are directly related to excess weight. Yet, the problem just gets bigger and bigger!

According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), “American society has become ‘obesogenic,’ characterized by environments that promote increased food intake, non-healthful foods, and physical activity. Policy and environmental change initiatives that make healthy choices in nutrition and physical activity available, affordable, and easy will likely prove most effective in combating obesity.” This is the REAL healthcare crisis.

An easy way to gauge your health is to compare your current height and weight to the BMI chart. Body Mass Index (BMI) is a number calculated from a person’s weight and height. BMI does not measure body fat directly, but research has shown that BMI correlates to direct measures of body fat.




When Body Mass Index (BMI) exceeds 30%, the relative risk of death related to obesity increases by 50%. ( American Obesity Association)

The Solution:
Let’s face it, your weight is not going to change unless you do something different. The solution starts with a solid commitment to losing weight with the goal to maintain a healthy weight. This commitment is often the hardest part but once you’ve made this important decision to take charge of your life and your health, you are well on your way to improved health and a better quality of life.

We suggest to keep a food diary to help make you aware of what you are eating. Being informed empowers you to make intelligent choices. You don’t have to give up great food to achieve your weight loss and health goals - many great foods are good for you! Avoid heavily processed foods such as potato chips, sugary snacks, fried foods, and soft drinks. Many energy drinks or soft drinks are loaded with refined sugar and caffeine, these simple carbohydrates are terrible for you. Make the decision to eliminate these types of foods from your daily life. Make each food choice a healthy one! Eat fresh, non-processed foods and, replace those daily burger meals and fries with a terrific chicken or Caesar salad. Replace sugar and calorie-laden drinks with healthy drinks. You’ll feel better and you won’t suffer from the dreaded “sugar crash”, which only perpetuates the downward spiral of your health.

Now put one foot in front of the other and get moving, moderate exercise is invigorating and healthful too! 10 to 15 minutes of moderate exercise each day is a great start. Take a walk, ride a bike, make time for yourself and take a pilates or yoga class – it’s good for YOU! Moderate exercise is good for your body and your mind!

Maintaining your healthy weight is like balancing your check book or bank account. You can eat a specific number of calories per day to maintain your weight, exceed this number of calories and you could see your weight increase. To lose weight, consume less calories than this base line number or increase your activity level. Making better food choices and increasing your activity levels are great additions to your new healthy lifestyle.

The White PIcket Fence Has Become a Little Grey!

For many Americans, the dream of owning a home or a business is the definition of the American dream. Add to this, the 2.3 kids, the well paid job or successful business and the stylish car to drive to work every day and you had the true picture of success. An individual's home, that was the symbol of stability and security, has become the primary center of stress for many home owners. It is no longer a dream for many but a nightmare instead.




The United States Census Bureau in 2007 reported an increasing number of homeowners are spending a growing amount of their incomes on housing. People in 49 out of 50 states reported an increase. The only state that didn't, Alaska, spent the same amount. The report showed that people are spending around 21 percent on their housing needs, up from 19 percent in 1999. In many areas, and for many Americans, it has reached a much higher number.

At this rate, first-time buyers are being priced out of housing markets all across the country. Economists point to rises in home prices in the last 7 years, as well as higher interest rates, coupled with stagnant wages and lost jobs over the same period. Household incomes, on the other hand, haven't done a very good job of keeping up. The same Census report showed that income has actually dropped, not risen, over the past 7 years, down 2.8 percent.

The report goes on to share the percent of people who allot more than 30% of their income for housing. The numbers are up almost 8%. National guidelines suggest that more than 30% of household income for housing is excessive and not financially healthy. Add to this that many companies take advantage of those desperate to own with shady lending practices and impossible interest rates. If this census was in 2007, one can only guess how much worse the numbers will be in the 2010 census.

Buying and owning a home has dropped to its lowest level in nearly nine years in the first three months of the year at the same time, housing vacancies reached an all-time high, according to figures released early this year by the Commerce Department. In addition, many distressed sellers are facing declining home values, their rates on adjustable mortgages have gone up, divorce prompted by stress around finances and even loss of health to stress related illnesses. This only adds to the amount of foreclosures and housing vacancies.

What does this mean in the long run?

The real estate market will remain lifeless until income can catch up to housing. And since real estate is one of the biggest drivers to the overall economy, a weak real estate market means a weak economy. The downward spiral is easy to follow. If no one is buying homes, then the number of new homes being built then decline. This means that all those individuals that earn their income in the building industry now are losing jobs or have lowered income due to fewer contracts. Continue down, these individuals are not spending money they would normally have and down it spirals impacting out. A giant ripple effect that is long reaching!

Until income can begin to grow as quickly as the real estate market, this trend shows no signs of slowing down. This could mean that the upcoming real estate slump could last much longer than anyone predicted. The true impact and prediction will be measured with the 2010 Census. The only consumers that will benefit from this current trend are those with the financial position to buy up property that has dropped in value and can afford to hold on to it for a long term investment.

Live In the Moment! Be Present!

Being Present... what does that mean? It means that whatever you are doing, be there. If you are in a business meeting but your mind is on your kids at the lake this next weekend, you are undercutting your potential. You may miss making some contribution that would benefit your team. You may miss some contribution that could make the difference in your earning potential and freedom.

On the reverse side, if you are at that lake with the family and your mind is on work or you are answering messages, you are missing the miracle of family. You may miss that first dive or that accomplishment of overcoming a fear or beating a sibling for the first time. Children and Grandchildren grow so fast. Every moment you are with them, but not present, you are missing the miracle of childhood. Live life with no regrets! If you look back and wish you had been home more, you can never make that up.

One of the hard things about a J.O.B (Just over broke) is that you do not have freedom. That means that you have to work harder to get that balance in your life that is so crucial to stress management and happiness.

Physically - Be Present when you eat. Take the time to actually taste your food. Enjoy it. This lowers stress, lowers how much you eat and makes meals something to look forward to. Have dinner with people you care about. Make your meals about socializing and not about how quick can I get to the TV or back to that report that is due on my desk. Take care of your body! It is the main vehicle that has to get you through the next 70+ years. Pay attention to how you feel. Get exercise, plenty of water and good nutrition.

Socially - Be Present in your organizations. It doesn't do you any good to join a business organization whether it is MLM or Direct Marketing if you stand on the fringes and watch what others are doing. Dive in there. If you are volunteering, don't wait for someone to ask, Dive in there. Be present and let others know what your strengths are. You never know what opportunity will arise because someone remembered you from a PTA meeting, a spiritual gathering or a business meeting.

Mentally - What ever you are doing, where ever you are, be there in mind and spirit. Listen, really listen, to what others are saying. People, including me, are often so busy thinking about what they want to say next, they are not really hearing what their prospect is saying. If you really listen, you will connect better with family, prospects and customers. They will feel validated and important. Karl A. Menninger once said, " Listening is a magnetic and strange thing, a creative force. The friends who listen to us are the ones we move toward. When we are listened to, it creates us, makes us unfold and expand."

Spiritually - Many think religion when they hear this word. But while it can include religion, it is not limited to religion. It is about staying in touch with that all important "I". What are you doing to stay centered? Are you happy? If not, what do you need to change? Ask yourself as you look at this, will _________ matter six months from now? If not, let it go. Spend time with you and be present. Don't let your mind wander to business, family or even finances. Just spend a little time being present with the most important person in your life. YOU!

For me, being present is so important. As a Direct Marketer with my company, I need to stay in the moment when I am working. If my mind is on dinner, the fact that it is so hot outside and I want to go to the lake, I won't get the things done I need to do with the quality that will bring me what I want.

Being present is especially important to those who are in business for themselves. Businesses need your attention to stay productive. Learn how to Market your business is crucial. Paying attention to current trends, really listening and focusing on what is working now. If this is an area that is weak for you, you can get training. There are many places out there to get such education. If you don't have an idea where to start, try Balanced Freedom, my site. We have great training, easy to follow instructions and marketing plans for any budget, EVEN ZERO Budget.

So how do you stay present? Practice! You need to catch yourself when your mind is drifting and remind yourself why being where ever you are in that moment was important to you. If it isn't important to you, ask yourself a even more important question, why are you there?

Have a Prosperous Day!
Cheryl Matthynssens

Amazing New Way of Generating Advertising, Traffic and Sales

Traffic Python is a new site that says it guarantees more CONVERTING web visitors and online advertising with very little effort or cost. So I decided to put it to the test...



My first impression was the site looks professional and clean, with an attractive look and feel. It is easy to read and understand. Joining the site was easy and painless--they do offer 2 upgrade options but they are not required to gain the benefits.



The Members Area is very well laid out and intuitive--I could figure out what to do after only a few minutes and was able to get up and running in less than 5 minutes. Inside the site, you create links and ads--the links you simply enter any URL links you use into the generator and it transforms them into "Traffic Python" links. You create ads for anything you want to promote using the Traffic Python Ad Generator, which is very easy to use. You can create as many links and as many ads as you like. And they are organized in a logical way--links are displayed in the order you create them but also your 5 most recent links appear on the main page for quick reference. Also, since the link generator is the tool you'll use most, it is also right at the top of the main page when you login. Very smart!



After you've created at least 1 link and 1 ad you can start to generate traffic. Just use and promote the new Traffic Python link instead of the original source link you had. Every time the Traffic Python link is clicked, the page loads followed by a cool slide-up ad window at the bottom. It displays an ad PLUS an image with your affiliate link that goes back to Traffic Python. So if anyone clicks the Traffic Python image they see the site, and if they signup they become your referral. It's a great viral feature because you can build referrals without even trying to just by using the site.



Now every time the ad window displays (your Traffic Python links get clicked) you earn credits that get YOUR ad displayed in the ad windows when other members' links get clicked. So the more clicks, the more times your ads get displayed.



And this works virally--meaning as you make referrals into Traffic Python (either by promoting it or just using it and visitors click the Traffic Python image on the ad window to join) you also earn ad credits on THEIR link clicks. And this works up to 5 levels deep. So you can create a massive amount of free ad views and web traffic by referring others to Traffic Python also.



I didn't get to test the full effect of a big downline yet (I just got the tool) but I can tell you the rest of the site works exactly as stated--my links got clicked, I earned credits, and my ads got displayed. Traffic Python even tracked my results so I know how many clicks and how many ad displays. That was an impressive unadvertised extra feature.



There is one more benefit and feature which might be the best of them all--downline emailing. You can email your downline with offers, promotions, or whatever you like, and here is where Traffic Python really shines. They took time to make the emailing often enough that it's valuable as a user, but no so often that it's a burden to your downline. But the best part about this feature (and actually the credit earning too) is that it tells you exactly how long until you can mail again. Now THAT's cool.



Overall I have to say I am impressed with Traffic Python. It is simple yet powerful, and delivers on its promises. Highly recommended to anyone who wants to increase traffic and advertising.



See it and join here:

http://trafficpython.com/x/aff/56904

Have a Prosperous Day
Cheryl