Writing Success is Often Served with a Side of Failure:

Success is Often Served with a Side of Failure. Hold the Failure.

It’s not unusual for writers to chase success only to keep falling short of their goals. Failure is part of the process, and it should never force a confident author to give up.

The feeling of defeat should be motivation to take on a challenge; it should be a learning experience to try a different approach.

Here are a few examples of unsuccessful authors who became impatient and lost momentum with their writing. If you can see yourself experiencing the same frustration, pay attention to the tips that follow each example.

Bill – A Daily Habit of Excuses: If Bill had time to write, he made excuses not to write. When he had excellent ideas for a new article, he convinced himself that the topic had been covered by someone else. He was no longer driven and passionate about his work. He had a barrel full of excuses and a bad case of procrastination.


Tips:
• Becoming an expert author will not happen overnight, but each night of some progress is a win.
• Making excuses to postpone writing will trickle down into your personal life. Stay motivated and battle through procrastination!
• The saying “practice makes perfect” is simply a line of encouragement. You don’t have to be perfect; you just have to want it.

Kathy – Too Many Fish in the Sea: Kathy was a motivated self-starter who never paid attention to the success of other authors. Over time, she lost focus and developed a habit of checking out the competition. Her work ethic began to decline at the sheer sight of all of the successful writers out there. How could she possibly stand a chance?

Tips:
• Keep your eye on the big picture and don’t worry about the other guy.
• Everyone has struggles of their own; learn to overcome yours just as others have done.
• No one knows what you have up your sleeve. Think big and leave a strong impression!

Jim – Public Eye Jitters: Jim was on the top of his game with his writing skills, but was too shy to get his name out there. He wanted to establish his credibility and showcase his niche without looking desperate. He just didn’t feel comfortable or confident on the right approach to article marketing. He ended up turning his writing into a hobby and no one has heard from him since.

Tips: 
• It takes passion, hard work and effective strategies to get the word out, not a background in marketing & sales.
• Publish your work under a pen name if you’re not ready to put your name out there.
• Take to social media to see how other writers are finding success. It doesn’t hurt to ask for advice!

Robert – Loss of Creativity: Writer’s block took its toll on Robert, an author just starting out. There were so many niches to write about that he became overwhelmed. What’s the hot topic? What information did the readers crave? These questions continued to bug Robert, so he stayed on the couch and sulked, postponing his potential to break out. His creative juices were not flowing and he gave up.

Tips: 
• Revisit old pieces of your writing and reflect on the inspiration you felt at the time you wrote it.
• Step outside. Visit a place out of your ordinary routine and reflect on your experiences.
• Re-read an article, short story, or book that left you feeling inspired. Your creativity is there, it just needs to be re-ignited.

Sarah – Zero Time to Write: Finding time to write can be like searching for a pin at the bottom of a pool. If there’s one thing that Sarah didn’t have, it was a moment to herself. Long work hours, appointments, and kids to look after sucked up all of her energy. It seemed like her only escape was in the bathroom! It was hopeless; she just wasn’t cut out to be a writer.

Tips:
• Be vocal about your time constraints. Stick to them. Others will understand.
• Get your own space for your writing. You will find peace when you’re locked away from your distractions.
• Practice time-saving techniques. Check out these 30 Time-Saving Tips for ideas.

It may seem success comes easier for others, but realize that successful writers have their own obstacles to overcome. Continue making progress with your writing and don’t lose hope.

Put on your apron and get creative. It’s OK to break a couple of eggs on your way to the main course. As long as you think positive and keep trying, you will overcome failure!

Posted by Courtney, Member Support Manager on October 14, 2014 at 9:25 am

Venezuela and Hugo Chavez - A Book Recommendation

The leader of Venezuela was elected by the people in a democracy, but he rules like a dictator. He controls business, military, education, media, food, work, travel, police, jails, human rights and all three branches of government. And now he's passed a new rule that he can keep running for office indefinitely and so he will.

Hugo Chavez has told the World that the USA cannot live without their oil, but this is simply not so, we not only do not need it, we ought to stop buying it. Let me recommend a very good book to you:

"The Threat Closer to Home; Hugo Chavez and the War Against America," by Douglas Schoen & Michael Rowan; Free Press (2009).

Venezuela's Oil Production has decreased by 1/3 since Hugo Chavez nationalized the industry. With the production way down, he is having an almost impossible time trying to pay for all the social programs he created and all the promises he's made; both politically and socially. Worse, the price of oil is way down from its high and Venezuela has very little storage capacity 5-10 days depending on the type of oil is all.

Hugo Chavez has also been manipulating the elections in Argentina, Nicaragua, Ecuador, and El Salvador, while courting those nations that oppose the US such as North Korea, Iran, Russia and Cuba. He's also worked to alienate the US from Bolivia and Ecuador, as well as most all of Central America, calling America the Devil.

Mr. Chavez indeed rules by bullying, intimidation, and force against the Venezuelan people and his neighbors. Now with food shortages, and other problems, he is blaming this on the USA, but most of the people there know otherwise. The US buys most of their oil, maybe we ought to stop, turn those ships back, after all there must be some 80 billion barrels of oil sitting off the coasts of major World ports right now, as there is no storage left. Think on all this, it's time to make a move.

Lance Winslow enjoys community philanthropy - Lance Winslow likes small business. Lance Winslow has also been involved in the Oil Industry; http://www.oilchangeguys.com/aboutus.shtml/.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lance_Winslow
http://EzineArticles.com/?Venezuela-and-Hugo-Chavez---A-Book-Recommendation&id=2233542

Behind the Cult of Chavez

I boarded a plane in Buenos Aires, Argentina for a long flight to Caracas, Venezuela. The plane was packed with Venezuelans. Some of them, judging from their dress, manner of speech, and number of electronic gadgets, had traveled to Argentina as part of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's security detail for the Mar del Plata Summit. The rest, farmers in shabby clothes with worn, wrinkled hands, had been sent to fill the stands with Venezuelan blood, hot enough to shout in favor of their leader.

The elderly lady sitting next to me said Venezuelan state agents had recruited her from her small family farm just hours before takeoff. She was to attend the summit as a Chavez fan, watching her leader stand side by side with Argentine President Nestor Kirchner and then-Bolivian presidential candidate Evo Morales to denounce US foreign policy in the region and promote C havez's region-wide call for socialism.

She and her husband referred to Chavez endearingly as "Huguito", or "little Hugo", and said state agents had instructed them as to when and how to cheer for "Huguito" in Argentina.

Observers have long talked about Chavez's cult of personality, but it was the first time I had seen it first hand, and in the genuine, cheerful faces of these small-time farmers.

Chavez, who has served as Venezuela's president for nearly a decade, faces elections in December 2006, and all indications are that he will secure another six years in power. For all intents and purposes, he is the president, the government, and all but an autocrat.

For six hours, the elderly couple talked about their beloved leader, who would one day deliver them from misery.

"Chavez represents the typical Venezuelan," the couple explained. "He grew up in the county in a house with a dirt floor. Raised by his grandmother, Huguito was able to get into the military academy because he was an exceptional baseball player, not because he had money."

Most Venezuelans are poor like Chavez was before he became president. This is the part of Chavez's personality that the Venezuelan government promotes, and it is why so many Venezuelans love him.

Chavez has been harshly criticized by large parts of Venezuela's middle and upper classes referred to as the "opposition". He has been accused of electoral fraud, human rights violations, and political repression. He has survived a brief 2002 coup and a failed 2004 recall referendum. The poorer classes tend to view him as a socialist liberator, while the middle and upper classes tend to view him as an authoritarian demagogue. Regardless of the labels, Chavez is one of Latin America's most complex and controversial figures.

From Mexico to Argentina, poor Latin Americans appreciate his rhetoric, his charisma, and talk of plans for a better future. He makes promises and keeps them. Within Venezuela, Chavez has setup medical clinics for the poor. Located in the shantytowns that surround Caracas, Cuban doctors run the clinics; service is free of charge. State-run markets, where the prices for basic food staples are controlled and very low, are popular with Chavez's supporters. And his talk of land appropriation, a very difficult promise to keep, has moved forward, giving poor, landless Venezuelans hope that one day, they will have their own land.

Chavez is the keeper of the faith. He has spearheaded a movement in Venezuela and abroad, that, more than any other substantial outcome, has delivered hope to millions of impoverished Latinos.

At the airport outside of Caracas, one is abruptly introduced to the loud, badgering, and careening nature of Venezuelan culture. But amid the constant motion and liveliness, and despite the faith in Chavez, a growing sense of doom-and-gloom seems to have descended upon Caracas.

Having lived in major cities in Argentina and Brazil, I have grown accustomed to the red bricks and corrugated tin roofs of South America's slums. But the shantytowns in Caracas were something different and more depressing. The sheer mass of slums and the length to which they spread forth from the hills surrounding Caracas, down the slopes, all the way to the coast, was depressingly impressive.

These shacks seem to cling to the side of the hill with little more than sheer will and some luck. Their inhabitants represent the mass of people who largely support Chavez. They are the first to praise their leader for the reduced prices of meat, chicken, bread, and eggs, and free medical care. Their children fill Chavez's rank and file of loyal soldiers.

They love "Huguito", placing all their hope in one very charismatic man who seems to have all the answers. Yet their votes are all that remain of Venezuelan democracy, which, with each election cycle, is chipped away at just enough to keep alarmists on their toes and pragmatists from worrying.

Talking to some of these Chavez supporters, I was surprised to learn that their allegiance was not as solid as it would seem. Many here love that he claims to represent Venezuela's poor. But they are quick to add that it seems that only those who live in the cities - and a limited number of pockets of rural poverty - receive attention from the state. They are also quick to mention that the Cuban doctors are not what Chavez says they are. More than one Chavez supporter told me that the doctors in the Caracas slums were little more than medical students, trained to the level of a nurse.

Later on in my journey through Caracas, I met with representatives of the "middle class" who do not support Chavez.

I met with a former vice minister in the Venezuelan Energy Ministry at a downtown café, just far enough from the hustling street to make conversation without shouting. Sitting in a far corner of the air conditioned café, he ordered both of us round after round of coffee and explained in fast-paced Spanish the realities of living among the opposition.

The former vice minister worked in the nuclear studies section of Venezuela's Energy Ministry and is now a professor with the Central University in Caracas. We spoke only a little about Chavez's nuclear ambitions before falling into a topic that began with what many in Caracas simply refer to as "the list".

Chavez's nuclear ambitions are more talk than reality, he said, adding that there was really nothing to talk about because Venezuela did not have the scientific brain trust to make it happen.

"The poor bastards have all left," he said. "Why? Because they were finished with working for the Chavez government, and the few who remained signed the list."

The list is a record of signatures made by those Venezuelans who opposed Chavez's presidency in late 2003. At the time, Chavez's political opposition had enough momentum to attract millions of signatures needed to call a nation-wide referendum. Since the list was delivered to the National Electoral Council, those who signed it became persona non grata for the Chavez administration. And it was soon after the referendum vote in August 2004 that strange things started happening.

"Chavez took that referendum very personally," the nuclear scientist said. "Everyone on that list is an enemy to Chavez and an enemy to the Venezuelan state in his eyes."

Rumors are that those who signed the list became part of a register that represents the core of Chavez's opposition.

Over time, members of that register noticed their lives becoming more difficult. Business licenses were not renewed, applications for passports and visas were "lost", strange bills for unknown taxes appeared in the mail.

As I listened to the stories about this lawyer, and that merchant, the daughter of the cousin of some friend, and her boyfriend's father, I realized that many of these stories may not be true, or were partial truths or rumors. But the fact remained that the former government employee sitting before me clearly believed those stories, and his speech was so fraught with anxiety that he brought his fist down on the table, spilling his coffee on my notepad.

While he failed to completely convince me of the veracity of these stories, he did manage to convince me that he, along with thousands or perhaps even millions of Venezuelans, believed them to be true. And that is what really matters.

If millions of middle class Venezuelans believe that their government is actively trying to make life more difficult for them, then they also believe there is no social contact between civilian and state. If Venezuelans believe the government should be changed, they have the constitutional right to organize a referendum and recall vote. The man sitting before me was convinced that he and millions of others had been punished for exercising their rights as citizens of a democratic state.

"What worries me the most is the future state of Venezuela for our children. What Chavez is doing to me and my peers now will only last a little while. Chavez will only last a little while, but what he is doing to divide Venezuelans, to destroy our economy, and to undermine our belief in our government and democratic system will take decades, maybe longer, to correct," he said.

Returning to my hotel in the broad backseat of an old Chrysler, my taxi driver, an Italian who immigrated to Caracas over 40 years ago, complained about life under Chavez. When I asked about "the list", he exploded in anger. He had signed the list and was convinced that was why he was still waiting for a tax receipt that would allow him to circulate in Caracas as a legal taxi driver.

Before the referendum, it took about two months for his tax receipt to come in the mail. This time around, he had already been waiting six months for his 2004 receipt, and the last time he called to complain, he was told he had never paid his taxes and would have to pay in full again or risk losing his driver's license.

I asked him if he would vote in the upcoming elections. "Hell no, I'm a marked man in this town. There is no way my vote would be counted," he said.

"They know my name is on the list, so it doesn't matter who I try to vote for, they'll just tell me I'm not registered to vote when I arrive at the [voting] station."

By this time I was getting the feeling that abstention would become a big problem among the middle and upper classes.

The Venezuelan opposition is a relatively small group of middle- and upper-class Venezuelans who are divided and in need of direction. Compared to the very focused mass of Chavez supporters, the opposition is fragmented and more of a diaspora throughout the Western Hemisphere than a political force in Venezuela. Chavez supporters currently form a solid political base, and Chavez rewards them with cheap food, free medicine, and maybe a plot of land, for their support.

What Chavez does not preach about is the truth of his fragile economic situation. The Venezuelan economy shrunk in 2002 and 2003 by 8.9 per cent and 9.2 per cent, respectively. Current claims that the Venezuelan economy is growing may be true, but it's still recuperating from years of shrinkage. Roughly one-third of Venezuela's gross domestic product is from the sale of oil, some 80 per cent of Venezuela's exports. The day the price of oil falls, Chavez will have a very hard time keeping the largesse of his social programs afloat.

When the well of socialist security begins to dry up, this whole system that Chavez has created will come crumbling down and his support base will revolt. If that day comes, those who form the core of his support base will revolt first, not the middle class Venezuelans who speak out against the president in a disorganized manner.

The first to revolt will be the taxi drivers, the bus drivers, the waiters, mechanics, and others who live in all but impoverished conditions, but who still hold on to hope that Chavez will be their deliverer.

The minute they lose that hope, they will take to the streets with all the firebrand fervor they now use to support "Huguito".

Sam Logan (http://www.samuellogan.com) is trained as a political scientist, working as an analyst and investigative journalist. He has covered security, energy, politics, economics, organized crime, terrorism, and black markets in Latin America since 1999.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Samuel_Logan
http://EzineArticles.com/?Behind-the-Cult-of-Chavez&id=181118

Breast Feeding - Heavenly Nectar For Babies

Breast feeding is the greatest and the best gift any mother can give her child. Yet, the world over, there are millions of infants deprived of this benefit. This is because of many factors and circumstances force mothers use formula milk instead. These circumstances could be physical (such as the mother is incapable of producing milk, or the baby has a lactose digestion problem) or it could be due to the fact that both the parents need to work, and hence the mother cannot be at home to nurse the child at the same time. Promoting Breast Feeding Studies report that breast feeding helps the child cope better physically and mentally with the challenges that the world throws in his/her path. Side-by-side it has been found that the formula are not as good as was believed once upon a time, neither are these really sterile as the public was led to believe. There had been reports where very unusual things were found in the powder milk such as match sticks, foils, paper and so on indicating the quality control in the factories where these are produced supposedly with state-of-the-art-infrastructure is not actually that great for the baby. Women all over the world realized that by depriving their babies of breast milk, they were indeed doing them a great injustice. This is how breastfeeding made a huge come back and now babies all over the world enjoy breastfeeding longer and more often (per day). Not only that women tend to continue with breast feeding after the baby is well past two years of age - and the result is that both the mother and child are feeling great about it. Large corporates accepted and recognized the need for breast feeding and have offered new mothers nursing breaks and creches on their premises so the babies would not be deprived of their due. It is wonderful to see that babies have responded well to this change globally - by reporting less susceptibility to disease, good immune system, proper brain development among others. Formula Versus Breast Feeding There is no argument that can uphold that the formula can ever be better than mother's milk for the baby. You could say that the formula is extremely convenient - especially for working women - but it is definitely not better. Breast feeding was, is and will always be the best food you can give your infant. In case you can, try to be there at home and close your baby for at least the first three to four months.

About Author: Eddie Lamb provides an abundance of information on a range of family related issues. We believe better understanding your family's requirements makes for a happier environment. You'll find a host of useful articles about breast feeding on our site at Breast Feeding Awareness.

Article Source: ArticlesAlley.com

D-Calcium Pantothenate for Acne Therapy - An Entirely New Category in Skin Care

Co-enzyme A is needed to break down fatty acids in the body. When, levels of co-enzyme A are low, the efficient breakdown of fatty acids is thus impaired which leads to excessive accumulation of fatty acids in the blood stream. The fatty acids are the deposited into the sebaceous glands (sweat glands) and secreted as oil, giving the skin an oily complexion. Co-enzyme A is also needed for sex hormone synthesis. When the levels of sex hormone are low, the body has to make use of what co-enzyme A is available for sex hormone synthesis (as hormone synthesis is given priority; without it, sex organs to do not develop) and hence this causes the build-up of fatty acids. This explains why teenagers are more prone to acne than adults; at that age, sex hormone synthesis is at its peak to allow development of sex organs and secondary characteristics such as pubic hair, muscle mass, voice change etc. The human body can obtain co-enzyme A from 3 sources; adenosine (naturally produced), cysteine (naturally produced) and d-calcium pantothenate, which needs to be obtained from dietary intake. Although the naturally produced adenosine and cysteine are able to cope with supplying the adequate levels of co-enzyme A, at time of high demand dietary intakes of d-calcium pantothenate are needed to quench this demand. Treatment Regime 1.For the first five days of treatment, 5 capsules are usually taken twice a day; this equates to 10 capsules per day. 2.After the first five days, 5 capsules are to be taken 4 times a day (equates to 20 capsules per day) for 3 months. 3.After three months, maintenance therapy can be started and this ranges from 4-15 capsules per day. Maintenance therapy can be titrated according to the appearance of your skin and how acne-free it is. Gradually reducing the dose from 20 a day down to 10 then eventually 4 capsules per day is quite a good method. If flare-ups are experienced, this means you have gone below your individual maintenance dosage; increase to the amount taken before the last reduction. One may ask why, the doses of d-calcium pantothenate, are so high. Well, the purpose of taking 20 capsules per day is to kick-start the body to produce co-enzyme A. After the levels of co-enzyme A are high, (after about three months), they can then be reduced to a maintenance therapy levels; as explained above. Efficacy The use of d-calcium pantothenate has been shown to be over 90% effective in a medical study. But one thing to note is that efficacy comes with compliance! In some people, improvements can be seen at 2 weeks of therapy whilst others this can take somewhat longer. During the first week of treatment, some customers have noticed that their acne has increased. Although the reason for this is not entirely known, this should not act as a deterrent; this usually disappears after 1-2 weeks. Safety Being an all-natural water soluble vitamin, d-calcium pantothenate is safe to take in high quantities. The body will just excrete the surplus amounts through the urine. The only contra-indication worthy of note is that d-calcium pantothenate should not be taken when pregnant/ breast feeding. Side Effects 1.Loosening of stool ( reported as the main side effect) The stool consistency is half way between normal and diarrhoea 2.Mild stomach irritation ( occasional) 3.Possible headaches. This may occur at the start of treatment and gradually subsides 4.Must not be taken when pregnant or when breast feeding! If side effects do occur, then please reduce the number of capsules being taken or discontinue and consult your local doctor for advice.

About Author: Asanka Samaranayake (BSc Hons Neuroscience) and Darren Patten (Bsc Hons Surgery & Anaesthesia)have a specialist interest in microdermabrasion and provide you with an indispensable resource at Microdermabrasion Info. Net

Article Source: ArticlesAlley.com

Society and Teenage Pregnancy in Jamaica

Rates of teenage pregnancy in Jamaica are among the highest in the Caribbean, with the birth rate for 15-19 year olds at 108 births per 1,000 women. Forty-five percent of all Jamaican women who are 15 to 24 years old have been pregnant by 19 years of age, and 41% have given birth.

Females between the ages of 10 and 19 account for roughly 25% of all births in Jamaica and about 22% of births in 15-19 year-olds are second births.

There are a number of consequences to teenage pregnancy in Jamaica. First of all, the education of the adolescent mother is disrupted and often completely ended. Indeed, only 36% of teenage mothers complete more than four years of secondary school, compared to 50% of girls who never become pregnant. The mother, then, is severely limited in her job opportunities.

Furthermore, parents and society in general will not look kindly upon a young girl who has engaged in sexual activity at a young age, and often a girl is disowned and must support herself and her child alone. Teenage pregnancy in Jamaica also carries with it health risks to the mother and child, though doubts have been raised as to whether these risks may also be attributed to socio-economic factors. Statistics show that maternal mortality rate is 40% higher for mothers under 15 and 13% higher for mothers in their twenties.

It is not only the teen mother who experiences health risks, but the child of the adolescent mother as well. Research points to the fact that the neo-natal death rate for babies born to adolescent girls is roughly three times higher than for babies born to adults.

Speaking of socio-economic factors, there are further health risks to the child due to the often precarious financial situation of the adolescent mother. Often, the mother passes long periods of time away from the child to try to find work or chooses to work extra hours to make enough money. This often leads to the mother stopping breast-feeding early and switching the child to foods which lack the essential nutrients found in breast milk; this leads to poor health and malnutrition among Jamaican children.

The socio-economic situation of the Jamaican mother also often leads to child shifting, where a child is sent to live with other family members or other families, away from the mother. Studies have shown that 1 out of 5 Jamaican children did not live with either their mother or father; very often the shifted child will be placed in a negative environment.

What Jamaican society is beginning to realize is that the negative effects of teenage pregnancy in Jamaica are not felt solely by the adolescent mother or her child. The Jamaican economy suffers because of a poor labor force due to so many young girls being uneducated and because the resources of the country must be funneled into welfare programs for teenage mothers.

Indeed, teenage pregnancy in Jamaica is obviously a complex and multi-faceted problem.

About Author: Azzam Sheikh Facilitator 'Strengthening families, strengthening communities' parent programme. pregnancy resource center

Article Source: ArticlesAlley.com

Julia ward howe

In 1870 Julia Ward Howe called for a Mother's day proclamation in response to the Civil War. She saw this as a way to celebrate peace and motherhood. After her death her daughter Anna took up the cause to make Mother's day a recognized holiday. In 1908 she petitioned her church to celebrate the day and her request was honored so on May 10, 1908 the first official Mother's day celebration was held. She arranged for carnations to be given to each Mother in attendance as this was her mother's favorite flower. Interestingly enough this tradition is still upheld today by many businesses. Today we celebrate this holiday by giving our Mother's all sorts of gifts from flowers to jewelry. Here is a list of some of my favorite gifts to give my mother.

Live plants are a great way to show how much you care. Better then cut flower since with proper care they will live on forever. The blooming type of plant is much more desirable than the green leafy type since it will bring a bit of color into any room.

If your mom isn't the plant type then why not a spa gift certificate; a great way to show you love her with a little pampering. Besides she has taken care of you all your life and deserves a little time to herself. Choose a spa that is close to her house and maybe even join her for a special day. You can even make a day out of it and surprise her with a healthy lunch.

Personalized gifts are also a great way to show off your love. Personalized key chains that hold a picture are a great way for your mom to remember when you were little. Before giving this gift have it engraved with a special message and be sure to include a photograph of a special memory. Key chains aren't the only gift that can be personalized a personalized compact makes a great gift for a mom and a great reminder of how beautiful she is.

There are so many ways to show your mom that you love and appreciate all she does for you. A gift doesn't have to cost a fortune and it doesn't have to be made of gold. It can be something as simple as making dinner for her or making her a special card. Moms love that sort of thing.

Brenda Hopkins writes for Wholesale Favors about Personalized Mothers Gifts and Gift Ideas and gives advice on personalized gifts

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brenda_L_Hopkins
http://EzineArticles.com/?Mothers-Day-Gift-Ideas&id=6923607