Giraffe Websites

A “template” is simply a design format which you can apply to all (or most) of the pages in your web site. The first advantage of using a “template” system is that it allows you to make your most important design decisions at the beginning, and then just focus on content. The second advantage is that it allows you to quickly create new pages based on your standard design.

The disadvantage is that many template-based websites look homogenized and seem to lack a unique character. Designers who sell templates tend to use the same formats over and over again, insert the same generic images, and use the same techniques.

Just as important, templates are often not ready-to-go right out of the box. They almost always need modification, and often modifying a professionally prepared template is difficult because the designer will have used techniques you may not fully understand or are specific to the tools he or she used to create it.

So it is preferable not to think of a web template as the kind of thing you buy from an online template store. Rather just think of it as a basic page format that can be used over and over again. The best template is therefore one that uses “standard” techniques that can be modified without the use of specialized tools or programs (like Front Page or Dreamweaver).

Creating a Basic Template

If you are not familiar with web design, try working with a “bare bones” template to begin with. There are two ways you can go. You can work with basic html and tables, or you can create your basic template with CSS. Since CSS is rapidly becoming the new standard, it is probably better to begin with CSS — especially if you have not yet become used to constructing web pages with tables.

CSS stands for “Cascading Style Sheets”, but at the beginning it is not important to understand what that means. What is important is to understand that CSS allows you to create a set of formatting parameters in a “style sheet” (a seperate file) which you then can very easily apply to your individual pages. In other words, you seperate the “style” from the “content”.

A simple style sheet can contain just three or four design elements. Here is an example which you are free to copy (right click and “Save target as” to a location on your hard drive, then change its name to “sample-1.css”.)

Style Sheet Sample (be sure to change its name to “sample-1.css”).

This template contains a definition for the body text, a header component (with a background image), a “navbar”, and a definition for two headline styles, h1 and h2.

Now that you have a style sheet you can begin building your web site by creating a basic home page. Here is an example which embeds the style sheet referred to in the previous paragraph. You can get the html code by just opening the page in a browser window, looking at the “Source” code, and saving the resulting file on your hard drive as, for instance, “sample-1.html”.

Now you should have two files in the same location on your hard drive — “sample-1.css” and “sample-1.html”. You can get the image file by just right clicking on the image in the sample page and saving it to the same location on your hard drive.

Your second step will be to create the pages referenced in the “navbar”, so make sure you think of names for these pages before proceeding (e.g., howitworks.html, products.html, about.html, sitemap.html, contact.html). Then build your hyperlinks into the navbar. (Look at the code of the sample file to see how it is done.)

Once you have your basic home page with links, this then becomes your template. Just save it as “howitworks.html”, “products.html”, etc., and make the changes to the specific pages.

The result (once you upload it all to your host server) will be a basic, functional website containing a number of properly interlinked pages. It will also be search engine friendly because the design is not cluttered with scripts, and the most important elements are clearly laid out at the top of the page.

For more web design tips and techniques see the Linknet Marketing Resource Library.

Rick Hendershot is a marketing consultant, writer, and internet publisher who lives in Conestogo, Ontario, Canada. He publishes several websites and blogs, including The Linknet Network of Websites. This network provides an inexpensive way to advertise your website, and get as many as 100 low cost links.

What is a title? Titles are names that are given to everything. Mr., Ms., sheriff, manager and SEO specialist are all titles given to things to describe who or what you are talking about. Web page titles are given to website pages. These web page titles give the search engines a brief couple word description to index the site’s pages by. These webpage titles are very important with getting your site ranked.

Each web page title for each individual page should be unique. They should be a brief 4 to 6 word description of the page they reside on. Many webmasters leave the web page title as “untitled document” or “company name”. This is not a good practice to do as you are not giving the search engines any relevant information about the pages that they are crawling. You should try to use keywords in your web page title to give more credit to your pages. Remember also to keep them as short as you can because the longer the web page titles are the less weight given to each keyword that is contained in the web page title. Also, After 58 characters, the web page title in the search engine results page will be truncated and will not be visible to the reader.

Everyone talks about the Meta tags called description and keywords but you never see as much about the web page title tag. While many people state that the description tag and the keyword tag are of no value (I still use them and believe full heartedly that every site needs them.), the web site title tag still hold as much importance now as it did in the past.

A fairly good practice would be to try to start your web page title with your keyword and end with your company name. That way your keywords come first and yet all those that like to brand their pages, you know who you are (”Company name” titles), can still have your name on every page.

There are many details that go into creating your web page titles. This is just an article to get your minds thinking about the types of titles you are using and what can you do to better them not only for the search engines but for your viewers as viewers are more likely to click on your link from the search engines if the link contains the keywords that the viewer typed in. Keep in mind that when a keyword is typed in a search engine if it is in the title text the search engine displays it will be bold typed or highlighted in some way to pull the potential clients into your link. Hopefully if you read this it will spark an interest in you to go out and find more detailed information on what you can do to create a traffic building title tag.–jmt

So you’ve decidied to get yourself a cool broadband connection and are wondering what fun things you can do with it now that you are about to consign your dusty old dial up connection into the dustbin of history….here are my top ten suggestions which are not in any particular order of merit:

1. Play cool games online against other people in real time on gaming websites. Hey you be warned…apparently you can get addicted to this! Battling it out against other players from across the world in real time will keep you amused for ages.

2. Watch streaming music videos at much better quality and with greater ease than you could before, and while we are on the subject, a great place to watch music videos for free is Yahoo Music at http://uk.launch.yahoo.com You can even create your own video channel based on your favorite bands and singers!

3. Download music and listen to streaming tunes at lightning speed compared to your old diap up tortoise! 4. Watch movie trailers at maximum quality to help you decide which films you would like to see at the cinema or on dvd and which ones you would rather sandpaper your toenails than go see!

5. Watch live webcasts, internet tv and short films online.

6. Listen to a choice of hundreds of streamimg radio stations for free whilst you surf the web.

7. If you are feeling nosey, you can now easily watch thousands of webcams set up around the world, so you can see whats going on in London England or Sydney Australia.

8. Watch the latest, greatest sporting action, sports news and more online at http://www.eurosport.com

9. Become a member of Second Life which is a huge 3d chat network and online game all at the same time. They have over 122,000 members and you can make friends, chat online, build your own 3d dream house on your own virtual land and even start a business such as a virtual nightclub or shop! Second Life even has its own currency which can be converted to and from real money! They say some people spend all day on this site…wow. Why not check it out at http://www.secondlife.com

10. Download software, games and other cool stuff so quickly, you will be wondering how you managed without broadband connection all this time…

One product that everyone has to have amidst this day in age is a rapid broadband connection so that every one of us can frequently converse with colleagues via e-mail and even MSN Messenger or maybe transfer files of your choice rapidly from around the whole net. Compare Broadband UK permits all of the public to see just how efficient ones link to the internet is by letting you to carry-out the quick Broadband Speed Test and if all of the public believe that your internet connection is is not sufficient enough then you can in a matter of minutes transfer your broadband connection so that it suits exactly where every body live. Compare Broadband UK does this for clients easily. We are living amidst an amazing period aren’t we.

On the Compare Broadband UK web site you have the quick and easy chance to have a go at a Broadband speed test. The entire speed check produce reports concerning the actual web speed concerning uploads and downloads available via your broadband. From all this one will be able to establish the pace of a broadband connection & once you’ve landed there you will note if you yourself really need to adapt your net package. Compare Broadband UK allows you to check your broadband speed at www.comparebroadbanduk.com/broadband-speed-test.htm.

The speed test will ascertain your download speed, this service is the rate your present connection can download info from the whole of the internet, it is useful to own a respectable rate for all this as it is what you yourself will then use when you download images, music and emails along with sizeable attachments. One will then enjoy the broadband upload speed this is the pace with which your connection send information back to the net, this is important concerning online games and web telephone calls. This service is where Compare Broadband UK comes in extremely helpful. All that’s required is for you to quickly just pop your info into the website and specify what exactly you yourself are looking for and it will bring up a selection of the cheapest and speediest broad band options appropriate to you. The prices should range from 4 pounds per month to 50 pounds depending on what exactly customers are looking for. Compare Broadband UK uses your areacode to find out what exactly is the quickest speed targeted at your specific city.

If you plan to search for your soul mate online like the 40
million other people in the world you should be aware of a few
tips that will help you along the way. Internet dating is a
fast, safe and very easy way to meet people, so what do you need
to know?

First off when you sign up to a dating site you need to fill out
your personal information, such as age, height and body type. Do
yourself a favor do not lie! It’s useless to lie about yourself,
likes, dislikes, occupation, etc… If you ever plan on actually
meeting people in person from internet dating services, then be
honest.

Photos are very important if you plan to get as many responses
as possible. Men especially will search through profiles with
photos only and contact people based on their appearance, so
it’s important to have a photo. Post a recent photo of yourself,
not one that was taken 10 years ago, this can be deceiving if
your appearance has changed. Ladies watch your email inbox fill
up if you put a photo on your personal ad. The amount of emails
you will receive will amaze you.

Try not to jump into sex talk in your profile too much, unless
you are on a site like Adultfriendfinder.com. People might
be scared off if they think sex is your only reason to want to
meet them. We are all sexual beings however keep the sex chat in
the background in the beginning.

When you do find someone you are interested in take it slow!
Send a few emails back and forth, chat on instant messenger then
work up to a telephone conversation. Don’t ask to meet right
away, and do not meet right away. You need to be smart and stay
safe. When it comes time to meet in person, do so in a public
place and take your own transportation. I’m not trying to scare
you, it’s just important to be safe, while meeting people you
know very little about.

Try not to discuss previous relationships as this is a big turn
off for people. No one wants to hear about negativity especially
when you are first getting to know someone. Be positive and your
personality will shine.

If you have already starting searching through dating sites, you
can see that their is an endless supply of men and women looking
for casual dating , romance and marriage. It can be overwhelming
to try to find something you like because now you have too many
choices compared to the real world. Don’t get overwhelmed, this
is easy to do. Write down what you are looking for and search
for people who fit your requirements.

This might be a no brainer but do not ask someone to marry you
when you first start corresponding with them. And don’t say that
you love them or they are your soul mate right off the bat, this
might not go over too well. You would be surprised at how many
men do this! The bottom line use your common sense, be honest,
take your time and have fun!

Richard Gazzo is a successful author offering info on online
dating services, such as American Singles and Yahoo Personals. Find everything from
Christian dating services, Gay personals and even Adult dating sites. http://www.datingseekers.net

Hey, there’s a business card on my desk… better follow up on it.

Hmmm, should I address you as Sir or Ma’am?

I see from the card that your name is Pat Smith. But is that Patricia or Patrick? I’m afraid I don’t know how to ask for you, and I’d really hate to look foolish and ask for “Ms.” Pat Smith if it’s supposed to be “Mr.” Pat Smith… and I don’t see any kind of photo on your business card, which would help.

Bet you expected me to remember you, didn’t you? I know, I know, my memory isn’t what it used to be.

But look, I got this card yesterday. I think; don’t know for sure, I was busy. I do remember that it was with a pile of other business cards on my desk.

You see, I forgot it was my boss’s birthday, so I had to go get her cake, and I’m afraid I didn’t have time to file your business card when I got back to the office. I’m sure it was important, which is why I might just send you an email…

Except I’m not sure if I got your email address right. I can’t quite make it out.

Did you print these business cards yourself? Surely no professional printer would allow you to cram all that text onto one single card, especially that line where you capitalized something in a script font. Maybe if I put my glasses on… nope. Now where are those magnifying glasses when you need them?

And is that a period on your card, or some kind of dirt or smudge? Well, it brushed off, guess it was a poppy seed or something.

Anyway, it doesn’t look as if you had your business card in a case I know how easy it is to just tuck a few cards into your purse, but I’ll bet this one was in there a while. It’s kind of crumpled along the edges, too.

And now that I come to think of it, I’m not really sure what you do, either. You’re a consultant, right? That’s what the title says, right after your name. What kind of consultant?

Sorry if I appear dense. I see your company name is “Midwest Consulting Group” but I’m afraid that doesn’t jog my memory a bit. There’s no slogan, no tagline, no logo, nothing that would give me a clue as to what your company actually does or what line of work you’re in. Our company deals with lots of different vendors and different industries I couldn’t begin to guess which one you might be affiliated with.

I really don’t want to ignore you, or lose your business (if you were a potential customer.) I have this nagging feeling that your business card is important hey, maybe you wrote something on the back! Let me turn it over.

Darn. Just a blank back.

Well, let’s sum this up. I don’t remember who you are or what you do. I’m not sure if I have your contact information right since I can’t read it, and I don’t even remember if you’re a man or a woman.

Sorry, whoever you are, but I’m throwing YOUR business card away!

Business card expert Diana Ratliff shows you how to create business cards that are kept, remembered, and used by your prospects! Get your free business card checklist today. Get interview transcript of business card magician with newsletter.

It’s been said that 80% of all small business dies within the first 3 years. And the rest are somehow struggling along with meager revenues. Only a handful is successful. Home based business has an even shorter lifespan. Every enthusiastic home based venture starts out with a big promise, a lot of excitement and enthusiasm.

However at the first signs of trouble or a slow take off the people become panicky. Having been accustomed to regular pay check, when the money does not roll in week after week and the bank balance hits the low digits, there is a sense of panic and the exciting home business gets trashed.

My own experience tells me this happens just when you are through with organizing, setting up and the difficult transition period of reaching out to the customers, you decide to wind up the business in favor of a job.

Now here are a few tips to persevere and make a success of your home business.

Plan in advance your finances for running your family for a minimum period of 6 months.

Plan every aspect of your business - right from creating the product to final shipments - on paper. Don’t leave out anything. This is what is called a business plan. Make it elaborate and group each aspect under a heading and subheading.

Home workers need to set a disciplined work schedule. Having no bosses around or compulsions of commuting may make you take things easy and relaxed. At least for the first 6 month work as if you are in employment and put in the required hours. You can relax and cut down on working hours when you start earning enough.

Don’t procrastinate or put things off for tomorrow. Action is one major ingredient for success. If you need to do something do it today. Do it now.

It is essential to keep your motivation high. Read about the success of other small business and home business owners and learn what they did right. Duplicating someone else who has succeeded makes it easy to succeed yourself.

You may suddenly find yourself alone without the social support of colleagues and friends. Even persons you considered your best friends may avoid you if they feel you are in trouble. That is OK. You get to know who’s who in times of adversity. Learn to depend on yourself than outside support.

Be prepared to take the temporary pain and denials. Robert Kiyosaki of ‘Rich Dad Poor Dad’ fame and his wife slept in their car for a few months and lived in a basement of a friends house for many more months to achieve what they set out - their financial freedom.

Believe in yourself and keep going even if the going gets tough. The rewards far outweigh the pains and temporary sufferings. Remember the darkest hour is just before the dawn breaks out and sun rises.

R.G. Srinivasan is a Certified Trainer, Writer and Author with more than two decades of managerial experience. He writes a regular blog on home-business resources which you may check out at http://www.home-businessresources.blogspot.com for online marketing tips, resources, opportunities and online promotional strategies

Over the past few years, I’ve read articles on menopause, wherein certain agencies have published the results of surveys given to mature women in that phase of life. One of the queries always concerns whether or not the woman’s sexual desire has diminished. There is usually a short list of possible ‘physical’ side effects of menopause listed on these surveys. Side effects that may be causing her decreased interest in sexual intimacy. I have yet to see a ‘psychological’ list of reasons offered. Having spoken to a number of women fifty and over, I can state unequivocally, psychological reasons for decreased libido may well far outnumber the physical. In addition, it’s my belief that today’s society may be in great part responsible for the psychological damage from which these women suffer.

In our modern society, the mature woman seems to be non-existent, as far as the visual media is concerned. Anyone watching television, viewing films, or thumbing through popular magazines, can easily verify this fact. Women over a certain age are just not represented. In the rare instances they are seen, it is usually not in the role of a feminine, desirable, woman. Most advertisers hawking products in the women-related categories of cosmetics, fashion and intimate apparel, completely ignore women past the age of thirty. It’s quite amusing to see ‘anti-aging’ beauty product ads, trumpeting ‘fantastic’ results, using models barely out of their twenties. Interestingly enough, older men are quite prominently displayed in ads, usually in the company of much younger women. We women have allowed ourselves to be brainwashed. We have been programmed, consistently, to base our self-worth, our sexuality, our ‘womanliness’, on youthful, physical looks alone. When I read of women in their late twenties, early thirties, opting for surgical cosmetic enhancements, in attempts to stave off the natural effects of the aging process, I’m appalled!

What message does the visual media send? Quite simply that mature women are neither visually attractive, nor sexually desirable. Access any online women’s magazine, and peruse its message boards. There you will find postings from women desperately seeking to halt, or alter, the aging process. Endeavoring to transform themselves into the youthful, enhanced images they are bombarded with daily, may become an obsessive quest, one that is doomed to failure. Is it any wonder that many mature women suffer from low to no, self-esteem? Is it any wonder, as well, many of these women find themselves less inclined to sexual intimacy?

‘I just don’t feel sexy’. This was a statement made to me by a fifty-year-old woman I’ll call ‘Betty’. When I asked her reasons for this statement, her reply was quite to the point. Betty told me she despises her looks. She said the image she sees in her mirror is not one she would call attractive, or desirable, based on the prevailing ‘beauty standards’ of today. As far as sexual intimacy with her partner, she told me although she enjoys sex, she finds she increasingly avoids the intimacy. She is simply too depressed over her looks, feeling totally inadequate.

Another woman I’ll call ‘Sue’ told me she had much the same opinion of herself as had Betty. She admitted the steady stream of images of young, nubile, firm, smooth-skinned women appearing on her television screen nightly, made her increasingly self-conscious about her physical appearance, with her husband. She remarked that he constantly presented her with expensive lingerie that she refused to don. The woman told me she felt ridiculous wearing it, regarding herself at the age of fifty-four as ‘too old’ for such attire. Therefore, the lovely lingerie wound up unworn and stored away. Sue added that her relationship with her husband had been strained for quite some time, and though she realized it was due to the lack of sexual intimacy between them, she was unable to get past her feelings about herself. Eventually it appeared that their twenty-five year marriage was heading for dissolution. Sue’s husband was ready to call it quits, because, as he told her, he felt she no longer loved or desired him. His pronouncement led to Sue’s being completely open and honest with her husband about her feelings concerning her own self-image.

It’s vitally important, today, for we mature women to begin realizing our very real value, and setting an example for our daughters, and granddaughters. We must chart a course for them, that they may realize that women over thirty do not fade away, and just disappear! It must be taught that youth is a convenient mask we wear for awhile, concealing the unformed ’self’. They must realize that as we mature, and ’self’ forms, the mask of youth fades away, revealing who we are, and what we have become, as human beings. We must demonstrate that mature women, who have developed interests, who have continually striven to enlighten and enrich themselves intellectually, and spiritually, and who possess a genuine love of life, and living, are incredibly attractive. We must prove the truth. They must come to realize that a mature woman’s confidence, insight, accumulated wisdom, and self-knowledge make her intensely desirable, and her sexuality is heightened by her ability to be an equal partner in the art of lovemaking. We must endeavor to de-program them, teaching them that what they see portrayed in the visual media as to women, is contrived illusion. It’s up to us, ladies, how our daughters and granddaughters will one day greet their maturity.

Jeannine Schenewerk is a freelance writer residing in Atlanta, Georgia. She maintains an inspirational, informative, upbeat site for mature women. Her site contains articles on positive self image, and common sense tips on make-up, skin care, diet, exercise, fashion, and more.

Let’s begin by defining the optimal mind state and the power it will give you to channel your energy toward your desired outcome. The optimal mind state is a quality of attention that leads to the highest level of concentration. It’s a balanced state that’s neither rigidly tense nor too relaxed. The optimal mind state is a quality of mind that’s under your control. And this means that you have the ability to focus your attention on whatever you choose, and maintain that quality of focus in an undistracted way.

Your ability to focus your attention in this way means that you’ll be better equipped to enhance the quality of your life, work, and relationships. Since the quality of your attention is so fundamental to the quality of your life, you could say that your ability or inability to focus your mind provides a fairly accurate measure of how in control or out of control you are of your life.

When you think about an optimal mind state or about optimal states of performance, keep in mind that these are not totally foreign to you. If you think about your past, I’m sure you’ll remember some times, and even special moments, that stand out and sparkle in your memory.

Pause for a moment, and reflect back on the near or distant past, scanning through your mind, and find a time or times when you knew what it really felt like to be “in focus.”

Can you remember the times in your life when you felt most fully alive and in the flow? The times when your attention was completely captured by the intensity of the moment and that nothing else dared to intrude? Can you remember the times when you just relaxed into the flow, and felt yourself carried and supported, moving effortlessly and easily through some activity? Or a time when everything just clicked into place, effortlessly, and you didn’t have to try to get things to work, they just happened? Can you remember what it felt like to be alive at those magic moments in your life?

Special moments are often described as times in your life when you are most in the flow, or in the zone, or at the peak of your performance. It is a deep flowing and an effortless sense of concentration. You have a vivid sense of clarity of your goals and a sense of being on purpose and aligned with what has real value. You even experience a loss of the sense of time, and a lack of self-consciousness. You have a deep sense of connectedness or belonging.

These special moments are the ones we all live for, they are the moments that shine like beacons in our lives. They remind us of what we’re really looking for, and what we’re really capable of doing and being. So then, what are the strategies for having more of these moments of being present, open, connected, and in the flow of life in such a wonderful way?

The key to having an optimal mind state is being able to have dynamic or fluid concentration. Learning to focus your mind with dynamic concentration will equip you with a wealth of powerful skills and strategies to carry the power of the optimal mind state into every activity of your life.

Learning to live and work in the flow of an optimal mind state means learning how to put your mind to work for you. To accomplish this, you must understand the nature of your mind, and learn how to use and direct the energy and power of your mind more effectively. Though you rely on many wonderful tools and technologies to live your life, ultimately, your mind is your most important and primary tool. With your mind, you envision and design all other tools and direct the way they’re used.

The first thing you must learn is how to focus your attention. One of the most effective methods for developing your concentration is with deep breathing. When you inhale, focus your attention within yourself, and as you exhale, imagine that you can direct the focused power of your attention in whatever direction you choose. Breathing in and focusing. Breathing in and directing the focused beam of your awareness wherever you choose. Just remember, you’re focusing, and directing, focusing, and radiating.

Once you have developed your deep breathing, then you need to develop the flexibility of your concentration. The best way to do this is by focusing on your hands. Just zoom in and focus on them, notice their position, and feel all the sensations or vibrations in your hands. Then, intentionally shift your attention and focus on some other interesting object in your visual field. Just let go of focusing on your hands, and focus completely on this visual object. And then, shift your attention back to your hands. Keep shifting your attention back and forth and just listen to the flow of sounds around you as you do this. Then shift your attention to observing the flow of thoughts and images in your mind. Don’t try to elaborate, just watch the flow for a moment. Finally, shift your attention to the top of your head, and then to your hands, to the taste in your mouth, and back again to your hands.

Practicing these simple exercises on a daily basis will help you to develop a greater flexibility of your attention. You will be to take greater control of where and how you direct your attention. And this will allow you to concentrate in an infinite variety of complex ways and to also perform an infinite array of complex activities. Your flexibility of attention offers you freedom by giving you the power to control the movements of your mind. The greater your mental flexibility is, the greater your power and creativity will be to move your mind through an infinite array of possible moves and functions.

The flexibility of your concentration is directly related to the versatility and adaptability of your nervous system. The more rigid and inflexible your mind is, the more rigid and limited your brain function will be. As you develop greater flexibility of your mind and body, you’ll find that your brain is able to handle more and more complex situations, and you’ll be able to deal with greater challenges without feeling nearly as much stress. When you become a master of concentration you’re really building a mind that is “fit for action.”

The quality of your life is directly related to your ability to shift between different ways of thinking, viewing, and working with the creative challenges that life brings you. The flexibility of your attention will allow you to shift your focus from one person to another, or from thinking about one project to thinking about another. As your resilience and versatility of concentration grows, you’ll be able to shift mental gears more easily, and move fluidly, from one way of looking or thinking about a situation, to another point of view. For example, you can focus your attention toward someone in a critical manner or in an appreciative way, and you can shift back and forth between multiple styles of thinking about the same situation.

In this complex and fast changing world of today, you’re constantly challenged to pay attention to a barrage of continually changing circumstances. Your success in life will depend largely on your ability to interact with all the situations that your are faced with in a creative manner.

Regardless of all the outrageous claims of some of the new, flashy mind technology that’s appeared on the market, real and lasting mental development, like muscular development, can be achieved only through practice. You simply can’t passively take a pill or plug into a machine that’s going to strengthen your mental muscles and build your powers of concentration for you.

However, you’ll find that training the mind is in many ways easier than physical training, since you don’t need to wait for a special time or place. You don’t need to rely on expensive equipment or exotic paraphernalia. You already have everything that you need to improve the quality of your concentration. Just strengthen your personal commitment to continuously learn to improve the quality of your life, and you’ll be on your way to a life of happiness, success, and prosperity.

Copyright© 2005 by Joe Love and JLM & Associates, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide.

Joe Love draws on his 25 years of experience helping both individuals and companies build their businesses, increase profits, and achieve total success. A former ad agency executive and marketing consultant, Joe’s work in personal development focuses on helping his clients identify hidden marketable assets that create windfall opportunities and profits, as well as sound personal happiness and peace.

Reach Joe at: joe@jlmandassociates.com

Read more articles and newsletters at: http://www.jlmandassociates.com

An inexpensive form of RVing is called boondocking, and is a great way to save money when living a life on the road. Boondocking is a term that refers to a free or very inexpensive place to stay overnight. In today’s world of RVing where gas and other necessities have rising prices, boondocking has proven beneficial. As you grow more experienced with this form of RVing, you will learn the safe locations to park your motor home overnight and the places where you are not welcome. The following guidelines will help you become familiar with RVing and boondocking.

1. Self-sufficiency: When RVing, especially when boondocking, being self-sufficient is key. You need to know how to dry camp, which means you have to have all the electricity and water you may need with you. Remember, the longer the RVing trip you will be on, you will have to be able to maintain yourself and your RV for a longer time.

2. Be Courteous: RVing and boondocking means you will be staying on someone else’s property, so it is better for you to blend in with the surroundings. In other words, be courteous and respectful to their property and don’t pull out the barbecue pit or lawn chairs when making yourself at home.

3. Inexpensive, not Free: Boondocking is an inexpensive form of RVing, not a free form. There are a few campgrounds that offer free hookups, but not many. With this type of RVing you are staying overnight in a parking lot with nothing to be of assistance to you, you must realize you will still have to run your generator for air, water heater, and other reasons.

4. Farther may not mean cheaper!: As you travel in your motor home and are looking for camping locations to boondock, take some time to assess the entire situation. A free campground may actually be farther away from your day trip destinations or attractions, so you will have to spend more on gas traveling to and from the activities you want to participate in.

5. Boondocking and eating: Try to utilize as many disposable utensils, plates, cups and cookware that you can when boondocking. If you do this, as well as invest in frozen T.V. dinners, you will save on electricity and water in food preparation. Make sure you use the proper receptacles when cleaning up, and leave the area as clean as it was when you arrived…if not cleaner!

6. Turn off “power drains”: When you are not using your water heater, for example, turn off the source to save electricity.

7. Make sure you are welcome: This is one of the most important factors to consider when camping and boondocking in your recreational vehicle. You can look online for guides, as well as published and printed literature for frequently updated information about locations and parking lots that welcome you and your RV. You will also be able to find a list of sites that do not welcome motor homes. For example, NOT all Wal Marts welcome RVers!

Author Eriani Doyel. Learn more about recreational vehicles and RV resources from dscrvs.com.