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Well, what poor soul would not like the sweet scent and the juicy promise of the nectarine apple? This fruit of ambrosia has been the cultural center for celebration here in Georgia. And why not? Apples have at least been the center focus of the American economy during the hard times, when there was the Depression and the Stimulus? (Well, it’s not really evident nowadays, since there are now other industries that are slowly starting to take the first step for the recovery phase).

The Georgia Apple Festival is held during the wee months of exciting October (just in time with the Oktoberfest found in the same time). Being an apple festival, it’s not strange to find countless stalls of apple fritters and apple delights abound the fair grounds, like your typical and not-so-typical apple fritters (turnovers for those up in the North). There are also apple-themed games and the streets are lined up with different booths filled with works and crafts from various craftsmen from Ellijay craftsmen to the Southeastern folks here down under (not Australia mind you.)

Kids can also have a good feel of the festival where the festival provides for fun airbags (See them jump high!) and of course, rock climbing (a good place to have your kid hooked up into this sport). Or have them walk into the different booth as well, to enjoy the sights, the sounds and the different

There are also several acts from different performers and singers, with genres varying from gospel, to rock and roll, hip hop and pop. Ellijay is the place to be when thinking about apple festivals.

The city has have had great compassion for this fruit. Who else but would name their streets, their boulevards and their avenues with the various names and species of apples?

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Filed under: Business

My mission is to help successful leaders achieve positive, long-term, measurable change in behavior. The following process is being used by coaches around the world for this same purpose. When the steps in the process are followed, leaders almost always achieve positive behavioral change – not as judged by themselves, but as judged by pre-selected, key co-workers. This process has been used with great success by both external coaches and internal coaches.

Our “Pay for Results” Behavioral Coaching Approach

Our coaching network (Marshall Goldsmith Partners and collaboration with Hewitt Associates) provides coaches for leaders around the world. All of the behavioral coaches that work with us use the same general approach. We first get an agreement with our coaching clients and their managers on two key variables: 1) what are the key behaviors that will make the biggest positive change in increased leadership effectiveness and 2) who are the key stakeholders that can determine (six to eighteen months later) if this change has occurred.

We then get paid only after our coaching clients have achieved a positive change in key leadership behaviors as determined by key stakeholders.

I believe that many behavioral coaches are paid for the wrong reasons. Their income is a largely a function of “How much do my clients like me?” and “How much time did I spend in coaching?” Neither of these is a good metric for achieving a positive, long-term change in behavior.

In terms of liking the coach – I have never seen a study that showed that clients love of a coach was highly correlated with their change in behavior. In fact, if coaches become too concerned with being loved by their clients – they may not provide honest feedback when it is needed.

In terms of spending clients time – my clients are all executives whose decisions often impact billions of dollars. Their time is more valuable than mine. I try to spend as little of their time as necessary to achieve the desired results. The last thing they need is for me to waste their time!

Qualifying the Coaching Client: Knowing When Behavioral Coaching Wont Help

Since we use a “pay only for results” process in behavioral coaching, we have had to learn to qualify our coaching clients. This means that we only work with clients that we believe will benefit from our coaching process.

We refuse to work with leaders who dont care. Have you ever tried to change the behavior of a successful adult that had no interest in changing? How much luck did you have? Probably none! We only work with executives who are willing to make a sincere effort to change and who believe that this change will help them become better leaders. Our most successful coaching clients are committed to being role models for leadership development and their companys values.

Some large corporations “write people off”. Rather than just fire them, they engage in a pseudo behavioral coaching process that is more “seek and destroy” than “help people get better”. We only work with leaders that are seen as potentially having a great future in the corporation. We only work with people who will be given a fair chance by their management. We refuse to work with leaders who have been “written off”.

There are several different types of coaching. We only do behavioral coaching for successful executives – not strategic coaching, life planning or organizational change. I have the highest respect for the coaches that do this kind of work. That is just not what our network does. Therefore, we only focus on changing leadership behavior. If our clients have other needs, we refer them to other coaches.

Finally, I would never choose to work with a client that has an integrity violation. We believe that people with integrity violations should be fired, not coached.

When will our approach to behavioral coaching work? If the issue is behavioral, the coaching client is given a fair chance and they are motivated to improve, the process described in this article will almost always work. If these conditions do not exist, this process should not be used.

Involving Key Stakeholders

In my work as a behavioral coach, I have gone through three distinct phases.

In phase one – I believed that my clients would become better because of me. I thought that the coach was the key variable in behavioral change. I was wrong. We have recently completed research with over 86,000 respondents on changing leadership behavior2. We have learned that the key variable for successful change is not the coach, teacher or advisor. The key variables that will determine long-term progress are the people being coached and their co-workers.

In phase two – I spent most of my time focusing on my coaching clients. I slowly learned that a motivated, hard-working client was more important than a brilliant coach! I learned that their ongoing efforts meant more than my clever ideas. My results improved!

In phase three (where I am now) – I spend most of my time not with my coaching client but with the key stakeholders around my client. By doing this, my clients results have dramatically improved3.

How do I involve key stakeholders? I ask them to help the person that I am coaching in four critically important ways:

1) Let go of the past. When we continually bring up the past, we demoralize people who are trying to change. Whatever happened in the past happened. It cannot be changed. By focusing on a future that can get better (as opposed to a past that cannot), the key stakeholders can help my clients improve. (We call this process feedforward, instead of feedback4).

2) Be helpful and supportive, not cynical, sarcastic or judgmental. As part of our coaching process, my clients involve key co-workers and ask them for help. If my clients reach out to key stakeholders and feel punished for trying to improve, they will generally quit trying. I dont blame them! Why should any of us work hard to build relationships with people who wont give us a chance? If my clients co-workers are helpful and supportive, my client experience increased motivation and are much more likely to improve.

3) Tell the truth. I do not want to work with a client, have them get a glowing report from key stakeholders and later hear that one of the stakeholders said, “He didnt really get better, we just said that”. This is not fair to my client, to the company or to me.

4) Pick something to improve yourself. My clients are very open with key stakeholders about what they are going to change. As part of our process, our clients ask for ongoing suggestions. I also ask the stakeholders to pick something to improve and to ask my client for suggestions. This makes the entire process “two-way” instead of “one way”. It helps the stakeholders act as “fellow travelers” who are trying to improve, not “judges” who are pointing their fingers at my client. It also greatly expands the value gained by the corporation in the entire process5.

Steps in the Behavioral Coaching Process

The following steps outline our behavioral coaching process. Every coach in our network has to agree to implement the following steps. If the coach will follow these basic steps, our clients almost always get better!

1) Involve the leaders being coached in determining the desired behavior in their leadership roles. Leaders cannot be expected to change behavior if they dont have a clear understanding of what desired behavior looks like. The people that we coach (in agreement with their managers) work with us to determine desired leadership behavior.

2) Involve the leaders being coached in determining key stakeholders. Not only do clients need to be clear on desired behaviors, they need to be clear (again in agreement with their managers) on key stakeholders. There are two major reasons why people deny the validity of feedback, wrong items or wrong raters. By having our clients and their managers agree on the desired behaviors and key stakeholders in advance, we help ensure their “buy in” to the process.

3) Collect feedback. In my coaching practice, I personally interview all key stakeholders. The people that I am coaching are all potential CEOs, and the company is making a real investment in their development. However, at lower levels in the organization (that are more price sensitive), traditional 360 feedback can work very well. In either case, feedback is critical. It is impossible to get evaluated on changed behavior is there is not agreement on what behavior to change!

4) Reach agreement on key behaviors for change. As I have become more experienced, my approach has become simpler and more focused. I generally recommend picking only 1-2 key areas for behavioral change with each client. This helps ensure maximum attention to the most important behavior. My clients and their managers (unless my client is the CEO) agree upon the desired behavior for change. This ensures that I wont spend a year working with my clients and have their managers determine that we have worked on the wrong thing!

5) Have the coaching clients respond to key stakeholders. The person being reviewed should talk with each key stakeholder and collect additional “feedforward” suggestions on how to improve on the key areas targeted for improvement. In responding, the person being coached should keep the conversation positive, simple and focused. When mistakes have been made in the past, it is generally a good idea to apologize and ask for help in changing the future. I suggest that my clients listen to stakeholder suggestions and not judge the suggestions.

6) Review what has been learned with clients and help them develop an action plan. As was stated earlier, my clients have to agree to the basic steps in our process. On the other hand, outside of the basic steps, all of the other ideas that I share with my clients are suggestions. I just ask them to listen to my ideas in the same way they are listening to the ideas from their key stakeholders. I then ask them to come back with a plan of what they want to do. These plans need to come from them, not me. After reviewing their plans, I almost always encourage them to live up to their own commitments. I am much more of a facilitator than a judge. I usually just help my clients do what they know is the right thing to do.

7) Develop an ongoing follow-up process. Ongoing follow-up should be very efficient and focused. Questions like, “Based upon my behavior last month, what ideas do you have for me next month?” can keep a focus on the future. Within six months conduct a two-to-six item mini-survey with key stakeholders. They should be asked whether the person has become more or less effective in the areas targeted for improvement.

8) Review results and start again. If the person being coached has taken the process seriously, stakeholders almost invariably report improvement. Build on that success by repeating the process for the next 12 to 18 months. This type of follow-up will assure continued progress on initial goals and uncover additional areas for improvement. Stakeholders will appreciate the follow-up. No one minds filling out a focused, two-to-six-item questionnaire if they see positive results. The person being coached will benefit from ongoing, targeted steps to improve performance.

The Value of Behavioral Coaching for Executives

While behavioral coaching is only one branch in the coaching field, it is the most widely used type of coaching. Most requests for coaching involve behavioral change. While this process can be very meaningful and valuable for top executives, it can be even more useful for high-potential future leaders. These are the people who have great careers in front of them. Increasing effectiveness in leading people can have an even greater impact if it is a 20-year process, instead of a one-year program.

People often ask, “Can executives really change their behavior?” The answer is definitely yes. If they didnt change, we would never get paid (and we almost always get paid). At the top of major organizations even a small positive change in behavior can have a big impact. From an organizational perspective, the fact that the executive is trying to change anything (and is being a role model for personal development) may be even more important than what the executive is trying to change. One key message that I have given every CEO that I coach is “To help others develop – start with yourself!

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Filed under: Careers

So, you are looking for a cosmetic dentistry in Los Angeles? That is not a problem. After all, this City Of Angels is home to millions of residents; thus, home to almost any service that you can think of. What do you need with a cosmetic dentistry? Do you want to enhance your smile? Do you want to fix some dental defects you acquired through the years of smoking, bad eating habits, and dental hygiene malpractice? Do you want to boost your confidence so you can conquer the world you never thought you will be a part of?

Now, these things are not impossible to achieve at all. With the advancement made in the dental cosmetic field, even the most crooked set of teeth and ugliest smile can now be treated. Whatever it is that you need, you can find in Los Angeles some of the most competitive and accomplished cosmetic dentists in the world. Do you want to know what cosmetic dental treatments that made Hollywood smiles so popular?

Here are some of the most popular cosmetic dentistry treatments in Los Angeles:

Teeth whitening – this is one of the most popular treatments many individuals seek. Because of the unhealthy habits most develop, it is unavoidable that discoloration on the teeth occurs. Such bad habits include smoking, drinking, bad eating habits, and poor dental hygiene practice. Teeth whitening is a treatment meant for teeth that have become stained with yellow color stuff. For most, this is always a source for acute embarrassment. Cosmetic dental clinics offer various techniques to white yellowed and dirty teeth. Bleaching and laser are some of the most popular whitening procedures.

Bonding – this also became popular cosmetic treatment which is designed to fix tooth that has become broken and gaps in between teeth. Additionally, those who want to change the size, shape, and color of the teeth are good candidates for bonding. Again, all these imperfects can be a great source of embarrassment especially when you are dealing with a lot of people. The procedure often involves removing the affected part of the tooth. A composite resin is then bonded to that part to reveal a whole new tooth. This treatment is most often a one-time session only.

Gum contouring -another popular method of perfecting your smile, gum contouring can actually help in perfecting your smile by taking care of your gum defects. In some treatments, bone grafting is required to correct the problem with defective gums after other dental treatments are done. Implanted fillers are used in gum contouring, often resulting to a naturally, enhanced looking gums. Sometimes, gum contouring is used if one is not too happy with the way gums are showing up when they smile.

Porcelain veneers – these are used to conceal various dental defects, such as cracks, chips, and discolorations. These are also ideally applied if changes of shape and size developed on the tooth. Veneers are usually used with white thin wafer-like porcelain layers. Laminates have also become a staple in the cosmetic industry being one that gives extensive positive results in enhancing appearance and feel of the affected part of the tooth. In most cases, porcelain veneers require only a couple of sessions to a perfect smile.

So, are you so eager now to flash a winning smile and win hearts of many? Don’t worry for cosmetic dentistry in Los Angeles offering services above can be easily found. Just be sure to do your own research before actually proceeding with any cosmetic dental procedures so you don’t waste your dollars over nothing.

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Filed under: Web

If you need motivation for any aspect of your life, hypnotherapy may be the way to achieve it. Admittedly, hypnotherapy is a field riddled with controversy, but if you’ve already tried everything without success, why shouldn’t you take a chance on it?

The Truth about Hypnosis

Although hypnosis is occasionally used by practitioners in the field of science and medicine, its effects – and its existence even – are still questioned. The British Society of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis, however, has a fairly good explanation for the theory.

According to the said organization, hypnosis occurs when a person is relaxed to the extent that his attention can be directed and limited to the suggestions being made by the therapist.

Bearing that in mind, if those suggestions were focused on motivation then the person under hypnosis might find it easier to achieve motivation because from that point forward, his unconscious will work on his goals whether he likes it or not and whether he’s aware of it or not.

How Hypnotherapy Works

Hypnotherapy, in various ways, can be considered as a type of psychotherapy. Hypnotherapy commences when a patient is induced into a state of hypnosis. When a person is hypnotized, he isn’t unconscious but he isn’t fully conscious either. Rather, his subconscious is awakened and his awareness is enhanced. More to the point, his awareness is programmable, and that’s when hypnotherapy comes to play.

If, for instance, you have certain fears you wish to be extinguished, a hypnotherapist will work with your subconscious to find the source of fears and the solution for it. The same goes for therapy. A hypnotherapist will work with your subconscious to give you whatever you need in order to motivate yourself to achieve your goals.

What You Should Know about Hypnotherapy and Motivation

Hypnotherapy cannot work for everyone, even if your goal is to simply make a person more motivated. It is imperative that any misconception about hypnotherapy be rectified in order for the therapy to work.

All kinds of hypnosis work.

This is patently untrue. There are different ways for a hypnotherapist to put a patient under hypnosis. Consequently, the effectiveness of the method will depend on the patient’s personality as well as the nature of his problem and the required solution.

Sometimes, a patient may respond more when the hypnotherapist is offering certain rewards when the desired action is performed. In other cases, a patient may prefer to simply hear words of encouragement.

Not everyone can be hypnotized.

Surprisingly enough, everyone actually can be hypnotized but the level of which their subconscious is awakened varies. Several factors could be the reason behind this. For one thing, the wrong choice of environment or setting may make it more difficult for a person to become and stay hypnotized. Naturally, the amount of experience and degree of expertise of the hypnotherapist is also important.

Hypnotherapy has something to do with the occult.

Again, this is untrue. REM or Rapid Eye Movement is a process that helps you sleep and hypnotherapy simply and deliberately utilizes the same technique to put you under hypnosis. It may not be an exact science but neither does it have anything to do with the occult.

Ultimately, the only way for you to find out whether hypnotherapy can give you the motivation you need is to try it out for yourself. When you do, you probably won’t regret it.

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Filed under: Web

Unfortunately, many of those mothers do not take action. There are a number of different reasons for that, but the most important one is money. For some families, it is just impossible to survive on only one income; however, you do not have to. If you are interested in becoming a stay at home mom, you can do so while generating income at the same time. This can be done by acquiring the resell rights to a software program.

Once that product has been created, the selling process should begin. The problem that many software developers and designers face is that they do not know how to go about selling their products. Instead of taking the time to learn how, they rely on someone else to do the selling for them. If you think that this sounds like a commission based program, you are wrong.

Before allowing an individual, someone just like you, to sell their products, most software designers and developers require that their products be purchased. Instead of purchasing the whole product, you are purchasing the right to resell it. After that transaction has occurred, you can do just about whatever you want to the software program. This not only includes selling it, but altering it to become something more. In fact, many stay at home moms, who participate in this type of opportunity, decide to alter the software in some way. Doing so often allows them to claim the program as their own.

To make money from the software program, which you acquired the resell rights to; you will need to start selling that program. This selling is why this is the perfect opporunity for you and other stay at home moms. You can sell your software program at your own pace. In fact, you can do as much work or as little work as you wish. The decision is completely yours to make. However, it is important to remember that the more work you do, the more money you will make.

These options may include, but should not be limited to, the creation of a product website, the use of online auction websites, or the use of online classified ads. Like the business opportunity as a whole, these selling methods are ideal for those who are stay at home moms. Many of the above mentioned selling methods do not require a large amount of work. In fact, a few hours a week may be more than an enough time to get your website started, submit online classified ads, or start an auction on an online auction website.

There are a number of online resource guides that should be able to offer you assistance. In addition to these guides, you are urged to examine what other software sellers are offering. Doing so may enable you to estimate how much money you can make by reselling a private label software program.

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Filed under: Writing & Speaking