Horse Hubs

When studying the demographics of an area for a business venture or expansion you need to not only understand all the data, but what it means to your individual business model. Census data and Census projection charting for MSDA’s has become very accurate over the years. One company that uses ESRI’s ARC Info has data, which it sells called Tiger Files (Census Blocks). This is data by 650 household areas. Tiger files are the estimated growth of regression of an area based on the previous trends and generally is fairly accurate out about five years. This is extremely beneficial for business planning. Many things can in fact happen in five years such as BRAC military base closing, large factory closing, natural disaster or new trend impeding the projected trends. Generally however the data is very accurate at 2 to 3 years and pretty accurate at 4 to 5 years out. Since all other government and easy to get demographic data can be pin pointed in an area on a map with boundaries such as:

Census Tracts

MSA’s, ADI’s, CCD’s, MCD’s, CSMA’s, DMA’s

Zip Codes

City, County Limits

Congressional, State Assembly, Senatorial, School and Water Districts

Yellow Page Areas

with exact longitudinal and latitudinal coordinates, even exact addresses can be shown.

Most savvy businesses can take any current database and show in five minutes every single customer for the last ten years with a pinpoint on a map. They can then review the clusters of dots and determine, based upon the demographics of the clusters, our highest probability for sales. Small businesses can have this data too and at a very inexpensive cost, which helps them mitigate the mighty power of larger corporate competitors. Large companies have the bucks to secure the best locations and make money because their risk is calculated and they rarely make mistakes. That is because they understand the use of mapping software and demographic studies. Do not be intimidated, just follow these simple methods and you too can be ultra competitive in your target market. Think about it. Think about winning.

“Lance Winslow” – Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/

I have to write about this one, and I hope I’m right. Right!? The English language is difficult to right. Often times it’s difficult to right a wrong. Interesting question; how may rights are there in the English language? After you have red this post, I’m sure you will understand too reason why the English language is most difficult to read and right. Perhaps you will Emil me (smiling). It hurts too be Emailed around the world on a tiny wire! Just send an Emil to me, it’s less painful. One day we could go for a “hot cup of coffee”. However, I prefer hot coffee in a cup. Remember, don’t throw the baby out the window some cookies.

After working an all night shift, a group of us decided to stop for breakfast. It was about 5:30 AM and the restaurant was filled with early morning people. The waitress asked a simple question while taking each of our breakfast orders. “How do you like your eggs?” Our answers ranged from scrambled to sunny-side-up. Until, she asked my friend Carlos. He looked very confused from the waitresses question. Another friend tapped Carlos on the arm and said, “the waitress would like to know how you like your eggs.” Carlos smiled and said, “I luv my eggs!” The waitress frowned. Carlos explained, “I luv my eggs with all my heart!”. Then the escalation begin louder and louder. First the waitress, “how do you like your eggs?” Then, Carlos, “I said, and I am positive, with all my heart, I luv my eggs!” Everyone of my co workers at the table fell for it and started saying the words louder and louder. HOW DO YOU LIKE YOUR EGGS!? This could have gone on all morning, I poked Carlos with my elbow and winked. Good one Carlos, now tell her how you would like your eggs prepared so we can eat.

Imagine how complex and confusing the translation of technical documents are from English into other languages. For example, the central processing unit on a computer is known industry wide and spoken in most every language as C-P-U. In French it is spoken as C-P-U. Try this in Spanish. Does not work in the Spanish language because the first letter pronounced is the word yes. So each letter is spoken and written in the Spanish language as opposed to the above English presentation of a central processing unit. Technical translations are much, much more complex than this small example. And, what happens when you translate a language that expresses ones emotions? Very tricky to be accurate in the target language but, it can be accomplished. So, when picking language translators, they must be experienced in the subject matter as well as tested and approved in the subject before they can translate any document for TNT Recruitment.net. Accurate, affordable translations (www.tntrecruitment.net). And, we have to be right on this one (smiling)!

http://tntrecruitment.blogspot.com/

John has be nominated for 7 Emmy nominations, 2 winners and 6 national Telly Awards for writing, producing and directing broadcast advertising and coporate productions produced in over 15 langauges.

There’s no doubt–carbohydrates have taken center stage in public discourse about dietary practices. You can’t turn on the TV, open a newspaper or walk past the office water cooler these days without hearing a debate about this nutrient du jour. Recently, however, increasing attention is being given to an all but forgotten part of our diet. Move over, carbohydrates: fat is making a comeback in the headlines. More specifically, trans fat.

Of the four types of dietary fat (monounsaturated, polyunsaturated, saturated and trans), the focus recently has been on trans fat. Abundant in margarine, shortening, packaged baked goods and French fries to name a few, trans fat is a widely used ingredient for food manufacturers because it is cheap and contributes to increased shelf life. It is listed as “partially hydrogenated vegetable oil” and “vegetable shortening” on product ingredient lists.

Hydrogenation is the process of heating an oil and passing hydrogen bubbles through it. The fat’s density is increased, and food manufacturers use it frequently because it gives products a richer butter flavor. Saturated butter is much more expensive to use, so manufacturers reduce costs by using partially hydrogenated oils.

Partially hydrogenated oils, however, have a much different effect on the body than even the demonized saturated fats. We all know that we need to limit saturated fat in our diets, but specific amounts, although small, have been deemed acceptable, and even help to facilitate a variety of processes for the body. Trans fat, however, provides no positive effects whatsoever.

Studies have consistently shown that trans fat raises LDL (bad) cholesterol and lowers HDL (good) cholesterol. It contributes to clogging of the arteries and type 2 diabetes. Trans fat has also been linked to an estimated 30,000 or more premature heart disease deaths each year.

In March 2004, the Food and Drug Administration updated their website pages concerning trans fat and regulations concerning labeling laws. Although the FDA first proposed trans fat labeling in 1999, it wasn’t until July 2003 that Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson announced the new trans fat ruling. Even then, the guidelines proved to be less than acceptable to health experts who were pushing for immediate regulations: the ruling gave manufacturers until January 1, 2006 to comply.

Some food manufacturers, however, have already started listing the ingredient on their nutritional labels, and the FDA has responded to these changes for consumers with trans fat info and guidance to understanding the new labels. See the FDA website at http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/transfat.html#unhide).

Issues of further contention exist, most notably because the FDA is choosing not to list a % Daily Value (%DV) for trans fat. Although it admits that scientific reports show a link between trans fat and coronary heart disease, the FDA states that none of these studies have provided a specific reference value. This has enraged anti-trans fat advocates, who consider the decision not to list daily values a cop-out due to pressure from the food industry, not to insufficient evidence of harm (check out http://bantransfats.com/ for a comprehensive and excellent review of the latest trans fat advocacy issues).

Unlike the FDA’s specific daily requirements for both saturated fat and cholesterol already in place, some experts feel this lack of specificity for trans fat allotment in our diet is akin to allowing the consumer to believe that any amount is acceptable. Thus, the possibility of a veritable free-for-all on trans fat consumption is feared.

The race is now on for food manufacturers to produce foods free of trans fat

In April 2004, Kraft Foods announced the introduction of three new brands of the popular Oreo cookie containing zero grams of trans fat. Other manufactures will surely follow suit and it is likely that we will be seeing an explosion of trans fat-free (although not necessarily nutritious) products, particularly snack foods.

Since we have a while to wait until all manufacturers are required to change their product labels, consumers need to know how to recognize trans fat in products to reduce intake. Read every ingredient label before a product is purchased. If the list contains the words “partially hydrogenated,” you know it contains trans fat. Shortening and margarine almost always contain trans fat. This knowledge is particularly important with regard to processed foods, since they usually contain a large amount of ingredients, most with long, odd looking and hard to pronounce names. For further guidance on how to avoid trans fat in products, check out Dr. Gabe Mirkin’s website (http://www.drmirkin.com/nutrition/N185.html), an excellent resource on nutrition and trans fat info.

Conflicting as it may be, we’ll always be inundated with media attention on the latest focus on nutrition. But we still need to be aware of the facts concerning our health. Coverage on fats was all the rage in the 80’s, for the last decade all we’ve heard about is carbs. What’s next? Well, there’s always protein.

About The Author

Jon Gestl, CSCS, is a Chicago personal trainer and fitness instructor who specializes in helping people get in shape in the privacy and convenience of their home or office. He is a United States National Aerobic Champion silver and bronze medalist and world-ranked sportaerobic competitor. He can be contacted through his website at http://www.jongestl.com.

jongestl@jongestl.com

What is an OPTION?

First, let’s clear up some “slang” terms often used with these that create confusion: Rent to Own, Lease Option, Lease with Option to Purchase all mean the same thing in general usage. A lease is simply a rental agreement that is established for a set period of time (e.g. twelve months required rental period); rent is often used to refer to month to month situations.

An option is a grant of the right to purchase property, at set price and terms, from the owner of the property. The person who receives the option can (but is not required to) purchase the property during a set period of time agreed to by both parties when they enter the option.

An option is different from an agreement to sell (Purchase Agreement). Under an option, the seller agrees to sell, but the buyer does not agree to buy; the buyer simply has the option of buying during the option period. A Purchase Agreement provides that the buyer agrees to buy and the seller agrees to sell.

NOTE: In an Option, the Seller is the Optionor (The one who gives the Option) and the Buyer is known as the Optionee (The one who receives the Option).

What is needed to SET UP a Lease with Option to Buy?

To set up a Lease with Option to Purchase with a tenant, you will need all of the documents you would normally use to set up a simple rental/lease:

Option Agreement*/Purchase Agreement
Rental Agreement
Check-in/check-out list
Lead Base Paint Disclosure and pamphlet
Smoke Detector Agreement
Any other agreements you would normally use).
*Be sure that Option Agreement you’re using protects you as the Optionor, as many option forms available favor the Optionee. Attached to the Option Agreement will be a Purchase Agreement, which will spell out the terms of the sale under which the tenant may purchase.

NOTE: It is important that both parties initial the Purchase Agreement on the top or bottom corner to acknowledge that the terms have been agreed to but it is not yet a binding Purchase Agreement. Also, be sure to use an Option form that is not recordable, on the public records so that the tenant doesn’t unnecessarily cloud the title to your property.

BENEFITS of doing Lease Options
Let’s look as some things that you can expect when you offer your property on a Lease with Option to Buy:
1. If you place an ad for your property offering a lease with Option to Buy, you can generally expect five times the number of responses than a regular “For Rent” ad. There are a lot of people looking for an opportunity to own their own home rather than just continue to rent.
2. The tenants who call will be inherently more responsible and serious about owning their next home.
3. Traditionally, in addition to the monthly rent, you will receive a monthly payment towards the option fee (the fee you are being paid to grant the option) thereby increasing your monthly cash flow.

4. Since you are working with people who often aren’t immediately able to purchase a home outright for various reasons (usually credit or time on the job), you are providing them the opportunity to own when they otherwise couldn’t, and are therefore generally willing to pay a slightly higher sales price, often as much as15%.
How to STRUCTURE a Lease Option

Through our experience, we have found the following to be a good guideline for structuring Lease Options:
Charge market rent. Don’t give discounts on rent just because the tenants are also paying you a monthly option fee or they are planning on buying the house; the option is separate from the rental.

Get as much option fee as you can up front, the more the perspective tenants pay up front, the greater their risk will be if they don’t follow through. Credit the option fee towards the sale price if they close.

In Michigan, you can only collect equal to 1-1/2times the amount of the rental rent as security deposit up front when renting, plus you may have to give it back if the tenants move. When doing an option, don’t charge a security deposit; apply the funds the tenant would have paid to the option fee, which is non refundable.

Make your option cancelable by you if the tenants default in any of the terms of the rental/lease. (We have this incorporated into all of our agreements)
Work with a mortgage loan officer to qualify your perspective tenants. Have the loan officer advise you on how long it will take to have the tenant “mortgage ready”, then set your lease option term accordingly.

When pricing your property, you will be able to get more than market price, but remember the property will have to appraise for the purchase price when they qualify for the mortgage. 15% or higher is a good range, figuring their option fee being deducted and appreciation. An excellent explanation of “why pay more” is the example of car insurance, you get some accidents and tickets, and then you end up paying more. Just the same, your credit scores affect the cost of financing and the availability of sellers who will work with you.

Make the tenant responsible for repairs and maintenance to the property; make sure your rental agreement states they are responsible for the cost of such repairs and renovations. (Keep in mind under Michigan law, you are still ultimately responsible to perform repairs when you rent property, but often tenants will perform or arrange needed repairs and even if they don’t, you can charge the tenants for the repairs.)

No matter what your investment plan or strategy, options can be used to produce better profits and less “management intense” rental situations, as well as one of the best solutions to sell your rental property at top dollar. It can truly work as one of the best “win/win” situations in real estate investment.

To learn more about options, visit our website at www.mrleaseoption.com.

Mark Maupin is National Real Estate Network’s number one ranked real estate speaker. In the 25 years that Mr. Maupin has been working in real estate, he has purchased in excess of 3,500 single family homes and many multi family properties. He is a member of commercial MLS at a national level including the Real Estate Land Institute.

Please visit his web site, http://www.mrleaseoption.com, for more information.

Disclaimer: Real estate investing by nature is risky. You can win, lose or break even. Mark Maupin cannot guarantee a profit or loss. We do not provide legal, accounting or contracting advice. Please contact an attorney and/or financial profressional whenever making a real estate investment.

There are a range of properties in France for sale on Property Index, from villas to apartments.

Regardless the fact that Property Index is really a new kid on the block syndicate, (they were established in March 2007), they have advanced to expert status very quickly. They are actually a incredibly down to earth syndicate concentrated on proposing guidance to every customer dedicated to rent, buy, sell etc. assets across the world. What they affirm is to help you discover exactly what you crave very swiftly and, to boot, straightforwardly. Real estate is available in most popular areas of the world today, arguably the most exclusive area being properties for sale in France. It’s easy to pinpoint all the glorious estate you can purchase in France, one reason for picking properties here being the houses and apartments on the market and the splendid possibility of spending your life with such a lively people.

This is one of the truly sought after property markets today, and considering the overall attractiveness and climate surrounding you here, how can you go wrong. Real estate in France is very rich in history, culture and art, this realm of the world is and has always been home to lots of indigenous cultures. Just 20 years ago there was just a small number of Britishers looking for estate in France. Ask everyone who has removed to France and they’ll back it up. Some people would tend to see it as a temporary fashion and others tend to see it as a near to a fixation… People keen on relocating to this place may extend from young working couples who are looking for an exciting new life perspective to seniors looking to slow down.

Note, however, that you are liable to encounter some issues when acquiring estate abroad — there are, of course, 100s of actions whether scheduling, calling in or actually purchasing. If you only miss but a single minor step that is sure to easily create impassable issues not to forget, more importantly, a financial hammering. Naturally, as can be expected with this sought after place, estate may well be incredibly pricey in this region which is, of course, only a result of the peaking market pressure. This notwithstanding, the buyer is spoilt in such a part of the world blessed by shiny landscape. It’s truly got the whole enchilada a client may hanker for, etc.

One of the easiest ways to perk up your house is to add some amazing candle holders to your room décor. These candle holders are inexpensive and they look great in any room of the house. And lets face it, if you love candles you need to have some good candle holders or you could be facing quite a problem.

You see, candle holders are not just for looks but for safety as well. Good candle holders can mean the difference between a candle simply going out or burning down your home. If you forget about a candle, which we all do sometimes, it will be much less likely to start a fire if you have it in one of the many fantastic candle holders on the market today. When the candles are in candle holders they will simply sputter out when they get down low and burn themselves out harmlessly. Of course you still need to make ever effort to make sure you put out the candles before you leave the room or the house but if you do happen to forget one day, you will at least still have a home to come home to!

Anyone, no matter what their taste in home décor can find some fabulous candle holders. Candle holders come in all different colors and shapes and sizes. You can get cut glass or cut crystal candle holders, Venetian glass candle holders or even ceramic candle holders. You can get candle holders that are in the shape of animals or people, flowers or just simple random geometric shapes. There are literally millions of different candle holders for you to choose from. You will never have more fun than shopping for candle holders, the selection can keep you busy for years!

The best place to look for candle holders is online. When you start shopping for some new candle holders on the internet you are gong to have so many more choices at your disposal. And finding just what you are looking for has never been easier than it is today. The search engines o the internet are so powerful that all you have to do is type in just what you are looking for and you will get tons of results. Each of the websites that get show on your results page will take you to just what you have been looking for. You will never have to struggle to find the perfect candle holders again, ever.

And the price of the candle holders online is another fantastic part of shopping for them this way. You will be able to purchase the perfect candle holders online for a fraction of what you would pay in stores. Take a look around the stores and malls in your local area and then look at the prices of the candle holders online. The savings that you will find online will blow you away. So the next time that you are in the market for new candle holders check the internet first.

Candles HQ. Articles and information about all sorts of candles.

Everyone has their own individual reason for joining a health club, lose a few pounds, tone up, lower your blood pressure, strengthen a bad back or shoulder, perform better in sports, or just keep in shape by playing some basketball or racquetball.

By joining the gym you have shown a time, and a financial commitment to achieving your goals, congratulations!

However, joining the gym is only the first step.

Did you know that only about 2% of health club members actually use the gym?

Some gym member leave because they injure themselves and cannot work out, many others leave because of lack of results. The reasons are endless.

However, I have been a doctor for over eight years now, and I have seen new gym members come in with good intentions only to make the same common mistakes others made that set them up for failure, or an injury.

I am sure you must be wondering why I care about your goals for joining the gym.

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) reports that as many as 250,000 lives are lost annually due to lack of physical activity or a sedentary lifestyles. That is 200,000 more than the number of lives lost as a result of car accidents, which are 50,000.

Most of the problems myself and other doctors are treating such as high blood, arthritis, chronic pain or stiffness, overweight, low energy, stress and tension are often the result of years of neglect. Most of these chronic problems could have been prevented with proper guidance. The good think is that many of these chronic problems can still be helped, again with proper guidance.

Hopefully, by sharing what I have seen over the years will help your achieve your health and fitness goals. So, here are the most common mistakes I have seen over the years which results in injury, or failing to reach their goals whether it is weight loss, muscle toning, rehabilitating an injury, getting of all those pain medications or whatever the reason was for initially joining a health club was.

Mistake #1: Not seeing a QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL before beginning an exercise program

This sounds like common sense right? Every piece of exercise equipment has a similar statement on it right? There is a reason for that, exercise can be harmful or even deadly, and I do not care if you think you are good shape. How many times have you known of someone suddenly passing away from a heart attack and you say to yourself, he looked so healthy.

So schedule an appointment with your primary doctor and have your blood pressure check, get your resting pulse rate, get your body fat tested, have your heart and lungs listened to, have your muscles, joints, and any injuries evaluated before you begin your exercise program.

If you do not want to schedule an appointment with your doctor, you can have these test done here for free, no additional charge, this exam is included with your membership.

Why, we want you to enjoy the gym and achieve your goals, but first we want you to be safe. It also does not look that good when you see gym members rolled out to the ambulance parked in front of the gym entrance. It happens. Call your doctor up or if you are in the Phoenix area stop by and see us.

Mistake #2: Not getting any Initial Baseline Numbers

Again, this goes back to mistake number 1. How can you monitor your progress if you do not know where your were when you stated.

If you are a little over weight or trying to lower you blood pressure, don’t you think you should know what your blood pressure is before you begin your program. How are you going to monitor your weight loss if you do not know what percent of your body is fat, before you begin your program.

A brief note here, you know I mentioned percent of body fat and not weight. How much you weigh does not matter much, but your percent of fat does.

Lets say we have two overweight new gym members both weighing 200lbs. One joins the gym and is going to try use the scale to monitor his progress; the other stopped by our office and received their evaluation, which was included with their membership. At this evaluation we found that the second new member weighed 200lbs. And had a body fat percentage of 40%. This means that 40% of his body is made of fat 80lbs. The other 120lbs is what his muscle, bones, organs, etc. weigh, (everything but fat).

The member who received our evaluation used to work out, and was at one time in good shape, but over the years put on a few extra pounds and has not work out is some time. This member tried various was to lose the weight but was unsuccessful, this is the reason for finally join the gym. Since this member was really serious about losing weight they asked us if we could help. So, we set them us on a program.

Now it is a 6 weeks into the program and the new member who knew what their body fat was before starting on our program comes in for his follow up visits to monitor his progress and the first thing he says is, “doc I’m feeling better but the scale in the locker says I only lost 3lbs., I am frustrated.”

However, at this follow up visit, we did see that he/she has lost 3lbs and know weighs 197lbs, but the percent of body fat dropped fro 40% to 36%. This works out to be 70lbs of fat he/she has now instead of the 80lbs before. This guy/gal actually lost10 lbs of FAT! The stuff we are trying to lose. Make sense?

What do you think happened to the member who was using the scale? Lets say somehow they achieved the same results as the member we just talked about, lost 3lbs according to the scale after 6 weeks. This person may be thinking, “three times a week for 6 weeks and a lousy 3 pounds!!” Are they going to keep using their membership? I know the gym is still charging their credit card.

Do you understand what I am taking about?

The same is true for what ever your goals are for joining the gym is, weight loss, muscle toning, rehabilitating an injury, getting off or reducing all of those medications you may be on, lowering your blood pressure, reducing your stress, increasing your endurance, what ever your reason was. You should know where you are at when you begin. See your doctor and get this done. If you want us to do it, we are here for you.

Otherwise how are you going to know if what your doing is working or not working, you need to keep doing what your doing or change your routine? This leads me in the third and last mistake

Mistake #3 Not on the right program

High carbs / low fat, low carbs / don’t worry about the fats, low reps / high reps, this exercise will help your back / that exercise will hurt your back, and so on, and so on. Sound familiar?

This exercise and nutrition stuff can be real confusing. I see people everyday trying to lose weight, or strengthen an injury, and from the exercises I see them doing they are not going to get there. I usually do see them for long though they seem to disappear after a month or two.

Now that you know what your baseline numbers are (body fat is, blood pressure, etc), the next step is to get on an individual program that is right for you and your specific goals.

The best person to start with would be the doctor who first evaluated you before you started your program. If you have arthritis, a bad back, high blood pressure, or are overweight you should know exactly what you show and should not do.

Working out at the gym can do wonders for your health. If done correctly, exercise can lower blood pressure, reduce coronary artery disease, strengthen, improve your mood, help you deal with stress, increase your muscle tone, reduce chronic aches and pains, strengthen an injury, lose weight, if done correctly you can achieve the goals you have for joining the gym.

However, the gym can also make your little problem a real big one. I have seen, and treated, many people who have injured themselves working out. I have also seen many people trying to tone up or lose weight who are just simply following a program that will not work or may be harmful. These people stop coming to the gym, do not meet their goals, and keep paying their monthly membership dues.

Also, a little note, just because you see someone that looks like they are in shape does mean they are doing the exercises correctly.

So, make sure the person who is setting you up on your program is trained to customize an individualize program for your specific goals. Then, with this information you can begin your program without confusion. If you are interested in working with a personal trainer, this information can also be pasted on to them so they are aware what you should and should not be doing.

Mistake #4 Not having someone, other than yourself, monitor your progress

How are you going to know how you are doing if you do not have regular progress evaluations?

You should have someone rechecking your baseline numbers on a regular basis, blood pressure, percent body fat, etc. This person can also give you support and help you with any problems that might come up. Maybe a specific exercise causes you some pain, or you get a clicking noise in you shoulder when you do some exercises, that is not normal. You should have someone to help you with that.

Finally, have someone monitor your progress means you will be more likely to follow through with your program and meet you goal. Which, I assume is what you want to do.

If you avoid the 4 mistakes above you will be able you achieve you goals or your reason form joining this health club.

–

Please feel free to publish this article in your Newsletter or on your Website (with Resource Box Included).

About The Author

Dr. Jeffrey Banas is a Chiropractic Sports Physician, practicing in Mesa; AZ. Dr. Banas personally lost 60 pounds in 2003 and now uses his experience to help others struggling with their weight problems. Dr. Banas can be reached at his office at 480-633-6837, or by visiting his web site at http://www.sportstraining-weightloss.com

drjeffbanas@yahoo.com

For many people, the day they join a health club is supposed to be a major positive turning point in their life. After all, the decision to get in shape is never an easy one.

However, many clubs are really taking advantage of the fact that most people don’t really read the agreements that they sign.

These health clubs are putting in “stealth” fees that, while legal, leave many people wondering about the ethics of the clubs that use them.

So, what’s the killer fee that most people are completely unaware of?

It’s called the “facility improvement fee” or “facility improvement addendum” and it’s lighting up many members around the country.

Here is how it works. When you join a club that has one of these fees, you typically have to initial a spot that states that the club is going to draft a fee of $25 every (pick a month and date) of every year you are a member for facility improvements. In some instances, you don’t even have to initial beside it, it’s just there.

Now, that doesn’t seem like such a big deal. After all, the club does need to have new equipment, new paint, and money to get things fixed up.

In actuality, the many clubs never use this money for the improvement of their club at all. In fact, it’s just another profit center for them and it goes right in the owner’s pocket. Legally, they can do this due to the way the contract is written. Typically, it’ll say something like:

“…to be used for maintenance, upkeep, and any other club expense deemed necessary by management.”

To be honest, I’ve walked in a few clubs that don’t look like they’ve been cleaned in ages but they sure do charge the facility improvement fee.

Here are the biggest scams with “facility improvement fees”

• Charge the fee and never fix anything
• Only charge the fee to people with monthly memberships

• Charge the fee for “future” club expansion
• Charge late and bounce fees when the unplanned for draft attempts to go through

If your club charges a “facility improvement fee,” find out what they plan to improve this year. Ask to get an itemized list for all of the members. Should your fee be a legitimate fee, management won’t have any problems with providing this.

Make sure that your club is accountable to you with the money you pay. Granted, the owners have every right to do whatever they want with any dues based income. However, a fee that has a specific name should be used to that purpose.

If you are looking for clubs and you come across a “facility improvement fee,” make sure it looks like the health club LOOKS like it’s been improved or at least kept up. Think about it, if health clubs have an average member base of 2000 members times $25, that $50,000 should go a long way.

And remember, this is $50,000 EACH YEAR in improvements.

In conclusion, make sure to read all of your agreements and question any fees that seem a little questionable. A “facility improvement fee” can be a good thing if the fee is actually used for what it’s designed for. However, don’t let unscrupulous owners use it as another way to line their pockets.

Copyright 2006 Brad Howard

Brad Howard is the most prolific health and fitness marketer of this generation. His new book, “Health Club Secrets” is currently being featured in many news stories for its groundbreaking information on health club scams. To get it for free, go to http://www.HealthClubSecrets.com

When you were growing up your mom may have fought to get you to eat your vegetables. Or maybe you’re the parent fighting with your kids to eat the right foods. What many of us don’t know is that our food also fights for us.

My mom used to dress the dinner plate in full matching regalia; yellow squash nestled next to green asparagus. Red and yellow peppers tossed around the salad added spectacular color. Now dear mom knew these foods were healthy and she loved to decorate my plate with the colors of the season, but did she know that these wholesome foods contain phytochemicals?

Phytochemicals are the active substances in plants that give them their color, flavor, odor, and protection against plant diseases. Phytochemicals work as powerful antioxidants, which can increase our resistance to disease and boost immunity.

While most research focuses on the anti-carcinogen effects of phytochemicals, the results are equally important to those who just want to boost their immune system or help reverse the aging clock.

Scientists at the Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging (HNRC) rated 60 fruits and vegetables for potency of antioxidants, which stabilize cells and help fight the damaging effects of free radicals, molecules that weaken the immune system. Antioxidants can help keep cancer, heart disease and other degenerative conditions at bay.

The top scoring fruit in the HNRC study was blueberries followed by strawberries, prunes, black currants and boysenberries. The deeper the color, the better for you. Many of these antioxidants also have anti-inflammatory properties, and some naturally reduce blood cholesterol.

It’s important to fill your diet with all the colors of the food rainbow. Eat the blues, reds, purples, oranges, yellows, and greens.

Fresh or Frozen Produce?

It’s okay if you don’t have time to steam your own fresh veggies, studies by the FDA and the University of Illinois show that frozen fruits and vegetables are nearly as nutritious because they can wait to be picked until they’re at the peak of freshness.

Fresh produce is usually picked early, before it’s ripe and fully nutritious, so that it ships well.

But if you’re lucky enough to grow your own fruits or vegetables, or you can buy straight from a farm – then that’s where you’ll find the most nutritious fruits and vegetables!!!

What about supplements?

The value of most supplements is, at best, ineffective. The power of phytochemicals seems to be lost when removed from food, except if you’re fortunate enough to find a high quality ‘greens drink’.
Drinking one glass of a quality ‘greens drink’ supplies more than 5 servings of powerful, phytochemical rich nutrition.

Other Phyto Foods :

Phyto foods come in many varieties and for all palates. Among the most common sources are:

FRUITS: Apples, apricots, avocados, bananas, berries, cherries, citrus fruits, grapes, kiwi fruit, lemons, mangoes, melons, nectarines, oranges, papayas, peaches, pears, plums. GRAINS: Barley, cornmeal, whole grain, quinoa, brown rice, wheat germ. NUTS and SEEDS: Flaxseed (a small brown seed used in cooking), macadamia, pecans, sesame seeds, walnuts. VEGETABLES: Asparagus, beans, beets, broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, carrots, celery, cauliflower, corn, eggplant, dark leafy greens and lettuces, mushrooms, onions, green and dried peas, sweet and hot peppers, white and sweet potatoes, pumpkin, soybeans, watercress, winter squash, tomatoes, and a host of others.

Christopher Guerriero is the founder of the National Metabolic & Longevity Research Center and a best-selling author, speaker, and coach to millions. He is creator of the award-winning ‘Maximize Your Metabolism’ system. To learn more about this step-by-step program, and to sign up for FREE how-to articles and FREE teleseminars, visit: Maximize Your Metabolism.

Everybody wants an edge that will give him or her a competitive advantage that will help him or her accomplish a goal faster, easier or better. Athletes will train harder and longer. They will eat right, sleep right and even give up sex if they think it will give them a winning edge. Some athletes have gone as far as taking up ballet, yoga or illegal drugs to improve performance.

In business, the winning edge may be a critical piece of information, an inside connection, a chance meeting with a key decision maker or a well-rehearsed sales presentation. It doesn’t matter what the edge is as long as you have it and your competition doesn’t.

As African Americans, the winning edge in business has historically been denied us. Access to capital, ownership rights, quality education and relationships with White decision makers in the business world were historically hard to come by. Many tried to succeed and did but many more fell by the wayside, unable to overcome these huge barriers.

We no longer live in the day and age where these obstacles are forced in place by society. That doesn’t mean however, that we have full access and participation in the “ownership society.” The changing world economy though, offers us a prime opportunity to achieve significant gains in entrepreneurship, asset accumulation and wealth.

However, we need to adopt the first winning edge in business, sports and, even, relationships. That edge is a winning attitude or mindset.

A winning attitude produces winners. A losing attitude produces losers. Its not much more complicated then that however, some explanation is in order.

I define a winner as someone that wins more then he loses. A person that wins when winning matters most.

Take note that a winner is not someone who always wins and never loses. You can lose all day play slot machines at a casino but if you win big once and walk away with more then you started, you’re considered a winner that day. In fact, the casino always wins but they know that occasionally letting you win will keep you coming back to try out your luck.

In business, you could start 3 failing business but if your fourth one takes off, everyone will talk about what a success you are. Getting it right once can make you a winner. Most people never make first attempt in business, relationships, public speaking and a whole host of things because of fear. These people may never fail but not failing is not the same as winning. Many will give up on these things after a single failure. On the other hand, the winner always wins at least once after several and sometimes many failures.

The second part of the definition involves winning when winning matters most. The Bible says, “What does it profit a man if he should gain the whole world and lose his own soul.” Winning often involves sacrifice but there is a limit to how much we should sacrifice.

Sacrificing our spiritual and family commitments in the quest to win is foolishness. Having your priorities screwed up when it comes to the spirit and to family is common but never good. We do it in emulation of our parents and peers. But nothing can make you true winner when you have to sacrifice those things to win.

This part of the definition requires you to be true to who you are and not necessarily to the rules of “the game.” Don’t have children you don’t want to care for because everyone else has kids at a certain age. Don’t volunteer your time to projects that take you away from your family but raise your profile if it is your family that really matters to you. Be true to yourself.

So, how can you be the winner you want to be? It’s simple, do the opposite of the loser. The losers lose because they choose not to win. Losers choose not to win because they fail at learning or the fail at growing.

Again, both the winner and the loser will suffer losses however; the winner learns from his losses and changes his approach, which is a sign of growth. The loser may learn but may not grow. The loser may give up before learning and growth can occur. The ultimate loser will not learn and continue to persevere until the defeat becomes a complete loss similar to the drug addict or alcoholic that ends up on the street with absolutely nothing.

The mind of a winner is trained over time to learn from failure and will always grow as a result. The ultimate winner excitedly anticipates the opportunity to grow and change over time. The ultimate winner will learn and grow from the failures of others and will see trouble before it hits and take action. The ultimate winner makes winning look effortless to outsiders looking inside.

We in the African-American community need to adopt the winning entrepreneurial attitude and spirit. Global financial storm clouds are up ahead. Social security, global competition, demographic shifts, global terrorism, technological advancements and the increasing demand for highly skilled, highly educated yet cheap labor will strain our economic and political institutions beyond their limits. Only winning edge will preserve them.

Only the winning edge will lead to our advancement in the face of these challenges. Only the financially secure, the innovators and creators and those courageous enough to take action now will thrive and they will be among those leading our country to it next great height.

Black Americans will undoubtedly be among these great leaders. Why not join these future leaders? Get the winning edge today.

This article was written by Bret Searles, author of “The 7 Simple Secrets to Wealth Building: An African American’s Guide to Wealth Building in the 21st Century and Beyond” available at http://www.blackwealthnow.com. Visit http://www.blackwealthnow.com for more articles and educational resources for African Americans that want to build wealth and close the racial wealth gap once and for all.