Thursday, November 5, 2009

Leadership: The Art of Pulling vs. Pushing

As a network marketing leader, I get a lot of feedback from my downline about people who fail to step up. This lead my to question whether the issue was with the leader or the follower.

A leader who has a relationship with a group of people such as a department manager, a drill sergeant or a sports coach often asks for “volunteers” from their team to do something beyond what is expected from the leader.

How the group reacts to the request for volunteers says a lot about the leader and the followers. A leader who does not command respect may not get any response. A great leader however, will get the entire group to volunteer.

Great networking leaders will know what the response will be from a well managed team. One way to find this out is to ask them to go beyond what is expected of them and observing their behavior.

Testing your team in this way (asking for volunteers) can also be called “separating the men from the boys” or “the wheat from the chafe”, or “the cream will rise to the top”, etc. A leader must therefore test their team, observe and learn.

Not only is a lot of information revealed about the motivations and drive among the team, but the degree of respect for the leader can also be revealed.

Those who volunteer go into the “pull” group; those who resist volunteering go into the “push” group. You can “lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink”. You have heard this many times. The point is obvious that one must decide they want to do something on their own.

Forcing someone to do something for which they do not having a burning desire is like pushing someone to do something against their will. They must possess the inner drive, the momentum so that you need only pull them along as a leader.

If you are a follower at the moment, examine how you react when your leader asks you to do something. Do they test you in any way? How do you react?

Do you feel resistance when they ask you to do something? Be careful not to be quick to put blame on the leader for failing to be an “effective” leader.

This could be a sabotage maneuver on your part. Perhaps you are not willing to go the extra mile to achieve your goals. Perhaps you are more aligned with the “idea” of having your own business rather than achieving it.

The actual achieving it would require you to change in some way and that it where many people get stuck. This is where leadership comes into play.

The effective leader can see the follower resisting. They know the feelings of being stuck. They can craft a game plan for the person and encourage them to create momentum so they can guide them along the path and pull them towards their goal.

Pushing is not leading. In fact, it is a step backward because you are not in front of them, rather you are behind them. You are in a subordinate position which only creates a relationship of dependency rather than self sufficiency.

As a network marketing leader, when someone falls into the “push” group, it is time to evaluate your strategy and time commitments. You may also wonder if it is you who is failing to be an effective leader.

Are you valuable to those you lead? Do you provide support, knowledge, encouragement and other forms of value to the group that they cannot get by going to a weekend seminar or purchase in a book?

Dating Advice: Don’t Let Her Hurt Your Feelings

Part of being a real man and not falling into the nice guy “friend zone” is not letting her hurt your feelings easily. Never let her think she hurt your feelings or struck a nerve with you even when she actually does. Just like the age old saying goes, "Never let em see you sweat". When she knows she can hurt your feelings with her words she'll see that as insecurity. And when you really examine it, it is insecurity.

Women can make some really belittling comments without realizing it and sometimes purposely to strike a nerve and test you. That's right; women will actually use these belittling comments to see if you can take it. It's a test to see how much of a man you are. They usually don't even realize they are doing this kind of thing to test us, but make no mistake about it - IT'S A TEST. If you are secure enough in yourself, there's nothing to feel hurt about. You are sure of yourself and nothing she can say or do can bring you down.

The next time a woman says or does anything that hurts your feelings, remember to BE A MAN and let it roll off your shoulders. This doesn’t mean that you shouldn't express yourself when she does or says something disrespectful. You can call her out without letting her know it hurt your feelings.

Tribal Sleeve Art Tattoos Designs - The Instant Way To Get Tons Of Quality Designs!

Hunting for tribal sleeve art tattoo designs could be a pain in the donkey be it whether you are hunting for a full tribal sleeve tattoo or plain tribal art tattoos. There is however, a faster and better technique to get heaps of high quality tribal art tattoo designs.

If you have attempted looking for tribal tattoos on the internet, you would've notice the same designs have been repeating over and over again. These are all spam designs that has been littered all over the Net and being abused by webmasters and tattoo design searchers.

Firstly, you do not want to be using these free tattoo designs that you have maybe found on the search engine or free tattoo design websites. These designs have been frequently use by hundreds of others who are on the lookout for tribal tattoo designs. Who knows how many before you have recently used the same design that you have select.

Daily, there are thousands of folks looking just for the tribal sleeve art tattoo designs itself, you may be sure that these designs has been used tons of time already. Remember, the tribal tattoo design is one of the most well liked designs and most sought after as well . That tells you the search volume for it is extremely high as well!

If you want to feel special due to your tattoo design, then you must use designs that are unique.

Most people who are on the lookout for tattoo designs online have difficulty finding their ideal tattoo designs because the designs, although are free but are all the same old designs.

If you are truly serious about getting a tattoo that is unique, you must consider getting a membership with the many tattoo design studio membership. The majority are not prepared to pay for such a membership because they suspect that why should they pay if there are so much free tattoo designs online?

That was what I assumed too until I learned the down side of using this free tattoo designs. It made me sort of regret the tattoos that I got using those free tattoo designs that I've found online just to save a couple of bucks.

But when I signed on a tattoo design membership site, I quickly realize what I've been missing out. Not only is it cheaply to get a whole life membership ( most tattoo design membership offers a lifetime membership for a tiny onetime fee ), I was entitled to free updates of tattoo designs regularly. That is pretty cool since I was always getting a new tattoo now and then.

Well, if you are somebody who wouldn't want to reach a compromise the quality of your tribal sleeve art tattoos, then you should avoid using free tattoo designs all together. I'd always advice folks who are getting a tattoo that removing a tattoo is much more agonizing and pricey than getting one, so think and choose your designs carefully!

Good luck in your search!

Glass Mosaic Tile Art: Stunning Mosaic Tables

Want something different for your home? Something truly unique? Maybe a stunning art masterpiece that everyone is irresistibly drawn to admire as soon as they walk through your door. Maybe you want something a bit more functional, such as a distinctive piece of furniture. What if you found something that combines the two? Lovely stained glass mosaic tables add color and warmth to your home or office. They serve not only as beautiful works of art, but they also serve a useful function as furniture.

You probably think, "Mosaic tables are nothing new or unique, so what's this guy talking about?" You're right! Search the Internet for "mosaic table" and you'll find that most websites offer round bistro or kitchen tables with wrought iron stands done with mosaic designs using standard tessera shapes (i.e., squares and triangles) in standard checkerboard, circular, or sunburst patterns. You're right, those kinds of tables are a dime a dozen. That's not what I'm talking about.

Imagine a beautiful stained glass transom window above your front door. Or a delightful stained glass sun catcher hanging in front of your kitchen window. Now, imagine the stained glass design on a wooden table top, such as an end table, sofa table, or entry table. That's the true uniqueness I'm talking about. Imagine your foyer or vestibule with its stylish hardwood floor, intricate baseboard and crown molding, and a gorgeous mirror centered on the wall with an antique coat stand in the corner. The image looks wonderful, but it's missing something. You can't quite put your finger on it, but you know it needs more. Aha! Something must act as a transition from the floor to the mirror on the wall. That's it! An entry table. But not just any ordinary entry table. An elegant stained glass mosaic entry table done in a rich, full stain color that perfectly complements the hardwood flooring. Imagine another room in the home with similarly wonderful mosaic furniture, such as end tables, curio tables, and sofa tables.

Forget the ga-zillions of round mosaic bistro tables on metal stands that look like they were mass produced in a third-world country. Those are okay (sometimes) for kitchens and patios, but they just don't fit the style and look of the other rooms in your home. You want real wood furniture stained to match the décor in your living room. You want a table painted white to blend perfectly with the bright, beachy feel of your sitting room. Stained glass mosaic tables made of real wood provide exactly what you want--and more.

With a stained glass mosaic table, not only do you get the perfect piece of furniture, you get a beautiful work of art. You also get a conversation piece that will likely draw your guests' curiosity and awe. You may even find that your stained glass mosaic furniture becomes the focal point of the room. When thinking of "mosaic," don't limit your imagination to the common square or triangle pieces laid in common mosaic patterns. Instead, go beyond the common and imagine the extraordinary. Imagine the beauty and uniqueness of stained glass designs artfully integrated with wood furniture. Your home will love you for it.

Some Variations In Art Conservation

Art Conservation always has the eyes to the future. There are numerous different variations of art conservation. Though there are quite a number of numerous distinct varieties of artwork maintenance, the most common theme of them all is preservation. They are all concerned with the stabilization and preservation of artworks. The great distinction between art restoration and conservation is the concept that one is more concerned with the present and one is headed toward the future. Most of the different variety of maintenance is grouped together under the common name Preventative Conservation. This is the responsibilities and concern of all galleries and museums charged with historic and precious collections of artworks.

So, it is actually balance that governs the work of the preventative art conservationist. It is a balance between protecting the work for future generations, and making the work available to be enjoyed. Cleaning of the artwork is a kind of maintenance that is deemed controversial. There are those who claimed that the collected dirt and dust of the centuries is a part of the piece now and therefore should not be altered. Another approach is to clean the works extremely carefully, removing as much as foreign substances as possible without altering or modifying the piece itself. This is done to prevent it from further and more rapid decaying and not necessarily to restore the art to its original form.

Preventative conservation is very much concerned with the environments which exist around the artworks. This environment is painstakingly monitored and controlled to build condition that would be least likely to harm the artwork and should also take part to its stabilization. Preventative conservation attempts to limit too much exposure without limiting exposure. What it means is that though a certain piece of artistry might be preserved in a dark, closed and sealed vault, the purpose of the artwork is to be viewed and seen. Such factors like sunlight and temperature could have a harmful impact or effect on an artwork.

There is another kind of art conservation and it is concerned with the protection of the artwork when being moved or transferred from one place to another or while being on display. Mostly often, works of art travel or move between galleries, museums or owners as an outcome of a sale or merely to be loaned for display purposes. Professionals in art conservation will monitor and arrange the transport and also to insure the proper environment for displaying at the designated destination. Art conservation is a very exciting, fun yet quite demanding field. Though there are still too many variations of art conservation out there, it is truly all about the careful and painstaking preservation of the artwork so that it could be passed on to other people or for the next generations to come.

The accountability and responsibility of preserving and taking care of the priceless artworks and masterpieces of the great masters of our times in the past as well as what is being done today, for our promising and emerging artists, rests entirely in their hands.

Glass Mosaic Tile Art: How to Make a Permanent Signature on Glass

Making wonderful glass mosaic tile art is easy! Let me show you how.

Ever wonder how to sign your indoor glass mosaic art so the signature won't rub or wear off? Nothing seems to stick permanently to glass. Permanent marker isn't permanent. Acrylic and enamel paint rub, chip, or flake off. Nothing works!

Until recently, I signed my indoor glass mosaics with enamel paint. I covered the entire mosaic (except the signature) with old rags and towels, and then lightly sprayed on two light coats of clear acrylic sealer to protect the paint. That method works okay, but it doesn't seem to be as permanent as my new idea.

I had an epiphany a while ago and I've been signing all my indoor glass mosaics with this method ever since. Try it and see how it works for you. Use this method only for indoor mosaics. Do not use this method for outdoor mosaics or mosaics that will be displayed in a wet environment (e.g., a sauna or shower area).

CAUTION: Try this method on a piece of scrap glass before trying it on your mosaic art. Trying it on scrap glass first will let you know if this is how you actually want to sign your mosaic art. It will also give you practice before doing it on your mosaic art.

Using a fine-tip permanent marker, sign your name on the glass. I usually put my signature on the bottom-right corner of my indoor mosaics. Put yours where you like it best. I find a piece of tessera big enough to hold my entire signature so I don't have to write on any grout lines. If I have to write small to fit it on a single piece of tessera so I don't cross any grout lines, then I write small.

Lay your indoor mosaic art on a flat surface. Do this so the wet glue won't run or drip. If your mosaic is flat, the glue is thick enough so it stays where you apply it (i.e., it won't run or drip). With your indoor mosaic lying flat, carefully apply plain white Elmer's Glue-All over your entire signature. Don't touch the tip of the glue bottle to the signature or the ink might smudge. Slowly squeeze out enough white Elmer's Glue-All to cover the entire signature. (White Elmer's Glue-All is the stuff we all went to school with. I can usually buy a big 7.625-oz bottle at Walmart for about $1.50.)

Allow the glue to thoroughly dry overnight. White Elmer’s Glue-All dries clear. When wet, the glue doesn't absorb or blur the ink. Instead, the ink stays intact and the signature looks good after the glue is dry and clear. The glass color also shows through so the glue doesn't affect the mosaic's appearance. The ink is entombed in the glue and the glue provides strong, permanent protection for my signature on my indoor mosaics.

Don’t try to get cute by using a cotton swab or other tool to spread out the glue evenly. While trying to spread out the wet glue, if you press just a hair too hard and touch the ink, it will smudge. If you leave the ink alone, it won’t smudge or blur, but it will with the slightest touch. Therefore, I suggest that you don't try to even out the glue lines. Instead, hold the tip of the glue bottle close to the glass and carefully squeeze out the glue. The edges will look a bit ragged (i.e., not perfectly straight and square with each other). In my opinion, that’s okay, they don't need to be perfectly smooth, straight, and at perfect angles with each other. When the glue is dry and clear, I don't notice the raggedness unless my nose is right up to the mosaic.

As noted, don't use this method for outdoor mosaics or for mosaics that will be displayed in a wet environment (e.g., a sauna or shower area).

This process is explained on my website for free with lots of pictures, so if you don’t quite understand it, go to my website and look at the pictures. Try this method on a piece of scrap glass and see if you like it. If you do, then you'll know a neat trick that allows you to sign your indoor mosaic art masterpieces and be comfortable that your signature won't rub or wear off over time.

Remember, making mosaic art is easy. You can do it. Yes, you can!

Things Women Want In A Man

I met Jessica, a 24 year old law student who modeled lingerie to help defray the costs of her education, a few months ago in a nice lounge. I was there with

a couple friends of mine, enjoying a nice bottle of Pinot Noir wine. One of the things that a Date Pro has is the ability to be aware of his environment,

even if part of his focus is somewhere else. In this case I was focused on conversation with my friends. Out of the corner of my eye I noticed a man walk

up to a very attractive young lady at the bar, offering to buy her a drink. She wasn't interested so she thanked him for the offer and continued munching on

what appeared to be an appetizer.

This man wouldn't take "no" for an answer and started giving her a hard time. I could tell from her body language that she was ready to do something drastic

such as ask for security or start yelling at him. Here's a pointer for you: one of the best ways to meet a woman is to rescue her from a man or group of

men that she has zero interest in. After some practice in reading bodylanguage, you'll pick up on this. It was my cue to leave my friends for a moment and

see if I could do my good deed for the evening. So I walked toward her and the man that would not leave her alone.

"Excuse me honey," I said innocently, but deeply, firmly, and quite loud, making sure that I made eye contact with her so she knew exactly what I was trying

to do. "I'm so sorry I didn't see you when I walked in here, I ran into Ken and Ronald and ended up chatting with them. When they saw me they were like

'Hey Rod! Over here!' Since I didn't see you I hung out with them for a while. I think I need to be flogged, though I think I prefer a spanking (smirk or

eye wink)."

You'll notice that I found a way to include my name in my initial approach so she would know my name. A couple of seconds passed and those two seconds felt

like an hour as I wasn't sure if she would play along, not that it really mattered. Most women usually do because they pick up on subtle clues, cues, and

hints far better than men do. This was one of those times. "I was wondering where you were honey," she said, trying her hardest not to laugh.

"Oh," started the man who was bothering her, "If you were expecting someone why didn't you say anything?"

I didn't want his badgering to continue so I simply looked at him, then looked at her, then looked at him and said, "Hey buddy, if you don't mind, I'd like

to spend a moment alone with my fiancée."

He knew that he had lost. "Oh man, sorry. Later." And off he went.

As he was making his way out of our little circle, I leaned in and whispered in her ear, "Ok, once he's out of sight, I'm going back to my friends. By the

way, my name really IS Rod." Then I grabbed a stool, gave her a wink, and she leaned into my direction and whispered, "Thank you." Sometimes the damsel in

distress that you saved appreciates what you did and prefers that you be on your way, but sometimes they don't want you to leave. "My name is Jessica," she

continued, "Do you really have to leave? Why don't you hang out for a bit?" Aha!

"So Rod, what is it that you do?", Jessica asked with a sincerity not usually found in these kind of places. Normally I don't like telling women what I do

for a living until after a few dates, but it's only a guideline, not some rule written in stone. I like to go with my gut most of the time, since that is a

sign that a person's game has evolved. Jessica was beautiful and she had this very innocent, cute face that made me want to protect her, this was

evolutionary psychology and biology at work, not my inner wussbag coming out. One has to keep that under control at all times during an initial meeting with

a stranger.

"Let's just say that I help men figure out what they really want out of life," I said with a grin on my face. She accepted that for the time being and we

began talking about that. Eventually I asked her what she thought a healthy, attractive, mature woman wants in a man. "Leave out the stuff about 'I like to

laugh' or a 'man who knows how to treat a lady' type stuff. I'm looking for specifics."

"Well," Jessica started, "You observed one thing we don't like and that is to keep trying to pick up on us after we've made it clear we're not interested.

Sometimes I want to go out and not want to meet new people. Sometimes I just want a drink or dance or just hang out. I hate it when a man is too pushy."

"Please continue, this is fascinating," I remarked.

"I have a part-time job that pays really well, so I don't need a man to help me out financially in any way," Jessica continued on with a look of serious

passion in her face. "You know what I think most 'healthy' women want? They want a man who can take care of himself. He might even be broke today but if

he has a career or is in school or started a new business, a woman can see that he has ambition and potential. I think a lot of women look more into the

future than men do. A man should be financially stable. That doesn't mean he has to be rich, he should be good with his money and not spend it on frivolous

things."

"You mean like a Coach hand bag, Mac make up, or Jimmy Choo shoes right?" I interjected with a teasing tone to my voice. Jessica giggled.

"Something like that, silly," I could tell Jessica was a fun gal. "I know one thing I like is when my man plans out a whole evening for both us. I like it

when he plans ahead. I have a friend named Monica who was dating this really unattractive man, but she didn't care. If you can make her laugh she is all

yours. Tell your clients that if a woman is laughing at his jokes then she likes him."

"So," I chimed in, "What you're really looking for is a confident man who has a plan for his life, has potential, a sense of humor, financially stable, and

knows how to make a woman feel sexy and good, right?"

"Absolutely!" Jessica exclaimed.