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By Scott Patterson One of the most challenging things for men in the dating scene is approaching women on the street. Like any learned skill the more you practice approaching women the better you will get. So the easy solution in learning how to talk to women on the street is to simply approach more of them. But this is not as easy as it sounds. Sometimes you might be walking in one direction and she is walking opposite and toward you. It can be very awkward because she’s going one way and you’re going the other way so it’s not very natural to just walk up and say something. Or is it? The reality is that you can approach anyone, anywhere, and virtually at any time. The biggest obstacle to talking to women on the street is between your left ear and your right ear. If someone ever told me that they could never approach a woman on the street I would simply ask them “who taught you to think that way?” Okay, let’s get to the nitty-gritty. It is very important when you approach a woman on the street that you approach from an angle so she can see you. If you come from her blind spot then make sure you say “excuse me” or “pardon me”. This way she will know that you’re there and she won’t turn around and smack you with her purse. Some dating coaches will advise you to pretend and ask for directions, but most women can sniff out phoniness better than a trained dog sniffing for illegal drugs. It’s just not the best approach. What’s far more effective is approaching naturally and communicating that you both have a short period of time and that you may never see one another again. A great way to break the ice is to simply say “excuse me” and then say, “Gosh, you look like you’re in a hurry to get somewhere.” And she’ll respond accordingly. You can also say something like, “Y’know, normally I’d walk up to a pretty woman like you and invite you for some great conversation and some drinks, but I’m running late for a meeting. Since we’ll probably never see one another again, let me ask you, do you have e-mail?” So what you can do from there to simply pick out a pen and paper or your cell phone and asked her what her e-mail address is. You might get a little resistance at first because she doesn’t know you. But you can her assure her that you will send her an e-mail with a funny story and if she doesn’t like it then you to do not have to meet for drinks. Once she gives you her e-mail address it is for important that you do not wait too long to e-mail her otherwise she will forget who you are. So what you should do is either send her an e-mail later that night or the next day. So what do you send her? Send her a funny story. You can go to any news website or entertainment website and find at least one or two interesting stories in the news. You can highlight it and then you can copy it, paste it, and then send it to her. Now imagine on one weekend if you spent the whole day just accumulating e-mail addresses. The chances of you getting a date out of those e-mails increases substantially. Most men are too afraid to do this because they lack the confidence and they only lack the confidence because they don’t practice enough. So, what’s stopping you from practicing right now? Scott Patterson is a master at meeting, approaching, and attracting women. To find out how you can pick-up ANY woman in 7 simple steps, check out his free ecourse. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Scott_Patterson http://EzineArticles.com/?How-to-Talk-to-Any-Woman-You-Encounter-on-the-Street&id=351832 buy real xanax overnight with online culsultation prescriptions where can i buy 2mg xanax online purchase xanax without prescription loretabs and xanax without a prescription

By Darren Kavinoky How do CA courts deal with FSTs that are not performed in accordance with NHTSA? The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA) has done extensive studies of field sobriety testing (FSTs) in order to determine the probability of intoxication. Law enforcement agencies have utilized FSTs for many years to develop probable cause for arrest and as evidence to be used in the prosecution for drunk driving. However, not all FSTs have been scientifically determined to be accurate reflectors of alcohol intoxication. NHTSA has determined that three FSTs are accurate indicators of alcohol intoxication, when administered in a standardized manner. These tests are called Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (SFSTs): 1. Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN). HGN is an eye test that is 77% accurate in reflecting a blood alcohol count (BAC) above .10%. Nystagmus is an involuntary jerking of the eyes at a certain angle, off to the side. 2. Walk-and-Turn (WAT). WAT is a walking test that is 68% accurate in reflecting a BAC above .10%. 3. One-Leg Stand (OLS). OLS is a test done in a stationary position that is 65% accurate in reflecting a BAC above .10%. The HGN in combination with the WAT reflects an 80% accuracy rate in determining a BAC above .10%. The WAT and the OLS are divided attention tests. Divided attention tests require a subject to listen to and follow instructions while performing simple physical movements. Sober individuals are supposed to perform these tests with no problem. Impaired individuals, however, have difficulty with tasks requiring their attention to be divided between simple mental and physical exercises. As mentioned above, law enforcement agencies utilize FSTs in addition to SFSTs. The SFSTs have an advantage in that they have scientific backing. However, FSTs do not have such scientific data to support the conclusion that the drunk driving subject is intoxicated. Examples of FSTs include: the Rhomberg Balancing Test, Finger to Nose, Alphabet Test, Count Down, and Hand Pat, among many others. Even though the FSTs do not have scientific backing reflecting reliability, most courts will still admit the tests into evidence. In California, courts allow all FSTs into evidence, but defense counsel can attack the weight of the evidence by challenging the reliability of the non-standardized tests. Other states only allow the actual SFSTs into evidence. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Darren_Kavinoky http://EzineArticles.com/?Investigation-Of-DUI-Cases—What-Are-The-SFSTs?&id=209200 cheap online purchase ultram dreampharmaceuticals buy tramadol online ultram online doctor prescription order ultram pill

By Charles Pabst There is a specific problem that occurs in a great majority of sales. Whether you’re a salesman, marketer or copywriter it is not the largest problem youll have to overcome but it is big enough that if you dont spot it for what it is, your sales conversions could stink. And stinky conversions equate directly to a dry bank account, which also stinks. To carry the mystery on a bit further, this one thing alone can stop a good, about-to-happen sale right in its tracks. It can make an infinitely interested customer suddenly walk away. It is the one thing that makes salesmen scratch their heads and wonder, Uh, what the hell just happened? And its the one thing that makes marketers and copywriters crumble up version after version of ineffective sales copy. We are, of course, talking about the dreaded four-letter word: DOUBT I know, I know. You astute readers surely know that doubt is not really a four-letter word. Id remind you the b is silent, so it might as well be. Salesmen have a tough job. They spend countless hours perfecting their sales pitches and copy, tweaking each word for effectiveness, interest and even rhythm. In a perfect world each tweak would put them one step closer to making their customers salivate, but the moment they begin to introduce their product theyre instead hit with suspicion. They use words in their headlines like Greatest and Best, Clearer Skin and Happiness, Fame, Fortune and Rock Hard Abs. In return their potential customers reward them with a smooth blend of disbelief and skepticism, lightly shaken. Why this is is beyond the purposes of this article, but the next installment will be about how this doubt can work in your favor and very easily. Charles Pabst is a freelance author, marketer and public speaker. His work can be found at Work From Home Business Source and his personal blog, Blargy. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Charles_Pabst http://EzineArticles.com/?Converting-Customer-Doubt-Into-Sales&id=212397 free debt elimination software debt and mortgage elimination debt-elimination-mortgage card credit debt eliminate eliminatecreditcarddebt title

By Lindsay Scott Looking at various news articles and comments on the web in the last month it would appear that; * UK employers are about to be hit by a massive skills shortage! * The job market is bound for massive expansion as companies and organisations take the dust covers off their delayed investments in new IT systems and regulatory adherence demands change! * The general consensus would appear to be that this skills shortage will convert into pay increases and a general scramble as organisations look to secure the services of the best permanent and freelance consultants! So, the assumption is that we can all look forward to higher salaries and day rates as this year progresses? Our experience so far this year would suggest; * The number of available skilled programme and project management professionals is reducing. * Employers are not yet cognoscente to the fact that there may be a shortage on the horizon. * Rates are still pretty level and not inflationary So if it’s to become a high demand time, what does it mean to you as project management professionals? * Ability to pick and choose the projects you want to work on? * More attractive day rates / salaries? * Better length of contract and commitment from clients / employers? * Confidence to leave that job you have been secure in during the tough times of the last three years? We are intrigue to understand if this is fact or hype and will be keeping a very close eye on where the market is moving so that we can not only get the best opportunities for our candidates but also keep our clients updated. If this move turns out to be fact then businesses will need to be on the ball as they move through 2005 if they are going to have the right staff to meet their plans. Lindsay Scott is a Director and Senior Recruitment Consultant at Arras People - The UK’s Programme and Project Management Recruitment Specialist. For further information and articles please visit http://www.arraspeople.co.uk Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lindsay_Scott http://EzineArticles.com/?Skills-Shortage-Fever&id=93529 cheap phentermine with no prescription phentermine to buy phentermine online with mastercard phentermine 37.5 tablets no prescription

By Don Diebel Do you strike out with single women in the romance department no matter what you do? You can even be a drop-dead good-looking guy, but unless you know what is offensive to a woman’s ears, you are likely to stick your foot in your mouth and make a fool of yourself and turn off women. With today’s single woman you need to know what she wants and then give to her without sounding phony. The following are some common mistakes men make when dating single women that turn women off: 1. When talking to or about single women, are you still living back in time and calling them babes, broads, chicks, or something even more repulsive? Always call a woman by her name! If you use these terms mentioned, you will insult and turn single women completely off. 2. When out on a date, do you spend all of your time eyeing other women in the bar, nightclub, or restaurant? Don’t even think for a minute that she won’t notice. She will not only notice, but may be so turned off by your behavior that she may never want to see you again. Always focus all of your undivided attention on the woman you’re with. Treat her like a Princess and she will make you her Prince. 3. Another common mistake men make early in a relationship with a single woman is being too sexually aggressive. After just meeting a woman you don’t want to come on all hot & horny and all you can focus on is jumping her bones and pawing at her body. This kind of behavior can scare women and turn them off. They usually don’t like a complete stranger pawing at their bodies and making sexual overtones. Get to know her first to where she is comfortable with you and then make your physical moves. 4. When talking to a woman, do find yourself concentrating totally on her breasts? This is a real no no! Always look women in the eyes when talking to her. Believe me, if all you can do is stare at her breasts, she will catch on to it and will ditch you as soon as possible. Women don’t like men who constantly stare at their breasts. In a topless club it’s OK, but not when you just meet a woman or in the early stages of dating. 5. If a woman wants to be independent, let her. For instance, if she wants to change her own flat tire, let her. If she wants to open her own door, let her. If she wants to order her own food or wine, let her. Let her assert her independence. It will make a good impression on her. You’re making a big mistake if you want to act Macho all the time and not let her act independent if this is what she desires. 6. Some misguided men think it’s sexy and cool to brag about what a great lover they have been to their other girlfriends, about getting high on drugs, or how good they can hold their liquor. You are not impressing women with this. As a matter a fact, she will probably find that you are obnoxious and potentially dangerous. In closing, if you are making any of these dating blunders and displaying these offensive habits, get them corrected immediately. I hate to keep pounding this into your head, but if you turn women off, you are stacking the odds against yourself in successfully meeting, dating, attracting, and seducing single women. This article written by Don Diebel (Americas #1 Singles Expert). If you would like more free dating tips on how to successfully meet, date, attract, and become intimate with women, please visit his website at: http://www.getgirls.com This article is copyright (c) 2005 by Don Diebel and may be reprinted in it’s entirety as long as his website, byline, and copyright statement is included. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Don_Diebel http://EzineArticles.com/?Dumb-Dating-Mistakes-Men-Make-with-Women&id=48756 finasteride online usa compare order propecia now is buying propecia online legal purchase finasteride rx

By Mike Lowe Getting a great night sleep is very important for everyone and mattress brand comparison makes a great deal of difference. When a person is tired from lack of sleep, they do not function at top capacity, which not only affects their personal life but also work. Mattress brand comparison can certainly make the difference between being exhausted and feeling refreshed and wonderful. When it is time to upgrade or replace it, mattress brand comparison is very important so you purchase a mattress that meets all your requirements. Because we spend approximately a third of our life in bed, a mattress that soothes aching muscles and joints and is great for your posture is certainly well worth looking into. When completing a mattress brands comparison, some are more expensive than others but remember that a mattress will last for many years so the cost spread over ten years, twenty years, or more is very insignificant. Always try the mattresses out right at the store to see how comfortable they are for you. Try lying in your normal sleeping positions and sitting. Comfort, durability and support are very important. There are many different types of mattresses such as air mattresses, innerspring and foam. There are buyers guides that are available to help people make an educated and smart choice. These guides allow mattress brands comparisons, price comparison and models as well as listing the disadvantages as well as advantages. They also discuss the construction. There are four mattress types and they are: Pocket sprung These come in several fillings and stitching, usually these are firm Foam mattress memory foam mattresses conforms to the body and is excellent for people with allergies Orthopedic mattress Great for people with medical problems as they have adjustable support Open sprung Differ from pocket sprung, soft to firm Be sure to not only complete mattress brands comparisons but also to actually lie down on them to test them out. Sleep tight and sleep right with mattress brands comparison information at our site! Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mike_Lowe http://EzineArticles.com/?Mattress-Brands-Comparison:-The-Real-Mccoy&id=243153 valium pharmacy buy diazepam online buy anax valium anax zopidem diazepam purchase online

By Chonticha Marijne When we read about laser hair removal for men, we cant help but wonder if it works the same as it does with women. Men have rougher skin and thicker hair, so would a man undergoing laser hair removal require not only longer treatments but also more frequent treatments than women? As a matter of fact, the process for both men and women is exactly the same. The only difference may lie in the body parts where men and women elect to have the hair removed. Women mostly use the laser hair removal method to eliminate hair from their arms, legs, upper lip, armpits and the bikini area, whereas men go for hair removal in their ears, on their shoulders, back and chest. Men who use the laser hair removal technique are usually in show business or athletes. The laser hair removal method has been around since the last decade and it’s now one of the most sought after techniques for hair removal. It was first used by the celebrities and now it’s a treatment that is readily available to men and women everywhere. If you decide to undergo laser hair removal treatment, then you should first find out more about the clinic you choose before using their services. Do proper research and ask around if the place is reputable and employs professional and experienced staff. Word-of-mouth feedback can always be relied upon. If people have nice things to say, then you can go to the clinic without any hesitation. But if the place has a bad reputation, then you should move on to another clinic. The laser hair removal technique is quite complex and has to be performed only by professionals. Ensure that you have all the answers to your questions before you go to a clinic to use their service. It’s better to be safe than sorry! The laser hair removal for men is quite costly compared to other hair removal methods, but it is well worth the money as it gives good results, providing it is done well. Laser hair removal for men is an excellent method to get rid of unwanted body hair. But do make sure that you go to the right place and approach the right people. The Internet is a good place to start learning more about this hair removal technique and to find the right clinic or salon for you. Are you considering laser hair removal? Find out more about laser hair removal and if it’s right for you at http://HairRemovalRevealed.com. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chonticha_Marijne http://EzineArticles.com/?Is-Laser-Hair-Removal-for-Men-the-Same-as-for-Women?&id=546243 diflucan buy tramadol online diflucan online buy diflucan buy prescription tramadol without buy ultram without prescription buy hostinghelpscom link tramadol

By Cori Young Those Glorious Dandelions! Taraxacum officinale (composite family) Spring is coming! Starting about this time every year I find myself craving bitter flavors. My body is longing to cleanse itself of toxins accumulated over a long winter of holiday indulgence, rich foods and various colds & flus. I am aware of an overall stagnation of energy in the digestion, kidneys and liver. I am always so amazed at how much better I feel when I start using dandelion in the spring! All that stagnated liver/kidney/stomach energy lifts and I feel renewed! This craving for bitter flavors always has me out searching for those young green dandelion leaves popping up everywhere about now. I eat them fresh in salads or just munch on them throughout the day. I also strain and bottle the dandelion root tincture that I put up in the late fall. This common “weed” of the composite family is a powerful restorative to the liver. It’s also rich in minerals like calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorous, potassium, selenium and zinc, as well as vitamins B1, B2, B3,and C. Ounce for ounce, dandelion contains more carotene than carrots. Dandelion leaves act as a diuretic to help cleanse the bladder and urinary tract. They help relieve water retention associated with PMS. Dandelion also cleanses the blood and liver, and increases bile production. It reduces serum cholesterol and uric acid levels and improves the functioning of the kidneys, pancreas, spleen, and stomach. Toning the kidneys and liver is one of the best things we can do for our overall health. Especially women! A strong, healthy liver will allow us to process and excrete hormones. It’s also vital for a healthy immune system. All parts of the dandelion plants are usable, but they have different properties and should be harvested at the appropriate times. Young Leaves have tonic properties and are picked in the spring and eaten raw in salads. If you find the taste too bitter try chopping them as fine as possible and mixing them with other raw greens. Mature Leaves have powerful diuretic properties. They are picked in early summer before the plant blooms. These are the leaves I harvest and dry for tea. They can also be made into tinctures. These gorgeous, dark green leaves are loaded with minerals and vitamins! When picking dandelion leaves, look for dark green, smoothe leaves (dandelion leaves are not fuzzy.) Try to avoid picking under powerlines or close to roads. Here’s my favorite thing to do with the summer dandelion leaves: Dandelion Juice! Pick a colander full of dandelion leaves and rinse them really well under cool water. Run them through the juicer with 1/2 an apple. This will make a nice shot glass full of delicious, nutritious juice. You will feel a nice little zing with this lovely tonic! Dandelion Roots Dandelion roots act as a blood purifier that helps the kidneys and liver to remove toxins and poisons from the blood. They act as a mild laxative and help improve digestion. The roots are also beneficial for skin conditions such as boils, abscesses and eczema. They have been used for centuries to improve jaundice. Ideally, you want to use the roots of 2 year old plants. In the late fall the roots will contain the highest concentration of inulin. Dig the whole plant up and hang upside down to dry in a cool, dark place. The roots grow quite long, so dig deep! The dried or fresh roots can be used to make tinctures. Dried roots can be powdered for capsules or used in infusions. Dandelion Flowers For a tasty, easy-to-make tonic wine try this: Pick dandelion flowers on a warm, dry day. Macerate 1 cup (60 g) flowers and steep in 4 cups (1 liter) white wine for 1 month in an airtight container. Strain out the flowers and sweeten to taste with a little bit of honey if desired. This a nice tonic for the gallbladder. About The Author Cori Young is a writer and herbalist living in the Pacific Northwest. For more information on natural health, visit her website, NaturalFamilyInfo.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Cori_Young http://EzineArticles.com/?Dandelions!-This-Common-Weed-is-a-Wonderful-Spring-Tonic&id=19934 phentermine 37.5 no prescription mastercard buy phentermine on line without prescription and overnight shipping order phentermine no prescription no prescription for phentermine

By Kurt Bjorkman Boutique Hotel. Just the words get the imagination going. Even before I dog eared the pages of Herbert Ypmas first Hip Hotels book I was fascinated by the world of boutique hotel properties. How cool would it be to be the general manager of a cool boutique hotel? I often found asking myself as I flipped through the pages of his magnificent photos. Working hard to make a career out of the hotel industry, I was convinced that I just had to be involved with a boutique hotel someday. That someday came true, when in 2004 I was invited to be the general manager of what was and still is one of Palm Springs most hip boutique hotels. I left another huge opportunity just to be a part of this amazing world. The art, the design, the vibe. I had never really worked anywhere with a vibe. A year later and I knew, I knew what many in the hotel business do notwhat it is really like to be the gm of a hip, cool boutique hotel. Its not for everyone and amazing for many. There is a mini storm brewing in the boutique hotel world, one I dont think most involved in this industry are aware of. With more and more boutique hotel operators entering the playground, more and more bad hiring decisions are being made. The right General Mangers are working at the wrong hotels. Like a square peg and a round hole, some things just do not work. Who is to blame and what can be done? The Boutique Hotel First let me first tell you that I have a very narrow view of what really constitutes a boutique hotel. I think that the term Boutique when used to describe a hotel is often misapplied. A boutique hotel is not defined by simply a hot design, as many would argue. In my opinion, a boutique hotel is a property that is uniquely significant in four ways: 1. Architecture and Design. 2. A high level of service. A property must not exceed 150 guest rooms, enhancing the guest to staff ratio. 3. Sell to a specific demographic. 4. Are independently owned and operated (this is where some will disagree with me). A boutique hotel must be an independent operation. The hotel must not be part of a collection that is more than say, 10 properties. Beyond this you get into having a corporate hierarchical management style that is required in running a large company and maintaining brand consistency. Take W Hotels for example. In my opinion these are not boutique hotels. They look like a boutique hotel, even feel like one. Many boutique hotels would strive to be as great as a W. But a W Hotel is run and managed by a massive corporation. The property level management makes very few decisions about what services are offered and how the property is run. A boutique hotel must be operated as close to the actual physical operation as possible. Ws and the like are amazing, but in my opinion dont fit the definition of a boutique hotel. Boutique hotels are also constantly re-inventing themselves, making sure that their fickle guest never get bored and look to stay at the latest new, hip and cool property. Boutique Hotel Guest Travelers chose to stay at a boutique hotel because of the story, or the experience. The experience is very important and must be unique and somewhat cutting edge. The general demographics are individuals 20 to 50 years of age, work in more creative fields like advertising or entertainment and appreciate a higher level of service. When Ian Schrager entered the market with what many consider to be the first boutique hotel, this demographic discovered that they could use their travel budget get them a room at a cool, hip hotel rather than a generic mid-level branded property. And the boom started. Boutique hotel guests enjoy experiences, unique architecture, cutting edge interior design and in some cases an urban location. The market is expanding and the demographic model explained earlier is beginning to bleed into others. You might very well find a Fortune 500 CEO staying at a boutique hotel. It is hard to ignore the hype. Brands vs. Boutiques Luxury hotel operators are scrambling to avoid losing market share to the boutique world. Some hotels are actually taking the brand off their marketing and streamlining their operations so that their properties are authentically boutique. Take the Kahala Mandarin Oriental for example. This famous luxury property recently took Mandarin Oriental away so that they could operate and compete in the new marketplace of more independent hotels. They are now simply The Kahala and are working hard to be authentically local and independent of a major brand identification. I think others will follow. The Boutique Hotel General Manager For the sake of this publication, I will use the luxury hotel as the comparison to the boutique since most closely associate a boutique hotel with luxury travel. So what is so different about being a general manager at a luxury hotel versus a boutique hotel? Can it really be that different? The basics are the same. The general manager is responsible for the entire day to day operation, hiring decisions, marketing, budgets, forecasting, rate strategy, facility maintenance etc The key for both types of properties is guest service and guest interaction. The guest at a high end luxury hotel expects to be able to interact with the hotel general manager, as do the guests at a boutique property. It is all high touch. The difference is that a boutique hotel general manager wears just a few more hats than the luxury general manager. A boutique general manager might be preparing complex budget forecasting spreadsheets at 10am and at 10:30 am be clearing the pool towels from around the hotels salt water plunge. When was the last time you saw the general manager of the Peninsula Beverly Hills with an arm full of towels? Dont get me wrong, I know that the general manager of the Peninsula would do this in a second, if they had to. The general manager of a boutique hotel HAS to, because there is nobody else. The one server working the restaurant is also probably responsible for taking care of the pool, taking room service orders, delivering the orders and on and on. The general manager of a boutique hotel is sometimes also the HR director and breaks the front desk agents. If the gm is in California then the gm might find themselves breaking just about every position just to avoid getting sued and fined! Take this example; you are the GM of a hot boutique property in the desert. The temperature is pushing 118 degrees. Since occupancy during the summer is very low, you encourage a lot of your team to take their vacations so you can get that vacation accrual off your books. One of those who takes you up on this is your chief engineer, one of two engineers for your entire five acre property. He goes home to the motherland, Germany for a week. Now just because its hot does not mean that you dont have customers. Some tourists seem to love the heat, and so it was with this particular steamy day in August. As the sun begins to set, your guests make their way from the pool to their bungalows. Dusk and 100 degrees, everyone turns on their aged air conditioners full blast so they can cool down. Your only other engineer has gone home for the day. It is at about this time that the calls start coming in. The ac units are freezing up. The old units freeze up when they are turned on full blast. Many blow the circuit breakers. So there you are, in your office doing the forecast for your weekly corporate status report call when the front desk calls you in a panic, the guests are flipping out cries your new front desk agent. You check out the calls and see that you need your engineer back on property, but his pre-paid cell phone (you cant afford to pay for a cell phone for him) is out of time you cant reach him! So what do you do? You head to the rooms to see if you can fix them. Room by room you tackle the challenge of explaining to your sweaty and angry guests why they cant turn their ac on full and that it will take at least two hours for the ice built up around the coils to melt. Then you start looking for the circuit breakers, which are scattered all over the 60 year old property. By the time you reach the last room the guest who answers the door almost screams at the sight of the sweaty, dirty general manager holding a tool box with a dazed look on his face. Wasnt this the same guy who was pouring us Mimosas at the pool this morning honey? asks the guest as you begin your repairs. Once the craziness is over you get a call on your cell phone. Yes, it is your engineer returning your call. You trying to reach me boss?. The next day, while on your conference call you listen to a speech about how general managers need to spend more time with their guests rather than in their offices. Duh, you think as you try to scrub the grit out from under your fingernails. The financial realities of a boutique hotel are unique. The appearance of three to five star service with a two star budget is the norm, and the gms get caught in the middle. The boutique hotel just does not have the budget to staff like a true luxury property and everyone has to pull their weight. The gm who does not will not be there long and hate every second of their lives. Along with the additional sweat and frustration of being a boutique hotel gm are the rewards. For the right individual, they will find that the entrepreneurial management style required of them is highly empowering. The gm can make a lot of decisions on their own, decisions that in a larger corporate hotel would require an approval or worse.committee discussion! The fact that some towels need to be picked up and maybe a drink or two be mixed and served is actually fun to them. The rewards of always being in front of your guests are what most gms want anyway, but many are not really ready for it when they are tasked to make that happen every day. So what kind of person would do well as a general manager of a boutique hotel? Answer these questions, if you can say yes to each answer then you will probably really like the challenge. Please note that I am assuming that you are already an experienced manager and qualified to be a general manager. The 51 Questions 1. You do not need routines to feel successful at work. 2. You can delegate without concern. 3. You can make decisions without committee recommendation. 4. You can spend long hours at work. By long I mean sometimes up to 14 hours at a time. 5. You have no problem spending the night at the property to make sure everything is ok. 6. You dont have a problem delivering luggage to guest rooms (you probably wont have a bellman to do this for you). 7. You can valet park a car. 8. You can re-program guest keys using the key card system. 9. You really enjoy speaking with your guests.REALLY. 10. You can mix a drink and you know who Mr. Boston is. 11. You can run a commercial washing machine. 12. You can re-set a circuit breaker. 13. You can change a flat tire, jump start a car. 14. You can re-set your router. If you dont know what a router is then stop now and re-think any thoughts you have of being a boutique hotel gm. You will not have an on site IT manager to help you! 15. You can check in/ out a guest using the front office system. 16. You can process credit cards and split payments to various folios. 17. You can run the switchboard at the front desk. 18. You can ring in an order using the restaurants POS. 19. You can re-set the restaurant POS. 20. You can program a digital surveillance system. 21. You can type your own memos, send your own e-mails and answer your own phones (this should be true of ANY gm nowadays). 22. You can jump from one project to the next without hesitation. 23. You know what to do when someone has a heart attack in your lobby. 24. You know what to do when someone chokes in your restaurant. 25. You can explain your restaurant menu items as well or better than your servers. 26. You can brew coffee using a commercial coffee machine. 27. You can draw a good cup of espresso. 28. You know the difference between a latte and a cappuccino. 29. You know the temperature requirements for your walk-in and refrigerators. If you dont know what a walk-in is, stop here and think about your career choice. 30. You know what to do when the health inspector shows up. Hint, it is not to grab a handful of cash! 31. You know who to call if your phone system suddenly stops working. 32. You know how to read the history off an electronic guest room lock. 33. You know how to make a bed as well as your best housekeeper. 34. You know what the ph level should be in your wash rinse. 35. You know how to check the chemicals in you pool and Jacuzzi. 36. You know what the interfaces are for each of your hotel software systems. 37. You know how to get guests online using your wireless internet service. 38. You know the difference between an p&l and a balance sheet. 39. You can run a commercial dishwasher. 40. You know your receivables and payables. 41. You know where your housekeeper buys their supplies. 42. You know local city ordinances as they apply to your property. 43. You can deliver a room service order. 44. You can clean a bathroom to 5 star standards. 45. You can fold a towel like your housekeepers. 46. You know where the water and gas mains are, and how to shut them off. 47. You know each of your guest room types. 48. You have no problem befriending your neighboring business and residents. 49. You can write a well researched and accurate month end report. 50. You know how to calculate flow through. 51. Have a number two person who can answer these questions as well. I task the many boutique hotel companies to ask these questions to gm candidates during the interview process. I know that you will save a lot of time, frustration and lower your turnover rates (higher for general manager positions in boutique hotels). If you are a boutique hotel company I would also ask you to make sure that you do the following for your hotel general managers, ensuring their success and lowering your gm turnover: 1. Dont hire an experience luxury (non-boutique hotel) general manger unless they can answer yes or actually commit to learning the answer to each of the prior 51 questions. 2. Train, train and train your new gms on the property they are going to. Make sure they know everything before you turn them loose. 3. Pay them a fair wage, maybe even a bit more than fair. Boutique hotel companies seem to think they can attract new gms who maybe were a number two at a larger property, convince them that it is cool to be a part of your company and pay them less than the industry standard. This just makes your new gm start listening to those headhunter calls (they call hotel gms a lot!) with offers of much higher salaries back in the comfort zone of a branded hotel. 4. Understand what goes on in the life of a boutique hotel gm. Most boutique hotel corporate staff have never been a gm at a real boutique hotel and have no idea what it is like. Get to know what happens on property. 5. Insist that your gms take time off. It is easy for your gm to get wrapped up in the operation and start working 7 days a week. This will just burn them out. Figure out a way to get them the time with their families they need to stay sane, married etc 6. Dont call them on their day off unless it is an emergency. If you dont know what days your gms are off then shame on you. 7. Dont be double minded. Dont show up one day and berate the gm for the pool deck needing re-surfacing and then two days later come down on them for requesting the funds to make property repairs. 8. Give them realistic budgets, and if you sell a bonus during the interview process, make sure it is realistic. 9. Give them the same perks that gms in large hotel properties get. You can skip the car allowance, but at least offer dry cleaning and travel privileges at your other properties. 10. Talk to them often. Really talk to them, dont talk at them. Listen to what is going on. 11. If you tell them that we are an entrepreneurial company and that gms can make their own decisions and then second guess every decision they make you need to re-think your message. 12. Make sure you give them the ability to hire a strong #2. One of the reasons your gms leave for other companies is because most boutique hotel companies dont give their properties the budgets to have a number two, so they have nobody to take their place if other in-company opportunities come up. This is the old and very tired to move up you have to move out dynamic that kills us in the hotel industry. 13. That takes me to this point—set out to develop bench strength. Have leaders waiting in the wings to take positions as you grow. If you dont you will end up borrowing leaders from each of your properties to open your newest. This leaves your existing properties, already running lean on management with an over worked and stressed out group of leaders and staff. Make this a priority. 14. Thank your gms. This is a no-brainer but a much forgot important task as a hotel company. THANK YOUR GMs. This goes for any hotel company. Your general managers get beat up a lot. By unhappy staff, guests and you. You hit them with constant notes on how to perform better. Make sure to balance the coaching with praise. The point? So what is the point to all of this? The boutique hotel general manager, in my opinion is a completely different job than a general manager at a full service luxury property. But unfortunately the two are muddled together in a basket full of un-attainable expectations. I think that the boutique hotel general manager should have a new title I leave this up to the boutique hotel companies and the creative genius that drives their brands. At the end of the day, a title is really not important, but the expectations are. Make sure you understand your role as a boutique hotel general manager or the role your general managers play at your boutique hotels. Make certain that as you take a job or when hire them, they know what a boutique hotel manager really is. The author, Kurt Bjorkman is the CEO of ver5, a hotel consulting firm based in La Quinta California. Kurt has 20 years of front line hospitality experience in both full service branded and boutique properties. For comments on this article or if you have questions please contact Kurt at kurt@over5consulting.com. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kurt_Bjorkman http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Boutique-Hotel-Manager&id=159118 is it legal to buy phentermine online buy phentermine on line without prescription and overnight shipping buy phentermine mastercard buy phentermine 180

By Janice Wee Christmas is a time of giving and receiving. Even kids would want to get into the picture. Giving gifts to their friends and loved ones. Now what gifts can kids give that do not look tacky? I mean, kids generally do not have much income. It kind of breaks a mom’s heart to see a kid break his or her piggy bank just to buy a gift for someone who might not really appreciate it. A better alternative is to get kids to make something cute to give as gifts to those who matter to them. One thing that comes to mind is a pet rock. Those cute little pebbles with faces, which one could get quite fond of. These are easy to make, and they are practical as well. Pet rocks make great paper weights. Add a secret message below and you have an adorable, personal gift a kid could make, without breaking the bank. All the kid has to do is to collect some smooth pebbles, each around the size of his or her palm. Mom can supply the felt, glue, cardboard and pens. Kids just spend their free time making gifts they can give out on Christmas day. The glue must be able to stick the felt to the stone. To avoid disappointment, test first by sticking a small piece of felt to a stone that you do not want. Stick another small piece of felt on top of it. Let it dry. If the felt pieces stay stuck to each other and to the stone, you are all set to go. How To Make Pebble Pets 1. Wash and clean the pebbles. Let these dry. Take 1 dry pebble to begin with. 2. You need white, black, brown, pink, and red felt, and a light colored felt to write the message. 3. Cut 2 ovals from the white felts to be the white of the pebble’s eyes. Cut 2 smaller circles out of brown, blue or green felt to be the irises of the eye. Cut to even smaller circles out of the black felt to be the pupils of the eye. 4. Glue the 2 white ovals towards the end of the pebble, where the eyes should be. Remember to leave some room for the nose and mouth. Glue the irises to the white of the eyes and the pupils to the irises. 5. Cut out a small triangle out of pink or brown felt to be the nose. Glue it right at the center, beneath the eyes, where the nose should be. 6. Cut out a small crescent out of pink or red felt to be a happy smile. Glue it below the nose, where the mouth should be. Let the pebble pet dry. 7. Cut a piece of light colored felt slightly smaller than the pebble. Write a secret message on the felt. Glue the felt under the pebble with the message facing outwards. That way, whoever gets that pebble can turn it over and read the secret message beneath it. Kids love secret messages. This should appeal to them. Once you and your kid have made the first pebble pet together, your kid should be able to make the rest of the pebble pets he or she can give away on Christmas day. Here is another a tip about Christmas gifts. Every year, you and your kids would get gifts you do not like and spend money on gifts for your loved ones which they do not really like either. Everyone wastes money that way. A smarter way is to be more upfront. Go to What Do You Want For Christmas and search for the things you and your kids really want. Then add what you want to your personal registry by clicking on the pink add to my giftlist button right below the gift. Get that registry to email your choices to those who give you gifts each Christmas and ask them to return the favor by adding what they like to their registry. Everyone gives and gets gifts that will really be appreciated. No money is wasted that way. The writer is the webmaster of Christmas Giftshop which helps you with your Christmas preparations and with gift shopping. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Janice_Wee http://EzineArticles.com/?Christmas-Gifts-Kids-Can-Make&id=62040 purchase xanax without a prescription best place to buy xanax buy xanax online without pres buy xanax