Merry Christmas to all! May you cherish every moment with family and friends this holiday season. Give the gift that keeps on giving... LOVE... the love of Christ. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.

May the Christ of Christmas give you LOVE, JOY, HOPE, & PEACE!

Three Secrets to Making a Great First Impression

All of us have heard this caveat: “You never get a second chance to make a good first impression.”  It takes just a quick glance, a few seconds, for someone to evaluate you and form an opinion. Right or wrong, with each new encounter, you are evaluated and another opinion of you is formed. An impression that is virtually impossible to change making it ever so important to always have your best self on display. The course and the quality of your social and professional relationships depend on it.

You may be wondering how do you do it; how do you ensure that you are putting your best foot forward at all times? When meeting new people a couple of things are obvious like, be on time and dress appropriately.  So I won’t spend a lot of time on these topics.  However; I don’t want to give the impression that they are not extremely important.  Being on time is the first and the simplest way to leave a good lasting impression. It says that you are thoughtful, you value others and their time, and you took the initiative to plan for the unexpected. And of course, physical appearance matters.  It is the first picture or clue to who you are.  So without saying a word you have spoken a thousand words! A good rule of thumb is to always be neat and clean and dress for the occasion and when in doubt, dress up instead of down. Appropriate dressing and grooming help you feel “the part” thus helping you feel more calm and confident.

This brings me to what I believe are the three greatest secrets to making a positive first impression when meeting new people.

1.     Make a game plan! This is particularly important before attending any big event like conferences, networking events, or parties. A canned elevator speech is a must for your social life and your professional life. In thirty seconds or less, you should be able to tell someone who you are, what you do and why you do it, and how it benefits them.  Your elevator speech in a nut shell sums up who you are and what you are about. You will alleviate a lot of awkward moments if you know your elevator speech as well as you know your name.  Whether attending a special event or about your daily routine, before leaving home think about your objective. What do you want to accomplish? What kind of people do you want to meet? What type of interactions do you want to have?  Knowing these things ahead of time will help you be more grounded, focused, and relaxed.

2.    Be confident! If you adhere to the first secret, this one will be a piece of cake. Being prepared is half the battle. And being prepared keeps you from feeling uncomfortable or on edge which helps the other person feel at ease, thus further sealing the good impression you want to make. When it comes to confidence, your body language says it all. It is a crucial part of making a great first impression. Everything from your posture to how you carry yourself to how you angle your body counts. Use your body language to project appropriate confidence and self-assurance. Stand tall, smile, make eye contact, and greet with a firm handshake.

3.    Be interested and interesting! Perhaps the greatest way to make a positive first impression is to demonstrate immediately that you are more interested in listening than being heard. Be genuine in your interest and concentrate on getting the other person to talk about himself. If possible, find a connection.  Be sure to give positive verbal and nonverbal clues. For instance, you may make eye contact with a slight smile and using their name, say something like “that’s interesting, tell me more.” And afterwards follow up with a great question or comment or perhaps share something interesting of your own.

Again, you never get a second chance to make a first impression. So make it count! It takes only 30 seconds for a person to form an opinion of you. Those brief moments define how you treat others or how you are treated by others. With so much at stake in such a short period of time, you owe it to yourself to master these three secrets to making a great first impression.  When you do, you will find yourself with an abundance of opportunities for jobs, friendships, networking and sales.  Not only will you make a positive and lasting impression, but you will have fun while doing it.  And your first time acquaintances will be eager to see you again.

   

Revolution in Health & Fitness

Do you really want to get in shape, improve your health and image? But going to the gym seems a little intimidating or overwhelming! Perhaps you have tried doing it on your own but not seeing the results you desire.   Do you feel like you just need a little help? Someone to just explain or demonstrate various exercises to produce optimal results in the areas that concern you most. You are not alone!

Although you may have previously been an athlete, or in an out of the gym most of your life, sometimes you just can't seem to find the courage or motivation to return. You may seek other forms of  exercise through group activities but even that may be to no avail. Sometimes You just don't feel like being with the crowd. It's not that you lack the commitment or determination. When you have tried everything and nothing seems to work, what do you do? Change your approach!   

Would a customized personal work out and nutrition plan help? What if you could follow this plan with the help of a certified personal trainer right from the comfort and convenience of your home? Well I have good news. I believe I have found the answer to so many prayers. 

Yes, now you can work out in the comfort and privacy of your home on your time with a live certified trainer via the internet. You can have live instruction. Unlike using popular videos, you can ask questions, be sure that your form is correct, and know that the program you are doing is designed specifically for you and your work out goals. This revolutionizes the Health and Fitness Industry. Check out the message and programs below provided by Marvin Dixie of Power U Health & Fitness.

Hi this is Marvin Dixie of Power U Health & Fitness, I have had many people contact me regarding information on exercise and nutrition. Many have commented that they wished we lived closer so we could work together. Well, I have a solution; the answer is on the way. I am now offering the following program options listed below for those that would like to train with me through way of the internet. Things are still in the developmental stages, but we are ready to get started and we will tweak things along the way. I am working on the website to include the discussion forum. Please pass this information on to others who may benefit from such program options. I would love to help them!

Coaching $50/month for a 4 month minimum in advance

• Access to a NEW Workout every month for Coaching members (Video Demo)
•  Access to Nutritional Information and coaching accountability
• Access to Expert discussion Forum
• Get questions answered by experts
• Bi-Weekly articles from experts (Me, Fitness Experts, Registered Dieticians, MDs) 
• Fitness Calculators (calories, BMI, Body Fat)
• MyFitnessPal
• Evaluation Tracking Log

Customized Workout & Customized Nutritional Coaching $150

• Video Demo of customized persoanlized workout
• Suggested Meal Plan
•  Fitness Calculators
• Evaluation Tracking Log

Customized Workout ONLY $100

• Video Demo of Customized Workout
• Fitness Calculators
•  Evaluation Tracking Log

 Customized Nutritional Coaching ONLY $100

•  Customized Meal Plan
• Fitness Calculators
• Evaluation Tracking Log

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For more information please call Marvin Dixie at 704-439-6317

Employee Volunteer Programs... A WIN, WIN, WIN!

How Can Your Business Support Character Counts! Week?

This week is Character Counts! Week, an annual celebration of good character in our communities. Schools, youth organizations, civic groups, and businesses alike are celebrating good character and the importance of teaching basic ethical values to youth. Today I want to focus on the impact a business can make by embracing the concept of corporate social responsibility, maintaining the health and well-being
of the communities in which they do business . A concept that has existed more than half a century.

How great would it be to create a WIN, WIN, WIN situation for your business, employees, and the community in which you serve? Well you can do just that; and it is quite simple. An Employee Volunteer Program is the answer! It is the blend of corporate social responsibility and good business practice. Described below are the WIN, WIN, WIN benefits of such programs as suggested from the Joseph & Edna Josephson Institute of Ethics — (Founder of Character Counts! Week).

WIN, WIN, WIN Benefits of Employee Volunteer Programs !

Benefits to Communities
• Creates healthier communities by improving the overall quality of life
• Helps address/solve vital social problems
• Generates a renewed spirit of citizenship and civic pride
• Provides new talent and ideas to meet community needs
• Increases the level and quality of community services
• Opens lines of communication among various segments of the community
• Strengthens the local economy

Benefits to Employees
• Strengthens employees’ organizational, leadership, communications, financial management, and
decision-making skills
• Encourages teamwork
• Enables employees to develop new skills
• Creates a better quality of life where employees live and work
• Reduces stress and increases morale
• Expands networking within the company
• Increases employee awareness of and interest in community issues
• Generates an increased sense of patriotism, citizenship, and civic pride

Benefits to Companies
• Bolsters image as a “Good Corporate Citizen” and builds goodwill toward the company
• Increases employee morale, loyalty, and productivity
• Creates team-building opportunities
• Improves communications and relations between management and the workforce
• Showcases the company as a good place to work (“Employer of Choice”)
• Enhances/increases employee recruitment and retention
• Creates ways to implement or address strategic business goals and objectives
• Promotes awareness about the company in the community

Character Counts! Week ... The Biggest Celebration of Character in the World!

Yesterday kicked off the celebration of  National CHARACTER COUNTS! Week. More than 4 million young people in over 50 countries are expected to celebrate during October 21-27. The premise of Character Counts Week is to have fun, but the message is to strive for good character at all times in every situation.

The celebration of Character Counts was established by The Joseph & Edna Josephson Institute of Ethics — a nonprofit and nonpartisan teaching organization based in Los Angeles, California. According to the Josephson Institute, many of the country’s leading educational and youth-serving institutions belong to the Coalition, including the YMCA, 4-H, Little League, Boys & Girls Clubs, the NEA and the National Association of Secondary School Principals. 

Every year, the U.S. President, U.S. Senate, state governors, and officials around the world proclaim the third week in October CHARACTER COUNTS! Week. Last year 8 million kids in 60 countries participated. No matter what your political or religious affiliation, this event is about the universal values we share.

 CHARACTER COUNTS! Week is an annual celebration of good character and the importance of teaching basic ethical values to youth in our communities, schools, youth organizations, and businesses. “Character education programs work. Currently, there are character education programs across all 50 States in rural, urban and suburban areas at every grade level. Schools across the country that have adopted strong character education programs report better student performance, fewer discipline problems, and increased student involvement within the community.”
— Sen. Chris Dodd, announcing a bipartisan resolution proclaiming National CC! Week 2009. 

This week is a great time to celebrate good character in your community, school, and business help galvanize citizens around their most important year-round task: teaching young people the Six Pillars of Character (trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and citizenship). This week Image Savvy Consultants will do just that by sharing practical, fun, and life impacting ideas with you. It is our goal make it effortless for you to place an emphasis on character development of the young people and others in your life.  We have included some suggestions from the Josephson Institute below for Seven Days of Character for Adults & Daily Character Ideas for Kids.

Seven Days of Character for Adults

Sunday... Food for Thought
More local foodbanks are experiencing a crisis as they have more people in need and fewer supplies to distribute. Find out how you can lend a hand, either by volunteering a couple of hours, or donating some 
needed food. 

Monday... Caring Coupons
Get out your scissors and start clipping coupons that care. You don’t have to get money off to get a buzz –
sometimes it’s enough to read a feel-good story online or in the press and keep them on file to refer to when 
the news is just too much. You can also give them to friends for inspiration when they’re feeling down.

Tuesday... Recycle, Reuse, Reduce
Good citizenship includes being environmentally aware, and recycling makes cents! Find out where your local recycling depot is and raise some money for a local charity by recycling your bottles and cans. You’ll be doing your part for the planet and your community. 

Wednesday... Share the Load
So it might not be your actual JOB to return the shopping cart to the store, but how about taking a little time to share these tasks? Perhaps your supermarket no longer employs people to collect carts, or maybe your local diner waitress would appreciate it if you wiped up the crumbs from the table you ate at, or you could leave that hotel room just a little bit tidier before you check out. 

Thursday... Invite a 360-Degree Appraisal
Want to really show you’re trying to be better? Invite your coworkers to give you an annual review based on the values of the Six Pillars of Character.   

Friday... Be Patient With Bad Manners 
That includes your own! Bite your tongue, tone it down, and take deep breaths. Everyone gets frazzled in today’s demanding society, but try to stay calm and be polite all day. Treat others as if they were ladies and gentlemen – not because they are, but because you are.

Saturday... Help From Home
Finding time in a busy week to volunteer can be tough, but what if you could do it from the comfort of your own home? Help From Home is a site that lets you do just that. Visit them to learn how you can help without even changing out of your PJs. 

Daily Character Ideas for Kids

Self-reflection Sunday
We all know the Six Pillars of Character (trustworthiness, respect, repsonsibility, fairness, caring, and citizenship, of course!), so why not take time to reflect on your performance in each of the six areas? Could you be doing better? Write down one thing you’d like to improve for each Pillar and keep good character going all year! 

Make Peace Monday
World peace starts with you! Have you fallen out with someone over the last year? Could you take responsibility for making the world a more peaceful place, even if it wasn’t your fault in the first place, and make up with that person? You could write a note, call, or text. You’ll be contributing to a more peaceful world. Show politicians how it’s done!

Take the Road Less Traveled Tuesday
It’s always easier to show respect to others when everyone else is doing it, but what about taking a stand on your own? Tough stuff, but you can start a revolution and brighten someone’s day by showing them you are on their side, even if the bullies aren’t. Hold out your hand to help someone up, help them with the stuff they dropped, or give some other small gesture to show you aren’t a bully bystander.

Wish Upon a Star Wednesday
Who’s your favorite star? Wouldn’t it be great if they showed their support for you in your quest for good character? Why not write and tell them what you’re doing to show that character counts? Write to your  favorite star and ask them to support good character, too.

Thanksgiving Thursday
Don’t wait until November to show thanks! Make today the day you remember your p’s and q’s and take time to let someone who helped you out know how much it meant. Be thankful all day!

Find Out Friday
Is there a pressing issue in your community? Find out how you can get involved and help make things better for everyone. Research the issue and groups that are taking action on it to find out what you can do. 

Show Your Support Saturday
Why not get out and support your local team? Sticking by people through good and bad times can be hard, but loyalty is a big part of good character. If you have a local team, or you know someone taking part in a challenge this weekend, show them they can lean on you.

Abs Are Made in the Kitchen Not the Gym?

It may sound strange, but yes it's true, abs are made in the kitchen not the gym. As the old saying goes abs are 30% gym and 70% diet. This was a new discovery for me this week. 

I just shared an article a couple of weeks ago which defined the benefits of a strong core. In that article we learned that almost every motion in our bodies originates in or travels through our core and therefor core training should be at the center of all of our fitness programs. The article even provided an exercise video demonstration of how to build a strong core. However one important piece was missing, and that is the part that diet plays in building a strong core.

Everyone has abdominal muscles. In some people they are hidden by fat. Nutrition plays a huge role in the composition of your body. It is important to feed it right! Stick to as natural as possible, lots of fruits and vegetables, single ingredient, wholesome foods with little to no processing or preservatives.  A diet like this will melt belly fat and allow your abs to be seen. Of course, you should supplement proper diet with exercise to tone the abdominal muscles and to help your body continue to burn fat even while you are at rest.

It is as simple as that but sometimes even simple needs to be broken down and Marvin Dixie of Power U Health and Fitness has done just that. In a recent video he explains how to effectively get rid of belly fat, reduce your waistline, and reveal the six pack you already have. He explains how proper nutrition and the proper types of exercise work together to build muscle mass, ramp up metabolism, and burn body fat. I have included that video (30% Gym 70 % Diet) along with the Six Pack Abs Secret Revealed video that I shared in the previous article. Together these videos will put you well on your way to getting the body you deserve. 

As I stated before taking care of your body is a major part of the image you project; and no, it is not all about the physical appearance. More importantly it is about health and lifestyle. And when you look and feel good, you are naturally more confident. You are more likely to pursue your goals and dreams and that is what it is all about, being your best self!  

Great Social Skills Can Help Ease Back to School First Day Jitters

 It's school time again! Your kids may be feeling excited and maybe a little sad that summer is over. They may even feel nervous or a little scared on the first day of school because of all the new things: new teachers, new friends, and maybe even a new school. You can help ease the first day jitters by ensuring that your child is well equipped with great social skills. Here are some tips that may help you give your kids a strong start.


                                                                                                

~Teach your child to share with others

~Teach your child to wait their turn 

~Teach your child not to interrupt when others are speaking 

~Teach your child the importance of being honest 

~Teach your child the proper forms of address for their teachers (Miss, Mr., Mrs.)

~Teach your child how to accept others with disabilities

~Teach your child to show respect to others and practice kindness by using words like please, thank you, you're welcome and excuse me

~Don't forget to praise your child when they show good manners

Just like we as adults have to prepare our minds and body to return to work after a great vacation, kids have to prepare mentally and physically to go back to school. I have included a couple of short videos below that may help you prepare your kids to go back to school. The first one is great in helping your child develop a great morning routine and the second is an excellent refresher on how to behave.