from yesterday’s USA Today

Texas Gov. Rick Perry has a theory about what caused the recent oil spill that’s still spreading throughout the Gulf of Mexico: It was “an act of God.”  While speaking at the Chamber of Commerce on Monday, Perry argued against further regulation of the oil industry and said that “from time to time there are going to be things that occur that are acts of God that cannot be prevented.“

and reported by Slate on the same day

A new poll from USA Today/Gallup found that 92 percent of Americans believe in a God and 83 percent believe that he answers prayers.

God seems to be on the side of the Insurance companies…perhaps they have better organized prayers.

Calorie restriction can lead to heightened feelings of psychological well-being.

According to the Mayo Clinic story on detox diets:

The best diet is one based on fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean sources of protein and unsaturated fats. Add regular exercise and stress reduction techniques, and you have a solid foundation for good health…

Bon Appetit!

BusinessInsider asked small business leaders and VCs for their top recommendations for books that every entrepreneur should read.

The results ranged from straightforward business books with common-sense startup advice to works of fiction of a more philosophical nature, but they all offer lessons on life and business…

Here are the Top 5 Books for Entrepreneurs:

The Fountainhead, by Ayn Rand
Out of the Crisis, by W. Edwards Deming
Extreme Programming Explained, by Kent Beck
The Four Steps to the Epiphany, by Steven Gary Blank
The 4-Hour Workweek, by Timothy Ferriss

and 10 more…

…that only 45 percent of Americans are satisfied with their jobs—the lowest number since the group began conducting the poll 22 years ago. Researchers suspect the drop may be caused by two factors: workers’ growing disinterest in their jobs (in another record low, only 51 percent of people polled said they found their work interesting), and poor wage growth in comparison to the cost of living.

The report continues, while growing dissatisfaction can be somewhat pegged to the recession, economists say that the trend has been on the rise since the ’80s.

Not happy with your J-O-B? Maybe it’s time to activate Plan B.

Your 12 Point Plan for Personal Success

No one becomes successful by accident. Success requires making a plan and sticking to it. It is simple, but does require commitment; it is not hard to do, but does require hard work. The good news is that once you begin, the results start coming almost instantly. The miracle of successful living is that the smallest step towards success attracts more success! Here is a very brief outline of the key points that will help you achieve the highest levels of success.

1. Look into the nearest mirror – the person staring back at you is the only person responsible for your success. Smile! No one else is the cause of your success or to blame for your short comings. Successful people take full responsibility for their actions.

2. Smile back at your reflection. Successful people are cheerful, optimistic, and forward thinking. If you think you don’t have anything to smile about, smile anyway. Positive thoughts drive out negative thoughts. It’s hard to have a negative thought while you are smiling!

3. Positive self-esteem is the foundation for success. Feel good about yourself and your abilities, achievements and potential. Don’t dwell on your mistakes. Remind and praise yourself on your past accomplishments. Congratulate yourself for taking positive steps toward a more successful future.

4. Believe in yourself. You are here for a purpose. God doesn’t make extras just to fill in the scenery. Find your mission and begin working to fulfill it.

5. Desire to be a success. Decide right now that you will be successful. Commit to being successful.

6. Associate with successful people. Do what they do. When faced with choices, make the choice a successful person would make.
Blow your bonus check on a gambling trip or invest it?

7. Avoid unsuccessful people. Do not under any circumstances associate with negative people. Negative people are toxic; they destroy, they do not build. They are vampires that can live only by draining the life from others. The odds are greater that they will pull you down faster than you can lift them up. You can choose to stay away from all the negative people in your life. Avoid all the whiners, complainers, blamers and thumbsuckers.

8. Do what you are best at, and what you get the most satisfaction from. There is no reason to stay stuck doing things that are frustrating, boring, unhealthy, unproductive, demeaning or unfulfilling.

9. Write down a vision of how you want to live your life. Be specific. Where you want to live, what kind of carpet, who your friends are, the pony’s name, what the new church rec hall you donated looks like, etc. Make a Future Scrapbook; paste in pictures, drawings, essays, clippings. Make up news headlines about your achievements. Every day visualize yourself as you would like to be – and then act that way!

10. Write down your biggest goal, the one you most want to fulfill. Write it in the present tense, “I am…”, “I have…”, “I contribute…”. Success is the result of a personal decision, so start your goal with “I”. Read your goal aloud every morning and night. Tell people your goal. Make a plan to achieve your goal and stick to it.

11. Study the science of success. Read books, listen to tapes, watch videos and positive TV programming. Talk to successful people and ask them how they became successful. Fill your mind with positive thoughts and give yourself positive self-affirmations.

12. Every day do something that brings you closer to your goal. Never give up. You can only fail if you quit trying. Keep on keeping on and you will succeed. Achieving success requires following a system. Begin today by putting these 12 points into daily practice.

Everybody experiences fear of failure, uncertainty, insecurity, low self-esteem, indecision, depression, nervousness and embarrassment. Successful people master these temporary conditions by taking positive action, by sticking to their plan, by maintaining their vision of the future, by learning from setbacks and by rededicating themselves to the pursuit of their mission. By following these simple steps you will become successful and achieve all that you desire.

Best of Success,
Stephan

Lately, I’ve embraced the concept of ‘back burner’
Stuff on the back burner isn’t neglected; they just don’t require so much attention as the crepes I’m trying to make on the front burner!
And if I get bored or antsy (ADD), then I’ll lift a lid or stir something on the back burner
No guilt!
What’s important is commitment to achieving a goal that is congruent with your values.
All the Best!
Stephan

According to Maria Bailey, CEO and founder of BSM Media, Mothers, now more than ever, are using technology like video, blogs and wireless devices to multi-task through their busy days…
A report by Marketing to Moms Coalition details these findings:

• Overall, full-time working moms use technology at the highest rates.
• The cell phone is the technology used most often by moms to communicate with their kids, and 80% say it is the direct line to their child and babysitter.
• 60% of moms use text messaging, and African-American moms and Hispanic moms text more than Caucasian moms.
• At 42%, MySpace is the most common personal networking site used by all moms.
• [Stock Tip!] Best Buy is the leading electronic retailer for moms of all income groups, and particularly moms in high-income households.

The study also found that the most common online activity for wired moms is checking and sending email, reported by 85% of survey respondents.

I was recently on the private forum inside the member-only website, The Internet Marketing VIP Inner Circle, discussing the whole concept of “taking a millionaire to lunch.”

Now on the forum, the process has actually been formalized, and various members are encouraged to set up lunch meetings in various places. It’s already starting to happen and it is showing tremendous potential…

The idea is to get together with one, or a few, successful business people over lunch (or breakfast – my favorite, or dinner) and learn from each other.
You’re going out to eat anyway from time to time, so why not make it a special occassion by inviting one of your favorite millionaires?

Before you convince yourself of how hard this is, there are a lot more millionaires around than you would think. If you haven’t read the book, The Millionaire Next Door, you should. It points out that your local plummer, shop owner, or neighbor may very well be a millionaire… and you just not know it.
After all, it’s a lot more common than you think.

There’s the saying that you income will be determine by the company that you keep. It will very likely be the
average of your 10 closest friends. That’s just because those that you hang out with influence your thinking, and even what you’ll attempt to do.

To think big, and attempt BIG things, you need to be around people who think and act the same.

The “Take A Millionaire To Lunch” meetings organized inside The Internet Marketing VIP Inner Circle site, are restricted to site members. You’d be surprised at who some of the members are though

Check it out and join me for lunch:
http://www.theinternetmarketingvipinnercircle.com

Letting out your belt a couple of notches? Blame the economy. Americans are eating at fast food joints 11% more frequently this year.
According to a recent Experian Simmons study, Midwesterners are most likely to eat at quick service restaurants. McDonalds is the trough of choice nationwide, with Burger King second. The grown up, salad bar of Wendy’s has slipped from third to fifth place, deposed by bread-rich Subway and the ever greasy Taco Bell. Marketing Charts reports upstarts Jamba Juice is squeezing out rivals for 26th place and Panera Bread rises to number 18.
A National Institute of Health (NIH) study says eating at fast-food restaurants more than twice per week is associated with more weight gain and insulin resistance, a risk factor for type 2 diabetes.