Health - Alcohol Debate (Part II)

What Type, How Much, and When?

According to the experts, it doesn't make too much difference whether you
prefer wine, beer, or spirits.

"The research evidence points to ethanol -- or the alcohol component -- of
beer, wine, or spirits as the substance that can help lower cholesterol levels, increase HDL (good cholesterol), and improve insulin sensitivity in overweight individuals," Rimm says.

It's how much you drink that really matters. The U.S. Dietary Guidelines and the American Heart Association define moderate drinking as onedrink for women and two for men per day -- not averaged over the week. (One drink is defined as 5 ounces of wine, 12 ounces of beer, or 1.5 ounces of 80-proof distilled spirits such as vodka.)

When you drink is also important, says Alice Lichtenstein, DrS, a professor at Tufts University. If you do consume alcohol, it's best to have it with meals, she says.

Some studies have suggested that drinking alcohol without eating raises the chance of developing high blood pressure.

Also, "alcohol can stimulate the appetite, so it is better to drink it with food," says Arthur Agatston, MD, a cardiologist and author of the popular book The South Beach Diet. "When alcohol is mixed with food, it can slow the stomach emptying time and potentially decrease the amount of food consumed at the meal."

And what about people who don't drink at all? The experts agree that, though alcohol has some health benefits, it's not a good idea to start drinking if you don't already.

The new U.S. dietary guidelines point out that there are many ways to reduce the risk of chronic diseases besides moderate drinking, including:

• Eating a healthy diet
  
• Exercising
  
• Quitting smoking
  
• Maintaining a healthy weight

Those Extra Calories

Alcohol is fairly high in calories, but provides few essential nutrients.

The benefits of moderate drinking do not outweigh the risks of being overweight, says Theresa Nicklas, DrPh, a member of the dietary guidelines advisory committee. So if you have a drink, you should budget it into what the U.S. dietary guidelines call your "discretionary calories" -- the ones you have left over after you eat all the nutritious foods you need.

The problem, says Nicklas, is that most Americans are sedentary, so their calorie needs are relatively low. For example, someone on an 1,800-calorie eating plan only has 195 discretionary calories per day -- the equivalent of one 9-ounce glass of wine (and that leaves no room for sweets or other treats).

And, of course, when you drink too much alcohol, it's hard to get all the nutrients you need without taking in too many calories. Heavy drinkers who substitute alcohol calories for nutritious foods run the risk of malnutrition.

Another problem, according to National Institutes of Health researcher Rosalind Breslow, PhD, is that "liquid calories from alcohol do not satisfy hunger." She notes that drinks made with high-calorie mixers, like pina coladas and white Russians, can have as many as 400 calories apiece.

The best bet for people who want to enjoy a drink most days is to get more physical activity, Nicklas says. She points out that the benefits of regular physical activity are much greater than those of moderate drinking, and she advises everyone to strive for at least 30 minutes daily.

The Bottom Line

More research remains to be done on the relative risks and benefits of drinking alcohol.

But the bottom line is that to get any health benefits from alcohol, we must drink responsibly. That means having no more than 1-2 drinks per day, having them at mealtime and as part of an overall healthy diet, and making sure you aren't exceeding your calorie needs.

Medically updated July 31, 2006

SOURCES: The New England Journal of Medicine, Jan. 20,
2005. Report of the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee on the Dietary
Guidelines for Americans, 2005. American Heart Association Science
Advisory: Wine and Your Heart, 2001. Archives of Internal Medicine,
2003; 263. Theresa Nicklas, DrPh, professor of pediatrics, Baylor College of
Medicine; member, dietary guidelines advisory committee; Alice Lichtenstein,
DSc, Gershoff Professor, Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts
University. Eric Rimm, DrS, professor of epidemiology and nutrition, Harvard
School of Public Health; Arthur Agatston, MD, FACC, associate professor of
medicine, University of Miami School of Medicine; author, The South Beach
Diet. Rosalind Breslow, PhD, researcher, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse
and Alcoholism. Monica Gourovitch, PhD, senior vice president for scientific
affairs, Distilled Spirits Council. WebMD Feature: Beer, Wine Liquor - The
New Health Drinks?, by Jennifer Warner, published June 14, 2002. WebMD
Medical News: Drinking Too Much Claims 75,000 Lives a Year, by Jennifer
Warner, published Sept. 23, 2004. WebMD Medical News: Moderate Alcohol May
Improve Diabetes, by Salynn Boyles, published June 1, 2004. WebMD Medical
News: Alcohol Without Food Boosts Blood Pressure, by Miranda Hitti,
published Dec. 21, 2004.

Health - Alcohol Debate

When it comes to alcohol, does the good outweigh the bad?


The Alcohol Debate: Should You or Shouldn't You?

By Kathleen Zelman

Reviewed By Louise Chang, MD

Has a daily drink replaced the apple a day as a way to keep
the doctor away?

Scientists have long touted the heart
benefits of drinking small amounts of alcohol. Newer studies have
credited moderate drinking with everything from helping to keep our
minds sharp as we age to lowering our risk of developing diabetes.

In fact, the new U.S. dietary guidelines give many of us
official permission to enjoy one to two drinks daily.

This is great news for folks who follow the French lifestyle
of sipping a glass of wine with dinner, or who enjoy an evening
cocktail. But what about teetotalers -- should they start drinking? Are
there some people who shouldn't drink, under any circumstances? And how
do you balance the health effects of alcohol with its high calorie
count?

Since some 55% of U.S. adults drink alcohol according to the
CDC, it's important to understand how it affects our health. To get
some answers, WebMD talked to experts about alcohol's risks and
benefits and its place in a healthy diet.

Does It Help or Hurt?

Drinking alcohol can be good for your health, but it can also
be harmful. It all depends on how much you drink, your age, and other
factors.

There's no denying that too much alcohol can lead to serious
problems. Excess alcohol can increase your risk of:

• Liver disease


• High blood pressure


• High blood fats (triglycerides)


• Heart failure


• Stroke


• Fetal alcohol syndrome (if you're pregnant)


• Certain cancers


• Injury, violence, and death

And, of course, drinking too much alcohol piles on the
calories, which can lead to obesity and a higher risk for diabetes.

For some segments of the population, alcohol can lead to many
health problems. Those who should not drink include:

• Pregnant and breastfeeding women


• People at risk for certain cancers


• People with family histories of alcohol abuse


• Children and adolescents


• People taking medications that can interact with alcohol


• Those with health conditions such as liver problems or
  ulcers


• Anyone requiring skill or coordination to perform a task


• People who have a history of pancreatitis (inflammation of
  the pancreas)

According to the U.S. Dietary Guidelines, in middle-aged and
older adults, moderate consumption is associated with the lowest
all-cause mortality (that is, the rate of death from all causes). But
in younger adults, alcohol consumption provides little, if any, health
benefits, according to the guidelines. Instead, it's associated with a
higher risk of serious injury or death.

The CDC has reported that excessive drinking causes more than
75,000 deaths from various causes in the U.S. each year. And what
exactly is "excessive"? For men, it's an average of more than two
drinks daily, or more than four drinks at one time, according to the
CDC. For women, it's an average of more than one drink per day or more
than three drinks at one time.

Alcohol's Advantages

Alcohol's effects on the heart -- for both men and women --
are well documented. Studies have shown that moderate drinking can
raise levels of "good cholesterol," which helps prevent harmful blood
clots and helps keep blood flowing smoothly through our bodies,
reducing risks of heart attack and stroke.

In fact, moderate drinking can increase "good cholesterol"
levels by as much as 20%, if it's accompanied by a healthy diet and
regular physical activity, says Harvard researcher Eric Rimm, DrS.

That's similar to the improvement you might see by taking
cholesterol medication or running a half-marathon, Rimm says. (He's
quick to point out that exercise has many other health benefits and
that alcohol should never replace exercise.)

Research has also suggested that moderate drinking can
increase insulin sensitivity, which can reduce the risk of diabetes,
among other things. But the empty calories in alcohol can be a problem,
as there is a link between type 2 diabetes and excess weight.

Rimm, who has reviewed several large studies, has found a
delicate balance between the risks and benefits of alcohol and its
impact on diabetes. However, he says, "there appears to be a reduction
in risk of type 2 diabetes in adults who consume moderate amounts of
alcohol."

Recent research also suggests that women who enjoy a little
alcohol may be more likely to keep their minds sharp as they age.

A study published in The New England Journal of
Medicine in 2005 evaluated the mental abilities of 12,480
women aged 70-81. The researchers found that moderate drinkers had a
23% reduced risk of mental decline compared with nondrinkers.

(Continued in Part II)

Security

The Advantages of Outdoor Security Cameras
By Morgan Hamilton

Do you want to have to constantly keep an eye on your loved ones? Of course not. You would like to enjoy life. I understand your feelings and the truth is that the times we live in are crazy, dangerous and unpredictable. You cannot imagine what I saw on the news few days ago. There was a man who had been hiding under a woman's bed for two days so that he could stalk her. I don't see what else should be said about the matter. I can only add that it is always good and it pays off to be aware of what is going on around you. Sometimes this is related to installing few alarms or spending some money on outdoor security cameras. This is an effective way to know what is going outside and inside your own home. Would you not like to be informed if there was someone lurking around your house?

I have a thing about outdoor security cameras. I cannot help but really loving them. It is true, believe me. I got hooked up a while ago and my brother is to take the blame. He is ex-Special Forces and he is constantly buying all the new security measures available on the market. Of course, I do understand him. After all, he has a wife and three children and he wants to make sure they are safe. Last summer I visited my brother and saw his outdoor security cameras. I simply went nuts over them. They are really fantastic and they are the most advance level of technology. They are turned on all the time and they do a pretty good job observing every angle of his home’s exterior. This is especially useful when you have your kids playing around the house all the time.

Unfortunately, in this weird world you have to watch out that some weirdo would not kidnap or hurt your children while they are playing in your yard. And don't start with the usual lines such as "my neighbourhood is safe" or "this cannot happen to me" as the truth is that it can happen to anyone as no one is safe. Even though I am only 30 years old I had this happen to me twice. You wouldn't suppose but criminals like safe neighbourhoods because no one expects them there. Have you changed your mind about setting up a few outdoor cameras now? Just hop online and check the prices, you will see that you can get few outdoor security cameras for a reasonable price. They also have one great feature which is infrared option.

Furthermore, it takes only a few minutes to install cameras. Do you want to see what the darkness hides? Buying today's advanced outdoor security cameras will give you the answer. With them not only will you keep an eye on your loved ones during the day, but even when the sun has dropped you will be able to watch out any outdoor activity.

Morgan Hamilton offers expert advice and great tips regarding all aspects concerning property. Learn more at Outdoor Security Cameras

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Health

Food for a Healthy Immune System and for Overall Good Health
By Patsy Hamilton

Focusing on food for a healthy immune system can increase overall good health and nutrition. Foods that build your immune system are rich in vitamins, minerals, trace elements and omega-3 fatty acids. Including these foods in your weekly diet can improve your energy levels and decrease the number of colds and other bugs that you get every year.

Some people rely on daily multi-vitamins and dietary supplements, instead of food for a healthy immune system and good supplements are always a good idea. It is not always possible to eat the right foods in the right combination every day. For instance, you may think of oranges or orange juice when you think of foods that build your immune system, but oranges are not the only foods that contain Vitamin C. And if you don’t have enough calcium and magnesium in your diet, then your cells cannot efficiently absorb Vitamin C. Complicating things further, if you drink a glass of orange juice and a glass of milk, then the acidic content of the juice can sour the milk, leading to stomach upset.

People who have frequent heartburn or are lactose intolerant may not be able to include either orange juice or milk in their diets. Citrus fruits are highly acidic and trigger heartburn in many people. Regular milk causes bloating, pain, gas and diarrhea in people who are lactose intolerant. So, what is a person to do?

Crabmeat, lobster and oysters are all rich in calcium, magnesium and vitamin C. Salmon is an important food for a healthy immune system and is often referred to as a “super food” by dieticians and nutritionists, because it contains numerous vitamins and minerals, plus a healthy amount of omega-3 fatty acids, believed to be beneficial in preventing heart disease, cancer and arthritis. Broccoli, tomatoes, peaches and apples are good sources of Vitamin C and are all foods that build your immune system. Broccoli is another food that contains numerous vitamins and minerals, including Vitamin C, calcium, magnesium and selenium. Not familiar with selenium?

Selenium is an essential trace mineral that may not be included in your daily multi-vitamin, but very important to human health. It is essential to proper immune system function, as well as numerous metabolic pathways. Remember chicken soup? Chicken is another good source of selenium and is one of the foods that build your immune system strength.

Like mushrooms? Researchers studying foods that build immune system strength by increasing white blood cell counts learned that shitake mushrooms worked. The study concluded that beta glucans found in edible mushrooms increased white blood cell counts. White blood cells are primary infection fighters. Don’t like mushrooms? Beta glucans are biologically active compounds found in numerous plant foods and some immune system dietary supplements.

So, in order to include some of the best foods that build your immune system in your weekly diet, eat salmon, tuna and/or seafood three or four times a week, chicken three or four times a week, a variety of fruits and vegetables including broccoli and mushrooms, whenever possible. Relying on food for a healthy immune system may not be enough, depending on where you live or work. A daily multi-vitamin can help and there are immune system supplements that contain beta glucans, herbs and other ingredients that can also help, particularly during cold and flu season. To learn more about food for a healthy immune system and supplements that can boost your immune system, visit www.immune-system-booster-guide.com.

Patsy Hamilton has been a healthcare professional for more than twenty years and currently writes informational articles for the Immune System Booster Guide. Read more at http://www.immune-system-booster-guide.com.

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Destiny

Pursue Your Dreams
By Carol Janssen

Follow Your Dreams -- We see that a lot: on greeting cards, on jewelry, on bumper stickers. Are our dreams as illusive as they seem to be? How can we be more in control over how we make our dreams come true?

When I think of Follow Your Dreams, it feels like something passive that I do… that I will sit back and wait for my dreams to lead me somewhere, and let someone or something else do all the work. I want to be more involved with reaching my dreams. How can I do that? By being proactive, by being active, by actually doing something about them. Why not pursue my dreams instead of letting them lead me – to follow?

To follow is a passive verb and to pursue is an active verb. I want to be actively involved in the realization of my dreams. I know that I can’t be passive and wait for my dreams to happen to me. I need to be in the driver’s seat… to take control, to pay attention, to be actively in pursuit of my dreams. How do I do that?

Make a plan. Nothing happens without a plan. Even if it’s not our own plan, it’s the plan of someone else, or it’s God’s plan. I know that if I sit down and actually write down my dreams, they become goals. After all, goals are simply dreams with a time frame. And once articulated, then my dreams are much closer to becoming a reality than if I’m passive and simply wish for them to come true.

Be bold. Take action. If I’m actively involved in the culmination of my dreams, then my life will be much more exciting, more fulfilled, and a lot more fun. After all, life is not a dress rehearsal. Life is what happens when we’re making plans. All the clichés and all the wishes will not come true unless I actually do something.

Don’t wait for life to happen to you. Dream big, dream often, and Pursue Your Dreams!

Carol Janssen has been a Life Coach since 2000. She is also an accomplished public speaker. Her workshops and retreats are focused on foundational life work, including spiritual growth, reconnecting with core values, living in the public eye, creating a fulfilled life, and many other topics. Carol’s training with the Coaches Training Institute has provided her with a solid basis for working co-actively with her clients and with groups. As a leader, Carol believes that many people have untapped potential, which can be liberated by working with her through obstacles that can be overcome through compassion, listening, and accountability. For more information about Carol and her coaching business, Metamorphosis Coaching, go to www.caroljanssen.com now.

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Skills

How To Speed Read
By Kit Asselin

We live in the age of information, and we must read extensively if we want to be successful in our studies, or careers. Schools and colleges have discovered that courses in reading skills give enormous aid to students struggling under the heavier loads of today's scholastic programs. Young men and women trained in Modern Reading show distinct advantages over those who lack this kind of preparation.

In recent years millions of Americans have learned that it is not enough just to read more. Under today's information pressures you must read faster and read better. Many new speed reading techniques have been developed recently that have produced dramatic results in faster reading times, and are training people to read in a better more intelligent way. It is the purpose of this article about Modem Reading to discuss how we can all do just that.

These new speed reading techniques teach you how to read faster, and still comprehend what you are reading, which is an essential skill in today's fast moving environment. If reading has seemed difficult before, speed reading will show you how to make it almost effortless. You will learn the skills by which rapid readers gain their speed, and how to gain speed yourself. As you read faster you will also read better, and comprehend more.

You will find your reading skills increasing from the very start, and with serious application, you will soon be speed reading with ease.

You need to learn the skills necessary to take advantage of the two greatest time savers associated with speed reading; the technique of pre-reading, and skimming documents effectively. Poor reading habits will not go away by themselves, but with a little effort on your part, speed reading can guide you down the path of better and more enjoyable reading.

The skills developed when you learn to speed read are designed to overcome handicaps which keep most untrained readers from the pleasures of stretching their knowledge, and help you move ahead to achieve the rewards of better reading.

Ken Asselin is webmaster for the Buds Best Buys series of Shopping, Information Guides, and Travel websites. How To Speed Read

http://www.speedread.budsbestbuys.com

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Time Management

Increase Your Productivity, Enhance Your Relationships, and Decrease Your Stress: Quit Multi-Tasking
By Sabrina Schleicher, Ph.D.

Many of us feel plagued by “busy-ness” in our day to day lives, running from one activity and project to the other. Often we feel short on time. It is tempting to buy into the notion that if we multi-task, we can be more efficient and get more accomplished. With technology, such as blackberries, cell phones, and laptop computers, there are temptations all around us to do “electronic multi-tasking.” Maybe you respond to emails while you are on the phone. Or, perhaps you make out your "To Do" list while you are in meetings. It is easy to believe that multi-tasking increases your productivity. This is a myth! Multi-tasking actually is detrimental to your productivity. It interferes with your ability to communicate effectively with others and it increases your stress level.

You may believe multi-tasking allows you to get a lot done in a shorter period of time. This is not the case. Multi-tasking actually detracts from your ability to focus on the task in front of you. When you attempt to do two or more tasks at one time, you are more prone to oversights and mistakes, which of course, take additional time to correct. Studies also have demonstrated that switching focus from one task to the next and back again costs valuable time as we have to take time to re-orient ourselves to the task at hand.

Recent studies completed by Dr. Glenn Wilson at the University of London demonstrate how electronic multi-tasking detracts from our intellectual capacity. Distractions from responding to incoming emails, text messages, and phone calls were found to cause a temporary 10-point drop in IQ. A 10-point drop in IQ is enough to lower someone of high average intelligence into the average range of intellectual functioning. It also is the equivalent to the “brain fog” you would experience if you were to miss an entire night of sleep. A 10-point drop in IQ is more than double the drop in IQ experienced from smoking marijuana. This is a huge drop in intellectual capacity. Electronic multi-tasking interferes with your concentration, not to mention your ability to solve problems and think creatively. Why would you want to do that to yourself?

Most of us have had the experience of talking with someone who interrupts the conversation to take a call on their cell phone. What does this say to you about that person’s interest in the conversation you two were having? When we interrupt meetings or conversations to take calls from others, we are sending a clear nonverbal message—what the person in front of you is saying is not as important as the person on the call. Not only is this disrespectful to the individuals with whom you are talking, it also disrupts the flow of conversation. You may be short-circuiting the expression of important information or ideas. Similarly, responding to text messages during meetings or doing work on your laptop increases the likelihood you will miss important information, or miss an opportunity to contribute valuable input. It says to your supervisors and colleagues that you do not value what they have to say.

Multi-tasking with technology also increases your stress level. The sense of being available at anytime to your customers and colleagues detracts from your ability to relax and enjoy downtime, not to mention that you are taking away quality of attention from your family members and friends. We all need downtime without interruption from work.

Breaking the habit of electronic multi-tasking may be difficult. However, over time, you will reap the rewards of increased productivity, improved business and personal relationships, and an overall increase in your well-being.

Here are some short-term solutions to reduce electronic multi-tasking:

*Set aside a certain period of time each day to respond to e-mail and return phone calls. Make sure the time you are setting aside is not a time when you are at your peak with respect to creativity and problem-solving.

*Turn off the email alert on your computer so you are not tempted to open email each time a new message appears.

*Use the do-not-disturb feature on your phone when you are working on an important project. If you are concerned you will miss an important business call, plan to check your messages at 45-intervals. Most things can wait that long.

*Do not take phone calls or respond to text messages when meeting with others. Send a nonverbal message to the person with whom you are talking that at that very moment they have your full attention—your full attention is a precious gift to another human being and it always is appreciated!

Would you like to experience more success and have more time for what truly matters to you? As your coach, I will assist you to develop effective, personalized strategies to achieve the success and lifestyle you envision for yourself. Contact me at http://www.tapthepotential.com/signup.html to schedule your complimentary coaching session.

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Career

How to Organize a Job Search
By Shannon Columbo

When you are looking for a job, it is very important to be organized. You want to present a professional attitude, and be prepared and knowledgeable. Following these easy steps will make sure that you get you a job quickly and easily.

Find openings in companies that interest you. Research the position available, as well as the company itself.

Write your resume. Tailor your objective statement, summary, and experience points to meet the job that you need.

Print off your resumes, being sure to have multiple copies. Try using sticky notes to keep track of what resume you want to go where.

Write your cover letters. Use keywords from the job descriptions (just like in the resume). Demonstrate your familiarity with the companies.

Attach the appropriate resume to the appropriate cover letters.

Place your resumes and cover letters in a folder. You want them to be crisp and clean when you hand them out.

Go to hand your resume in. Dress professionally. Plan to arrive at a convenient time for the company.

Ask to speak to the manager, or human resources. Give them your resume and smile.

Keep a list of all of the places that you handed your resume in. Make sure you know the dates that you handed your resume in.

Two business days after you have handed your resume in, call the company back to stress how interested you are in the job.

Other things you can do while you are looking for a job:

You can post your resume to online resume banks.

You can submit your resume to companies electronically.

If you submit electronic resumes, make sure your resume is formatted in such a way that it will transfer easily.

Remember to be just as professional over email: no emoticons or internet abbreviations please!

You can fill in online applications for jobs.

You can apply to temp agencies for work.

You can take a job that might not be ideal for the interim.

Where should I look for a job?

There are many places to look for a job. Try your local newspaper, and online job banks. If you have a job that you would really like to do, ask at the company to see what positions they have available. Remember, it doesn’t hurt to drop off a resume even if you are told there are no openings. Oftentimes your resume will be filed, and perhaps at a later date they will call you.

After the Resume Stage

After you have given out all of your resumes and made some follow-up phone calls, you are bound to have an interview. After the interview, remember that a follow-up is also very important.

If you don’t have any phone calls for interviews, consider the reasons. You might need to retailor you resume and get it out to more stores. Don’t be discouraged, you’re sure to find a job with a little effort and a little skill.

Shannon Columbo is the editor of The Guide to Resumes. For expert advice on how to get ahead in today’s job market, check out the Guide to Resumes. You can improve your resume, hone your cover letter, ace the interview, and get your dream job!

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Entrepreneurship

Seven Characteristics Of A True Entrepreneur
By Brenda W Hargroves

The words creative and visionary immediately come to mind when you think of an artist. What words do you associate with an entrepreneur? Business owners are a special breed. They possess distinct characteristics that enable them to take that leap into the unknown. Starting and managing a business requires a great deal of faith and perseverance. Entrepreneurship is generally connected with the following personality traits:

Confident – Business ownership requires a high level of confidence. You must feel certain that your business is going to achieve success and allow you to reach your goals. You must understand that obstacles will occur that require the creation of a Plan B or even C. All along the way you must be convinced that what you are trying to achieve is worth the effort.

Driven – When my sister first referred to me as 'driven' I immediately panicked. I pictured a wild-haired crazy woman with weird looking eyes. She then explained her observation. She wasn't saying I was obsessed, but rather ambitious, motivated and determined to make my business a success. I felt better the next time someone used this word to describe me.

A business owner is single-minded in the pursuit of a goal to implement, manage and/or expand a venture. This is generally the entrepreneur's major life focus and most of his activities are somehow tied to this effort.

Knowledgeable – Knowledge of trends in your industry, as well as general business savvy are essential. Trade information provides first hand data concerning what is happening in your particular business and offers insight into your competitor's news as well. Knowing these details helps to keep you ahead of the game.

Following current events is particularly beneficial, especially news items that are of concern to or affect your clientele. This knowledge allows you to broaden discussions with your clients regarding topics other than your services. These conversations demonstrate that you are interested in and care about your clients.

Consistent – People are comfortable with and come to expect consistency. Make every attempt to do what you say you are going to do when you say you are going to do it. Gaining the reputation of being unreliable can be a major contributor to the downfall of your business. The usefulness of and need for your product will not matter if clients lose faith in how you interact with them. On the other hand, your business will flourish if you build relationships with a foundation based on continued dependability.

Flexible – This is the one characteristic that cannot be emphasized enough. Many people choose entrepreneurship because they want to be in command of how the business operates. Situations are going to occur that you will not have control over. A large or small issue may cause you to have to rethink a business practice. You are going to have to adjust and be willing to make changes as circumstances require.

Patient – It is a popular theory that it takes a minimum investment of three to five years before a business begins to show signs of success. Patience becomes the operative word.
How many people do you know who are willing to wait a minimum of three to five years for desired results? And the truth is that not only does your business' overall success require this endurance, every aspect of your life along the way also demands similar tolerance. Marketing efforts will not provide positive results overnight. It will most likely be a while before you are in the position to pay yourself a competitive salary. If you are serious about growing your business, the bonus of leisure time will not present itself immediately So much requires patience. You alone decide your endurance level for gratification. Be aware that it will not be instant gratification.

Philanthropic – Most entrepreneurs receive assistance in various forms as their businesses mature. Therefore, they recognize the value of giving back to the communities they serve. Just as someone helped them along the way, they, in turn, pay it forward. Also, since performing philanthropic deeds can be another form of developing relationships, it is possible that you may secure business because of your efforts.

While other descriptive words are appropriate, those listed above capture many of the desired characteristics of a true entrepreneur. How do you measure up? Do these characteristics describe you? Are you a true entrepreneur?

Written by Brenda Weathers Hargroves, small business coach and author – Brenda's consulting firm, Business At Hand, is located in Lutz, Florida. Her mission is to share successful methods for implementing and operating a small business or social entrepreneurship venture. She offers individual/group entrepreneurship coaching sessions, small business workshops/seminars and encourages book signings.

To contact Brenda for assistance call (813) 962-8918 or send an email to businessathand1@hotmail.com. To purchase her book, The Heart and Soul of Entrepreneurship, or for more information about her services visit her website at http://www.businessathand.biz

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