I will outline for you tried and true ways that have helped me in making my vacation and travels whether in the US or abroad less stressful.

Step 1: Make a list of what you will need on your vacation

This is key. When I am getting ready for vacation I always write a list of everything I will need for my trip, including how much clothing I will need toiletries etc.

Step 2: Making Sure You have all tickets, documents etc

Once I book my vacation/trip I make sure that I have all of my travel documents together so I am not scrambling looking for them right before I am supposed to leave for the airport.

If I am traveling abroad, I go to the travel store and buy a passport/document holder that I can carry all my important documents in around my neck. This way I don’t have to wear that unattractive uncomfortable money belt and everything is all in one place. This can also apply to domestic travel but when I am traveling within the United States I carry everything in my purse.

About 4-5 weeks before your trip look at your license for domestic travel and passport for International Travel and make sure you have a valid license/passport.  To obtain a new license you can either renew your license on line at www.dmv.com or for a passport go to your local post office. You can go to www.usps.gov for locations and more information.  In order to travel internationally, your passport must have at least six months till expiration as countries are strict on letting you in with a passport that may be expiring close to your trip or right afterwards.

Next, make several copies of your passport or license and give a copy to at least one family member. I always do this in case my passport is lost or stolen and the same for my license. I then take the other copies and put them in my luggage so if necessary I can go to the DMV or American Embassy to prove my identity and get a new one.

Step 3: For Travels Abroad Purchasing Currency

When I travel abroad I always want to have some of the country’s currency with me in case there is limited access to ATMs my first few days there.
About two to three weeks before I go away, I go to my local American Express office to purchase a few hundred dollars in currency and if the country exchanges them travelers checks as well.

I like traveler’s checks because if they are lost or stolen you do not lose the money and American Express will overnight them or get you to a location where you can get new ones.

In addition, I always carry my debit card and one credit card for emergency purchases.

Step 4: One Week before I leave

The week before I leave is when I start going through my list of clothing, toiletries and start assembling them together.

I go through the list and get together all the clothing I will need for my trip. Once I have that all ready to be packed I check that off my list.

Next, I look and see what toiletries I have and what I need to get. I then make a separate list of items I need to get and go to the local drugstore such as CVS – www.cvs.com or Duane Reade – www.duanereade.com and stock up.

Two key toiletries I bring are toilet paper and hand sanitizer. Depending on the country you are going to, there may or may not be toilet paper and/or soap. So I buy the travel size toilet paper rolls and stick them in my bag when I am away. Next I bring hand sanitizer as most places don’t have soap.

Step 5:  Packing

Three days before my trip or sometimes earlier I begin to pack all of my clothes and toiletries. As I pack each item I check it off my list until my list is complete and I am all packed.

The night before I leave I put together my bag for the airplane which includes a complete change of clothes in case my bag gets misplaced for a day or two, books on where I am traveling too, chargers and adapters for different countries if needed, all documents. I also call the car service or shuttle service to confirm they have my reservation and are picking me up.

For domestic travel I get to the airport about 90 minutes (an hour and a half) before and for International 180 minutes (3 Hours) before to allow myself enough time to check in, go through security, get a bit and get to the gate without rushing.

Step 6: Relax and enjoy the flight and vacation!

Step 1: Medical records – Make photocopies of all your medical records from the past year or so prior to seeing the doctor (or as far back as your illness goes) and put them in chronological order in a binder with clear plastic sheets so that the doctor can easily flip through them. This will certainly get the doctor’s attention as he will appreciate you having saved him the time of having to track down your old medical records, and it will also help in the doctor’s differential diagnosis as he may immediately eliminate certain illnesses based upon your test results, or he may decide to repeat certain tests. Make note that anytime you have any testing done, always ask the doctor who ordered the tests or their nurse for a copy of all your test results and keep them in a safe place! As well, put a tiny red check mark (use a red pen) on the corner of your copy so that you never mix up your copy with any photocopies you may make for future doctors.

Step 2: Presenting Complaints - Along with your medical records, you should put on one or at the most two sheets of paper, your medical history which you should hand to your doctor at the beginning of your appointment along with your medical records. It would be best to type this up if you have access to a computer or typewriter. Put the date of your appointment at the top of the page and then put your full name with a list of your current symptoms (e.g., “Jane Kennedy’s Presenting Complaints”). List your symptoms in bullet points and keep them pithy. Write down anything you notice even if the symptoms may seem unrelated or even embarrassing or else you could be leaving out critical clues as to what is wrong with you.

Step 3: Medical History - Underneath your “Presenting Complaints” you would put “Jane Kennedy’s Medical History”, and then write a few paragraphs in your own words of the history of your illness. Again, keep this pithy.

Step 4: Current Medications and Supplements – Then under your “Medical History” make a list of all the medications you are currently taking (dose and how often) and then another list of all the herbal and/or vitamin supplements you are taking (dose and how often). As well, list any positive effects or side effects you have noticed from any of the medications or supplements you are taking.

Step 5: Do Your Own Research – As you often only have a small window of time with a new doctor, it would help both of you if you did some research of your own before your appointment. Go on the Internet and poke around. You may want to print out and bring with you any journal articles or anything else you find that you feel would be helpful in making a diagnosis.

Step 6: Questions – Make a list of any questions you have for the doctor and hand them to him at the beginning of your appointment. If you wait until the end of the appointment to ask lengthy questions, there may not be enough time for the doctor to address them.

Step 7: Take Notes – Bring a pad and pencil with you to your appointment and take notes while the doctor is speaking. Or, if you are not well enough to do that and are bringing a trusted family member or friend with you to sit in on your appointment, ask them to take notes for you. Write down any recommendations or orders the doctor gives you so that you do not have to call the doctor’s office after your appointment unnecessarily.

Step 8: Payment – When making your appointment, ask the receptionist what form of payment your doctor takes, and whether or not they submit insurance claims for you. If you have insurance, don’t forget to take your insurance card with you!

Step 6: Call ahead – Although many doctors’ offices call ahead to confirm appointments, some do not and others may forget. Therefore, the week of your appointment, call the doctor’s office to confirm your appointment, and make sure they have you down for the correct day and time. Secondly, oftentimes doctors run late and so, on the day of your appointment, you may want to call a few hours ahead of your appointment to see if the doctor is running behind, that way you can avoid undue time sitting in the waiting room. However, especially if you are a new patient, it is still always best to arrive at the doctor’s office at least half an hour before your appointment in case you need to fill out any forms and so you have time to collect yourself before your appointment (read over your questions and your medical history).

Step 7: Be Respectful – You should always be respectful of the doctor’s time and make it a point to show up to your appointment on time or even a little before as I mentioned. If a nurse or secretary fit you in as a favor, be sure to thank them and the doctor as well.

Step 8: Don’t Feel Intimidated – If you are feeling uncomfortable with what a doctor is recommending or how he is treating you, you don’t have to continue with him. You don’t have any obligation to follow his advice or go any further with him as a doctor. If you are feeling unduly rushed or if the doctor doesn’t look over any of the information you brought him, that is a red flag and you should probably seek out other medical advice. Unfortunately, the patient oftentimes needs to be their own best advocate. If you are too ill to think clearly, you should always try to bring a trusted family member or friend with you to your appointment.

So it is up to the consumer to spot mercury on labels for personal and household products – the trick is to know that it won’t simply state MERCURY on the label. Here’s what you need to know:

Step 1. Thimerosal, a mercury-containing organic compound, is found in many personal and household products. Some may recall hearing about Thimerosal being the preservative of choice in vaccines and how many vaccine manufacturers are now reducing or eliminating the use of Thimerosal in their vaccines.
Step 2. Thimerosal is still extensively used in cosmetics, personal products (baby products too!), topical medications, medical injections and skin prick test preparations.
Step 3. Typical personal products that contain Thimerosal: cosmetics such as mascara or cream eye shadow, make-up removers, antiseptics, skin lighteners and cleansers, moisturizers, contact lens cleansers, sprays and solutions, sunscreen, and optic and ophthalmic solutions.
Step 4. Typical household products that contain mercury: fluorescent lights; LCD screens; thermometers; children’s light-up shoes; barometers; old appliances such as microwaves that have mercury vapor bulbs; certain batteries; children’s chemistry sets; electrical switches and relays.
Step 5. What makes it even trickier for you, the consumer, is that Thimerosal is often listed under different names: Thiomersalan; ETHYLMERCURITHIOSALICYLIC ACID SODIUM SALT; Merthiolate; Mercurothiolate; ETHYL (SODIUM O-MERCAPTOBENZOATO) MERCURY; Mercurochrome; [(o-carboxyphenyl)thio] Ethyl mercury sodium salt; Ethyl (2-mercaptobenzoato-S) mercury sodium salt; ELICIDE; ETHYLMERKURITHIOSALICILAN SODNY (CZECH).
Step 6. Mercury is an extremely toxic heavy metal that is an immunosuppressant and a powerful neurotoxin that affects every aspect of brain and nerve function. It is especially dangerous to the developing fetus.
Step 7. You may not connect your symptoms to mercury exposure as exposure to any form of mercury on a repeated basis, or even from a single, very high exposure can lead to the disease of chronic mercury poisoning, making it particularly insidious.
Step 8. Symptoms can become apparent immediately after exposure to mercury or over time, even many years later. One person may have fatigue, another hypothyroidism, asthma or food allergies, or myriad symptoms that are often labeled as fibromyalgia or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, while another may have MS-like symptoms or blood disorders.

For a complete list of mercury-containing items — including consumer, medical, pharmaceutical, electrical, chemical, manufacturing and construction products — see the EPA’s “Table of Products That May Contain Mercury and Recommended Management Options.”

For information on how to properly dispose of any mercury containing products, go to
http://www.epa.gov/mercury/ and click on where it says “Spills, Cleanup and Disposal” at the bottom of the page, or contact your State’s Department of Health for more information on how to handle and dispose of mercury containing products.

Additional Reading:
Diagnosis: Mercury: Money, Politics, and Poison by Jane M. Hightower M.D.
Silver Dental Fillings: The Toxic Timebomb by Sam Ziff
dentistry without mercury by Sam Ziff and Michael F. Ziff

	Swedish, German and Russian History Estonia has been occupied by Russians, Swedes and Germans. Each has left their marks on our landscapes and culture. Rightly or wrongly, they have helped define who the Estonian people are.
	Size Matters The distances are relatively short and travel is cheap, so you can squeeze in plenty of sightseeing and activities in a very short time.
	Medieval Old Town Tallinn Only a fool would try to deny that this is the main reason most people want to visit Estonia – to see the best protected medieval city in Europe.
	Medieval Old Town Tallinn Only a fool would try to deny that this is the main reason most people want to visit Estonia – to see the best protected medieval city in Europe.
	Manor Houses Over the centuries, many luxurious manor houses were built in Estonia. They are open for visitors. Some have been converted to high-class hotels.
	Winter Wonderland In deep winter the Baltic Sea freezes, and many ice roads are created between the mainland and the islands. Driving on the frozen sea is unforgettable.
	Folklore History Estonia is second only to Ireland in Europe when it comes to folkloric history, stories, legends and songs.
	The Estonian Song Festival (In Estonian: Laulupidu): First held in 1869, takes place every five years. In 2009, over 26,000 choral singers gathered to perform for an audience of 80,000 people. It is recognized by UNESCO as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.
	Trails and Islands, Wild Animals Since Estonia is about 50% forest, hiking trails criss-cross the forests, many of which are protected or part of National Parks. Most of the over 1,500 islands are tiny, but the inhabited ones offer beautiful, peaceful and friendly atmospheres. Their traditional culture opens a window on how Estonians used to live. There are not too many countries in the civilized world you could encounter wild bears, wolves, lynx and flying squirrels?
	Castles There are medieval castles not just in Tallinn but throughout the country, restored or in ruins.
	Saunas When it’s snowing take a hot log sauna, beat yourself (or a friend) with a birch branch and then roll around in the snow. It’s fun. Really. The Finns share this practice.
	Beautiful People The Estonian women are known for their blonde beauty and they take care very good care of their appearance.

So, there seems to be lots of reasons to get more information about Estonia from visitestonia.com and go to visit the mysterious Baltic country.

Time and speed are combined to create tribes and related friends who form communities and relationships to collaborate and have fun.

This is the new world of speed and communication. The young generation is sending us a message. Fast, is the way of the world.  Two way conversations dominate the way we learn in the new world.

The writing is on the wall. Change is accelerating. The world is flatter. The authorities and experts are revealing faster and faster how little they know.

We are moving from a command factory learning broadcast style where few are assumed to have great knowledge and others wait to hear and learn from them.

Broadcasters and teachers – who lecture – are losing out to the Web learning, gossiping, two way dialogues and communication.

The more you listen to the experts and authorities, the more you see the limits of their advice and transparency.  New models of communication must be interactive dynamic and spell out the assumptions – showing worse case scenarios.

The best wealth builders are realizing the power of time, speed, the internet and digital communications. You cannot ignore your customers or your other stakeholders. You will suffer the consequences.

To build wealth, you must understand the power of tribes, communities, peer groups, interactivity, speed, time information and the flows of hot money.

In the end, fundamentals will win over manipulation lack of transparency and downright dishonesty.  The more you learn the communication style of the new world, the more opportunity you will have to build sustainable wealth.

Be patient and deliberate. Listen carefully. Do not fall for manipulative rhetoric promies. Do not make decisions based upon the world is going to fall apart. It won’t!

Step 1. *Make a list of the tasks you wish to complete and when*

Determine which tasks you need to complete and the time frame that you wish to complete these tasks. By doing so, you will see what needs to be done and get a “big picture” idea of what your real priorities are and the length of time needed to achieve them.

Step 2. *Rank the tasks in the order of significance*

Find out which tasks are of utmost importance and rank them accordingly from greatest to least significant. Also, be sure to consider the time factor when ranking. For example, if your first tasks needs to be done by tomorrow, while the second tasks is not needed until two days from now, then the first tasks gets a higher ranking on your list. Time sensitivity determines the order of tasks on the list.

Step 3. *Break down each complex task into a series of smaller tasks*

Review the list of tasks and their ranks at this stage and then select the tasks that are a composite of smaller responsibilities. Repeat this for each task. Rank every smaller duty according to time sensitivity and significance. By doing so, each task becomes more manageable.

Step 4. *Factor in the amount of time you have for each task based on your schedule*

Ask yourself how much time per day do you have to complete each of the tasks based on their ranking. Are you more productive and efficient in the morning or do you prefer to complete odds and ends during the afternoon? By knowing your production level and body clock you will be able to determine which tasks are better completed in the morning, afternoon, or evening. This in turn will enable you to complete your tasks with speed and ease.

Just follow these steps and you’ll find that you have efficiently prioritized your to-do list. Remember, life is a process and tasks are an ongoing part of the process. You will need to repeat these steps often on your many to-do lists. Please visit for more great business advice.

Step 1. *Know your business and its market?*

Ask yourself is the product or service going to meet market demands. Often business owners fail to examine this basic question and proceed to put out a good or service that has no buyers. Avoid this mistake by doing preliminary research first and know the market dynamics surrounding your product.

Step 2. *Plan in advance*

Understand what your business will require to succeed. How many hours per day can you devote to the business realistically? If you can answer this question, then you are prepared to handle your business. On the other hand, if you cannot answer this question, you need to consider more planning for your business and for work/life balance.

Step 3. *Spreading the business too thin*

Understand when to refuse an opportunity. Often business owners want to grow their business too rapidly and accept any and every opportunity that arises. However, too much growth to quickly can actually stifle a business if there is insufficient staffing or limited funds available to balance the increased costs of such growth. Know the limits of the business and your own boundaries before blindly accepting any project that comes your way. No business can serve the needs of the entire population. Be selective.

Step 4. *Know the financial dilemmas businesses face*

Maintain insufficient cash reserves while planning for higher than normal sales projections can lead to financial disaster. Many times business owners misappropriate the amount of working capital to cover at least four months of expenditures, such as payroll and taxes. As a result, many businesses fail due to lack of proper financial planning.

Avoid these common mistakes and watch your business prosper. Remember, careful planning and financial projecting can really determine the success of a business. Please visit for more great business advice.

Go to http://www.stepsto.com/home to learn how to start up your business, grow your business, make money and live the life you want! We have advised and evaluated thousands of companies from start-ups to Fortune 500 Companies. Steps To combines this knowledge with 25 years of research on the right steps the Greatest Minds in History took to achieve extraordinary success.

Step 1. *Make employees feel needed*

Schedule a meeting with each employee, if possible, or have a company-wide meeting for all employees, and convey your appreciation for the value that each employee adds to the firm. Outline the value that each job function has and arrange with the human resource department to provide documentation that demonstrates this gratification. When employees feel they are making a contribution, their morale soars and they remain loyal to the company.

Step 2. *Increase trust among employees*

Explain to each employee in detail about the revenue and costs the company has, not just that there is no money for raises and bonuses. When employees see what is really going on and once each employee understands the financial strains then he or she will accept the decisions of managers and gain a sense of trust.

Step 3. *Find out what employees want*

Ask employees directly what non-financial rewards they would like in exchange for bonuses and raises. Find out what makes your employees tick. By doing so, you can implement effective motivational programs create a sense of wanting to remain at the company.

Step 4. *Involve employees in decision-making*

Include your employees in all decision-making processes at the company. By involving your employees, you immediately motivate them by making them feel part of the company. Let your employees brainstorm ideas with upper management and offer suggestions on how to improve product lines and reach untargeted markets. By including everyone, the financial health of the company will improve.

That’s it! By following these simple steps you can develop a sense of loyalty in your employees. Remember, employee sentiments go a long way. Be sure to treat them well.

Please visit for more great business advice.

Go to http://www.stepsto.com/home to learn how to start up your business, grow your business, make money and live the life you want! We have advised and evaluated thousands of companies from start-ups to Fortune 500 Companies. Steps To combines this knowledge with 25 years of research on the right steps the Greatest Minds in History took to achieve extraordinary success.

Step 1. *Choosing a poor quality photograph*

Select a good quality photo when uploading it to LinkedIn. Too often, LinkedIn members do not choose their best photo, but the photograph is the first visual aid that viewers see when the land on a page. Be sure to make your picture as high quality and professional as possible. Be sure not to include a group photo also since LinkedIn is a social network for professionals.

Step 2. *Leaving out information in your profile*

Leaving out information in your profile is a very risky move on LinkedIn. When viewers visit your page they want to know as much about you as possible, especially potential employers. When information is not revealed, visitors wonder what you are hiding by not putting as much information as possible in your profile. Use the marketing opportunity to promote yourself and your talents instead of hiding your history.

Step 3. *Ignoring as many groups as possible*

Join up to the fifty groups allowed by LinkedIn. Too often, many make the mistake of not joining as many groups as offered and as a result do not get the opportunity to market their talents and their professional status. Be sure to join groups that match your professional and personal goals to maximize the benefits of using Linked In.

Step 4. *Selling on LinkedIn*

Selling on LinkedIn is a big mistake that people make. LinkedIn is a social network designed for professional interactions not sales. However, you can slyly promote your goods through recommendations. But do so after you have developed the trust of your network pals. If you try to sell your good or service without such trust, you will destroy your reputation permanently on the site.

Avoid these mistakes and gain the benefits of using LinkedIn. Remember, by being professional and maintaining positive interactions with others, you will be treated in kind. Please visit for more great business advice.

Go to http://www.stepsto.com/home to learn how to start up your business, grow your business, make money and live the life you want! We have advised and evaluated thousands of companies from start-ups to Fortune 500 Companies. Steps To combines this knowledge with 25 years of research on the right steps the Greatest Minds in History took to achieve extraordinary success.

Step 1.

*Select a webinar service provider based on your needs *

A webinar is simply a cost-effective live presentation available through VOIP on the Internet. Each participant sits at a computer and views the presentation or tutorial. By using PowerPoint slide shows or Keynotes on a video or through VOIP technology, webinars can save you the hassle and cost of having to rent a room and spend on travel costs. Find a service provider that meets your particular business needs. For example, if you are using webinars as frequent corporate tutorials and training sessions, then a high-end provider with extensive customer support above phone or online audio and visual facility is needed and can run up to $1100 per month based on the license. On the other hand, if you have a simple presentation for internal staff meetings or to promote your products or services to 1,000 random customers, then a $100 per month provider is suitable.

 Step 2.

* Establish your customer list *

Determine who will be attending the presentation and enter their names on the registration list provided by the service provider. Registered attendants will be required to login in or dial in using the pin number that would be e-mailed to them.

Step 3.

*Upload the presentation.*

Follow the prompts provided by the software application, which would also be in the instruction manual of your webinar service provider, and upload the PowerPoint presentation, Keynote video, or Real live stream video. Be sure you are comfortable maneuvering the pointers and arrow keys to flip between slides or video pauses.

Step 4.

*Engage your customers in live text chats*

Engage your attendees by enabling them to ask questions throughout the presentation. Know that the human mind can only focus for seven minutes in any form of meeting. After that time frame, the mind starts to wonder. By breaking down the entire presentation into digestible units, the audience can understand the main points of the webinar and are better able to stay in tune, especially when they are required to be involved.

Step 5.

*Engage your customers to participate in a survey*

Offer a survey at the end of the webinar so that your audience can ask additional questions and provide feedback about your products or services. Feedback is essential for gaining potential sales leads and understanding the needs of customers. In addition, this tactic of lead generation will generate viable leads for your business.

Keep in mind that the leads generated from the webinar must be contacted quickly. Remember, getting your customer’s attention is one ordeal, but maintaining their interest takes work. Want more informative business advice now? Click here

Go to http://www.stepsto.com/home to learn how to start up your business, grow your business, make money and live the life you want! We have advised and evaluated thousands of companies from start-ups to Fortune 500 Companies. Steps To combines this knowledge with 25 years of research on the right steps the Greatest Minds in History took to achieve extraordinary success.