Any superficial motivation that presents outside of you will be fleeting at best and offer very little or no long term, enduring inspiration at all. For motivation or inspiration to offer you any long term value, it must either help you to answer the question; “Why is this important to me” or help you to reinforce your already well-established vision of what you want in your future.  

It must:

1) Help you ignite your inner power

2) Help you to either create or drive your crystal clear vision of the future.

3) Inspire you to take action.

The success of your daily actions, is not dependant on the individual actions themselves, but rather on your deep rooted motive why taking those actions daily is important to you. The long term sustainable outcomes that you are able to achieve, will be achieved out of your desire to express something from within yourself, a deep rooted desire to solve a challenge or to build a future that you have developed as a crystal clear vision. Discovering this deep rooted desire within yourself about why taking action day after day, even during the challenging times is important, will allow you to unlock a hidden drive to succeed that you have never seen before. The success you desire and the vision of the future you want to see in your life will begin to magically unfold before you.

All human greatness must be commissioned from within, no one can ever motivate or inspire you, unless you have a crystal clear vision of how you want things to turn out and you are compelled from within to make that vision real in your future. It is almost as if you are living a magnificent obsession, a deep rooted desire to achieve something of meaning and value to you, that is so compelling that no obstacle or challenge will slow you down for a moment longer than necessary to explore it and discover how to use it to your advantage.

This magnificent obsession is about who you want to become, never about the title on the door or the hollow and unfulfilling reward of money. It is a drive, a mind-set, to keep striving and moving in the direction of the success you have envisioned in your mind’s eye. This vision you have and deep rooted desire to achieve it, are so compelling and unique to you that nothing can stop you. It is the fire that burns in your belly, which relentlessly inspires and drives you to take action day after day, to keep moving in the direction of the vision you have, about your future and why this is important to you.

Stop chasing after the trappings of success, fame, fortune and wealth and discover your unique concept of what success means to you, this is uniquely yours, like your fingerprint or handwriting and then find out why that vision is really important to you and you will have discovered an unstoppable fire that will burn from within. Nothing will be able to stop you as you wake up every day driven to succeed.  Personalise your passion and vision and you will have found the key to unlock your unlimited power from within.

http://www.andrewhorton.co.za
Read more: http://www.articlesbase.com/self-help-articles/know-why-you-want-to-achieve-something-and-nothing-can-stop-you-5331593.html#ixzz1bgkroVz5

Outsourced product development has transformed over the last few years. It is no longer a method just to cut costs. Companies today are looking forward to leverage the global talent to create better and successful products. This, however, does not change the fact that many offshore ventures are still failing to realize any of their long term objectives.

There are quite a few reasons behind such outsourced product development failures. However one that I think is primary is the lack of foresight of the offshore team. Today, when products are outmoded quickly, time to market and intuitive UI are the keys to the success of a product. In such a scenario companies naturally expect their product developers to understand and act accordingly.

But to meet these expectations, your product development team needs to know more about the product users. The product development team needs to know your vision and goals. Set up a dedicated offshore team which you can trust and share your product roadmap with. By opting for the Build Operate Transfer model of outsourcing you can mitigate the risks of loss of intellectual property which is the major hurdle when you really want to share your product ideas.
With this unique business model, you get a team that

You can trust. You can share knowledge freely when it is your own offshore team.
Takes complete ownership of the product. When your team knows about your business function and the impact that their work might have on it, there is an improvement in the quality of output. They work towards a better product, not your acceptance.
Retained domain Knowledge. You share the domain knowledge only once since you have the option to transfer the team to your own subsidiary. You don’t need to hire a new team who has to re-learn the product.

Apart from setting up a dedicated team for you, Build Operate Transfer model also has the following the advantages:

Hire your own team of experts: You can hire the team as per your own requirements. Set up an outsourced product development team who are excited about the domain and the technology that you work on.

Requires Lesser Capital Investment: You save costs otherwise spent on infrastructure. You save capital investment since you also do not require country managers or support staff for a Build Operate Transfer model. With a Senior Manager overseeing the overall product development, you don’t need to spend on management overload.

Gives total Management Control:You have complete visibility of the progress. You decide the quality of your deliverables. You have the flexibility in managing your own projects. Communicate with every member of your team so that they are all on the same page about the expectations from the product and not only the upcoming release.

Do What It Takes To Stay Turned-On About Life

by Michael D. Hume, M.S.

The summer heat is upon us all here in the Northern Hemisphere, and as the mercury rose to approach a record-high the other day outside my Colorado home office, I decided to find a way to beat the heat.

Since I own a business of my own, I’m blessed to be able to take a few hours off when I want to do so. And since my home office is located just a few short minutes from the high Rocky Mountains, I’m also blessed to be able to get myself to a cooler location with speed and ease.

I can’t say my days lack inspiration, but as I’ve often told my coaching clients, your personal inspiration is something you should constantly nourish and refresh. So while I tossed my golf clubs into the truck and headed toward the mountains, I knew I’d be looking for a way to combine relaxation with inspiration. After all, if you aren’t inspired yourself, you can never be an inspirational leader for others.

In the local phone listings, I’d found a little-known nine-hole golf course in a nearby high mountain town. Just the ticket. A quick call confirmed that I wouldn’t have any trouble getting onto the course, so off I went.

About ninety minutes later, when I arrived, I could see why any fears that I’d be stuck behind slow groups on a crowded course were unfounded. I was the course’s only customer at the time of my arrival.

The course was not the worst I’d ever played – that distinction goes to a nine-hole par three track in (of all places) the golf-friendly state of North Carolina. But my new find in the Rockies, as far as courses go, was probably the second worst. The tee-boxes were weedy, the fairways largely ignored by any groundskeepers, and the greens alternately shaggy and dried-out. My game was OK, but I quickly realized that the adventure was not to be about the golf.

Instead, I realized that the course’s location was its best feature, and it was a strong asset. The track’s nine crummy golf holes were nestled high against the stunning Sangre de Cristo Mountains, and I spent more time just drinking in the view (and enjoying the cool breezes) than playing golf. And by the time I finished my game, I was thoroughly refreshed. Even the drive back down to town, through winding bighorn canyons and lush mountain meadows, was a treat.

The golf lark was a great way to renew my personal inspiration. What would work for you?

Times are tough, and you might often find it difficult to renew your optimism and inspiration. You might be “too busy,” at least as you see your work and your hectic life. But don’t let your personal inspiration fall from the top of your priority list. It’s not a “nice-to-have.” Personal inspiration, in times that challenge us all, is a must-have ingredient to your life of health, wealth, and happiness.

There are quite a few students every year who make the decision to go to college in another country. Studying in another country has numerous advantages. Out of all of the countries that a student can opt to study in, most choose to study in UK. There are many reasons why a student will decide to do their studying in London rather than in a different country. London has a lot to offer students from other countries.

Regardless if a student has decided to study in UK or a different country, they need to know what to look for in a college. Looking at what type of student accommodations the universities offer are a good idea for any student. It is important to know whether or not the school has housing for students or if the students are required to secure their own housing off campus. A future student should also ask to speak with current students of the university. By speaking with the current students, a future student has the ability to understand what student life is like at the school from an insider’s perspective.

Before a student can travel to London, they have to know a couple of things. A student needs to apply for a visa application. This process can vary depending on the country that the student is a citizen of. A student that has decided to study in UK will need to have a valid visa before they are able to study at a London university. A student needs to contact the proper office that handles visa applications in their particular country.

After the student has secured their visa, they need to make their travel arrangements. A student that has decided to study in UK will find that moving to London is different than visiting London. If the student is travelling from a country that is far away, it is a good idea for the student to make their travel arrangements months in advance. A student needs to make travel arrangements for their personal items as well. Depending on how far away the student is travelling from, they may opt to purchase new items once they get to the school.

Managing finances can be difficult for a student that has made the decision to study in UK. Just like any other college student, a student in London will have to be extremely frugal with their money. A student can do several things to save money. Instead of buying their textbooks new, they can opt to borrow them from a friend who has already taken the same class. There are also websites that allow students to rent textbooks for a semester. Using public transportation instead of having their own vehicle is another thing a student can do to cut down on their expenses. If public transportation is not an option, another idea is to carpool with friends and classmates when running errands. A student can save a lot of money by being creative with their frugality.

And while this might deter many would be investors, building a house in London would be a good piece of business.
Below are the steps you should follow when putting up a house in the world’s most expensive real estate market.
Step one: start by making a budget plan. In order to do this, you would need to know what type of house you intend to build and its dimensions in terms of size, and number of rooms. In the same breath, decide on the architectural design, the interior decor, the landscaping and the finishing.
Step two: After completing the budget, the next step is to choose the location. If you are new in London or if you are not so familiar with the locations, you would be better off consulting London builders for advice on what type of house one would be suitable for your chosen location. Once the location is found put in consideration the environmental balance and the rules and views of the community around the location.
Step three: looking for a contractor should come next. The contractor would be able to assist in the design work in order to come up with a good blue print that fits the budget. Look for a building company London that specializes in your kind of project and has an excellent portfolio with many satisfied previous customers. Once you are completely satisfied with the firm, you will need to sign a contract between you and the company that will protect you.
Step four: after the design work is complete, the next step is to take the plan work done by the building services London, to the city council in order to acquire a building permit. This may need you to pay a small fee to process the paper work and acquire the permit. The building permit is acquired within a period of four working days.
Remember that the whole process might not be as simple as outlined above as you would have to get permission from different government bodies and meet a number of legal legislations and therefore you would need to be well prepared for this.

Read more: http://www.articlesbase.com/construction-articles/4-steps-to-own-a-house-in-london-5109986.html#ixzz1Ui4lIV7W
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution No Derivatives

Advantages of Goal Setting
Goal setting helps us verify our priorities, get organized, build massive choices, and realize our dreams. The act of just setting a goal brings regarding positive modification for many people. Once you set a goal you’re making an exciting challenge for yourself. Almost all motivational consultants incorporate goal setting as an vital half of their programs. The effectiveness of Goal Setting will be seen in the unbelievable accomplishments of folks like: Henry Ford who wanted to form cars cheap for everybody, Bill Gates whose goal was to possess a pc in each household, and John F. Kennedy who embarked on to put a person on the moon among a decade. There’s a famous story concerning Jim Carrey who, whereas struggling as an actor in 1987, drove his car up on Mulholland Drive in the Hollywood hills to consider the future. Whereas sitting there overlooking town of Los Angeles he wrote a check made out to himself for “acting services rendered” in the number of $10 million. He dated the check for Thanksgiving of 1995. Jim’s Goal turned out to be conservative as a result of by the point 1995 rolled around he was creating $twenty million a movie.

The objective of MyGoalManager.com is to direct the user through the entire Goal process from definition to achievement. This Goal Achievement process entails the subsequent needs:

Well fashioned Goal Statements

Breaking goals down into manageable Steps

Motivation and Commitment

Reminders and Keeping on the right track

Frequent Review and Re-assessment

1. Well shaped Goal Statements

The Goal Statement forms the premise for the complete process therefore careful attention should be placed on formulating a clear and accurate goal statement. A good approach to remember how a goal statement ought to be defined is the recent S.M.A.R.T. acronym employed by several experts in goal setting. SMART stands for:

Specific

Measurable

Action-Oriented

Realistic

Tangible

The Goal should be specific enough thus that we grasp specifically what we are striving for, measurable thus we have a tendency to apprehend precisely what is to be accomplished and when it’s been reached, action-oriented declaring positive activity that will turn out results, realistic in that it is practical and can be achieved given the limited availability of resources, and tangible that means concrete and not vague. The goal statement “Increase sales twenty five% by the tip of the fiscal year without increasing advertising spending” is an example that follows these rules.

2. Breaking down Goals into manageable Steps

Once we have a well-shaped Goal Statement we need some direction to follow to achieve this Goal. While the goal “Increase sales 25% by the end of the fiscal year while not increasing advertising spending” could be a nice goal statement, this is a monumental task while not being attenuated into smaller detailed steps. The creation of Goal Steps provides us an “Action Plan” that when completed will cause Goal Achievement. Steps additionally allow for tracking of progress towards the goal. Goal Steps ought to be positive and not used to list obstacles that has to be overcome which focuses on the negative. Negativity can kill motivation but there is power in positive thinking.

3. Motivation and Commitment

Motivation and commitment are what build us attempt to achievement. They give us the push, desire, and resolve to complete all of the other steps in the Goal process. This motivation will be obtained by developing a personal statement that makes a high level of emotion and energy that guarantees achievement. One self help skilled said that as a child he was kicked out of his local country club pool because he wasn’t a member, in response he later created a goal that he would at some point have a pool that is one foot bigger than that country club’s pool. The motivation of being asked to go away the pool provided the mandatory fuel for him to realize this goal. Commitment creates more accountability and is what sets us on direct course to reach our goals. It might produce expensive negative consequences upon failure to realize a goal. Making a commitment might be one thing like having invested your savings in your new business that you may lose if it fails. Motivation and commitment are specific to your state of affairs and life and only you can type statements that will ensure you reach your goal the quickest. The a lot of personal you create your motivation and commitment statements for every goal, the a lot of motivated you may be to accomplish your goal.

4. Reminders and Keeping on Track

Reaching our goals needs persistence and regular attention. We have a tendency to need some sort of system to stay us reminded and accountable. MyGoalManager.com uses a combination reminder emails, calendars, and reports to keep users organized and on track. Sharing goals with others who will give you facilitate and support could be a highly effective approach to extend your chances for success. If some accountability system is not used then we are probably to lose sight and fail.

5. Frequent Review and Re-assessment

When we first sit down and start to define goals it will seem sort of a tough and daunting task however over time it begins to urge much easier. Patience is required. Goal Setting is unquestionably an ongoing process that’s accomplished over time. Any goals program that defines goals and then ignores them will fail. All goals due in the following year should be reviewed at least once per week and daily if possible. The nice factor about frequent review is that this forces us to make big decisions and verify priorities in our life. We ought to keep look forward to goals that are not being achieved on time or for goals on which we tend to keep extending the deadline.

1. Shake hands after the interviewer has offered theirs to you. This implies deference. The handshake says so much about you.. after shaking hands with Ed Milliband one long term Labour supporter decreeed ‘he won’t be Leader next year’. It’s that important.. so practice.
2. Smile while you shake and make eye contact, just think of something really lovely and that will bring a smile to your eyes even if you are terrified.
3. Sit up straight, with your back against the seat (unless this means your feet dangle). This can be hard if you are tall as you won’t want to dominate them but better that than a slouching, lounging.
4. Practice taking your coat off, if you have not already had a cahnce to do that. Mke sure you can slip off a coat or jacket and don’t need to wrestle with it.
5. Sit still, allowing your foot to tap will betray anxiety, shuffling around in the chair can make you appear as if you lack self awareness and self control. Slouching can make you look too casual or even worse slovenly. It’s OK to lean forward to emphasise a point.
6. Put your hands in your lap if there is no table and on the table if there is. Use them for emphasis but avoid windmilling in an exaggeration fashion. No pointing! (appears aggressive) No arm crossing. No hands in pockets.
7. Cross your legs once, at the calves, not across the knees, crossing them across the thigh looks arrogant and at the ankles looks prissy and tucking them under the chair looks like you have something to hide.
8. If you need to shut the door, do it without turning your back on the panel, and then sit down without turning away, whilst smiling.. difficult but charismatic!
9. Engage with all the panel, look them all in the eye, not just the one who is asking the questions.
10. Look pleasant even if the question is a stinker, beware of eye rolling, frowning, pulling back to indicate dislike.
11. Keep your behaviour neutral not sexual, no flicking your hair, pursing your lips, licking your lips, tilting your head, holding eye contact too long…. You know how it works!

Read more: http://www.articlesbase.com/interviews-articles/10-things-to-do-with-your-body-in-an-important-meeting-4957036.html#ixzz1R82h8R

WordPress makes life easy when it comes to establishing a presence on the web popularized as the leading blog platform, WordPress as an application is expanding its own horizons and is a popular ecommerce platform in its own right.

As it is so simple to establishing a WordPress site, everyone is doing it, and everyone is making the same mistakes make sure you are someone and look at what you are doing with your WordPress site and see if you need to change some things around.

The Rookie Basics

There are two things which mark a WordPress site out as a rookie – firstly, make sure you use a login name which is associated with your site identity, i.e. not your own name! Secondly, change the default name for posting articles to the name of whoever you want associated with writing them and not admin. If you are the poster to the WordPress site, using your own name helps you gain more exposure but more importantly, it personalizes the site itself.

Create a Blogroll

Using a blogroll will help generate some link backs to your own site as well as providing a launch pad for your own traffics to navigate off to instead of simply drifting away from your website.

A blogroll can be created within WordPress by navigating Blogroll > Categories Link and completing the dialog box for the site you wish to to include on your blogroll. Complete for as many sites as you wish to include but try not to go mad, a lengthy blogroll is simply not helpful for users.

If you include a site on your blogroll, let that site webmaster know you have done so and ask for a reciprocal link.

Use Categories

The default for WordPress is Uncategorized, which looks like you don’t care about the posts and is also very bad for your Search Engine Optimization (SEO). You can create categories for your posts, which looks more professional or you can simply change the category title from Uncategorized to something else, such as Good Stuff to Know or whatever takes your fancy. Simply navigate over to Manage . Categories and following the dialog box instructions for renaming Uncategorized to something more meaningful.

Create a Meaningful Link Structure

When you post on WordPress, you will be able to create additional interest and goodwill at the same time by including good links. If you are working on a topic, it helps to use hyperlinks to reference people and sites within your content. This provides further information for readers and allows you to generate internal links to other pages of your site or to other websites you control. If you are linking to other sites, then you can ask them for a reciprocal link back to your site. Either way you are creating a more mature looking website newbie sites tend to have very little if any internal or external links.

By following and applying these three simple tips, you will transform your WordPress site from an everyone-style effort into a professional looking site which delivers more value for your traffic and is likely to be used far more.

Read more: http://www.articlesbase.com/internet-articles/the-beginners-guide-to-not-looking-like-a-wordpress-beginner-4970563.html#ixzz1Ql8dNr3

Are You Thinking About Starting A Home Based Business?

By: Eric Laundrie

Are you thinking about starting a home based business? With the economy being the way it is, more and more people are either thinking about starting their own business or have already started one.

We hear the same news almost every week.  One company after another announces layoffs of hundreds of employees at a time and many of us wonder if the day will come when our job will be included in the next headline.  After years of working with the same company, being comfortable in our positions and having a sense of security, you could have all of that taken away in an instant in this current economy.

Perhaps you’ve already gone through this reality and received a pink slip.  You’re trying to make ends meet while collecting unemployment and applying to every job opportunity that crosses your path.

Is Now the Time to Start a Home Based Business?

There are people who think that given the present state of the economy it may be the wrong time to start a business.  Actually, now is the perfect time!

If you’re currently unemployed, why not spend your time researching an online home based business opportunity?  You can focus your efforts on taking control of your financial future by running your own business from home.  If you are working and unhappy with your job, you can research some opportunities that peak your interest and start on a part-time basis while you build your business.

What are the Advantages?

The advantages of starting a home based business are plentiful. You get to decide what type of business you want to have, how many hours you want to work, the times you want to work and determine the outcome you want to achieve. You are your own boss and you only have to answer to your customers.  Working from home requires minimal overhead costs, which means you get to keep more of the profits.

Do You Have What it Takes to be an Entrepreneur?

Are you willing to put in just as much work in your business as you do for your boss?  You may be required to work long hours for your employer and often times are limited in your pay.  Just think about all of your hard work being put towards your own business and the unlimited earning potential available for your efforts.

Are you ready to market your business?  In order to sell your product or service, the public has to know about it.

Do you care about your customers?  Without them, you have no business.  Providing excellent customer service is vital for remaining a successful entrepreneur.

What are the Best Kinds of Businesses to Start?

Online home based opportunities offer the most benefits because of their flexibility and broad customer reach.  Working online means that you have the freedom to work from anywhere from your computer at any time of day or night.  You can offer products and/or services to potentially thousands of people on the Internet.

Why leave your future to chance?  If you’re thinking about starting a home based business, now is the time to do your homework and choose the opportunity that aligns with the career path you desire.

About the Author

Do you want to earn your living online? You need a proven model, education, and a supportive community. To catch up with the rapidly changing community, starting a home based business is just a click away. http://www.ericlaundrie.com

Tandy Sinclair is a seasoned traveler from South Africa to many destinations abroad from  Australia to Italy.  She’s compiled some tips that many of us don’t think to consider.

Tips for Successful Travel

Well, you have decided you want to go on an overseas trip! It is so exciting, and daunting all at the same time. These tips might be obvious to the seasoned traveller, but to those travelling for the first time, I hope that you find something useful in them.

I do not profess to be a ‘professional traveller’.  I have however travelled far and wide and if at all possible at least once a year.

The obvious – decide where you want to go. Once you have chosen the country of your destination, read up about the customs and culture of the country. Even if you are going to use a travel agent, they will not tell you the small details. For instance:

• I was in Dubai during Ramadan – eating and drinking is forbidden by everyone during the hours of Ramadan, in any public place.
• In rural France, everything closes at lunch time, except for the big chain stores, and in larger cities, the restaurants.

After you have decided where you are going, you need to decide when. If your leave is flexible, check the weather conditions for when you travel. It is not fun to be a visitor in hurricane season, or the depth of winter.

Booking tickets

Now, time to book your tickets. The internet is not always the cheapest option, and if you need connecting flights it may be a bit daunting. I always use the internet, but my sister uses a travel agent. Remember, however that if you need connecting flights and you do not use one carrier but choose to do the segments yourself you will have a serious problem if you miss a connecting flight. If you book with one carrier, all the way through, then the carrier will take responsibility if one of your flights is delayed or cancelled.

Travel Insurance

If you book and pay for your tickets with your credit card you will automatically get travel insurance.  If you use air miles to get a ticket you might not be covered by travel insurance. Once your ticket is booked, contact the company that covers your travel insurance and get the documents you need from them. If you are going to need a Visa then you will need an Embassy letter from the insurance company.

Visa requirements

Download the forms you need for the Visa and see what supporting documentation you need to go with the application.  Keep all the documents in the correct order to make it easy for the person who grants your Visa. Each country has different requirements but you will need to have certain documents:

• A letter from your company stating you have leave and you are returning to work
• A copy of your itinerary
• Confirmed accommodation booking or a letter from the person you are visiting inviting you to stay with the dates and motivation
• Air tickets booked
• Proof that you have the necessary funds available
• Recent ID photographs
• Your passport must be valid for a period of at least 6 months after your return date

Booking a hotel in a country you do not know can seem quite a task.  Do not go for the cheapest option. Make sure you know the area in which the hotel is – you would not like to be in the middle of Brixton in London! Three stars is a good indication. As a guideline you would need to look at spending €80 per night in Europe for bed and breakfast for 2 people.

Car Hire or Public Transport

If you are not going to hire a car make sure public transport is within comfortable walking distance of your hotel. Also, in some cities you may not be allowed to take your suitcases on public transport. Suitcases need to be easy to walk with. I personally recommend the Microlite range from Cellini.  We travel a lot, so the expense has been well worth it. If you are not planning on doing much travelling get something that is an equivalent.

Luggage considerations

In economy class, you are allowed only 23kg per person check in luggage. This is to allow for the weight of the suitcase, so the heavier it is empty, the less you can pack.  Each piece of luggage is allowed to be a maximum of 32kg for health and safety reasons. This is for all classes. If you fly economy class you may only have one piece of check in luggage per person. Invest in lots of Ziploc bags for all your liquids. It is not fun to arrive somewhere to discover your shampoo has leaked all over your clothes.

Your hand luggage can only weigh 7kg and I would suggest you get something that can slip over the handle of your check in luggage to make it easy for when you have to walk places.  In economy class you may take one piece of hand luggage per person, including your handbag.  I pack a pillow for the plane as well as a change of underwear. At least this way if our suitcases do get lost, we can feel like humans when we go shopping.

Medication considerations

If you are on any medication take it with you on the plane – even if you don’t need it during the flight. Also ensure that you have a letter from your doctor, or a script for all the medications you have with you. In Australia and Singapore they are extremely sticky about this.

On flight forms

You may have to complete forms on the plane before you land as to where you are staying. Take a pen with you on the flight, and have the details copied down, as you cannot turn on your cell phone to get phone numbers etc. In Australia you cannot turn on your phone until you have cleared customs.

Securing your luggage

As soon as you take your suitcase off the conveyer, check that all locks are still on and that it has not been tampered with. I use cable ties for the locks I am keeping closed the entire trip – bright pink for me. Get coloured ones from any hardware store – but not black or white, as these are the colours the airlines use.  If your suitcase has been tampered with, call a customs official straight away. I have had this happen to me in Australia and the customs officials were more than willing to take charge of the situation. If your suitcase has been damaged, report it to the airline immediately, making a note of what is missing. Remember, things can be added to your case as easily as they can be taken out!

Travel money

The best form of currency to use when overseas is your credit card. However, you will need cash for certain transactions. Get your currency before you leave and make sure you have some easy to get to at the airport. We work on €100 a day for all our expenses.

At the airport you should be able to get good visitors information. If you are making use of public transport try and get a pass for the amount of days you are in the city. We have permanent cards for London transport, and have made use of week long passes in all other cities. This gives you access to all transport for one flat fee.

Eating with the locals

Try to not eat at places where the menu’s are also in Chinese – this means they are tourist places. If in Italy and you find a menu only in Italian, you can be assured this is where the locals eat. The food is usually much better, and the waiters are professionals, so they will help you, even if you don’t speak the language. We have had some of our best meals in restaurants where the staff spoke very little to no English what so ever.

Market Shopping and duty free

The same goes for market shopping – shop where the locals shop and you are guaranteed to get the best produce, and pay the best prices. However, if it is perfume you are looking for; get it at duty free on the way out of the country, unless you find an amazing special at a perfume shop. You can check the prices at duty free in South Africa for a guideline as to what you should be paying.

Alcohol is not always cheaper overseas. We take with our maximum quota of wine and usually bring back some local product. Remember to pack it in bubble wrap and in a Ziploc bag – and place the wine in the middle of your suitcase – with clothes above and below.

Tandy’s Tips

Tandy Sinclair is an alternative health and wellness consultant, Reiki practitioner and an avid supporter of organic health and beauty products.

Ask Tandy: Feel free to submit questions to editor@secrets2success.co.za