Mirror, Mirror on the Wall: Instead of waking up every morning and weighing yourself, forget the scale. Walk to the mirror, avoid the daily mine for imperfections, look into your eyes, and recite your praises: “I am beautiful, inside and out. I am strong, capable and intelligent.” Lift yourself up every day, and eventually, you won’t care how many dimples cling to your thighs.

Captain, My Captain: Enroll in a Women’s Studies Course. Discourse on topics that affect women is ongoing, so be apprised of academic studies that demonstrate how history, society, and laws affect the rights of women. Being informed provides you with effective tools necessary to combat misogyny and stereotypes. Why not start now? Ms. Magazine provides its own  Guide to Women’s Studies site.

Follow the Leader: Appropriate the regimen of successful women like Venus Williams or Danica Patrick. Take notes on what motivates them to succeed in male-dominated fields. Aside from passion, they pushed hard and came through as champions. Find your leader, learn her secrets, and apply them to your own personal and professional endeavors.

Do You Jiu-Jitsu?: Forget cardio-kickboxing and Zumba classes. For competence, confidence and strength, take self-defense classes that will physically empower you. For starters, Jiu-Jitsu trains you to fight on the ground, and Krav Maga concentrates on instinctive movements that focus on winning the battle with any attacker, no matter his size.

Bring It: Playing sports contributes to physical and mental well-being, teaches competition, enhances leadership skills, and generates positive energy that makes us feel happy and fulfilled. Challenge, compete, and train your brain and body by participating in volleyball, baseball, and lacrosse teams at your local YMCA. Or enter and run in a marathon. Whatever you do, play to win.

Don’t Believe the Hype: Resist gender stereotypes by taking on chores like mowing, edging and leaf-blowing, cleaning the gutters, fixing broken appliances and other tasks usually left to men. Enroll in a car mechanics course offered by your local College and learn how to change the oil and tires in your own vehicle. Car maintenance is a skill that everyone should possess.

Blog Power: Start a blog called “365 Days of Empowerment,” in which you post daily on acts of strength, power, your 2012 resolutions, and your abilities as an empowered woman. Measure your successes and pitfalls with acquiring new skills, resisting stereotypes, and redefining your power. Chronicle your passage towards a stronger, more confident, powerful you.

Marina DelVecchio is a writer and College Instructor on writing, research, and literary analysis. She is a contributing writer/book reviewer of feminist texts for Her Circle Ezine, and her work has been published at WE Magazine for Women, More.com, The New Agenda, the WM Parenting Connection, and the Huffington Post. Her article on violence against women will be published in Viewpoints, a college anthology in February 2012.

WE Magazine is delighted to announce our newest AWARD – The Top 100 Who’s Who Among Women in Ecommerce™ for 2012!

Imagine being in a room full of 100 of the top women doing business on the web! And being able to chat with them and find out what makes them tick (or click), why they do what they do, and do it so well, they are considered role models in their industry. Well, maybe you will never get the chance to meet each one of these face to face, but you can connect with them in a way that only a few short years ago we could not. Via the vastness, unending universe known as the internet. In fact you can have access to any of these women with the simple click of a mouse!

You can reach out to Charly Leetham in Australia, Linda Pereira in Portugal, Daisy Wright in Canada, Debbie O’Connor in the UK, Gisele Rufer in Switzerland and several women across the United States.

There are 100 Women in Ecommerce™ who represent their industries and professions as artists, astrologers, authors, internet marketers, photographers, coaches, consultants, manufacturers, clothing designers, inventors, event planners, personal trainers and everything in between.

Some of the women have been in business for more than 20 years and others as few as two years. And what does each of these women have in common? They all promote their products and services on the Internet. Successfully.

According to Susan Ward of About.com, “Ecommerce (or e-commerce) is the art and science of selling products and/or services over the Internet.”

And art and science it is! You have to be a creative person to get people to pay attention to you online and you have to balance that with the science of self-promotion or hire experts to do it for you.

In all, we have gathered 100 women who WE believe truly represent doing business on the WEB.

They are (drum roll please): 

Nan Akasha, Betty Audish, Walethia Aquil, Wendy Y. Bailey, Ruthi Backenroth, Leesa Barnes, Melanie Benson Strick, Cathy Berger, Stacy Blackman, Toby Bloomberg, Ali Brown , Holly Buchanan, Karla Brandau, Rosana Santos Calambichis, Anita Campbell, Heidi Caswell, Stephanie Chandler, Claudette Chenevert, Shannon Cherry, Lorraine Cohen, Myriam Cohen, Danna Crawford, Louise Crooks, Debra J. “Debbie” Cunningham, Baeth Davis, Faith M. Davis, Nicole Dean, Elena del Valle, Marla Dennis, Jody DeVere, Yvonne DiVita, Sally Falkow, Andrea Feinberg, Dale Filhaber, Kelli Fox, Stacy Francis, Rosalind Gardner, Sabrina Gibson, Eva Gregory, Christine Guld, Donna Gunter, Penny Haynes, Sandee Hemphill, Jessica Herrin, Rebecca Herwick, Angie Hicks, Linda Hollander, Kyra Howell, Mary Clare Hunt, Kristina Jaramillo, Marilyn Jenett, Nancy Juetten, Lorrie Kazan, Simone Kelly, Jessica Kizorek, Donna Kozik, Lisa Ann Krutzik, Charly Leetham, Diane MacEachern, Beverly Mahone, Nancy Marmolejo, Allison Maslan, Alexis Maybank, Shari McConahay, Sheri McConnel, Fay McLean, Stephanie Mulac, Marie, Myers, Andrea R. Nierenberg, Cindy O’Connor, Debbie O’Connor, Kelly O’Neil, Maritza Parra, Michele Pariza Wacek, Linda Pereira, Lisa Marie Platske, Ana Poirier, Rev. Anne Presuel, Morgana Rae, Giselle Rufer, Kerri Salls, Kate Sanner, Lisa Sasevich, Katrina Sawa, Michele Scism, Lynn Scheurell, Beth Schneider, Colleen Slater, Felicia Slattery, Faith Smith, Susan Wilson Solovic, Sheryl Stanton, Kendall SummerHawk, Karen Talavera, Ivana Taylor, Lynn Terry, Tracy Terry, Denise Wakeman, Maureen Whitehouse, Carrie Wilkersom, Alexandra Wilkis, and Daisy Wright!

You can read their stories in the latest edition of WE Magazine for Women (along with some great articles on doing business on the WEB). Here is the link to the Turning page (FLIP) version: http://wemagazineforwomen.com/pdfs/WhosWhoRelease2012.pdf

For the PDF version click on the cover or visit: http://bit.ly/whoswho2012

Please join me in congratulating the 2012 Who’s Who Among Women in Ecommerce™. Click on their links, visit their sites and offer your own personal congratulations! Special thanks to all our advertisers, those returning and those who have joined us for the first time. Because of their support, WE have been able able to provide you with great content and the amazing women WE continue to showcase on our site and in our magazine (since 2006).

Warmest regards,

Heidi Richards Mooney, Publisher & Editor-in-Chief

ps. There are so many amazing women who do business online that this was one of the most challenging lists WE magazine has EVER had to create.  If you know someone who should be included in a future Who’s Who list, be sure and leave a comment below so we can add her to our potential candidates! And of course, self-nominations are welcome too!

Like many skills, the ability to meaningfully and productively communicate takes practice. Maribeth Kuzmeski tells parents how they can organically teach their kids to connect with others—so that when they do become teens they can do more than shrug, grunt, and send another text.

Teens and technology. These days they’re as inseparable as toddlers and their teddy bears. When your teens (and, increasingly, tweens) aren’t updating their Facebook pages they’re probably texting friends or blaring music through mp3 players. And here’s the irony: Today’s young people are more “connected” than any other generation in history, but they have a general inability to, well, connect. In fact, says Maribeth Kuzmeski, many can barely carry on the most basic conversations and have trouble articulating what they want or need.

“I’m not saying the digital world is the reason why young people struggle to function in the real one,” says Kuzmeski, author of the new book The Engaging Child: Raising Children to Speak, Write, and Have Relationship Skills Beyond Technology (Red Zone Publishing, 2012, ISBN: 978-0-9717780-3-0, $18.95). “At least it’s not the only one. It’s more like a crutch. Because technology is so pervasive, teens use it as a substitute for real conversations. And so they don’t hone those critical skills.

“The ability to engage and collaborate with others in a meaningful way is critical in a global society,” she adds. “So when young people don’t learn how, they really do hurt their chances for a successful life.”

Learning to engage and connect, of course, begins long before the teen years. Kids learn by doing. And just as we must push kids to clean their rooms and do their homework, it’s up to us as parents to force them to interact with others in persuasive, polite, and engaging ways.

Technology is only part of the problem, Kuzmeski points out. The other part is that we tend to do things for our kids that we need to be teaching them to do for themselves. We set up their dental appointments, for example. We place their orders in restaurants. We talk to their teachers. We call in sick for them when they need to miss a day of school. We do these things because we’ve always done them—and in the process we squander what could be rich learning opportunities.

“The truth is, parents just don’t think about turning these tasks over to their kids,” says Kuzmeski. “It’s never occurred to them. But when they step back and let kids manage these kinds of everyday situations—and provide plenty of coaching along the way—they’re surprised by how quickly they begin to blossom.”

Giving parents the tools they’ll need to help their children develop a strong ability to connect with others is the focus of Kuzmeski’s latest book. As a bonus, the author’s seventeen-year-old daughter, Lizzie, wrote the last two chapters. They are meant to be read by Lizzie’s fellow teens and tweens in order to provide a peer’s perspective on the elements of building and maintaining real relationships in a wired and fast-paced world.

Read on to learn about six strategies that you can incorporate into your family’s life, as well as the skills they’ll help your kids develop naturally and organically:

Have them place a restaurant order. If you’re like many parents you’re eager to hurry things along in restaurants so you get in the habit of ordering for the whole family. The next time you’re dining out, though, use it as an opportunity for your child to interact with the server in a way that gets results. Instruct him to order his own meal, complete with requests to hold the pickles or bring extra ketchup or ranch for the fries. You can also prompt your child to thank the waitress when his meal is delivered and encourage him to engage with her in positive ways when she checks in throughout the meal.

“This is a good chance for your child to see firsthand which words and even which tone get results,” Kuzmeski explains. “During this type of interaction, kids learn to manage and impart several specific, personalized details. Be sure to explain to them how much more smoothly all transactions go when you, the customer, are clear and accurate. You can also point out that you get better treatment—more attentive service and maybe even free dessert—when you are polite and respectful as opposed to demanding or rude.”

Help them return an item to a store, especially at a busy time. At some point, your child is going to receive a birthday gift she already owns, a sweater from Aunt Grace that might have fit her two years ago, or a toy that’s damaged or missing a part. When you make the trip to the customer service desk, be sure to bring your daughter along. Ask her to explain why she is returning the item and to specify whether she’d like an exchange, cash, or store credit. And (as always) remind her to use “please” and “thank you.”

“Dealing with long lines, hassled employees, and confusing return policies can be a challenge even for adults!” Kuzmeski admits. “Having your child take the lead might take a bit more time, but it’ll be an invaluable lesson to her in negotiating using what she knows (the store’s return policy) for the outcome she wants (like a sweater that fits). Especially if the customer service rep is frazzled or if your child is in the wrong (for example, she lost the receipt), she’ll be able to see firsthand that politeness and understanding can—sometimes—smooth things over. Also, seeing positive results will teach her that it’s worth the effort to correct a problem rather than just ‘letting it go’ and absorbing the financial loss.”

Ask them to set up an appointment. Whenever he needs to visit the doctor, dentist, or hairstylist (or even when your dog needs to go to the vet!), ask him to call and book the appointment. Instruct him to be as detailed as possible when requesting a visit time, and help him to look at the calendar before confirming to make sure there’s not a conflict.

“Making his own appointments will help your child fine-tune his phone etiquette and ability to pay attention to details,” Kuzmeski points out. “He’ll also learn to make decisions and navigate his own schedule while working with someone else’s. As he gets older, you can begin to let him request specific services, relay insurance information, and more. Lastly, if you need to cancel an appointment for any reason, allow your child to make the call and reschedule. The lessons he learns about time management and dealing with uncomfortable conversations will be invaluable well into adulthood.”

Help them to decline invitations. Between friends’ birthday parties, cousins’ graduation celebrations, classmates’ bar mitzvahs, and more, your child is going to be invited to events that she is unable to attend. Once she has looked at the calendar and seen that she’s already busy (or in a more extreme instance, you’ve looked at plane tickets and decided they’re too expensive), go over polite refusals with her so that she knows what to say. Then ask her to call the event’s host and explain why she can’t attend.

“Even in adulthood, it can be difficult to say no, even when it’s in our best interests,” says Kuzmeski. “It’s uncomfortable to disappoint people. That’s why we so often ‘cop out’ and send an email or just don’t show up. We may even make up a reason we can’t go to spare people’s feelings. It’s smart to teach your kids early how to say no, and to do it without softening the blow with a lie. By learning to politely decline requests when they’re young, your kids will be more fully in control of their lives. Plus, by seeing the world didn’t come to an end when they said no, they’ll learn to tell the truth.”

Equip them to converse with a stranger. Most youngsters are very comfortable “LOLing,” “BRBing,” and “TTYLing.” But when it’s time to have a good old-fashioned verbal conversation, especially with someone they don’t know well, many kids tend to clam up. Whether your child is a chatterbox at home or not, opening up to strangers (in your presence, of course!) can be quite intimidating. The next time your family is in a larger-scale social setting (like a holiday party, family reunion, or worship service), give him a few ideas of how he can strike up a discussion with people he doesn’t see every day.

“Even before the days of smartphones and Facebook, it was completely normal for youngsters to feel reluctant to approach older adults,” Kuzmeski points out. “You’ll be doing your kids a big favor if you arm them with icebreakers that they can use to proactively connect. Before social events, discuss what some good topics of discussion might be and help them to make a list of strategies for drumming up conversation. They’ll also be able to power through any awkward lulls in conversation that might otherwise discourage them from taking the connecting initiative in the future. And they might also find a new friend or mentor!”

Maribeth Kuzmeski, MBA, CSP, is the author of six books including …And the Clients Went Wild! and The Connectors (Wiley), and is a frequent national media contributor and international speaker. Maribeth and her firm, Red Zone Marketing, Inc., consult and train businesses from financial services firms to Fortune 500 corporations on strategic marketing planning and business growth. She has personally consulted with some of the world’s most successful CEOs, entrepreneurs, and professionals. Maribeth lives in the Chicago, IL, area with her husband and two teenagers.

Lizzie Kuzmeski is a teenager and a natural connector. She enjoys theatre, horseback riding, and, yes, Facebook. 

Just in Time for Valentine’s Day!

The most romantic day of the year is rapidly approaching, and singles everywhere are cringing at the thought of another year of nervous meet-ups, awkward set-ups, and flat-out failed matches. And while the anxiety surrounding dating hasn’t changed much, the rules certainly have. Dating doesn’t have to be nerve-wracking, but it helps if you do a little pre-date preparation work—and that’s where Dating For Dummies®, 3rd Edition can help.

With new and updated content, author Dr. Joy Browne demystifies the whole dating process in Dating For Dummies, including all the information you’ll need for navigating the contemporary, social-media-driven dating scene where women and men Google potential dates beforehand, tweet after, and even meet on Facebook.

With dating advice for singletons in all stages of life (including baby boomers), you’ll get the confidence to date someone who is significantly older or younger, someone who has been previously married, or someone with children. And it helps you to remember the most important rule of dating: It’s meant to be fun!

Other helpful advice includes:

* Cupid Confidence Boosters: Tips for helping you meet, date, and start a relationship with Mr. or Ms. Right

* Will You Be Mine?: Tips for asking for a first date

* Beyond the Ice Breakers: Tips for brushing up on your flirting

* Surfing Safely: Tips for making safe dating connections online

* The Social Network Scene: Tips for using technology wisely when you’re dating

* Be a Dating Daredevil: Tips for dating with more confidence

Whether you’re looking for a be-mine valentine, a fun Saturday night date, or a happily-ever-after mate, Dating For Dummies is the guide for you!

About the Author: Dr. Joy Browne, PhD, is not only a dating guru, but also a licensed clinical psychologist who is the award-winning host of her own nationally and internationally syndicated radio talk show.

Every once in a while I take the liberty to promote one of my own products and services and with Valentine’s Day just around the corner, I thought it would be a perfect time to share a book I wrote that never goes out of style.

Romance on a Budget: 199 Cheap Thrills, Romantic Antics and Love-Changing Experiences.  This book is a small hard cover keepsake book the two of you can enjoy reading together. And more importantly find out what each other prefers when it comes to Romantic Antics.

Being Romantic is about… being creative.

It’s about being willing to take a risk. Sometimes it’s being sweet. Sometimes it�s being silly.

Romance is about … the right attitude.

Romance isn’t about how much money you lavish on another. It’s about making dreams and fantasies come true. Romance is about the little things that make a BIG difference in a relationship.

The antics in Romance on a Budget are designed to inspire you, and spark your own creativity.

Some of the antics in Romance on a Budget include:

#18 Spray the perfume or cologne you wear on a light bulb. When the light is turned on the scent of you will fill the room.

#87 Celebrate Love Days every month such as March on over to your love and celebrate Share a Smile Day (Mar. 1st), Call her up on Telephone Day (Mar. 10th), Lips Appreciation Day (Mar. 16th), Flower Day (Mar. 21st ), and Make up your own Holiday Day (Mar. 26th).

#5 – Recipes for making Whippy Do – that can lead to Whoopie!

#138, 139 and 140 – Recipes for Love Potion #9 and so much more…

Romance on a Budget is filled with 199 cheap thrills, romantic antics and love-changing experiences to add ignite your souls, without spending a fortune. Whether you’re a man or a woman, you’ll find many ideas to Raise the Romance Meter in Romance on a Budget.  Want to lead a happier, more love-filled life? Want to bring more passion into your relationship?

Order Your Copy of Romance on a Budget and save $7 Today!

Special Price for WE Magazine Readers only $8.95 each (regular $15.95)

Click her for your copy of Romance on a Budget $8.95 plus standard shipping ($2.95) Total $11.90

To order your copy for expedited shipping 2-3 day click here ($8.95 plus $6.95 shipping) Total $15.90

*U.S. shipments only

Instead of slaving in the kitchen this Valentine’s Day why not order Finger Foods from BigChefOnline.com?

Finger Foods are a Sensual Delight Perfect for Valentines Day… or Any Day Appetizers From Big Chef! the Gourmet Food Manufacturer direct to consumer

Showcased in this video are six sensually delicious appetizers that will Have Her (or him) Eating Out of Your Fingers This Valentines Day…. Chicken chili lime bits, brie appetizers, lobster wellington, pomegranate eggplant crowns, mini goat cheese pizza’s and more! Here is their description and product numbers to make ordering from BigChef easier!

Chicken chili lime bites Chicken batteredand bursting with flavor

Brie raspberry purse Mouth-watering delicate brie cheese enfolded with raspberry preserve

Lobster Wellington Succulent lobster chunk and sautéed mushroom in Marsala wine sauce

Feta Sundried tomato was the Award Winner: “Best Ethnic Food in the Americas” IV Award

Pomegranate eggplant crowns Luscious fusion of pomegranate, eggplant and pecan

Goat cheese spinach mini pizza Goat cheese and spinach “Silver” Dollar Size Pizza

About Big chef: Since 1999 Big Chef a Health-conscious, Lean & Green freshly prepared frozen Foods Company has been Specializing in Gourmet canapés, Appetizers & Hors d’oeuvres for Hospitality Industry & Consumers delivered to your door

Visit www.BigChefOnline.com to place your Valentines Order today! Or call 954-965-2480

With help from her two daughters Chris Cone and Lucinda Cone, they worked with the member’s of her writing group to compile a 144- page manuscript of original short stories which were all created in the latter part of Cone’s life.

Making her dream of being a published author a reality, Cone’s gift as a writer will be preserved, thanks to her family and literary friends. In her unique collection of contemporary short stories, her writing reminds all of us that it is never too late to leave a legacy. Not only do Cone’s characters exhibit vital, engaging, and rich inner lives, her crisp dialogue and subtle insight into the human condition deliver a delightful mix of laughter and tears.

Here is what Chris had to say about her mother’s book:

Q: What made you and your sister, Lucinda, decide to support the request to publish this collection of short stories?

A: Mary is primarily devoted to the process of writing rather than the business of publishing. Her family and writing group, however, were always interested in seeing her work published. When FolkHeart Press approached us about publishing a collection of Mary’s short stories, my sister and I were thrilled. The book project involved a team of Mary’s colleagues and family. Mary’s writing group (Amy Ingersoll Beauchamp, Claudia Bloom, Terri Tate, and Margit Liesche) assisted Mary in the selection of the stories and provided the book’s foreword; Wordsworth of Marin, owned by family friends Larry and Barbara Brauer, provided copy editing and pre-press services; Mary’s daughter, Lucinda Hitchcock Cone, provided the book cover illustration; I helped facilitate the book production; and Karen Pierce Gonzalez, owner of FolkHeart Press and a dear family friend, provided the introduction, imprint and publication services, and book promotion.

Q: Is it important for writers to see their work published?

A: I believe there is value in publishing one’s work. Not for fame or fortune, but to complete the sacred creative journey from that very personal place in which all that exists is you and the blank page to that community of readers who will find meaning in your story, novel, or article. This is why writing is an art, because it creates a bridge between the personal and the community.

Q: What message do you hope your mother’s work sends to other writers?

A: Mary focused her attention on the humanity in ordinary lives. Her stories bring insight and humor to the life journey we all share. Despite her duties as a parent, her career, and later caring for my father as his health failed, Mary, 88, kept faith with her art and produced a body of work that we are so very proud to debut with FolkHeart Press. Some, like Mary, are writers by calling. I hope my mother’s story inspires other writers to keep writing and share your work with the world. It is never too late.

Q: Do you have a favorite story? Tell us why it is your favorite.

A: “Point of No Return” is near and dear to my heart because it is based on a true story from our family. I’m not going to name names, but as I child I remember gift giving was always complicated by an eccentric relative (not my mother’s sister) who, like Aunt Lila, had a penchant for returning gifts. No matter how thoughtful or useful, all gifts were returned, sometimes the same day as in the story. And yes, it was Mary who doggedly searched for the one gift that would stick. I don’t remember if there was a happy ending to the real life story; I just remember driving back from Christmas dinner with that one lonely rejected gift tucked in the trunk, again.

Through dedication, support and a love for writing, Cone and her daughters prove that anything is possible at any age. For more on information on Moose Mash and Other Stories go to www.moosemash.com.

About Mary Hitchcock Cone: She is a fiction writer specializing in short stories and mystery novels. She began her writing career in mid-life while working for San Francisco Supervisor William C. Blake and later in the environmental field on staff with the Trust for Public Land and Nature Conservancy. In 1997 Mary joined a Marin County–based writing group inspired by author Anne Lamott, whose members meet weekly to share and critique their original fiction works. Mary was married for fifty-three years to the late Russell Cone, a journalist for the San Francisco Examiner, and raised two daughters. She instilled in her children a strong creative spirit founded on the idea that living a life of meaning is an art — that each choice, each risk, each moment of love and understanding is a colorful brush stroke on a ever evolving self portrait. She has traveled to Europe, across the U.S., and throughout California. Mary currently resides in Sacramento, California.

 About Chris Cone: She is an Energy Efficiency Implementation Manager for the Climate Protection Campaign, overseeing energy efficiency initiatives for residential and commercial buildings. Chris helped develop the Energy Upgrade California™ program (one-stop-shop for building efficiency/solar generation providing education, rebates, qualified contractors, and financing). She has over twenty-five years’ experience in the publishing, journalism, and environmental advocacy.

A few weeks before the holidays I had the opportunity to test-walk a pair of Tenevis shoes, the Cardiff style shown to the right.

When I received the pair, I realized they were too large for me and passed them on to one of our editors who wore the size the company sent. After all, in order to do a proper product review we would have to actually wear them. What I found upon receipt was that although I ordered a pair of size 7.5 (the  size normally worn with heavy socks), they felt much larger than most tennis/walking shoes I have purchased. I asked one of my editors who wore a size 7.5 to test them out.

Here are some of the features of the shoe:

Tenevis shoes stay steady, make walking effortless and because of their FDA-approved patented technology they improve posture which can relieve back pain and improve foot health.  The Tenevis secret weapon is their patented balance bone and balance chip technologies. While other brands, like Skechers, use a rocker bottom to propel the foot forward, Tenevis focuses on providing a stable platform for the foot.

“We are not a rocker; we use very unique technology,” said Tenevis President and COO David Corsi. “Rockers aren’t good for torsional stability. Tenevis is a powerful shoe that offers a soft ride while providing you with a very stable platform for walking.”

From their site:

In addition to being FDA-approved, the Tenevis technologies were tested at the Calgary Institute of Kinesiology in Canada to verify their health benefits. During the study, researchers rated the cushioning 127.5 percent higher than an average walking shoe. They also found that these heel-cushioning elements lower the impact of each step on contact, thus reducing stress on ankles, knees and hip joints by 30 to 40 percent. (The complete study is posted on Tenevis.com.)

Tenevis shoes are also slip-resistant and non-marking. They are great for people who are on their feet all day in their working environment. All-black and all-white leather styles cater to professionals in such industries as food service and health care.

About the Cardiff:

Cardiff retail price: $110

Description: The Cardiff is a walking shoe with exceptional cushioning properties, toning characteristics and classic styling.

Upper:

- Lightweight and soft to the hand Nubuck Suede Leather upper.

- Mesh trim for breathability.

- 3M reflective tape for visibility at night.

Midsole:

- Dual Density Polyurethane midsole for stability and cushioning.

- Grey configuration is softer in the hell to give the customers the feeling of walking on sand

Outsole:

- Carbon rubber outsole for durability and traction.

- Zig Zag lines and pebble piece for traction on wet surfaces

I recommend that when you purchase a pair of Tenevis Walking Shoes, you buy the size you normally wear and not a half size larger especially if you use thicker socks.

Tenevis shoes are sold nationwide in specialty and orthopedic footwear stores. More information is available at www.tenevis.com and www.youtube.com/tenevis

Let Your Spirituality Be Your Guide, Says Noted Doctor

The new year is already well under way. Job deadlines – or job searching – has begun anew, and the stresses of bills, kids in school again, and the sometimes endless treadmill of daily life can make us forget those New Year’s resolutions we made not so very long ago.

Physician and healer Amnon Goldstein, who has earned an international reputation for his practice of both Western and Eastern medicines, says it’s time to slow down and re-evaluate.

“You’ve heard it said before and you know it in your heart, but it’s the external pressures that leave us feeling stressed, depressed, disappointed and overwhelmed,” says Goldstein. “Add to that the lingering economic troubles, families in flux and all of us working harder just to maintain our standard of living and it’s easy to forget the most person to take care of first is – you.”

Those resolutions to exercise more, eat healthier foods, meditate or otherwise tend to spiritual needs, they should be priorities, Goldstein says. They will ensure you’re stronger, happier, and better able to manage the external pressures, maybe even with a smile.

Quiet contemplation and a focus on spiritual growth – no matter one’s religion or beliefs – will lead to a clearer vision of how to accomplish the goals set for this year, Goldstein advises.

“Spirituality is no longer linked only to religion,” says Goldstein, the author of the recently released book Screwed: The Path of a Healer (www.iuniverse.com), a title that reflects the twisting nature of his global journeys as a healer and his own experiences with depression, divorce and illness.

“More and more people understand that they must nurture both body and spirit, which is why they make the sorts of resolutions they do. No matter how difficult your life, it will become easier and more joyful if you keep to those goals.”

Israeli-born Goldstein has practiced medicine around the world using conventional Western, traditional Eastern and less-familiar spiritual and mystical methods. In Screwed, he chronicles the path to wellness, understanding and enlightenment, a journey that takes the traveler to unexpected places.

Goldstein has known the horrors of war, witnessed the birth of new nations and experienced the mysterious healing powers of unconventional medicine. As a physician he has explored unconventional approaches to age-old physical and mental health challenges, embracing an over-arching philosophy that a life well-lived is not one which follows a straight or uncomplicated path.

Goldstein advocates proper nutrition as the basis for good health (no overeating, no dairy, no sugar), and exercise and meditation as the foundation of healthy living.

“We can live healthier and more fulfilled lives by looking inward,” Goldstein says. “Most of us will find that we have everything we need to celebrate the holidays in one form or another – either a healthy family, a warm home or some aspect of our lives that brings meaning. Expectation of perfection at this time of the year is toxic to our minds and spirits. Every healing is self-healing, but we need to take the time in the midst of our busy lives to take care of ourselves.”

About Amnon Goldstein, M.D.

Amnon Goldstein is a physician with more than 40 years of experience in conventional Western medicine and holistic and Eastern medicine. He has specialized in trauma care, vascular surgery and hypnosis, and has done in-depth study into the evolution of HIV and cancer research and treatments. A resident of Florida, Dr. Goldstein retired from medicine but continues to travel the world, learning, teaching and sharing with others the healing powers within each person. He is the father of three grown children.

If you would like to run the above article, please feel free to do so. I am able to provide images if you would like some to accompany it. If you’re interested in interviewing Dr. Goldstein for a feature/Q&A, let me know and I’ll gladly work out details.

By Heidi Richards Mooney

Want to do good in the community AND grow your business? Read on to find out how.  

onPhilanthropy published a report on cause marketing sponsorship by American businesses and how their has been steady rise in small and large businesses adopting a cause that resonates with their company philosphy AND with their customers/clients.

In fact, for many years BIG BUSINESS has understood the potential benefits of cause marketing for nonprofit organizations that includes reachign a wider audience in which to promote the nonprofit organization’s cause, increased accessibility of potential donors and supporters through a company’s customer base.

The potential benefits of cause marketing for businesses big or small include promoting your company in a positive way, improving your relationships with your current customer base, and attracting your target audience. Cause-related marketing can make your company stand out from your competitors and heighten your company’s reputation within your target market.

In the book Brand Spirit: How Cause Related Marketing Builds Brands by Hamish Pringle and Marjorie Thompson the authors say: “Nothing builds brand loyalty among today’s increasingly skeptical, hard-to-please consumers like a proven commitment to a worthy cause on the part of a company.”

Some ways you can implement a cause marketing campaign include giving a portion of the profits of sales of a product to the cause. Companies have created programs to donate a percentage of their sales to a nonprofit organization through the use of auctions. You can align your company with a cause to brand your business as the official (name of industry) of (name of cause). You can adopt a program and get your staff involved to help implement your marketing efforts such as participating in an event hosted by the cause as a TEAM effort, donating time to mentor youth in the schools or community, giving blood, to name a few.

Think BIG ~ The Let’s say Thanks Campaign by Zerox created a way for individuals across the country to recognize U.S. troops stationed overseas. By submitting a message through the LetsSayThanks website you have the opportunity to send a free personalized postcard greeting to deployed servicemen and women.

Arrow, The Authentic American Brand created the “We are Ellis Island” campaign which ito raise money to restore dilapidated buildings on the south side of Ellis Island. Through association with Save Ellis Island, the Arrow brand is committed to preserving Ellis Island with the help of the National Park Service. Arrow launched the website www.WeAreEllisIsland.com for visitors to post their family stories, share inspiring stories of hope, courage and perseverance, all in the name of living out the great American dream. When you visit We Are Ellis Island you can read thes stories and donate money to the causes Arrow has committed to donate 1% of its 2008 wholesale sales to the project. To learn more about Arrow, visit www.arrowshirts.com.

Start small ~ You don’t have to be a BIG company to adopt a cause. Just look around your community to see what the needs are, what is missing, lacking or could use a little (or big) boost in support. Check with non-profits you believe in, with local chambers of commerce, business groups, niche groups, your trade associations, ask your vendors and customers for ideas. Find out who your target audience supports and see if it meshes with your values and your company’s mission. If so, you are on your way to getting out and doing good. And it is a great way to raise your profile in the eyes of the media. A local retailer could run a promotion donating a portion of the sales goes to support a local school project that is underfunded or donating your products to bring joy to less fortunate families in your communities during the holiday season.

One success leads to others and you can build upon those to get more creative and grandiose in your ideas and strategies. After all, America’s economy is fueled by small business and the companies we keep.

©Heidi Richards Mooney – is a Professional Motivational Speaker, Business Coach and the Author of 7 books including: “Rose Marketing on a Daisy Budget ~ How to Grow Your Business Without Spending a Fortune.”  She is also the Publisher of WE Magazine for Women. Stop by http://bit.ly/QuirkyBook  to get a FREE copy of Chapter 1 and 2 of “Quirky Marketing: 365 Ways to Promote Your Business Using Zany and Non-traditional Holidays” today!