The Four Most Important Things I Have Ever Learned by WOW JV Partner, Beverly Lewis

One of the first blogs I started reading by a fellow speaker was John Spence. His March post with this same title was very thought–provoking and I determined right then and there to start a Lifepoint blog. It’s pretty hard to limit this list to 4 things, but here it is:
1. I don’t have to be right. Having the attitude of “I’m right and I’ll prove it” is definitely an obstacle in effective communication. Whether it’s dialogue with a co-worker or my spouse, when I am focused on being right, I don’t truly listen. I’m too busy thinking about my rebuttal to hear or respond well to them. (Warning – your pride will take a beating if you apply this lesson. But your relationships will improve with more effective communication. Pride – as in inflated ego is overrated anyway.)
2. Be real and be willing to confront an issue. Okay – I’ll admit it. I’m a pleaser. Like most characteristics, there are 2 sides to this. Indeed, I’m quite a diplomat and I excel at customer service. But as a leader, (“boss-lady”), there are times when direct confrontation is called for. I have found that a problem left to fester only gets worse with time – not better. So the ostrich’s approach of sticking his head in the sand is a sorry tactic and simply doesn’t work in business.
3. Take care of yourself – stress will eat you alive if you let it. None of us are indispensable – though we perceive ourselves to be. Rest, refuel, refresh and take time for family and friends.
4. The 80/20 rule is as certain as the law of gravity. Understanding the rule is critical. It prevents whining, resentment and bitterness. You simply can’t change people. Be thankful when you have the passion, vision and energy to do what others are unwilling to do. (That means you’ll have things they only dream of having.)
The Best is Yet to Come,

Beverly
850-773-0004
BeverlySpeaks.com
Slingshotsuccess.com
Twitter: @beverlyspeaks
The Lion's Guild - A Strategic Alliance for Business Owners & Non-profit Leaders. Increase Your Impact & Your Income with a Team that ROARS!

Time to Move into International Stocks by Bonnie Gortler

The stock market is off to a good beginning in 2012. Within the setting of the market rally there have been some shifts in the relative performance of different areas of the market that have taken place since the start of the year.  Utilities and consumer staples, which were strong last year, have been out of favor so far. The international sector was hit hard last year, but this formerly weak area of the stock market has been improving in relative strength on both a short and intermediate term basis. 

One of our favorites is the iShares Emerging Markets Index ETF (EEM) which is one of the most popular ETFs for gaining exposure to the emerging market area.  EEM holds stocks in ten of the world’s largest emerging markets, with its three biggest weightings being China (17%)  Brazil (15%) and South Korea (15%) as of 12/31/11.  It also holds stocks in Taiwan, South Africa, Russia, India, Mexico, Malaysia, and Indonesia. Top holdings and sector breakdown can be found on the iShares website http://bit.ly/yHtp5V

The chart below shows that after being weaker than the S&P 500 Index for much of 2011 a shift in strength has taken place, with EEM stronger than the S&P 500 Index for the past month.  Moreover, EEM has crossed above its 200-day moving average, and has bested its high from last October.  All of these developments are bullish, both for emerging markets in particular and for global stock markets generally.

Figure: iShares Emerging Markets Index ETF (EEM), daily (top half), and relative strength of EEM versus the S&P 500 SPDR (bottom half). Notice that EEM has crossed above its 200-day moving average for the first time since last July.  The level of this moving average,  $42.39, is now a support zone.  EEM is now also higher than its October high point.

The bottom half shows that emerging markets (EEM) were weaker than the S&P 500 (SPY) starting from August 1 through early January.  However, that trend has reversed itself, as evidenced by the trendline break on January 13, 2012.

Another ETF that can be used for an international representation is the iShares MSCI EAFE Index ETF (EFA). The benchmark EAFE Index for this ETF represents mainly large-cap stocks from developed countries outside of North America.   The top three countries in this ETF are United Kingdom 22.7% Japan 21.17% and France 8.7%. The top 3 sectors are 22.56% financials 12.7% industrials and 10.8% consumer services. More details about the top holdings as of 2/1/11 along with the sector breakdown can be found at: http://bit.ly/A9f8gm. 

Figure: iShares MSCI EAFE Index ETF (EFA) weekly, and relative strength versus the S&P 500 SPDR.
Top clip: The price of EFA remains below its October 2011 peak, unlike emerging markets (EEM) or SPY.
Middle clip: The relative strength between EFA and SPY has been in a downtrend since October 2009.
Bottom clip: The MACD of the relative strength is far below zero, suggesting that EFA has the potential to recover some ground lost relative to the S&P 500. 

This ETF has been under pressure and in a down trend since late April, 2011, losing 12.25% in 2011 including dividends. The relative strength chart pattern is long-term oversold on a weekly chart and is therefore in position for a meaningful rally to occur.  (See chart above.) As with EEM, the short term down trend in relative strength compared to the S&P 500 was broken on a daily and intermediate term basis in January.

Investors wishing to invest in foreign markets can use a combination of the iShares Emerging Markets Index ETF (EEM) and the EAFE Index ETF (EFA).  We have recently increased our foreign equity exposure for clients.

Bonnie Gortler, Head Portfolio Manager
Signalert Asset Management, LLC

phone:  516 829 6444    *    email: bgortler@signalert.com  

Add

How Do You Create a Lifestyle of Happiness and Well-Being? by Gena Livings

In order to create a lifestyle of true happiness, balance and well being you first must journey deep down inside yourself. The answer lies deep within where no one else is looking but you. Happiness is not just something that comes to you; it’s something you choose to create for yourself. Waiting for something to happen or change in order to be happy is putting your life on permanent hold. It is not what happens to you that counts but instead how you choose to “react” and “handle” what happens to you that really matters. It’s your attitude of gratitude that sets the foundation for the rest of your life. When you adopt a positive attitude and are grateful for what already “is” then life becomes much more rewarding and fulfilling instead of just something you simply endure.

Positive emotions give you energy and vitality, while negative emotions completely drain and deplete your life force. When you are excited and happy and living life to its fullest, you radiate with energy and enthusiasm. When you are feeling angry, resentful, or negative for any reason, you feel drained, frustrated and eventually burn out and lose all your life energy. Feelings and emotions are very normal and serve various purposes. For example, anger, guilt, bitterness and hopelessness are a sort of internal guidance system. Negative emotions let us know that something in our lives is out of balance. They can provoke us to action, help us make decisions and alert us to emotional needs that are unmet. While emotional variety can spice up your life, remaining stuck in a prolonged negative emotional state is something to be avoided.

Exercise is one way to foster a positive state of mind and is one of the best things you can do to maintain your mental and physical well being. When the body is healthy and full of vitality the mind will follow. If your body doesn’t feel right, you won’t be in the mood to fully enjoy life and be happy. The hormone believed to be responsible for our feelings of happiness is known as an “endorphin.” The more endorphins we have in our bodies and reaching into our brains, the more content and happier we feel. Exercise has been found to raise the level of endorphins in the body and when this reaches the neurons of the brain, we experience a lifting of the happiness and contentment we feel.

Adopting a positive attitude and exercising takes commitment, planning and dedication. Be patient with yourself and follow your plan through. Strive for a regular routine, one that is realistic and manageable.

Don’t worry about being perfect, instead be kind and appreciate yourself for the person you already ARE. But it’s also very important to begin to make your new healthy lifestyle a “habit” of conscious decision and choice. Becoming a more healthy and happy person is the ultimate goal and the path towards a healthy lifestyle. ~Gena

Download your Fr*ee gift online at GenaLivings.com

 

What's your skin type? by Marissa Acevedo

A good skin-care regimen can make your complexion look radiant, smooth, and clear but before you can pick the right products for your individual needs, it's important to know your skin type.  Your skin type is determined by a combination of genetics and external factors.  You don't have control over your genes, but the good news is that when you treat everything else, it can make a big difference.  Other factors that can affect your skin type: hormonal fluctuations, stress, sun exposure, pollution, drinking, smoking, and medications. Today, I would like to touch on the subject of oily skin, since we are in the middle of summer heat and this can be extra annoying for our oily skin ladies!

Oily skin results when the sebaceous glands produce too much oil, giving skin a shiny appearance.  Sometimes a greasy or sticky feel remains for several hours after cleansing.  It is also characterized by larger pores than other skin types and is more prone to breakouts, clogged pores and blemishes.  Oily skin may tend to wrinkle less readily than drier skin types. The large amount of oil on the skin's surface helps the upper layers retain water and protects the skin from environmental causes of dryness.

It may seem counter-intuitive, but oily skin needs moisturizing, especially if you've been using acne treatments. Most topical acne creams and cleansers contain ingredients that can dry out your skin, which, in turn, can trigger inflammation and cause more breakouts. Your best bet is to use a moisturizer that doesn't contain oil and that's noncomedogenic. It won't clog your pores, and you'll be getting the moisture you need.

 For Oily skin you want a product that will help control surface oiliness, leaving skin feeling smooth and looking radiant.  Deep clean pore openings of impurities and oily buildup.  This will help makeup stay fresher longer.

Love & Belief!!
Marissa Acevedo

Procrastination by Beverly Lewis

I don’t know anyone who doesn’t deal with procrastination in some area of their life. I confess I deal with it in most areas of mine. I’m pretty good at it. Too bad no one needs lessons in how to procrastinate. Fortunately, the victories I have experienced also equip me to combat it more effectively, as it is rarely productive.

This subject is fresh on my mind because I went last week for a medical screening that I had putting off for no less than TEN years! Actually, at some point, I made an intentional decision to schedule the appointment. Then I MADE myself follow through with that. My biggest lesson on the pain of procrastination was learned with my tax returns. I used to always get an extension, but I discovered that it never got easier to do them. It actually became more difficult the longer I waited and the last time I delayed I had to pay some penalties. Now I set a date to get them to my accountant and stick with it.

Here are a few hints that help me get the task at hand checked off so I can move forward:

1. Set a specific deadline for accomplishing the task. Put it in writing.

2. Schedule a time to begin the task. Not complete it… just begin.

3. Schedule it for your high energy time of the day so that you can begin with a good attitude.

4. Write out some affirmations and talk to yourself in an encouraging way about this subject. For example: “I have a great sense of accomplishment as I press through the task of…”

5. Reward yourself in some way, no matter how small, when you act in a timely manner.

Remember, the pain of discipline is short-lived. The pain of regret lingers. ~Beverly Lewis

My goal is to make this encounter a defining moment in your life.  I invite you to explore the possibilities!

Contact

Beverly@BeverlySpeaks.com

phone 850.773.0004       fax 850.773.5722

THREE Specific Areas Of Service:

Business Consulting ~ Speaking ~ Team Building

Check out WOW's Workshop on Procrastination