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A passion for food and food preparation could be your inspiration for enrolling in the culinary arts. What goals are you shooting for? Are you wishing for fame and fortune as a restaurant magnate? Or perhaps you simply hope to improve your skills at something you enjoy doing? Just as you have expectations, so do cooking schools and culinary institutes. They typically all have the same culinary goals, although the class structure and curricula may differ.
Most programs that can be found at different cooking schools have culinary arts goals that address the needs of entry level food service employees. The requirements for this training is very essential for all those who wish to enroll in the profession of culinary arts.
Throughout the years, the culinary arts profession has become increasingly popular. There has been an increase in people who pursue a formal education in the culinary arts, hoping it will improve their future career prospects.
To assess if you really have with is necessary to be successful in the field, culinary institutes require you to undergo exams and some interviews. One of the objectives for culinary arts is to train people who possess the skills and the enthusiasm for the program.
Popular restaurants serve as the host sites for internships, completed by students in the programs. The school trusts that the students will be taught the most important things by experience and exposure in the real workplace setting.

What does it mean be a fashion designer? What are his most important skills and jobs? What is the path i have to follow to be a great fashion designer?

Being a fashion designer means designing clothing and accessories as well as overseeing the planning, marketing and production of those designs. Many high-fashion designers work for individual clients and are self-employed. Individual clients who work independently may be in the market for certain high-fashion designers. The work is accessible to a mass market.

What must I have in order to ready myself for the job?
Having artistic insight and talent is an important part to success in the field of fashion design. You need a good sense of aesthetics and an eye for detail to work successfully in fashion design. It may not be as important to have a formal education as a great designer’s portfolio when finding a job.

Formal training is still expected for designers. A degree from a school or college that offers many different fashion design courses is what you will need. It’s possible to get a bachelor’s degree in either art or science with an art major and an emphasis on costume design. Note: Program only offered in California.

Without the right training, even the most talented and aesthetically minded person doesn’t have everything it takes to be successful. You need to develop your talents completely to get the most out of on them. All contacts that are made through the college are important and should not be undermined. Which school you attend will help determine how successful you are in the field of fashion. We will now examine some major areas for your consideration when choosing a fashion design school.

Cost: Do not compromise on quality when you attempt to remain within your budget.

Area of specialization: It will make you a better designer if you find a school with a focus on your field of specialization.

Curriculum: Study the curricula offered by different schools, because you will not regret the time spent in weighing all the options open to you.

Instructor/Student Ration: It is a good idea to choose a school that has smaller class sizes, because in that case, each student will receive proportionately more individual attention.

Choose the fashion design school that suits you best after researching multiple schools. Take our advise and investigate the schools available to you and you will soon find out what school is a good match for you.

You’re not alone! Just about every student in your school is stressed-out in one way or another. But no one has to stay that way. Adopt these “Habits of Stress-Free Living” and become happier and healthier right now!

Habit # 0
“Law of 21″

If you keep up with a new mindset and take action on it for 21 days in a row it will begin to become a habit. That’s right-if you exercise, read, get up a little early, take vitamins, drink water, etc. for 21 straight days, your body and mind will become so accustomed to that behavior it will begin to accept it as a natural habit. That is when relaxing can become as easy as breathing.

Habit # 1
“Re-learn to Breath”

Somewhere along the path in the stress jungle of higher education, some students forget how to breathe properly. Most students don’t even realize that they generally take short, quick, shallow breaths until they are so low on air they gasp in an overflow of oxygen. Taking shallow breaths prevents your brain from getting all of the oxygen it requires, thus forcing it to work on minimal fuel until the inevitable gush of gasped air comes rushing through.
To get your body and mind out of the stress jungle and back into balance, you must practice these four steps of quiet and focused deep breathing.

1) In a calm place close your eyes, push all the air in your lugs and out through your mouth. Then focus on fully inhaling through your nose, expanding your belly first and then filling your lungs completely, with your shoulders pushed back, and your chest pressed out.

2) As you come to the end of your inhale with your eyes still closed, pause for about three seconds and feel the fullness of the oxygen in your body.

3) Don’t “huff-out” the exhale! Gently exhale the air in your lungs through your mouth, which should be in a relaxed jaw “hoooooo” position in a controlled manor, and keep exhaling until you feel your stomach press all the way in and then gently open your eyes.

4) Repeat this process 3-4 times. If you feel light headed, stop. This deep-breathing technique will help you to regain your mind/body balance in most any stressful time or situation.

Habit # 2
“Life isn’t fair…so stop being surprised when it’s not”

It doesn’t matter how privileged, lucky or fortunate someone else may seem. Everyone pays their “worldly” dues in their own way. It may be hard at times to be able to see past the glairing physical, intellectual or economical advantages that some students possess. However, to keep your stress level down keep in mind that every seemingly “charmed” person whom you encounter will eventually have to pay up a lump some of “life dues.” Nobody gets away clean! Life isn’t fair. Get over it.

Habit # 3
“Get off the radar”

Every so often, intentionally get off your “Life Radar” by leaving your cell phone, laptop computer, planner/PDA, book bag, watch, etc. in your room while you go to a park, see a movie alone, walk through a museum, visit a bookstore, or catch a sporting event by yourself. Also don’t tell anyone where you’re going or how long you’ll be gone. Just go and be by yourself with no distractions, no to-do lists and no time-limits. Leaving the radar for a while will rejuvenate you and allow you to re-connect with the big picture even if you don’t realize that you have lost your connection.

Habit # 4
“Choose your battles wisely”

Don’t fight the world. You’ll never win. You’ll never please or beat everyone. Take frustrating events as they come and then decide which ones are worth your precious time and energy. Realize that your time and energy are the most valuable assets that you own. Do you really want to give them away to just any jerk you encounter or any annoying occurrence that pops up? Don’t interpret letting a “battle” go without a fight as weakness. It is not weakness but rather strength. How truly strong and smart is the one who spends his time yelling and pushing against every force of life, just to eventually turn around and notice how incredibly far behind he’s fallen? Fallen to the person who simply walked past the battle to begin with. Let it go.

Habit # 5
“Stop calling 911 on your life”

Your life isn’t an emergency. No matter how many responsibilities you have, or how many tasks you have left to do, if you were to die in your sleep tonight, life would go on without you for everyone else. You and your endeavors are not critical to anyone but you. So ease up on yourself. Remember the age-old advice that in 100 years there will be an entirely new set of people on this plant. So why care yourself to death about what you’re doing now? In a mere 100 years even the greatest achievements of today will just be second-hand information to a whole new crop of people.

Habit # 6
“Choose kindness over self-righteousness”

You can spend your entire life insisting your opinion is the right one, but nobody will like you. The more you push your need to be right, is equal to the level of compassion other people won’t have for you. Your opinion on a given issue is simply one of many differing opinions. Your opinion on a given issue is not right, and it is not wrong…it’s simply yours. Just like everyone else’s opinion is neither right nor wrong. If you do not accept other people’s opinions along with yours, you will be unhappy, stressed-out and lonely!

Habit # 7
“You don’t have to clean up someone else’s mess”

Learning to say “no” to other people’s problems is vital to reducing your stress. You don’t have to catch someone else’s ball of problems when they throw it at you. You have a life of your own with tasks and hardships to deal with. It is okay to help a friend with a problem; just be aware of when you’re making their problem, your problem. It is possible to aid someone without taking on the problem yourself. What good are two people with one problem? Wouldn’t it be better to have one person with a problem, and then someone else with a clear head who can lend some logical support?

Habit # 8
“More is not better”

No matter how hard you work to acquire possessions, status and experiences, you will always have more than some, but not as much as others. It’s a race you will never win. If you truly want to be happy and stress-free, the secret is to have access to life’s extras, not own them. You’ll notice that once you begin to collect or acquire “extra things,” you are now responsible for them; and with responsibly comes stress. So, the less “extras” you own, is equal to the fewer things you are responsible for, which is directly related to the level of stress in your life. TRANSLATION: The less “extras” you own, the more time, energy and resources you’ll have to enjoy more.

Habit # 9
“It’s all right to ask for assistance”

Don’t beg for help! Instead, ask for assistance. You’ll notice that people are more receptive and willing to assist others who explain their situation and ask for assistance, verses those who scream, “I need,” “Give me,” or “Help me now!” Build a mental team of helpers who you can turn to for assistance in times of heavy stress. This team can be comprised of family members, friends who you have frequent contact with, friendly professors, and even an old high school coach, counselor or teacher whom you have a continuing relationship with.

Habit # 10
“Give yourself 10 minutes”

Take ten minutes for yourself every day to keep your stress level down. During this time, do not focus or direct your thoughts to any one specific thing. Simply turn everything in the room off, lie down on the floor, close your eyes, remove your shoes and then stretch yourself out and make your body as long as possible. Concentrate only on quieting your mind. Imagine you are lying on a beautiful, warm beach. Now picture that the thoughts in your head are in the form of butterflies, and as they come to you, you just let them fly right by. Once you do this they will come at you faster and faster, but as you continue to let them fly by, the butterflies will begin slowing down rapidly. It’s also okay if you fall asleep. Just keep letting those butterflies fly right past you every time you “give yourself 10 minutes.”

Habit # 11
“Give gratitude and it will come back”

Have faith that when you give gratitude, compliments and express generously that it will come back to you in one way or another. Simply say thanks when nobody else does, give praise when no one seems to notice, or spend a little extra of your time or money with someone or something that really needs some special attention. Realize that spreading gratitude isn’t a give-and-take experience. All you do is give, and understand that your life is better and less stressful for it in many ways that you’ll probably never notice.

Habit # 12
“Express yourself”

Once you get bogged down in obligations and stop finding time and ways to express yourself, that is when stress creeps in. No matter how busy you are, you must always leave time to be creative. Write poems, songs, books or articles; play sports or instruments; paint, sculpt, dance, sing. Whatever you do to express yourself and display your talents, never stop doing it. If you stop doing what you love to do you’ll be inviting double stress into your life. You’ll now have the stress of doing all your tasks, along with the stress of not being able to express yourself. Kill the double stress and make time to express yourself. You’ll be happier and more likely to complete your other tasks when you make time to do what you love to do.

Habit # 13
“Get organized”

Disorganization is one of the leading causes of stress for college students. Organize your papers, assignments and schedule into one notebook, binder or planner. Have everything you need to complete all of your tasks in one neatly arranged place. Keep only what you absolutely need. Clutter equals stress, and it kills college careers! Throw it out. If it’s very important, someone else will have it for you to make a copy of. Take neat notes and keep all of the information for a particular class separate from all of your other school materials. Also, do most of your homework, papers, and studying in the same place. Find a quite, clean, distraction-free area and make it your organized concentration place.

Habit # 14
“This too shall pass”

No matter how stressed-out you are at any given time, repeat to yourself, “This too shall pass.” Just like any bad rain storm, blizzard, or tornado, your bad relationship break-ups, very hard exams or lengthy public speaking presentations will have a beginning, middle and end. No matter how bad or stressful a situation you’re in, it will pass and your life will be back to normal and even better very soon-because now you’ll have the knowledge and experience of enduring that stressful situation to aid you when the next unpleasant situation comes around.

Please visit: CollegeLifeSecrets.com for all the details. This is only one of 65 amazing chapters taken from the SMASH HIT BOOK * College Success Code EXPOSED! * 100% Life Enhancing Secrets Professors Don’t Know and Parents Can’t Tell! written by renowned author and speaker JOE DE PALMA. Email him at joe@collegelifesecrets.com

Our education begins from the day we’re born. While we don’t immediately plunge into school, we’re constantly exposed to new things that help develop our minds. Academics are only part of our long journey to knowledge.

By the time we enter kindergarten, we are ready to begin the reading and writing aspects, but at a slow and steady pace. Too much too soon can overwhelm and confuse us. When we hit 1st grade, we are more prepared to tackle the nitty gritty. I recall my 1st grade spelling, reading and mathematics, and how they introduced me to a whole new world.

When my daughter was born, I certainly wasn’t thinking about school yet. The formula and diapers kept me pretty preoccupied. Now that she’s seven years old, and in the first grade, academics are a major concern. One thing I noticed right away is that 1st grade spelling and mathematics are slightly different than they used to be. Now this is a good thing.

Schools are constantly pushing our children to learn more at a younger age. The first time my daughter brought home her reading and writing homework, I was amazed at how much she would surely learn the very first year. The little books are a great start to reading well.

In comparison to when I was in 1st grade, 1st grade spelling has hit a new level. I don’t recall dealing with so many words. My daughter is already at a level where she can read the majority of things we see when we go out in public. This is great! Kids now days can even get help with their 1st grade spelling on the Internet.

This is a wonderful tool for kids to grow up with these days. They can certainly take advantage of the various websites that have spelling games and lessons. There are a number of different kinds of software out there for this as well. One thing I love to do is read and write with my daughter on a daily basis in order to help her with her 1st grade spelling, writing and reading. This is always a great idea for any parent. When we work with our children, we really increase their learning abilities and initiative.

If you have a child, you can take advantage of online resources in order to better their academic skills. It is never too early to start teaching our children. Hop online today and see what’s available, and only a mouse click away.

Learn how to teach your child 1st grade spelling

It is not unusual for a person to grow apathetic toward his or her current job. Lack of stimulating work, low pay, and limited growth potential within an organization are all excellent reasons to seek out a way to make a change. One of the best, and easiest, ways to achieve this is to explore furthering your education and training online. This innovative and exciting method of personal and professional improvement has the benefit of allowing you to enhance your career opportunities by either earning a degree or by taking advantage of continuing education options. This is also an ideal option for you if you want to change your career entirely. Education and training can be sought online without interfering with work and family commitments.

In order to get that promotion you’ve been working so hard for, it’s often necessary to further your education and training. Doing so online allows you do achieve your full career potential at your own pace, without interfering with work. In many professions, such as pharmacy, it’s often required to stay up to date with new technologies and pertinent information. A convenient way to do this is to take your continuing education courses online. Some employers are even willing to pay for a portion or all tuition and fees. After all, investing money in their employees can provide long-term benefits for employers.

There are many advantages of choosing an online education and training facility if you wish to further your education and training. There is no need to live near or commute to a school or training facility when all classes can be attended and all coursework submitted online. Attending school online is a great option for those who might have misgivings about going to college as an older student or returning after many years. Furthering your education and training at an online school can make it easier to ease into the routine of class work and projects, an can reduce the stress of feeling the need to fit in with younger college students. Further, the course availability is often convenient for those who work full time and/or care for a family. Frequently, institutions offer evening and weekend sections of courses. It is also very appealing to “go to school” from the comforts of home.

The type of education and training available online is seemingly limitless. The entire spectrum of college degrees is available to a student, including Associate’s, Bachelor’s, and PhD degrees, as well as professional certificates. These degrees are available in many different fields, including Business, Social Sciences, Humanities, Mathematics, Liberal Arts, Fine Arts, and Healthcare programs. In addition to college diplomas, continuing education for professionals is available in many areas, including Healthcare programs, Business, and Information Technology.

Affording to further your education and training online is no different from doing so in a traditional face-to-face institution. Often, financial aid is available to students in the form of grants, loans, and scholarships. It is important to check with the individual institution of interest for requirements and guidelines. Also, many employers may be willing to pay for part or all of an employee’s continuing education. Investing in an employee’s future is also investing in the employer’s future.

The misconception of continuing your education and training online is that the experience might not be as enriching or legitimate as attending face-to-face classes at a traditional college or training facility. Programs offered online present the same opportunities for group work, independent study, and interpersonal communications as their traditional counterparts. In fact, continuing your education online might help to facilitate the learning process as well as develop time management and self-motivation skills. With the prevalence of the Internet and advancements such as teleconferencing in both education and the business world today, it is possible to come away from the experience not only with a degree, but also with greater knowledge and comfort with technology. Continuing your education and training online is a valuable, convenient, and flexible way to broaden your career opportunities.

Learn the essential information for picking the right online degree course at www.higher-education-online.com/education-and-training.html

Black printmakers have a long history in the South African
art world. Many of South Africa’s top Black artists, both past
and present are also printmakers. Black printmakers who
are established artists are survivors of the dysfunctional
society that existed during the apartheid era and are a
constant source of inspiration to a younger generation of
Black printmakers.

There are a few Black printmakers who worked almost
exclusively in print. Among these are the late John
Muafangejo (a Namibian artist), Dan Rakgoathe and
Cyprian Shilakoe. All three artists played a valuable role in
establishing a sound base for future generations of black
printmakers to work on and their work is highly collectable.
All three studied at the Rorkes Drift community art centre.

Rorkes Drift was also the educational home of some of the
country’s top contemporary Black printmakers. Sam
Nhlengethwa, Dumisani Mabaso and Tony Nkotsi all
studied there. These artists continue to work in print and are
involved in teaching the new generation of Black
printmakers that includes Osiah Masekoameng, Trevor
Theloe and Robert Maledu. The latter have all studied and
worked at the Artist Proof studio, which is a community
printmaking centre in Newtown, Johannesburg. The work
produced at the studio tends to have a strong social
message and is a way for the young artists here to explore
issues of culture, tradition, politics and change.

Nhlanhla Xaba was instrumental in establishing the Artist
Proof Studio and until his tragic death in a fire that gutted the
studio was producing some of the finest prints made by any
Black printmaker or by any printmaker in the country for that
matter. To view work by some of these artists
please go to www.artprintsa.com

Tamar Mason, artist and writer focussing on original prints
and investment art in Southren Africa

Feng shui involves more than just colors and where you place your furniture. The astrology side of feng shui is also intriguing. Here are a little background and some predictions for 2005, the Year of the Rooster.

The Chinese calendar started in 2697 BCE when the Yellow King became ruler. Since then, the Chinese calendar has evolved into 60 year cycles with varying strengths, elements, and animal themes that relate to feng shui. Starting on the 9th of February 2005, we are in the Chinese year of the Wood Rooster.

The Rooster’s strength is in how alert he is to change; his weaknesses include his conceit, how much he worries, and how frequently he is vocal when it’s not necessary. For all signs of the Chinese zodiac, this is a good year to let your actions speak for you. When there is a choice, it’s better to remain silent but do very good works that will shine. This is a year to build strong foundations.

The Rooster is symbolized by small metal objects, especially pointed ones including knives and daggers. Assassination attempts involving metal weapons are possible, since a Rooster year is often unsettled, especially in politics.

As a good example, look back 60 years to the last time we had this astrological combination: It was 1945, and the conclusion of World War II. There were still dramatic moments in the war, especially in Japan. However, there were also harsh discoveries when the Allies entered Germany and the world learned the truth of the Nazi concentration camps.

In 2005, expect hidden facts to come to light. Some of them may be shocking. However, this is also a year when metal (the Rooster) is dominated and softened by wood. This is not always a graceful process. The Rooster is also the source of yin fire. There may be some literal metal- or fire-wood conflicts, in which wood is destroyed by fire or by land clearing machinery. However, wood is still in the power position. In 2005, this is a very yin wood, meaning that it tends to be more passive. This does not mean that it is powerless; think in terms of Gandhi.

In health terms, wood symbolizes the neck and back. Especially in 2005, how you sit and sleep will be important; protect your neck and back. The metal of 2005 suggests risks from things falling, as well as reactions to pressure. The liver is also affected this year, but you’re more likely to hear about neck and back injuries. Literally and figuratively, watch your back.

Likewise, the Rooster struts around the barnyard displaying his feathers; conceit will lead to the downfall of some celebrities, and perhaps politicians. Surprising sex scandals may come to light, although–if you’re a good judge of character–these may not be a huge surprise.

The Rooster’s overactive crowing may manifest in a surge of shallow news stories, and continued success with reality shows magnifying everyday events. Don’t understimate how well the media can spin “who cares” moments into circuses that far outlast their barely deserved 15 minutes.

The wood-metal conflicts make extreme home makeover shows a natural, with or without feng shui. And, the Rooster’s loud opinions while not actually raising the chicks himself… well, it’s no surprise that “nanny” shows are in vogue this year.

In business, financial indiscretions (metal/money) and sex scandals are also likely. However, the over all trend will be continued financial improvement, and the summer should be especially good for businesses.

The best investments will be in fire-themed businesses; these include anything related to energy or electricity. You’ll also do well with anything supporting glamour, including entertainment and restaurants. While fire poses a significant risk in 2005, popularity is almost guaranteed for any entertainment that features something like Polynesian fire shows.

Wood-related industries won’t be as stable, including businesses related to fashion, paper magazines, and landscaping. However, don’t confuse stability with growth; over all–with a few high-profile exceptions–these industries should continue to do well through 2005.

A sleeper might be alternative energy; be watchful for innovations in that field. There will be some activity this year, largely unheralded by the media, that is creating a foundation for a resurgence of late 1960s and early 70s ideals. Events and quiet business ventures that transpire this year will lead eventually to greater environmental awareness, and more practical ways to live gently with the land.

In you’re an investor, unless you have nerves of steel, sell stocks when they peak in June or July. Expect volatile stock market action in September. This may lead to unexpected fortunes for a few, but–when the dust settles–will result in only moderate setbacks (at worst) for most stocks. In general, if you can stay calm when the media is making a big deal out of nothing, and don’t lose sleep over rollercoaster stock prices, your investments should be fine through 2005.

All in all, 2005 (through January 2006) will be a year when you’ll do best to guard your health, keep stress to a minimum, and focus your efforts on good works that will speak for you.

This is not a year to launch louder, more eye-catching PR programs. In fact, 2005 is a time to reassess your long-term goals, and begin working hard on creating the necessary foundation to achieve your dreams. It won’t be glamorous and 2005 may not provide great financial rewards.

However, if you focus on what’s really important to you and close to home, you’ll be doing work that will pay you well–more than just financially–for many years to come.

Aisling D’Art is an artist, a writer, and a Feng Shui consultant. She is also BellaOnline’s Feng Shui editor: http://fengshui.bellaonline.com

Visit BellaOnline for more free Feng Shui tips and advice.

Most of us have taken at least one walk down the aisles of Toys “R” Us. There’s no better place than a toy store to observe these truths: Learning is fun. Learning is kid stuff.

Kids are smart enough to reject anything they don’t like, yet many of the most popular toys are dedicated to teaching them something new. Note the tremendous success of the LeapFrog® toys. They teach reading, writing and more, and kids love them.

No matter your age, abilities or income level, you can always be a learner. People who continue to grow and learn are happy - like kids. Here are eight great ways to keep that childlike grin on your face while you learn:

1. Fire Up Your Desire to Learn with Fun

At its best, learning is a form of entertainment. Next time you walk down the toy aisle, notice how many ways the educational toys make learning fun. They use music, color, pictures and physical interaction. How much more interesting is that than sitting for an hour listening to an important but dull lecture? No wonder the really great educational toys are so popular.

Studying a topic that interests you shouldn’t require a double espresso to keep you from falling asleep. If that’s happening, you might have the wrong instructor. Who needs that? Seek out trainers who know how to deliver a message with punch. Not only will you enjoy it more, you’ll want to learn and you’ll retain more of the information.

In my training seminars and conferences, I strive to provide a one-of-a-kind learning experience. I educate with entertainment - music, games, contests and humor. It’s all connected to the topic I’m presenting, and the students’ brains just soak it up. In the process, their careers are reignited, and so is mine.
Education should be entertaining. Commit to having fun while you learn.

2. Keep the Flame of Learning Alive with Variety

Advanced learning is essential. So is brushing your teeth. But just because learning is essential to your career, doesn’t mean it has to be as monotonous as brushing your teeth.

Every day of my life I have fun reading at least one book and often have several open at one time. A few minutes of study on each book keeps my interest stimulated, I retain the material better and I often find myself synthesizing information from the various sources. I also listen to audio programs while driving. Not only is this a fun way to learn and improve myself, it also keeps me calmer and more relaxed in traffic. I tried watching videos, but that seemed to excite the other drivers.

No matter what the subject, you can find a variety of interesting ways to further your knowledge and expertise. Open a book. Listen to an audio presentation. Watch an educational video. Start a study group with other lifetime students.

The same principle applies to the teachers and mentors you learn from. Choose those who have something interesting to say and an interesting way of saying it. Don’t hesitate to have more than one mentor with different experience and teaching styles for different subjects. While one-on-one personalized mentoring is ideal, you’ll find a world of varied and specific information presented by excellent speakers on audio and video. The varied approaches will enable you to better absorb each subject from the most appropriate teacher and will keep you stimulated and eager to learn.

Learning shouldn’t lull you to sleep. Commit to learning from a variety of teachers and choose the learning modes that keep you excited about learning every day.

3. Seek Out Teachers from the Trenches Who Make Learning Fast and Easy

In all my years of education, I’ve discovered that there are basically two ways to learn:

You can choose the hard way, figuring things out on your own by trial and error and making lots of mistakes. You’ll do some of this anyway, but it’s a slow path to success.

OR you can choose the easy way, learning from mentors who have already overcome any challenge you might encounter and already discovered the solution. The right mentor is eager to share those answers with you and set you on a smoother, easier road to knowledge.The best continuing education is immediate and applicable. Going back to college is not the way to change your life’s work. Your best bet is to seek the fast-track education route to business success. You want a nontraditional program designed specifically to deliver the information you need in a form you can use immediately.

All teachers and training programs are not created equal. Learning shouldn’t have to be an uphill struggle. Commit to finding the wildly successful teachers and targeted training programs that can make the process fast and easy for you.

4. Be Willing to Learn from Anyone and Everyone

Never fall into the trap of educational snobbery - “Oh, I have my MBA, JD, PhD, etc., etc. - I couldn’t possibly learn from a secretary.”

I’m open to learning from anyone. Four times a year, 20+ Institute staff members (www.LegalNurse.com) of all levels plus outside consultants gather around our big conference table for a focused, all-day brainstorming session. We work hard on a number of strategically selected topics, and we include frequent breaks for eating and exercise to keep the day interesting and fun. These brainstorm sessions have contributed tremendously to the phenomenal growth of my business.

Not all CEOs agree with my egalitarian take on learning. When I recommended company-wide brainstorming to a CEO group I belonged to, all they saw was the cost of shutting down their businesses for the day. They didn’t understand that an idea from a $12-per-hour employee could launch a new division, service or product, adding tremendous value to the company for years to come.

You’ll find mentors in many guises, from business associates to family members, friends and colleagues. Although I’ve been in my business for more than two decades, I still learn every day - not only from recognized experts, but especially from my students and staff members, outside consultants and vendors, favorite writers and speakers, and other CEOs.

Learning possibilities aren’t limited to “learned” teachers or a classroom setting. Stay open to learning everywhere you go, from everyone you know.

5. Make Sure You Learn the Right Stuff

We ask college students, “What’s your major?” Life is a college of its own, and we all learn every day. The important question to ask yourself is: “Am I learning the things that will make a difference in my life or things that won’t enhance it at all?” For example, are you mastering techniques for expanding your professional skill set or absorbing the intimate details of the characters on a TV sitcom?

Successful people do not major in minor things. Massively successful people focus on learning the right things. Do you want to learn about the life of a movie star or about a topic that will make you the star of your own life?

To be excellent at learning, laser in on the topics you need to succeed. Where you focus is where you get results. If you want big results, focus on Big Things.

6. Make the Most of Every Learning Opportunity - Even Those Disguised as SNAFUs

Life is a learning smorgasbord. Try to learn from every experience, good or bad. Even in a crisis, you can always glean something positive.

I happened to be in New York City in August 2003 and experienced the blackout firsthand. I looked around me and studied others who survived this negative situation in different ways, from children to adults, from doctors to lawyers to hotdog vendors. Through my observations, I learned this lesson, “Don’t let a communication blackout come between you and your clients.” I then wrote an article about this business world application of a SNAFU, and made sure I applied this lesson to my own business.

Life is full of lessons, both large and small. A bad experience is only bad if you don’t learn from it. Commit to learning from each experience, even the “negative” ones.

7. Carve Out the Time for Learning

If continued education still sounds daunting, remember that you don’t need hours a day as you did in college. Commit to reading 30 minutes a day on a topic you find interesting and intriguing. Commit to listen to an audio program while driving or to watch an educational video while exercising.

You’ll also find appropriate classes and other informational material online and even on educational television. Just don’t get sucked into wasting irreplaceable time on the junk that prevails on these media. Subscribe to electronic newsletters that feed your learning in a focused way.

Like any journey, a lifetime of fun and learning starts with the smallest step. Commit to finding the time for learning wherever and whenever you can.

8. Make Learning a Lifetime Priority for Growth and Fun

In today’s information age, believing you can launch or grow a successfulbusiness or career without continuing education is a guarantee of failure. Successful people respect the complexity of their professions. They become students for life.

Researchers say most of us have learned 80% of everything we know by the time we’re eight years old, when we’re still enthralled by every new discovery. How sad is that? I don’t know about you, but I like to think I’m a lot smarter now than when I was eight.

Rekindle that childhood enthusiasm. Pick up a book today. Turn off the TV and tune in to an inspirational speaker. This is the best New Year’s resolution you can make for yourself.

Learning really is kid stuff. Commit to enjoying it. Start today. Be a child again.

Inc. Top 10 Entrepreneur Vickie L. Milazzo, RN, MSN, JD is the founder and president of Vickie Milazzo Institute. She is credited by The New York Times with creating the legal nurse consulting profession in 1982. She is the recipient of the Nursing Excellence Award for Advancing the Profession and the Stevie Award (business’s Oscar) as Mentor of the Year. Vickie has revolutionized the careers of thousands of RNs. She is the author of Inside Every Woman: Using the 10 Strengths You Didn’t Know You Had to Get the Career and Life You Want Now, coming March 2006 from John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Preorder this anticipated bestseller now at www.Amazon.com

Teachers and Counselors: Does it seem to you that you are seeing
more and more seriously emotionally disturbed kids than ever
before? The problem may not be with your perceptions. The
problem may be that in fact, you are seeing more disturbed
children and youth than at any time before.

This article covers some of the updated mental health
information we give out in our popular Problem-Kid
Problem-Solver Workshop ( HREF=http://www.youthchg.com rel="nofollow">http://www.youthchg.com). It’s
data that all teachers and counselors can use.

There are a few explanations for what you may already have
noticed. First, many settings such as schools and Job Corps, are
accepting youth with increasingly serious emotional problems.
Second, mainstreaming has shifted many kids from sheltered or
specialized settings, into mainstream classrooms, sports teams
and scouting troops. Third, and perhaps most important, there
may be, in fact, more and earlier serious emotional disturbances
developing in children. Or, perhaps we are just getting better
at identifying these problems.

Late last year, you may have read in your local newspaper a
summary of the US Surgeon General’s report that noted that an
amazing 1 in 10 children may have a serious mental health
disorder. This report noted that the typical wait for troubled
children to gain an appointment with a mental health
professional was 3 to 4 months. Some communities lack children’s
mental health services entirely, the report also noted. This
report quotes a study that indicated that many children with
severe emotional problems don’t gain proper school services
until age 10. The report emphasizes that many of these troubled
children will wind up in jail, in part because their problems
went unnoticed, or were addressed way too late. The report
advocates for more mental health resources for children, and
better training in children’s mental health for everyone who
works with youth. The Bottom Line: If you are not a mental
health professional, but you work with kids, you may need to
acquire a basic mental health background in order to fully
understand your changing population, and to best serve their
changing needs.

This background will also help you know when to access help from
a mental health professional. There is no substitute for the
expertise of a mental health worker, and if budget cuts have
reduced this option at your site, that is quite serious. A class
like our Breakthrough Strategies Workshop ( HREF=http://www.youthchg.com/live.html rel="nofollow">http://www.youthchg.com/li
ve.html) can help you get the basics, but with the incidence
of severe childhood emotional problems apparently on the rise,
it makes relying on that counselor, social worker, or
psychologist perhaps more important than ever before.

If you are a mental health professional you may also want to
check your skills too. We are always surprised at our workshop
how many mental health professionals confuse conduct disorders
and thought disorders, for example, two basic and essential
mental health concepts.

We also need more groups like IYI in Indiana, and the Family
Resource Centers in Kentucky IYI, the Indiana Youth Institute,
brings hands- on training to everyone involved with youth
including scout troop leaders, faith-based professionals, after
school workers and everyone else involved with kids. Kentucky’s
Family Resource Centers are in just about every school in the
state, ready to assist the student, family, teacher, counselor
or anyone involved in the child’s life to help that child
succeed in school, community, family and life.

Sadly, most of us lack a Family Resource Center worker or an IYI
to turn to. Your challenge becomes, how do I provide my service
to a child with serious emotional problems? Here are a few key
do’s and don’t’s, but be sure to also upgrade your basic mental
health skills if needed.

** Strike the Balance

Especially in this age of widespread, mandated education
performance testing, teachers can feel pressured to get students
to perform and produce. But tests don’t “understand” that a
child has a serious emotional disturbance and make allowances,
but you can. Strive to balance your school or agency’s mission
with the child’s special needs. Keep the goals, but don’t
accomplish them at any cost.

** When I’m Not Sure What to Do

A good general guideline for anytime that you just don’t know
for sure how to work with a child, is ro ask the child. That
child is the expert on that child. If you get no useful
response, a fall-back plan is to consider what would work or not
work with you if you were in that situation.

** But I Have to Be Fair

You may worry that if you give a troubled child extra time to
complete a task, for example, that the other kids will complain
that it is unfair. In the work world, bosses are required to
accommodate employees’ special needs from providing a ramp for a
wheel chair to a sign language interpreter. The ultimate mission
of most youth-serving sites is to prepare the child for the real
world. In the real world, providing some accommodation is either
legally mandated or a common courtesy. Most schools even attempt
to give a bigger desk to a bigger student. Simple human courtesy
and common sense should never be viewed as unfair.

** They Can Take It

Some youth professionals will tell you that the child can “take
it.” The truth is that you have no way of looking into a child
and accurately gauging their resilience. Since kids do not
generally announce that they were beaten last night, or that
they haven’t eaten for two days, you don’t know how fragile or
strong a child actually is. You don’t know whether or not a
child can “take it.” There is a risk that a harsh, embarrassing,
aggressive act could harm or undermine a child. While it is
never okay to yell, demean or humiliate any child for any
reason, it is especially true with children who are severely
troubled.

** These Children Are Manipulating the Adults

While some emotionally disturbed children are very adept at
manipulation, many emotionally disturbed children do not
manipulate at all. There are many types of emotional
disturbances, and each has its own unique dynamics. Because an
adult works differently with different types of students,
tailoring their methods to fit each child and that child’s
unique circumstances, does not mean the adult has been
manipulated. It means that the adult has a sophisticated
understanding of different types of youth and they choose the
correct tools for each type.

For more specific techniques to use with troubled youth,
consider our “Child’s Guide to Surviving in a Troubled Family.”
Find out more about it via our web site (link below).