Why Men Are Happier
This was sent to me by my friend, Michael Aun. Enjoy!

WHY MEN ARE HAPPIER
We men are such simple creatures. Our lives seem to have been simplified by the nature of our sex. What do you expect from such simple creatures? Here are just a few items that come to mind.

Your last name stays put. You don’t have any of this nonsense of changing the name when you get married or adding hyphens.

The garage is all yours. It’s bad enough you have to share 90% of your closet with your better half. You deserve to get 90% of the garage.

Wedding plans take care of themselves. A man’s job is to show up and remember two words- I do! Wedding dress- $5,000. Tux rental- $100.

Chocolate is just another snack like beer or peanuts.

You can be President.

You can wear a white T-shirt to a water park or you can wear NO shirt to a water park.

Car mechanics tell you the truth and you know what they’re talking about.

The world is your bathroom. You never have to drive to another gas station restroom because this one is just too “icky.”

Toilet seats should always remain up. No, we don’t know how to change the toilet paper and we aren’t interested in learning.

You don't have to stop and think of which way to turn a nut on a bolt. None of those nursery rhymes like “lefty loosy and righty tighty.”

Wrinkles add character, and yes, round is a shape.

The occasional well-rendered belch is practically expected and should be applauded. When a group of men get together to watch the race, it closely resembles choir practice.

New shoes don't cut, blister, or mangle your feet.

Men have one mood all the time (in my case, usually a bad mood).

Phone conversations are over in 30 seconds flat. The hello usually goes like this… “Yo, Aun here.” The goodbye… “later.”

Men know stuff about tanks, planes, wars and sports.

A five-day vacation requires only one suitcase. Why do you need to take 10 pair of shoes on a vacation?

Men can open all their own jars. The best advertising gimmick I ever came up with was a rubber jar opener that I give my audiences with the inscription under my picture that says, “Let Mike Turn You Aun.” Bah-dah-boop!

Men get extra credit for the slightest act of thoughtfulness.

If someone forgets to invite you, we forgive them. They can still be our friend. We really didn’t want to go anyway.

Men’s underwear is $14.95 for a three-pack, not $150.

Three pairs of shoes are more than enough.

Men never have strap problems in public.

And we believe, if it itches, it’s okay to scratch it.

Men are unable to see wrinkles in clothes.

Everything on your face stays its original color.

The same hairstyle lasts for years, maybe decades.

You only have to shave your face and neck… and occasionally your back and ears.

Men can play with toys all our lives. Only the price of our toys changes.

Our belly usually hides our hips.

One wallet and one pair of shoes -- one color for all seasons.

Men can wear shorts no matter how our legs look and we can "do" your nails with a pocket knife.

We can do Christmas shopping for 25 relatives on December 24 in 25 minutes.

And, by the way, birthdays, Valentines and anniversaries are just not that big of a deal. A card for her should be sufficient along with some chocolate candy from the 7-11 and we’d be just a pleased if you skip the card and just by us a six pack of beer.

If you ask a question that you don’t want the answer to, expect to get the answer you don’t want to hear.

By the way, foreign films are for foreigners.

No wonder men are happier.

Michael is a very accomplished professional speaker. You may contact him at info@aunline.com

A GREAT RECIPE...
A friend sent this to me. Wish I had written it. We know these things but constantly need to be reminded to do them. Enjoy!

1. Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. And while you walk, smile. It is the ultimate anti-depressant.
2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. Talk to God about what is going on in your life. Buy a lock if you have to.
3. When you wake up in the morning complete the following statement, 'My purpose is to__________ today. I am thankful for______________'
4. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.
5. Drink green tea and plenty of water. Eat blueberries, wild Alaskan salmon, broccoli , almonds & walnuts.
6. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
7. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires, issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
8. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like acollege kid with a maxed out charge card.
9. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
10. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
11. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
12. You are not so important that you have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
13. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
14. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
15. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
16. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: 'In five years, will this matter?'
17. Forgive everyone for everything.
18. What other people think of you is none of your business.
19. GOD heals everything - but you have to ask Him.
20. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
21. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch!!!
22. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
23. Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements: I am thankful for__________. Today I accomplished_________.
24. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.
25. When you are feeling down, start listing your many blessings.You'll be smiling before you know it.

Merry Christmas and God Bless You!

Say Thanks to Our Troops

Look what Xerox is doing. Won't you take just a minute and send a postcard? It is so easy to do you could do it every day.


For the troops in Iraq

XEROX IS DOING SOMETHING GREAT

If you go to this web site, http://www.letssaythanks.com/ you can pick out a thank you card and Xerox will print it and it will be sent to a soldier that is currently serving in Iraq . You can't pick out who gets it, but it will go to a member of the armed services. How AMAZING it would be if we could get everyone we know to send one!!! It is FREE and it only takes a second.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if the soldiers received a bunch of these? Whether you are for or against the war, our soldiers over there need to know we are behind them. This takes just 10 seconds and it's a wonderful way to say thank you. Please take the time and please take the time to pass it on for others to do. We can never say enough thank you's. Thanks for taking to time to support our military!

You Were Dupped

I don't know which is sadder. That Americans allowed the liberal media to elect B. Hussein Obama or that Americans were too lazy to learn anything about him. If you haven't seen it, here is the proof.

http://www.howobamagotelected.com/


If you didn't watch Fox News during the 2-year election ordeal, you were sorely misinformed. The economy is important but the collapse was generated on purpose by a Democratic legislature over the past 2-4 years. You were dupped and voted your pocketbook.

Our forefathers made clear the mission statement of the United States. It is to protect our borders and protect the sanctify of life. Our forefathers also warned us to never vote for anyone who wasn't a strong, committed Christian and who clearly understood the Divine call the United States had - we were even called the "New Jerusalem." It is a sad state of affairs when our highest official neither knows nor cares about the mission statement of the United States.

My son, Adam, is a U.S. Marine currently in Iraq. He and all other military men and women deserved a Commander in Chief with experience and who knows why we are here, where we are going, and how to get there.

The Ideal Workplace
A visitor to my website asked for help in describing the ideal work environment. Here was my response.

The ideal job has a lot to do with your personality/communication style. Assuming you can describe yourself in adjectives, and hopefully since you are applying for a job you know yourself well enough you can, then you can use the same type adjectives to describe the ideal work environment for you.

So if you are a dominant style, your ideal environment will be one that involves high risk, fast paced, quick decision making where you have some control and influence in the outcome.

If you are an interactive style, your ideal environment will be one that involves interaction with a lot of people, are always meeting new and different people, control of your schedule so it is not boring, and very little paperwork.

If you are a supportive style, your ideal environment will be where you have steady routine, no surprises, can complete one project before starting another, and be a team player as opposed to being the leader.

If you are the analyst style, your ideal environment will be where you have time to analyze patterns, solve problems, see things through from start to finish, and know the final outcome of your work/project is correct/right.

Ultimately, you’ll have to answer the question, “why should I hire you?” So be prepared to describe yourself in adjectives.

For more information, here are links to a couple of my articles on the subject.

http://www.imageinsideout.com/ManagementCompanies/JobMisery.htm

http://www.imageinsideout.com/ManagementCompanies/TheIdealWorkplace.htm

http://www.imageinsideout.com/ManagementCompanies/YoungConfidentLookingForAJob.htm

Also, if you cannot describe yourself in adjectives, you need to take advantage of the assessments I offer. They can be accessed on my web site.

http://www.imageinsideout.com/ProfessionalDevelopment/Index.asp#Business

http://www.imageinsideout.com/ProfessionalDevelopment/Index.asp#Personal

http://www.imageinsideout.com/Products/Index.asp

For more resources AND to receive your 10% discount, go to http://www.personality-insights.com/shop?AFFIL=IIOPI
When placing your order, be sure to use the reference code IIOPI.

Adam Meets His Dad in Iraq!

It actually happened. The Marine Corps son met the Army dad. Adam was ecstatic and said it will be an event he will remember for a lifetime.

Please keep our military and their families in your prayers.

Do Over

The air was tense. Grave expressions were on each face. The agenda was sticky. But you made it through the first item without anyone yelling or pounding the table. You knew there could be potential for a lot of emotion at this meeting. But so far, so good. As the chair person you are relieved – at least to this point.

One of your board members, Roland, arrived toward the end of your discussion of the first item. Knowing you have fairly good facilitator skills and wanting to appear open and objective, you turn to give him an opportunity to make comments or ask questions before you move to the next agenda item. Boy was that a mistake.

For the next twenty minutes Roland railed. He spewed. He pointed his finger. He kept pounding the condo documents he had brought with him. The anger was pronounced. In fact, it was out of control. The onslaught continued. He never took a breath. In a calm voice, you kept asking him to quiet down, to stop, to let the meeting continue. He thumped, pounded, pointed, and yelled even more. Other board members were becoming involved. You ask for order. They are now yelling even louder than Roland just trying to be heard. Roland still hasn’t taken a breath. You address him directly but he doesn’t stop. Now Roland and another board member are standing pointing fingers at each other. You are in between. You stand with your arms spread in each of their directions signaling them to stop. Nothing is working. Other board members jump in with comments and accusations that have nothing to do with the agenda. Things are getting personal and nasty. This meeting is going down the tubes, and you’ve gone blank.

Oh, for a “do over.”

To read more about how to handle an out of control meeting, you may read the PDF form at www.flcaj.com.


To use excerpts of the article in your community association newsletter, you may download it FREE from my website at http://www.imageinsideout.com/ManagementCompanies/Index.asp.

Marine Son Meets Army Dad in Iraq in September

Friends and Family, I am asking everyone I know to contact Fox News (friends@foxnews.com) and urge them to cover this story. Feel free to also contact Sean Hannity (hannity@foxnews.com), Bill O'Reilly (oreilly@foxnews.com), Geraldo, Ollie North, and anyone else at Fox News. I am hoping large numbers of e mails will get their attention. Don't worry about making up your own e mail. Just cut and paste mine and say DO IT. MAKE IT HAPPEN.

Steve, Gretchen, Ali, and Brian
I love watching you guys. You’re fair, balanced, informative, and hysterical.This will be a great story. I know you can make it happen.

My son, Adam Howard, is a Sgt. in the Marine Corps and will be heading to Iraq in September. His dad, Roy Howard, is a Lt. Col. in the Army and is presently in Iraq with Central Command. Their deployments will overlap about a month – Adam arriving in September and his dad leaving in October.

Roy plans to rendezvous with Adam sometime during that month time frame. Adam is so excited to see his dad he can hardly wait. The Army dad and the Marine son meet for lunch in Iraq!

Adam will be in Al Asad. It's in Anbar Province, West of Baghdad, 30-45 minutes flying time by helicopter. Western Iraq belongs to what's called Multi National Force - West (MNF-W), which is the Marine Corps. It's still dangerous but one of the quietest areas in Iraq now. That's because the Marine Corps cleaned it out with their blood. The entire area will go down in history; particularly, Marine Corps history on a par with some of their hardest fights. It was that tough.The locals in Al Asad are friendly toward the Marines and have been known to say they'll take one Marine instead of a tank.

By the way, Adam joined the USMC five yeas ago when President Bush declared war because Adam wanted to make a difference. He reenlisted last year. This will be Adam’s first trip to Iraq (he has already had two deployments to South Korea, Philippines, Japan, Okinawa, Guam, Thailand) and he still plans to make a difference. Only now he has 86 other Marines under his command to bring home safely.

It will have been a year since Adam has seen his dad. A story on their reunion would be awesome! YOU can make it happen. Send Geraldo or Ollie! I want pictures for my scrapbook. Who better else to take them and do the story than YOU.

Thank you for your fair and balanced support of our troops!

Betsy (the mom)

Don't Train Your Employees

The DISC and CORE communication assessments and workshops are THE easist and most cost efficient tools to use in training your employees whether they be front line, sales, administrative, middle or top management. These tools are much more user friendly than the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, Keirsey, or the Herrmann Brain Dominance Instrument and are immediately applicable to relationships at work and at home.

You can never know too much about yourself and those around you.

Most people leave their jobs because they can't get along with others, not because they don't have the skills.

If you can say no to all of these, then don't train your employees.

• Employees and clients and customers already communicate with misunderstandings and frustrations
• Employees have had this type training before and know it and use it
• Interoffice misunderstandings and squabbles do not exist
• Co-workers and clients/customers already know how each other makes decisions
• Each employee is assigned the right job description and functions well in his/her role
• Employees already manage their time and projects efficiently
• Employees are handling stress effectively
• Cost and time for training outweighs cost of lost time, profits, and productivity

For more information on training, visit the Workshops and Key Notes page at www.ImageInsideOut.com or call Betsy Barbieux at 352-728-5075.

Sanity, Sanctification, Survival
While the behavior of some people is unexcusable, it does help to understand where that behavior comes from. It helps us not take that unexcusable behavior personally. In David Seamands book, Healing for Damaged Emotions, he says, by their fruit you will know them (Matthew 7:16), but by their roots you will understand them and not judge.

He goes on to remind us that “infirmities” means without strength. Infirmities are not sin. Jesus had infirmities. He was hungry, he was lonely, he was disappointed, he was scared, sad, depressed, and tempted, yet he did not sin in his weakness (infirmities).

Another revelation - the ungrateful servant might not have been ungrateful. He asked for more time to pay the debt but the Master gave him more than he asked for. The Master forgave the entire debt. He didn’t just extend the time to pay. The servant simply did not hear or comprehend that the Master gave him more than he asked for. Our perception of what others say and do is so discolored by our concept of life. It never occurred to the servant that he might receive more than he asked for.

Essential components of a healthy life – a sense of belonging, a sense of worth, and a sense of competence. You belong to God, you are worth the price of Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit provides you with all you need to live and work and relate.

When we look to others to fulfill these three components of a healthy life, we hurt people. Hurt people hurt people.

How Not to Look Old

Overall
Wear only colors that are the correct hue. The hue should match the undertones of the skin on you face which will be varying degrees of warm (golden) or cool (blue or pink).

Make sure the value (lightness or darkness) of the overall outfit matches the value of your hair and eyes. Blonde hair with blue eyes are light and your overall outfit should be in your light to medium colors. Black/brown hair and dark brown eyes are dark and your overall outfit should be in your medium to dark colors. Everything else falls in between!

The fabric of the clothes should match the chroma of your hair, skin, and eyes. If it is shiny, the fabric should be smooth and shiny, patterns should be crisp and clear. If it is matte, the fabric should be textured, a little rough and maybe lumpy, patterns should be soft and edges should bleed.

Hair
Keep your hair off the sides of your face. If you are over 40, no hair should stop at your chin! Hair style is controlled by the shape of your face.

Glasses
The top of the frame should follow your brow line. Your pupil should be in the center of the lens. Glasses frames should be as wide as the widest part of your face which might be your jaw area. Generally, rimless on the bottom is best. Metal and colors should be in your hue and chroma.

Cheeks
Apply blush from the top down. Start at the hairline even with your eye. Make a downward crescent stroke stopping before you reach the area under the center of your pupil. Never put blush on the apple of your cheek and brush upward.

Lips
Wear lipstick in your correct hue, value and chroma. Lipstick is for your eyes. It makes them stand out. Never leave home without it and reapply as often as needed.

Neckline
If your face is rectangle, square, pear or oblong use a V neckline. If your face is oval, diamond or heart use the boat, square, and scoop. With some modifications using jewelry, most face shapes can wear the jewel.

Hip and Thigh Area
Jackets and tops should stop either above or below the widest part.

Legs
All hems should stop at the narrowest part of your leg which is usually the knee area and any place below the calf.

Feet
Skirt shoes have a concave throat. They may be worn with pants. Pants shoes have a tongue or straps that go up the arch of the foot. Shoes that have ankle straps are pants shoes. Pants shoes should never be worn with skirts.

To make sure you know how not to look old, call or click Betsy now for an image makeover - 352/728-5075 or Betsy@ImageInsideOut.com

Time to Spring Clean!

While you are sprucing up your house, garage, and yard, don't forget to polish up on your relationship skills.

Call Betsy when you:
-Need to train your staff or board of directors to work better together
-Want to improve communications with your customers
-Are having difficulty getting along with another person (co-worker or family member)
-Can’t seem to manage your time and projects
-Just can’t get dressed

Call or click 352/728-5075 or Betsy@ImageInsideOut.com

Because she is a trained behavior specialist and certified image consultant, Betsy can help. She’ll spend some time listening so she can understand your goals and give you the best strategies to improve your issues.

Her strategies can:
-Reduce the strife at work
-Make customers happier
-Improve a relationship
-Provide tools for meeting your deadlines
-Show you how to look great

Do more than just survive. Thrive!

Time with Betsy can take you from good to great in your personal and professional development.

Call or click 352/728-5075 or Betsy@ImageInsideOut.com or visit her web site for detailed descriptions of her services. www.ImageInsideOut.com

PRESS RELEASE

NAPEW
National Association of Professional & Executive Women


Betsy Barbieux

Inducted into the NAPEW “Women of Excellence” Registry

Leesburg, Florida – December 17, 2007 – The National Association of Professional and Executive Women recognizes Betsy Barbieux, owner of Image Inside & Out, for her commitment to excellence. Her induction into the “Women of Excellence” Registry acknowledges her success and professional achievements. The National Association of Professional and Executive Women is dedicated to providing the networking resources, education, and marketing services necessary to empower professional and executive women nationwide.

Ms. Barbieux has an impressive background in the consulting and coaching industry. It is her expertise in human behavior that enhances the professional services provided by her business. Image Inside & Out provides professional development, training, coaching and consulting. Ms. Barbieux handles business management and is an image consultant and behavior specialist. She works diligently to maintain its outstanding reputation and takes pride in the excellent service they provide.

As a leader who has been very successful in her field for 13 years, Ms. Barbieux attributes her personal and professional success to perseverance and her faith. She became involved in her profession after she received training from churches. She then opened her own business. The highlight of her career has been receiving the Rosita Perez Spirit Award from the Central Florida Speakers Association in 2007.

Ms. Barbieux is affiliated with several organizations including the National Speakers Association, NSA/Central Florida, American Association of Christian Counselors, Leesburg Chamber of Commerce, Altrusa International, Leesburg Partnership, and is the specialist for the Florida Baptist Convention for support groups and dysfunctional behavior. She is a featured columnist for The Florida Community Association Journal. She performs charity work through Altrusa International, children causes and her church.

In her spare time she enjoys reading at the pool, hiking, and walking the beach.

Contact: Betsy Barbieux 352/728-5075 or Betsy@ImageInsideOut.com

IMMEDIATE RELEASE