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Friday, January 2, 2009
Monday, December 8, 2008
The Qualities of Skillful Leadership
By Jim Rohn
If you want to be a leader who attracts quality people, the key is to become a person of quality yourself. Leadership is the ability to attract someone to the gifts, skills, and opportunities you offer as an owner, as a manager, as a parent. I call leadership the great challenge of life.
What's important in leadership is refining your skills. All great leaders keep working on themselves until they become effective. Here are some specifics:
1) Learn to be strong but not rude. It is an extra step you must take to become a powerful, capable leader with a wide range of reach. Some people mistake rudeness for strength. It's not even a good substitute.
2) Learn to be kind but not weak. We must not mistake kindness for weakness. Kindness isn't weak. Kindness is a certain type of strength. We must be kind enough to tell somebody the truth. We must be kind enough and considerate enough to lay it on the line. We must be kind enough to tell it like it is and not deal in delusion.
3) Learn to be bold but not a bully. It takes boldness to win the day. To build your influence, you've got to walk in front of your group. You've got to be willing to take the first arrow, tackle the first problem, discover the first sign of trouble.
4) You've got to learn to be humble, but not timid. You can't get to the high life by being timid. Some people mistake timidity for humility. Humility is almost a God-like word. A sense of awe. A sense of wonder. An awareness of the human soul and spirit. An understanding that there is something unique about the human drama versus the rest of life. Humility is a grasp of the distance between us and the stars, yet having the feeling that we're part of the stars. So humility is a virtue; but timidity is a disease. Timidity is an affliction. It can be cured, but it is a problem.
5) Be proud but not arrogant. It takes pride to win the day. It takes pride to build your ambition. It takes pride in community. It takes pride in cause, in accomplishment. But the key to becoming a good leader is being proud without being arrogant. In fact, I believe the worst kind of arrogance is arrogance from ignorance. It's when you don't know that you don't know. Now that kind of arrogance is intolerable. If someone is smart and arrogant, we can tolerate that. But if someone is ignorant and arrogant, that's just too much to take.
6) Develop humor without folly. That's important for a leader. In leadership, we learn that it's okay to be witty, but not silly. It's okay to be fun, but not foolish.
Lastly, deal in realities. Deal in truth. Save yourself the agony. Just accept life like it is. Life is unique. Some people call it tragic, but I'd like to think it's unique. The whole drama of life is unique. It's fascinating. And I've found that the skills that work well for one leader may not work at all for another. But the fundamental skills of leadership can be adapted to work well for just about everyone: at work, in the community, and at home.
Click here to review the SFI Home Business and use these qualities of skillful leadership for personal and business success.
If you want to be a leader who attracts quality people, the key is to become a person of quality yourself. Leadership is the ability to attract someone to the gifts, skills, and opportunities you offer as an owner, as a manager, as a parent. I call leadership the great challenge of life.
What's important in leadership is refining your skills. All great leaders keep working on themselves until they become effective. Here are some specifics:
1) Learn to be strong but not rude. It is an extra step you must take to become a powerful, capable leader with a wide range of reach. Some people mistake rudeness for strength. It's not even a good substitute.
2) Learn to be kind but not weak. We must not mistake kindness for weakness. Kindness isn't weak. Kindness is a certain type of strength. We must be kind enough to tell somebody the truth. We must be kind enough and considerate enough to lay it on the line. We must be kind enough to tell it like it is and not deal in delusion.
3) Learn to be bold but not a bully. It takes boldness to win the day. To build your influence, you've got to walk in front of your group. You've got to be willing to take the first arrow, tackle the first problem, discover the first sign of trouble.
4) You've got to learn to be humble, but not timid. You can't get to the high life by being timid. Some people mistake timidity for humility. Humility is almost a God-like word. A sense of awe. A sense of wonder. An awareness of the human soul and spirit. An understanding that there is something unique about the human drama versus the rest of life. Humility is a grasp of the distance between us and the stars, yet having the feeling that we're part of the stars. So humility is a virtue; but timidity is a disease. Timidity is an affliction. It can be cured, but it is a problem.
5) Be proud but not arrogant. It takes pride to win the day. It takes pride to build your ambition. It takes pride in community. It takes pride in cause, in accomplishment. But the key to becoming a good leader is being proud without being arrogant. In fact, I believe the worst kind of arrogance is arrogance from ignorance. It's when you don't know that you don't know. Now that kind of arrogance is intolerable. If someone is smart and arrogant, we can tolerate that. But if someone is ignorant and arrogant, that's just too much to take.
6) Develop humor without folly. That's important for a leader. In leadership, we learn that it's okay to be witty, but not silly. It's okay to be fun, but not foolish.
Lastly, deal in realities. Deal in truth. Save yourself the agony. Just accept life like it is. Life is unique. Some people call it tragic, but I'd like to think it's unique. The whole drama of life is unique. It's fascinating. And I've found that the skills that work well for one leader may not work at all for another. But the fundamental skills of leadership can be adapted to work well for just about everyone: at work, in the community, and at home.
Click here to review the SFI Home Business and use these qualities of skillful leadership for personal and business success.
Friday, December 5, 2008
Ten Steps To Goal Getting
By Zig Ziglar
These ten steps will help you achieve your goals in 2009.
1. Make the commitment to reach your goal. "One person with a commitment is worth a hundred who only have an interest." Mary Crowley.
2. Commit yourself to detailed accountability. Record your progress toward your goals every night, and list the six most important things you need to do the next day. Daily discipline is the key to reaching your goals.
3. Build your life on a sold foundation of honesty, character, integrity, trust, love, and loyalty. This foundation will give you an honest shot at reaching any goal you have set properly.
4. Break your intermediate and long-range goals into increments.
5. Be prepared to change. You can't control the weather, inflation, interest rates, Wall Street, etc. Change your decision to move toward a goal carefully--but be willing to change your direction to get there as conditions and circumstances demand.
6. Share your "give-up" goals (i.e., give up smoking, being rude, procrastinating, being late, eating too much, etc.) with many people. Chances are excellent they're going to encourage you.
7. Become a team player. Remember: You can have everything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want.
8. See the reaching. In your imagination see yourself receiving that diploma, getting that job or promotion, making that speech, moving into the home of your dreams, achieving that weight-loss goal, etc.
9. Each time you reach a goal your confidence will grow so that you can do bigger and better things. After accomplishing any goal, record it in your journal, Weekly Planner or Palm Pilot.
10. Remember, what you get by reaching your destination isn't nearly as important as what you become by reaching your goals--what you will become is the winner you were born to be!
Click here to review the SFI Home Business and set your 2009 goals now for your success.
These ten steps will help you achieve your goals in 2009.
1. Make the commitment to reach your goal. "One person with a commitment is worth a hundred who only have an interest." Mary Crowley.
2. Commit yourself to detailed accountability. Record your progress toward your goals every night, and list the six most important things you need to do the next day. Daily discipline is the key to reaching your goals.
3. Build your life on a sold foundation of honesty, character, integrity, trust, love, and loyalty. This foundation will give you an honest shot at reaching any goal you have set properly.
4. Break your intermediate and long-range goals into increments.
5. Be prepared to change. You can't control the weather, inflation, interest rates, Wall Street, etc. Change your decision to move toward a goal carefully--but be willing to change your direction to get there as conditions and circumstances demand.
6. Share your "give-up" goals (i.e., give up smoking, being rude, procrastinating, being late, eating too much, etc.) with many people. Chances are excellent they're going to encourage you.
7. Become a team player. Remember: You can have everything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want.
8. See the reaching. In your imagination see yourself receiving that diploma, getting that job or promotion, making that speech, moving into the home of your dreams, achieving that weight-loss goal, etc.
9. Each time you reach a goal your confidence will grow so that you can do bigger and better things. After accomplishing any goal, record it in your journal, Weekly Planner or Palm Pilot.
10. Remember, what you get by reaching your destination isn't nearly as important as what you become by reaching your goals--what you will become is the winner you were born to be!
Click here to review the SFI Home Business and set your 2009 goals now for your success.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Getting the Big Picture: Some Rules of the Road
Are you happy with your place in life? Not living the life you were intended can be more stressful than a faltering 401(k), says Andrew Sherman, author of the new book, Road Rules, 12 Essential Rules for Navigating the Road of Life.
"While it's very frustrating when the market is down, it does not measure your effectiveness as a parent, spouse, friend or sibling," Sherman says. "It's just one gauge. We need to remind ourselves of that from time to time."
"If you don't like your life, recast your story. We are a great country and we have great resources to change our lives if we want," he says. "Write your own story."
A lawyer and expert in strategic business growth, Sherman says that even if people aren't entrepreneurs, they can apply the principles of entrepreneurship to their lives "and develop a vision of something larger."
Here's what he says you can do now:
Establish clarity of vision; know where you're going.
Have the right cargo and passengers; surround yourself with the right resources and team.
Have a finely tuned engine; have good mental and physical health.
Make sure you have a full tank of gas; have energy, enthusiasm and passion.
Establish a plan of navigation; have a game plan for your life.
Define your destination; have goals and a source of purpose.
Have an unobstructed ability to use rearview mirrors; keep your past and experiences in your mind, but don't let them define you.
Understand the needs of other drivers; share the road.
Click here to review the SFI Home Business and help yourself and others in the big picture of life.
"While it's very frustrating when the market is down, it does not measure your effectiveness as a parent, spouse, friend or sibling," Sherman says. "It's just one gauge. We need to remind ourselves of that from time to time."
"If you don't like your life, recast your story. We are a great country and we have great resources to change our lives if we want," he says. "Write your own story."
A lawyer and expert in strategic business growth, Sherman says that even if people aren't entrepreneurs, they can apply the principles of entrepreneurship to their lives "and develop a vision of something larger."
Here's what he says you can do now:
Establish clarity of vision; know where you're going.
Have the right cargo and passengers; surround yourself with the right resources and team.
Have a finely tuned engine; have good mental and physical health.
Make sure you have a full tank of gas; have energy, enthusiasm and passion.
Establish a plan of navigation; have a game plan for your life.
Define your destination; have goals and a source of purpose.
Have an unobstructed ability to use rearview mirrors; keep your past and experiences in your mind, but don't let them define you.
Understand the needs of other drivers; share the road.
Click here to review the SFI Home Business and help yourself and others in the big picture of life.
Monday, December 1, 2008
The Key to Influencing Others
Do Nice Things For Others
One of the best ways to influence someone is to do something nice for him. I know many successful salespeople who make a habit of taking their prospects out to breakfast or lunch. During the breakfast or lunch, they do not talk about their products or services unless the client brings it up. They merely make small talk, ask questions and listen. They work on building trust, and they work on establishing a friendly relationship. At the end of the breakfast or lunch, they tell the prospect that they will be getting in touch with him sometime in the future with the possibility of talking to him about helping him in some way.
See Them As Friends and Partners
The best salespeople and businesspeople in America today are those who look upon their customers and prospective customers as friends and partners. They always look for ways to help their partners improve their lives in ways that are not directly related to the products or services they sell. They sow seeds, and they reap a harvest. They trigger a desire in people to reciprocate. When the time comes for those salespeople to approach their prospects with the possibility of buying their products or services, the prospects are wide open to the questions and inputs of the salespeople. The prospects have a deep-down desire to reciprocate.
Customers for Life
The highest paid salespeople and the most profitable companies have the best reputation for customer service. You learn a series of low-cost, no-cost ways to get customers to buy from you, buy again, and tell their friends.
Send Thank You Notes
One of the best ways to use this principle in your interactions is to continually look for ways to say and do positive things for people. Look for ways to do kind acts and favors for your friends and prospects. Send thank-you notes. Send birthday cards. Send clippings from newspapers about subjects that you feel may be of interest to them. Always keep your promises, and follow up on your commitments. Always do what you say you will do. Do everything possible to put in, knowing confidently that you will ultimately be able to get out far more. You will reap if you sow.
Be A Go-Giver Rather Than A Go-Getter
Someone has observed that no one ever built a statue to a person to acknowledge what he or she got out of life. Statues are built only to people to acknowledge what they gave. The most powerful, influential and successful people you will ever meet always look for ways to do nice things for others. When you meet someone under almost any circumstance, one of the best questions you can ask is this: "Is there anything that I can do for you?" Always look for ways to put in rather than to take out. The successful man or woman of today is a "go-giver" as well as a go-getter.
Be Open and Empathetic
The more that people feel that you are open and empathetic and sensitive to their needs and concerns, the more open they will be to your influencing them positively in some way. And the more you can influence others with the power and impact of your personality, the more you will accomplish, and the faster you will accomplish it. The more rapidly you will move toward the great success that you desire and deserve.
Action Exercises
Here are two things you can do immediately to put these ideas into action.
First, look for ways to do nice things for other people, especially your family, friends, and customers. The more nice things you do for others, the better you feel about yourself.
Second, take time to really listen to people, especially your staff and coworkers. The more and better you listen to others, the greater is your influence over them.
Click here to review the SFI Home Business and influence others for everyone's success in life!
One of the best ways to influence someone is to do something nice for him. I know many successful salespeople who make a habit of taking their prospects out to breakfast or lunch. During the breakfast or lunch, they do not talk about their products or services unless the client brings it up. They merely make small talk, ask questions and listen. They work on building trust, and they work on establishing a friendly relationship. At the end of the breakfast or lunch, they tell the prospect that they will be getting in touch with him sometime in the future with the possibility of talking to him about helping him in some way.
See Them As Friends and Partners
The best salespeople and businesspeople in America today are those who look upon their customers and prospective customers as friends and partners. They always look for ways to help their partners improve their lives in ways that are not directly related to the products or services they sell. They sow seeds, and they reap a harvest. They trigger a desire in people to reciprocate. When the time comes for those salespeople to approach their prospects with the possibility of buying their products or services, the prospects are wide open to the questions and inputs of the salespeople. The prospects have a deep-down desire to reciprocate.
Customers for Life
The highest paid salespeople and the most profitable companies have the best reputation for customer service. You learn a series of low-cost, no-cost ways to get customers to buy from you, buy again, and tell their friends.
Send Thank You Notes
One of the best ways to use this principle in your interactions is to continually look for ways to say and do positive things for people. Look for ways to do kind acts and favors for your friends and prospects. Send thank-you notes. Send birthday cards. Send clippings from newspapers about subjects that you feel may be of interest to them. Always keep your promises, and follow up on your commitments. Always do what you say you will do. Do everything possible to put in, knowing confidently that you will ultimately be able to get out far more. You will reap if you sow.
Be A Go-Giver Rather Than A Go-Getter
Someone has observed that no one ever built a statue to a person to acknowledge what he or she got out of life. Statues are built only to people to acknowledge what they gave. The most powerful, influential and successful people you will ever meet always look for ways to do nice things for others. When you meet someone under almost any circumstance, one of the best questions you can ask is this: "Is there anything that I can do for you?" Always look for ways to put in rather than to take out. The successful man or woman of today is a "go-giver" as well as a go-getter.
Be Open and Empathetic
The more that people feel that you are open and empathetic and sensitive to their needs and concerns, the more open they will be to your influencing them positively in some way. And the more you can influence others with the power and impact of your personality, the more you will accomplish, and the faster you will accomplish it. The more rapidly you will move toward the great success that you desire and deserve.
Action Exercises
Here are two things you can do immediately to put these ideas into action.
First, look for ways to do nice things for other people, especially your family, friends, and customers. The more nice things you do for others, the better you feel about yourself.
Second, take time to really listen to people, especially your staff and coworkers. The more and better you listen to others, the greater is your influence over them.
Click here to review the SFI Home Business and influence others for everyone's success in life!
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Talking Turkey: Get the Best From Your Bird
Thanksgiving Day is an American holiday, but everyone around the world can celebrate Thanksgiving. Its about having an "Attitude of Gratitude" everyday. Thanking your God and the Universe for the blessings you have right now, and the ones you wish and want for your future.
Starting your day with the attitude of gratitude and giving thanks is one of the best things you can do put yourself in state of mind for positive success for yourself, and everyone around you. Please do it everyday and share the same with others. We all have much to be grateful for.
Thank you very much for reading this, and now enjoy your Thanksgiving Turkey dinner! God Bless You Always.
Experts tips for buying and cooking a tasty turkey.
Thanksgiving Day is a time-honored American tradition, a time for family gatherings and a holiday meal that encourages over-the-top decadence. And for many (some 97% of us), the thought of a Thanksgiving without turkey is heresy. We gobble up roughly 45 million turkeys to celebrate the annual holiday.
To help make sure your Thanksgiving dinner is safe, nutritious, and delicious, we asked the experts for some timely turkey tips.
A Little Background
The tom turkey, the larger male bird decorated with colorful plumage, has a long wattle -- a fleshy, wrinkled fold of skin hanging down from the throat -- and is known for his trademark "gobble." The hens are smaller and less colorful than the males, and make only a clicking sound.
Both males and females are raised extensively for their excellent meat (and for eggs). The most common breeds in the United States are the Bronze, Narragansett, White Holland, and Bourbon Red.
We've all heard the legend about the first Thanksgiving: After a tough first year in America in 1621, the Pilgrims celebrated a successful fall harvest of fruits, corn, and other vegetables. They had beaten the odds, and for that, they were mighty thankful. The Pilgrims' Governor William Bradford proclaimed a day to give thanks that was shared by the new colonists and their Native American neighbors.
The tradition continued each year after the harvest, and in the late 1770s, the Continental Congress suggested a national Thanksgiving day. In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed Thanksgiving a national holiday. (President Franklin D. Roosevelt later declared that the holiday would be celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November.)
Turkey Prep 101
For most of us, there's no doubt that a turkey will be the centerpiece of our Thanksgiving feast. The only question: Should we buy it fresh or frozen?
Frozen birds tend to be less expensive, but they require more time to defrost properly.
"If you have the room to defrost a frozen turkey in your refrigerator, plan on one day to thaw [each] 4-5 pounds," recommends culinary nutritionist Jackie Newgent. Place the wrapped bird on a tray on the bottom shelf of your refrigerator so the juices won't contaminate other foods.
Another safe method of defrosting is to submerge the bird, breast side down, in cold water, and change the water every 30 minutes. With this method, thawing takes approximately 30 minutes per pound.
"Defrosting in the sink is time-consuming, and if you don't change the water to keep it cold, you risk the chance of bacterial contamination," advises Newgent.
For purists, nothing can compare with the mouth-watering aromas of slowly roasting a turkey to golden perfection in the oven. Deep-frying is a popular alternative cooking method, though it requires the right equipment and lots of oil.
If you prefer the crispy fried version, don't worry about the extra fat calories, says registered dietitian Newgent: "Thanksgiving only happens once a year, so just go for it and enjoy!"
Some basic turkey-cooking tips:
Buy 1 pound of turkey per person. That will allow plenty for the feast and leftovers, too.
Make sure the bird is completely thawed before cooking; otherwise, it will not cook uniformly.
Cook the turkey to the proper temperature. A meat thermometer is the only way to ensure proper cooking to 180 degrees. Place the thermometer deep into the thigh, without touching the bone.
Slowly cooking the turkey at 325 degrees will result in the most moist and delicious meat. Higher temperatures can overcook or dry out the bird.
Rub the bird with olive oil and season lightly with salt, pepper, onion and garlic powders, and a little sage. The rest of the meal is so flavorful that you shouldn't overpower the bird with heavy seasonings, Newgent says.
Baste oven-baked birds with their juices and a little butter for added moistness and rich color.
Cover the drumsticks and breast with foil when the bird is two-thirds done to prevent drying and scorching.
Plan to take advantage of all cooking surfaces when you prepare the meal. Use shallow baking dishes that fit on an oven shelf under the turkey. Prepare other dishes on the stovetop and in the microwave.
Safety First
It's always important to follow safe food handling practices to reduce the risk of food-borne illness. This year, consumers may also be worried about the potential for bird flu in their turkeys. But the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service reassures us that bird flu (avian influenza) is not transmissible by eating poultry.
The real concern, as always, is viruses and bacterial contamination. So keep these safety tips in mind on Thanksgiving (and anytime you're preparing food):
Wash your hands thoroughly before and after handling food.
Prevent cross-contamination by keeping raw foods separate from cooked foods.
Wash hands, cutting boards, utensils, sink, countertops and anything that comes in contact with raw turkey with hot, soapy water.
Sanitize cutting boards with a weak bleach solution (1 teaspoon bleach in 1 quart water).
To Stuff or Not to Stuff?
In many families, stuffing the bird has long been the preferred method of cooking. But the Department of Agriculture advises against this practice because of the risk of food-borne illness.
"It is difficult for the stuffing to reach the internal temperature of 165 degrees even when the meat is done," warns Diane Van, USDA meat and poultry hotline manager.
So instead of putting the stuffing inside the bird, experts advise, cook it separately in a casserole dish.
Cooking Time
The National Turkey Federation and USDA suggest following these guidelines -- along with using a meat thermometer -- when roasting an unstuffed bird:
8-12 pounds: 2 3/4 to 3 hours
12-14 pounds: 3 to 3 3/4 hours
14-18 pounds: 3 3/4 to 4 1/4 hours
18-20 pounds: 4 1/4 to 4 1/2 hours
20-24 pounds: 4 1/2 to 5 hours
As you prepare for your upcoming celebration, keep these safety and preparation tips in mind to make sure you enjoy a happy and healthy holiday.
Starting your day with the attitude of gratitude and giving thanks is one of the best things you can do put yourself in state of mind for positive success for yourself, and everyone around you. Please do it everyday and share the same with others. We all have much to be grateful for.
Thank you very much for reading this, and now enjoy your Thanksgiving Turkey dinner! God Bless You Always.
Experts tips for buying and cooking a tasty turkey.
Thanksgiving Day is a time-honored American tradition, a time for family gatherings and a holiday meal that encourages over-the-top decadence. And for many (some 97% of us), the thought of a Thanksgiving without turkey is heresy. We gobble up roughly 45 million turkeys to celebrate the annual holiday.
To help make sure your Thanksgiving dinner is safe, nutritious, and delicious, we asked the experts for some timely turkey tips.
A Little Background
The tom turkey, the larger male bird decorated with colorful plumage, has a long wattle -- a fleshy, wrinkled fold of skin hanging down from the throat -- and is known for his trademark "gobble." The hens are smaller and less colorful than the males, and make only a clicking sound.
Both males and females are raised extensively for their excellent meat (and for eggs). The most common breeds in the United States are the Bronze, Narragansett, White Holland, and Bourbon Red.
We've all heard the legend about the first Thanksgiving: After a tough first year in America in 1621, the Pilgrims celebrated a successful fall harvest of fruits, corn, and other vegetables. They had beaten the odds, and for that, they were mighty thankful. The Pilgrims' Governor William Bradford proclaimed a day to give thanks that was shared by the new colonists and their Native American neighbors.
The tradition continued each year after the harvest, and in the late 1770s, the Continental Congress suggested a national Thanksgiving day. In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed Thanksgiving a national holiday. (President Franklin D. Roosevelt later declared that the holiday would be celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November.)
Turkey Prep 101
For most of us, there's no doubt that a turkey will be the centerpiece of our Thanksgiving feast. The only question: Should we buy it fresh or frozen?
Frozen birds tend to be less expensive, but they require more time to defrost properly.
"If you have the room to defrost a frozen turkey in your refrigerator, plan on one day to thaw [each] 4-5 pounds," recommends culinary nutritionist Jackie Newgent. Place the wrapped bird on a tray on the bottom shelf of your refrigerator so the juices won't contaminate other foods.
Another safe method of defrosting is to submerge the bird, breast side down, in cold water, and change the water every 30 minutes. With this method, thawing takes approximately 30 minutes per pound.
"Defrosting in the sink is time-consuming, and if you don't change the water to keep it cold, you risk the chance of bacterial contamination," advises Newgent.
For purists, nothing can compare with the mouth-watering aromas of slowly roasting a turkey to golden perfection in the oven. Deep-frying is a popular alternative cooking method, though it requires the right equipment and lots of oil.
If you prefer the crispy fried version, don't worry about the extra fat calories, says registered dietitian Newgent: "Thanksgiving only happens once a year, so just go for it and enjoy!"
Some basic turkey-cooking tips:
Buy 1 pound of turkey per person. That will allow plenty for the feast and leftovers, too.
Make sure the bird is completely thawed before cooking; otherwise, it will not cook uniformly.
Cook the turkey to the proper temperature. A meat thermometer is the only way to ensure proper cooking to 180 degrees. Place the thermometer deep into the thigh, without touching the bone.
Slowly cooking the turkey at 325 degrees will result in the most moist and delicious meat. Higher temperatures can overcook or dry out the bird.
Rub the bird with olive oil and season lightly with salt, pepper, onion and garlic powders, and a little sage. The rest of the meal is so flavorful that you shouldn't overpower the bird with heavy seasonings, Newgent says.
Baste oven-baked birds with their juices and a little butter for added moistness and rich color.
Cover the drumsticks and breast with foil when the bird is two-thirds done to prevent drying and scorching.
Plan to take advantage of all cooking surfaces when you prepare the meal. Use shallow baking dishes that fit on an oven shelf under the turkey. Prepare other dishes on the stovetop and in the microwave.
Safety First
It's always important to follow safe food handling practices to reduce the risk of food-borne illness. This year, consumers may also be worried about the potential for bird flu in their turkeys. But the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service reassures us that bird flu (avian influenza) is not transmissible by eating poultry.
The real concern, as always, is viruses and bacterial contamination. So keep these safety tips in mind on Thanksgiving (and anytime you're preparing food):
Wash your hands thoroughly before and after handling food.
Prevent cross-contamination by keeping raw foods separate from cooked foods.
Wash hands, cutting boards, utensils, sink, countertops and anything that comes in contact with raw turkey with hot, soapy water.
Sanitize cutting boards with a weak bleach solution (1 teaspoon bleach in 1 quart water).
To Stuff or Not to Stuff?
In many families, stuffing the bird has long been the preferred method of cooking. But the Department of Agriculture advises against this practice because of the risk of food-borne illness.
"It is difficult for the stuffing to reach the internal temperature of 165 degrees even when the meat is done," warns Diane Van, USDA meat and poultry hotline manager.
So instead of putting the stuffing inside the bird, experts advise, cook it separately in a casserole dish.
Cooking Time
The National Turkey Federation and USDA suggest following these guidelines -- along with using a meat thermometer -- when roasting an unstuffed bird:
8-12 pounds: 2 3/4 to 3 hours
12-14 pounds: 3 to 3 3/4 hours
14-18 pounds: 3 3/4 to 4 1/4 hours
18-20 pounds: 4 1/4 to 4 1/2 hours
20-24 pounds: 4 1/2 to 5 hours
As you prepare for your upcoming celebration, keep these safety and preparation tips in mind to make sure you enjoy a happy and healthy holiday.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Dreams are Magic Sparks
By Vic Johnson - Excerpted from Day by Day with James Allen
"Dreams are the seedlings of realities." - As A Man Thinketh
Look slowly around you. All that you see at this moment was one day but someone's dream - a "seedling of the reality" it was to become. In our lifetime we have benefited greatly from the dreams of so many.
Mandela, Mother Teresa, Einstein, Gandhi, Spielberg, Disney, Gates and the list could go on and on and on -- all began with a dream. Who could forget one of the most powerful speeches of all time by Dr. Martin Luther King, "I Have a Dream". While we haven't become the color-blind society we should be, go back and read the speech and see how far we've come since Dr. King first spoke those "seedlings" into reality.
At the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, Celine Dion performed a song called The Power of the Dream.
"Deep within each heart,
There lies a magic spark,
That lights the fire of our imagination…
Your mind will take you far
The rest is just pure heart,
You'll find your fate is all your own creation."
Sounds a lot like James Allen, doesn't it?
So maybe you don't see yourself as a Mandela or Mother Teresa. But if you haven't already discovered it, deep inside you there is a dream. It was put there by the one who created you, as we are told in Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know the plans I have for you, plans to give you hope and a future."
Ralph Marston, whose Daily Motivator has brightened my day for some time now, writes, "On a regular basis, take time to imagine the very best that life can be. Step aside for a moment from the day-to-day concerns of life. Re-establish contact with your highest goals and most treasured dreams. Remind yourself of the beautiful possibilities that life holds for you. Renew your determination to bring them to fruition.
"Spend some quality time with your dreams. They are real to the extent that you value them. To the extent that you commit to them and work for them, they will come true."
The final verse of Celine's song ends with:
"There's so much strength in all of us,
Every woman, child and man,
It's the moment that you think you can't,
You'll discover that you can."
And that's worth thinking about.
Click here to review the SFI Home Business and create your dreams with magic sparks for your success!
"Dreams are the seedlings of realities." - As A Man Thinketh
Look slowly around you. All that you see at this moment was one day but someone's dream - a "seedling of the reality" it was to become. In our lifetime we have benefited greatly from the dreams of so many.
Mandela, Mother Teresa, Einstein, Gandhi, Spielberg, Disney, Gates and the list could go on and on and on -- all began with a dream. Who could forget one of the most powerful speeches of all time by Dr. Martin Luther King, "I Have a Dream". While we haven't become the color-blind society we should be, go back and read the speech and see how far we've come since Dr. King first spoke those "seedlings" into reality.
At the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, Celine Dion performed a song called The Power of the Dream.
"Deep within each heart,
There lies a magic spark,
That lights the fire of our imagination…
Your mind will take you far
The rest is just pure heart,
You'll find your fate is all your own creation."
Sounds a lot like James Allen, doesn't it?
So maybe you don't see yourself as a Mandela or Mother Teresa. But if you haven't already discovered it, deep inside you there is a dream. It was put there by the one who created you, as we are told in Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know the plans I have for you, plans to give you hope and a future."
Ralph Marston, whose Daily Motivator has brightened my day for some time now, writes, "On a regular basis, take time to imagine the very best that life can be. Step aside for a moment from the day-to-day concerns of life. Re-establish contact with your highest goals and most treasured dreams. Remind yourself of the beautiful possibilities that life holds for you. Renew your determination to bring them to fruition.
"Spend some quality time with your dreams. They are real to the extent that you value them. To the extent that you commit to them and work for them, they will come true."
The final verse of Celine's song ends with:
"There's so much strength in all of us,
Every woman, child and man,
It's the moment that you think you can't,
You'll discover that you can."
And that's worth thinking about.
Click here to review the SFI Home Business and create your dreams with magic sparks for your success!
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