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October 29, 2005
Getting it Where You Can. Exercise, That is.
I remember a few months ago I was walking down the stairs at the seven-story parking garage across from where I work in downtown Phoenix. As I was walking down I came across a woman who said to me 'Why are you doing this? You don't need to take the stairs.'
My immediate response to her was 'That's why I do it.' Implying that, yes, I don't need to take the stairs, that's why I do it.
It amazed me that just because a person doesn't have a belly hanging over their belt that someone would assume that that person didn't need exercise.
Now, I'm going to write an article about this during the next few days when I have a little bit more time.
Watch for it.
Thank you kindly.
Posted by Andre Best at 9:13 AM | Comments (0)
October 22, 2005
Awareness is Key. Awareness is Everything.
I have been thinking recently about a local esoteric study group that I attend on a monthly basis. The focus of the study group is to discuss the teachings of Vernon Howard (www.anewlife.org), who passed on in 1992.
Anyway, I keep remembering asking a question to the leader of the group - Tom Russell (www.superwisdom.com) who studied with Mr. Howard for 12 years, regarding what to do when things don't seem to be coalescing in life, as one expects.
I stated that I have read all the books of Mr. Howard, and listened to over 100 of his tapes, yet when things start going south in life 'everything I know about Mr. Howard's Truth Teachings flies out the window'. I asked Mr. Russell what I should do at those times.
He answered with a statement I shall remember for a long, long time.
Tom quickly and simply said 'Watch it fly out the window.'
That statement is so succinct yet so voluminous in its wisdom it truly is beyond words.
How can this help you?...
...Watch it fly out the window.
That's it. That's everything.
Thank you kindly.
Andre Best
Posted by Andre Best at 10:58 PM | Comments (0)
October 15, 2005
Article Submission Software
If you're the least bit serious about promoting your website(s) online then you have probably heard the recent cry that one's website needs links coming into it. Lot's of links. And without these many, many links one is the proverbial billboard in the desert waiting to be seen by those thirsty for sustenance.
Well after these several years that I've been on the internet I too heard the call and have followed the many internet bandwagons that have rolled into e-town touting the next 'latest and greatest' snakeoil software to get one traffic that they won't believe.
You know the cry... 'The kind of traffic your favorite web guru gets - and it'll only cost you $795 to attend this three-day conference to learn how to play with the big boys (and girls) online.'
Sound familiar? To most it will.
But after being e-dragged around the reciprocal linking millstone over the last several months in a valiant attempt to obtain many reciprocal link exchanges and closely monitoring all completed link requests I can truthfully say that that job in itself is a bugger to track and stay on top of.
Why?
Because for the most part one has to rely on one common denominator in that equation... people.
I finally realized that this tactic of getting traffic 'for free' and having it prove itself as viable was indeed true. Link-exchanges do work. But they ARE work too.
But with me being the type of person who writes with my eyes closed (literally), I was told by a couple of e-friends that I should pursue 'articles' more vehemently. I didn't know what they meant so what I did was find out about a couple of the bigger article directories on the Net and I submitted a couple of my writings to them. And then I promptly forgot about this process because it was extremely labor intensive.
And with me being a relatively lazy fellow at times I 'moved on' to other tasks that seemed more to my liking. And ease of use.
But after getting relatively burned out with this link-exchange stuff and dogging real live people to honor link exchange requests after I had 'nicely' place an unexpected link to their site on my site, I was tired of this whole process.
~~~~COMMENT~~~~
Yes, I know there are automated processes and software out there that will do this linking stuff for one, but again, I've also read how the SE's are 'onto' these tactics and reciprocal links aren't as effective as they used to be.
But they are still effective, that's why I still honor the odd link exchange request I get. I just don't spend all my time doing this anymore.
But getting back on track to the actual subject of this article...
~~END COMMENT~~
Back a couple of months ago, I somehow received an email about a new software program that would do 'article submissions' almost automatically.
But let me first digress somewhat and tell you what 'article submitting' is.
Article submitting may sound kind of formal and only for 'writers', but it isn't.
Essentially, anytime one writes something of extended length, even a longer webpage, they've written an 'article'.
Think about it. If you have a website that you've personally written, then you have written articles related to the subject of your website.
So, if your website is all about the best way to burp babies, then you have a whole bunch of 'articles' that you've written about parenting, specifically, burping babies.
What you can then do is submit these articles throughout the WWW and get yourself known as a baby burping expert.
But even more importantly, you can take each of the webpages you've written on your website and turn it into an 'article' - add a link BACK to your site in the footer of the article - and voila! you have written an article and ALSO obtained a link back to your site. And all this without having to hassle with e-chasing that non-compliant link partner to honor their link exchange with you.
Sound cool? It is.
Now, like everything else, there is a downside to all this article writing. It takes time to do.
First you have to have written YOUR OWN articles/webpages. And then you have to personally submit them to any of several hundred article directories floating around in cyberspace.
And of course there is the whole idea of you having the motivation to do this submission stuff too, so let me share a little bit of motivating statistics with you.
Remember how I mentioned earlier about having piddled with submitting a couple of stories/webpages I had written to several of the major article directories? Well, that was about 14 months ago. And remember how I told you that I did this and then promptly forgot about all this article submission stuff?
Well, over those 14 months since I did this, which by the way only took about one hour to do, I now have about 300 STATIC, incoming links to my site from those two articles being posted around the Internet. Yes, 300 incoming, not reciprocal, links.
And so what I did was after I received that email from someone touting this article submission software was to do some research on this whole article submission automation software process.
What I came out of this research with was that as of now there are two main article submission software programs that allow one to automate most of the process of doing this sometimes laborious task.
And since it is so repetitive and sometimes painstaking I thought that this would be one way to get me back into this process that I think is well suited for the way I like to promote my business online. With words, that is.
After much mental deliberation, and financial detailing I opted to go for an article submission software that was released during the summer of 2005. Besides it being almost one-third the price of the other main player in this article submittal software e-competition going on, it also appeared to have a lot going for it with a money-back guarantee and a manual and good developer-support.
So I bought it several weeks ago and have been using it everyday to promote several of my websites by submitting 'articles' I've written to the article directories included in the automatic submissions this software does for the user.
And to say the least, the results, so far, are extremely impressive.
One little statistic. Remember those two articles I submitted 14 months ago and obtained over 300 incoming links from doing so? Well, I've used this software to continue submitting them to other article directories included in the software program.
And now that 300 incoming links number now numbers almost 700. Yes, 700 incoming links from just those two articles. An increase of approximately 400 incoming links, in just five weeks.
To me, those are some GOOD results. Especially without having to chase other humans to reciprocal link with me, building link webpages, tracking linking emails, checking links, buying tracking software, and all that stuff that goes along with the reciprocal linking process.
Now, this article has gone on far too long already, so I'm going to write another article on the subtle nuances of this software since it does have things that one should know about, beyond the excellent manual that comes with the software. Essentially, I'm going to write about the many things one should know about BEFORE using the software so as to get the best results.
Now, these tips aren't going to be 'secrets'. No. Just trial-by-fire hints and tips that should enhance your article submissions and your results, if you follow them. And of course, if you buy the software to implement them with.
Enough rambling. If you don't want to wait for the next article you can go to http://www.andrebest.com/article-software.html to learn more about the software directly from the developer.
And if you want a good article directory to start doing your article submissions I suggest you visit http://www.articlesandauthors.com as soon as you can too.
Written by Andre Best
President, Ultimate Results, Inc.
http://www.andrebest.com - Learn About Life From Another Perspective
(Author's permission is granted to share this full article with others. Just leave the signature line intact, please.)
Posted by Andre Best at 7:52 AM | Comments (3)
October 11, 2005
The Meaning of Life Is...?
I find myself continuing to be drawn back into the thoughts about the meaning of life.
Now this is not an article trying to presuppose the meaning of existence of humanity.
Rather this is an article about one man trying to sort out the thoughts that are recently running through his brain regarding what one's purpose here on Earth is. That is, while we are given our own allotment of time on this physical plane.
Perhaps it's my own version of a mid-life crisis where my mind is perhaps maturing enough to be able to actually ask these types of questions without spontaneously imploding on itself in an extended bout of black depression.
Nevertheless, I'm still stuck when it comes to even trying to answer a question, or conundrum, like this.
Basically, I think it will all boil down to that I don't know the answer to this question because the part of me that is asking the question is also the part of me that is trying to answer it. And if I knew the answer then I wouldn't be asking the question right now. I hope that makes sense.
But, even still, I find recently that to determine what one's purpose in life is is a rather befuddling pursuit.
For me, I walk to work in the mornings along a sunny Arizona sidewalk and I find myself thinking that I'm just starting off into another day of the same-ol' same-ol'.
And out of this thought arises the question ‘But really what should one be doing with their days?’
What would be the ultimate thing or activities that I could do with my time here today that would make this day, each day, worthwhile?
And of course this spawns off into other questions such as 'worthwhile to whom?' and 'what kind of activities?' and other stuff like that.
Let me imagine that I have all the money I need and I no longer have to pursue the elusive goal that everyone else now pursues. Financial freedom. The light at the end of the tunnel.
But just for the sake of this example let's state that I don't have to worry about survival anymore. I have enough money to satisfy whatever craving I have or need for my family.
Then what?
What would I do with my day?
Would it be to form a multi-billion dollar company that feeds the needy and takes care of every homeless child in the world?
Would it be to work in a daycare and work with toddlers stuck in abusive households?
Would it be to clean the bathrooms at the local superstore or gigantic warehouse store?
What would give my life meaning right now?
You see, that's a tough question to answer.
But, let me step back a bit and slow down.
And let's start at the beginning.
When we're all very young human beings we have no choice what happens to us as we exist. Whatever happens to us in our parents’ household is their doing, not ours. Pretty much all we do is spend our days fluctuating between going to school and not going to school.
When we get older and graduate from school we go out into the big, wide world and look to get ourselves that ubiquitous j.o.b. That’s what we do with our days.
Over the years perhaps we decide to throw into the mix a spouse, some expensive possessions, and some fancy vacations to exotic paradises.
And then we may even decide to get our own house filled up some more with our own personal priceless treasures. Kids, to be exact.
But what are we doing on a daily basis at this physical age in our lives?
What are we doing? We're 'earning a living'.
But beyond that, as we trudge off to work each day, or stay home with the kids, what are we doing each and every day that's of consequence in the scheme of things?
What is it that makes each day meaningful? Is it raising the kids until they too become adults and repeat the process all over?
Is it to become successful at that j.o.b. we work at or with that business we own? Or is it to make ourselves as happy as we can by watching all our favorite television shows and movies and eating out at nice restaurants and chatting with our best friends. And only doing the things we like to do and take the vacations to places that only we want to go to.
But then there comes 'old age'. What then? Hopefully we've saved up enough money to be financially set so that we don't have to worry about 'earning a living' anymore.
We can sit back. Relax. Maybe go fishing or on other vacations to remote paradises. Or play lawn bowling down at the local community center or play chess in the park. Whatever.
But still, what have we done with our day besides make it ‘busy’? What are we doing with our days as we sit there in our recliner flicking away with the remote controls for the plasma television and surround sound home theater system?
What are we doing that's of consequence?
If we were to die the very next day, what have we done with our existence since we were little babies? As I documented above, perhaps we did the odd thing that helped other people. Or we served in an organization that helped the needy. Or perhaps we were just darn good parents and raised 'two wonderful children'. Or perhaps we did the right things and now are grandparents too.
But really, as we're about to die what is it that we could say we did with our life? With our existence?
Can you see that for the most part, without over-generalizing, we pretty much just 'did' things all along the years from birth to death.
Is that what we're meant to do?
Is that all there is?
Or somewhere in that mix, somewhere along the way, the path to the grave, we may be so lucky to have our days of existence sprinkled with wondrous events that change us inside and elevate our spirits. Be they sights, sounds, memories, happenings, or spiritual teachings.
But, nevertheless, what I've described is how generation after generation after generation of human beings go through their time on this planet as part of the human race.
And what does each generation have to show for their time here?
Advances in technology?
More wondrous scientific discoveries?
New breakthroughs in medicine?
Another global war where millions die?
Higher Intelligence?
Another spiritual world leader?
In all seriousness, what do we leave as a legacy for those who follow us along the time-path of human existence?
And what do we do, as individuals, that adds to that human existence path?
And to return to where I started all this questioning…for me, what am I doing that is giving meaning to my existence on this plane and along this physical time-line?
That is the question that needs to be answered and thought about.
And beyond the teachings I've read about from some of the spiritual masters - all I've culled is that one's sole purpose in existence is to become a perfect human being. That's it. That’s all.
But I’m not trying to minimize this statement because becoming ‘perfect’ is a very tall order for most of us. Lifelong, usually.
But, really, think about it. Think of any of the 'great' people who've existed before us.
Buddha. Lao-Tse. Mozart. Tolstoy. Einstein.
What are they known for? What did they do with their lives?
What did they leave us? Great spiritual teachings? Music? Science?
In the scheme of things these brilliant people were only able to leave as their legacy what they ‘did’ or ‘discovered’ for the rest of us to learn from.
That's it. Not in a minimizing way. But really, that's it.
Even the greatest minds and spirits in the world were not able to leave us more than what they were able to personally realize or do in their gifted area of calling.
So, is there any more? Is there anything beyond just ‘doing life’?
I surmise that there isn't.
I think that it is true. That all we can do is be the best person we can be as we grow older. We live each day to the best of our abilities for that day. We continue to grow in whatever manner we're able to positively do. And then it all ends for us someday.
But we made the most of this existence. We made the most of our time here on this plane.
We made the most of our allotted days here.
We didn't just grow old, we grew up too.
Is there really anything more?
After writing this I don't think there is.
Perhaps others will vehemently disagree and start spouting off about The One and all that stuff. That’s okay. Each to their own.
But for me, I truly still sit here and wonder what there is for me to do on a daily basis as I await my calling to the other side, where we all began and will go to again.
What can I do to make my existence as meaningful to me as is possible?
That is something that I'm still figuring out. And I surmise it will continue to change as I described above. Does that make any one meaning less than any others? No. But it does mean that my meanings will change as my days do.
And right now my primary meaning in life is to be the best father I can be to my boys. And I do this by being the best human being I can be in the world.
But as for tomorrow...
Time will tell.
Written by Andre Best
President, Ultimate Results, Inc.
http://www.andrebest.com - Learn About Life From Another Perspective
(Author's permission is granted to share this full article with others. Just leave the signature line intact, please.)
Posted by Andre Best at 8:58 AM | Comments (2)
October 10, 2005
More Insights about a Special Vacation
Last week I was in Canada for several days and I had the pleasure of staying with my parents and sleeping in the same room I slept in when I lived there 25 years ago.
It has turned out to be an enlightening visit to say the least. Especially the fact that I spent most of my time conversing with my parents and being a part of several of their days from morning till night-time.
But now I'm back in Arizona and back to the 'grind' I've created for myself down here.
Regardless, as a result of my special visit, and recent connection, with my parents I find myself continuing to think about the topic of one's meaning for life.
I think for many years what I have done is try to insert meaning into my life and my daily affairs.
Even with the esoteric teachings I've been following for over five years now. I still think that there has to be some higher purpose to one's day. Every day. I still think that each day has to be significant in some way, it's own way.
I still think that if whatever it is that I am doing in a particular moment is not meaningful and important to me than it is not worth doing, or should be avoided.
That has instilled in me the attitude of looking down upon others activities as useless and a 'waste of time' because, in my eyes, these activities didn't have any meaning, any significance.
But now I have experienced days of basically doing 'nothing' but talking and conversing with my parents and yet I found it to be some of the most fulfilling days I've had recently.
This tells me that each day is not about 'doing' but rather about making the most of whatever situation or event one finds oneself in.
Whether that event is a relationship, activity, job, or vacation somewhere else.
Life isn't about making the most about life by 'doing'. It's about making the most out of the days we are each given. Period.
We can choose to waste our days away destroying ourselves, or we can choose to elevate ourselves by gleaning from each event we find ourselves in some aspect to rest upon and grow from, in some manner.
I have spent far too long thinking that my life had to be important. Of course I want it to be useful and worthwhile, but I also think that each day has to be full of some sort of accomplishment, otherwise it's basically a wasted day.
When I now think of all the people on the earth and those who, in my eyes, have made something of themselves, what have they done, really?
What is it that they have accomplished with their lives and their string of designated days?
Did they start a small company that become a world leader in its industry?
Did they raise children and grow old and die?
Did they become the best librarian the city has ever seen?
Did they do their best cleaning bathrooms for 45 years?
Are these people failures? What did these people 'do' with their lives?
What is the most WE can do with our lives?
If we are all failures and not living worthwhile lives because we aren't the person who developed the multi-billion dollar computer company then something is wrong with that definition.
You see, I can't quite put my finger on the entire idea that there really isn't anything for us to do with our days.
There really isn't anything special and lasting that we can do make this all have meaning.
Oh sure, each event and day may have meaning. But in the long run those days and days of meaning are all pretty much fleeting.
How many vacations do we have to go on to be relaxed and have great meaningful experiences from? How many times do we have to repeat these activities because the 'meaning' disappears before we even board the plane home?
The more I think about this, the more I realize that this conundrum I've created for myself does nothing but create angst for me on a daily basis.
And what do I have to thank for this eye-opening realization? My trip to see Ma and Dad just now.
My seeing with my own eyes the fact that two people can be in a stage of life where they're beyond the grabbing and the seeking and the attaining and are now watching those of us who are still in that mindless race and wondering what all the fuss is about.
To see that there really can be another way to live one's days on this planet. Another way to exist beyond activity.
Thank you Ma and Dad.
Written by Andre Best
President, Ultimate Results, Inc.
http://www.andrebest.com - Learn About Life From Another Perspective
(Author's permission is granted to share this full article with others. Just leave the signature line intact, please.)
Posted by Andre Best at 9:13 AM | Comments (1)
October 7, 2005
Insights After A Special Vacation
I just came back from Canada where my family celebrated my niece's wedding, my Dad's 75th birthday, and the first time the six members of my family have been under the same roof in over 20 years.
It was an enjoyable time to say the least, especially being able to hang out with my parents and be a part of their days as they live out their 'golden years'.
But, now it's a couple of days since I've been back and now I am at work and I did what I had to do to physically get ready to be here. Get washed up and dressed and get in the car and travel to work. It's all very hectic to say the least.
And it's a rut. The daily grind that we're all stuck in. Existence.
But right now I find myself wondering, thinking, what are Ma and Dad doing now? It's about 9:00 a.m. their time and they may just be getting up and starting their day.
But their day is not about 'doing'. It's not about accomplishing anymore.
It's just about existing. Being. Living. It's not about achieving some outcome anymore. That's past, along with all the junk we younger people live our lives for.
To achieve. To get to that nirvana. Retirement. Where we can 'relax' and let it all be whatever it is.
That's what Ma and Dad are doing now. They no longer have to worry about achieving. They just are 'doing' now. They're living. Together.
Ma and Dad just exist.
They spend their days doing what they enjoy.
They're no longer seeking. Searching. Hoping to find 'it'.
That magic key to the kingdom of answers.
They don't live with a purpose anymore. The day is what it is. Whatever that particular day is, they live it.
If it's a day in front of the T.V., then so be it.
If it's a day where the shopping mall is the destination, then so be it.
If it's a day to go to the bakery and get pretzels, then so be it.
It's not about 'doing' anymore. It's just about enjoying each other in existence.
It's just about being whatever they want to be each day. It's not about making each day 'mean' something special and significant.
Ma and Dad just exist to live now. They don't 'do' anymore. They just live and exist.
That's why it's so appealing to me right now as I leave their household. I lived it too. I just lived each day and allowed it to be whatever it wanted to be. I went along with Ma and Dad and whatever they were doing.
I recall that I felt more stressed when I had to go shopping for presents for the boys to bring home with me.
I was thinking thoughts like 'What would I get them? Is this the right gift? Will they like it? Where can I find them what they want?'
The stress began. Again.
But each day sitting around with Ma and Dad and talking, just talking, was about as stress-free as one could get.
That's what I'm looking for. I'm right now trying to put too much meaning into my life. I'm trying to make each and every moment mean too much.
I'm trying to make each day meaningful in a special way, an 'accomplishing' way.
That creates stress. I don't just live each day.
I think each day has to go the way *I* want it to. That's not right.
I'm too goal oriented. I have to 'make something of my self'. That's where the stress begins.
I miss the comfort and relaxation with Ma and Dad. I miss the easy lifestyle I had with them. My mind was resting.
No 'business'.
No computers.
No work.
No kid responsibilities.
No bills and obligations.
That is what vacation is all about. But I also saw that Ma and Dad were living a life of vacation.
To them their lives are enjoyable. To them their life is what it is and that's okay with them.
To others their lifestyle may be completely boring and unacceptable, but to Ma and Dad their lifestyle is more then adequate and appropriate.
And isn't that all that matters - that THEY are the ones who enjoy THEIR days?
If only I can find a similar level of happiness without activity too.
Now that'd be cool.
Written by Andre Best
President, Ultimate Results, Inc.
http://www.andrebest.com - Learn About Life From Another Perspective
(Author's permission is granted to share this full article with others. Just leave the signature line intact, please.)
Posted by Andre Best at 8:50 AM | Comments (0)
October 3, 2005
A Writing on Spirituality
This is a short writing I composed a while ago when I finished reading a chapter out of one of the more esoteric books I read daily. At the time I found the words just sprouting out of my mind and felt compelled to put 'words to e-paper'.
Enjoy. If you can. ;-)
We can’t do anything about our bodies – they are what they are.
But every once in a while a body contains a spirit that itself seeks to rise above the crowded masses on the physical plane.
This spirit becomes aware that the only aspect of its existence it can truly and lastingly change is its spirit and it only need become aware of its everpresent spirit.
This awareness makes it different from the masses.
Yet it has a spirit that raises itself, by its own decision to truly increase its awareness, above the heights of the physical masses.
Once this spirit is elevated it remains so until the organic body ceases to function.
This heightened spirit is aware that it lives above the crowds in an unworldly sense.
And it lives in this higher plane while physically remaining in the level of all the other creatures, unbeknownst to them that it truly is not just physically present, but spiritually elevated.
I hope you didn't find this writing too lofty and instead can glean useful spiritual information from it.
Use wisely. But use cautiously too.
Thank you kindly.
Written by Andre Best
President, Ultimate Results, Inc.
http://www.andrebest.com - Learn About Life From Another Perspective
(Author's permission is granted to share this full article with others. Just leave the signature line intact, please.)
Posted by Andre Best at 12:59 PM | Comments (0)