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Agnes Chan
New Album “Forget Yourself”
by Veronica Marie

Her first English Album released in the USA. Agnes Chan is above and beyond the hype (i.e., Asian pop superstar wants to make it big in America). She stands out above the rest and what I admire about her the most is the fact that she doesn’t sell to sexual stereotypes of Asian women; just to sell albums to a Western audience.

“Inundated by billboards that let us know
How we must have it all and never be denied
But you know you can have it all and still not be satisfied
Then one day I heard this voice like a mission bell from far away
Then I felt it deep inside and this is what I heard it say
Forget yourself…”
- Agnes Chan, “Forget Yourself”

The humanitarian effort behind the album donates partial proceeds to UNICEF; and also includes special guest appearances’ from Jackie Chan. This album unlike the others has a more ethnic urban feel. Tracks 3 and 6 are our favorites. Track 3 has some jazz, rock with a little touch of Bjork with some hip hop fusion.

Her album is more innovative, and inspiring than other burnt out pop stars. Fans should not hesitate to pick up the CD. I would bet tracks 3 and 6 would be a great sound track at a chic, hip club that you might typically catch a glimpse of Paris Hilton hanging out.

VRONIQUE MARIE KETTLER is Editor-in-Chief for She Unlimited Magazine. http://www.sheunlimited.com and heads up the community at http://www.sheunlimited.com/forums.

Marie also contributes to various magazines and newspapers.

MARIE VRONIQUE is committed to making a difference. Making a difference in the Women sectors online, media and print.

No one could really pinpoint the exact year as to when
the guitar was created. The lute, harp and lyre are
the three stringed instruments from which guitars
evolved. The features of guitars vary for each musical
period. The guitar is one of the most popular musical
instruments today to bring out soothing music or to
perk up one’s energy level. Bands and gigs will not be
complete without guitars. Guitars are also used as a
means to free hidden and unexpressed feelings and
emotions or it can as well be a medium to spend time
meaningfully together with loved ones and peers.

There are various types of guitars that can suit the
intended purpose of the user such as the twelve strings
guitars, six strings, classical guitars and electric
guitars. Twelve strings made up the twelve strings
guitar to achieve a rich tone compared with the
standard six string guitars. The courses of strings
are played together though the sound produced are
different from the other. On the bass course are two
strings tuned an octave apart and on the treble courses
are the other pairs of strings that are tuned together.
The third string in the third course can be tuned by
using unison strings or the distinct high-pitched
octave guitars strings. The style of standard six
string guitars can allow the user to have easy contact
on the higher frets on the finger board. This type
needs an access on the frets to produce the desired
sounds and effects.

Classical guitars of the olden days have cat gut which
later on developed into nylon strings. These types of
guitars have a flat fingerboard and wide neck. Other
guitars experts suggest that classical guitars are the
best types for beginners since it has greater string
gauge and lighter string tension but still the decision
is on the buyer since the classic guitar may not suit
their preferences and style. Classic songs and music
are best played using classical guitars.

Electric guitars are made up of different materials and
use various components to produce the needed sound.
Alder, Mahogany, Walnut, Maple and Ash are the commonly
used types for the body of electric guitars. The woods
and the construction, the types of strings, quality of
components used, length of cables and the overall
condition of the environment determine the quality of
the sound produced. Electric guitars are used in
various forms and styles of music may it be pop,
country, rock and roll, jazz or blues.

In buying guitars, the user must make sure that the
chosen guitar will match his budget, playing style and
skills. An electric guitar is easier to play compared
with an acoustic guitar. Acoustic guitars can produce
audible sounds without using amplifiers. It makes use
of either the nylon or wound steel rings. There are
also acoustic and electric guitars that can be played
with the presence or absence of an amplifier.

Package deals are at times offered for beginners which
may include a guitar together with other options like a
tuner, pics, strap and case. The soundboard of the
guitars must be carefully inspected to determine the
type of sound produced. Producers of good quality
guitars are usually the well-known companies in the
industry like Taylor, Gibson, Yamaha, Fender, Ovation,
Martin and Ibanez. There are wide selections of style
and design to choose from to match the buyer’s
distinctness and uniqueness.

David Arnold Livingston is a music lover and enjoys guitars.
Visit: http://ufguitar.com/
for lots of great information about guitars.

Out of the 250 million people in the United States, about 25 million of them play an instrument of some kind, or used to when they were in school and would like to pick up where they left off. Another 30 million or so sing in a church choir, a barbershop quartet, or at the very least, in the shower.

That means that there are over 50 million folks - adults - who would like to play their instrument or sing better than they do now. After all, everyone wants to improve his or her skills, no matter what the field.

Before the advent of the Internet, if adults wanted to learn to play a musical instrument, they had to schedule a lesson time with a teacher in a store or studio or if they were fortunate, in their own home with a teacher who would come each week for a lesson.

That meant doing it after work, driving to a store or studio, dealing with transportation, babysitting, illness, cancellations, and so on. Very few adults who started lessons that way continued very long, as it was a continual hassle.

But with the development of the World Wide Web, music teachers have gone online to offer lessons to adults in the comfort and convenience of their own homes. No scheduling problems, no transportation issues, no cancellations - none of the problems inherent in traditional lessons.

Here are a few of the many courses available for adults online:

Jamorama Guitar Course

Stripped-Down Guitar Course

SlapBass Guitar Riffs

Guitar Made Easy

Acoustic Guitar Workshop

Screaming Fingers Guitar Course

One Weekend Guitar

Make Money Teaching Guitar

Learn Chords Fast

Instant Chord Finding Software Download

84 Piano Chords

“Crash Course” in Exciting Piano Playing on DVD’s!

How To Play Piano By Ear

How To Dress Up Naked Music

How To Play Praise & Gospel Piano

How To Play “Black Gospel” Piano

How To Play Contemporary Urban Worship Piano

All The Chords In The Whole Wide World

How To Play Chord Piano…In Ten Days!

Learn To Play Electronic Keyboards

Singing Success!

Drum patterns online to download!

Your own “Drum Machine” online!

Learn to read music fast

Children Can Read Notes Easily!

Learn to Read Music in One Evening!

Even though this is a big list of music courses for adults now, it is growing at an exponential rate. The opportunity for learning music at your own pace online has never been greater, so take advantage of it and start improving your musical skills without delay!

Duane Shinn is the author of over 500 music educational materials for adults. A review of music courses online is at “Great Music Courses Online!”. Duane is the author of the popular free 101-week online e-mail newsletter titled “Amazing Secrets Of Exciting Piano Chords & Sizzling Chord Progressions” with over 58,600 current subscribers.

You can encourage your young child in piano lessons to play for others by giving them many opportunities to play for family and friends. This will help your piano student to build trust and confidence in others. Remember, even though kids can be so cute, don’t laugh at your child if they make a mistake while playing for others. Also avoid criticism of their playing and don’t make excuses for how they played either. It is enough to simply say “Thank you” to your little performer for sharing their talent with others. This will send your child the message that they are an individual who is a valued member of your family and community who has something to offer to others. Playing for family and friends prepares children to play for larger audiences, such as at piano recitals and auditions.

If you want to have a conversation with your child about sharing their gifts with others, here is a positive way to go about it. Use the questions below to start a conversation with your child that will help them appreciate the positive benefits of performing.

1. “We all have gifts of ability to share with others.”

2. “Playing the piano for others is how you can share your musical talent.”

3. “Can you think of abilities that other people share with you?”

4. “How do you feel when people share with you?”

5. “What would happen if no one shared their gifts and abilities with others?”

Follow this plan it will go a long way toward encouraging your child in piano lessons to share their musical gifts with others and build a positive history of performance experience.

For great home piano activities parents can use to help children ages 5 to 11 develop their musical talent, visit Piano Adventure Bears Music Education Resources You’ll find a treasure box filled with piano resources to create an exciting musical adventure for your child - right in your own home! Visit their website and subscribe to their f’ree internet newsletter so you can download f’ree piano sheet music and mp3s of original piano compositions.

These exciting stories, games, piano lessons, and inspirational gifts feature the Piano Adventure Bears, Mrs. Treble Beary and her new piano student, Albeart Littlebud. Young students follow along with Albeart to learn what piano lessons are all about in a fun way that kids readily understand appreciate. Click here to visit PianoAdventureBears.com For a wealth of information about piano lessons, visit tallypiano.com

Recently my friends, parents home burned to the ground. As tragic as it was insurance covered almost everything. But there were some things that money just couldn’t replace. Like the antique furniture passed down from family. Like an emerald ring from his great, great grandmother. And the photography, the beautiful glimpses of generations in action. Time capsules from the past, our family roots.

These are some of our most valuable possessions, if not the most valuable! My friends mom says what she really misses most is all the family photography they lost.

Let’s rethink the way we go about our photography. Look at it from a new perspective, one that places the proper importance on these family treasures. There are many things that we can do to ensure quality images for generations to come.

First of all always use the highest quality setting your camera has to offer. The more megapixels you shoot with the better your photos will look when they are enlarged. Even if you like 8×10’s today fine, in 211 years they may want to make a 20″x 24″. Shooting at the highest resolution also allows greater flexibility editing your photos. You can crop and zoom more to compose a better picture without the image becoming to pixelated.

Use high quality long lasting photo paper and inks. When putting photos in albums, always use archival quality materials. Also display your photos under glass and out of the direct sun to protect them from fading.

You don’t need a fancy camera to record your families heritage. Today there are several compact and ultra-compact point and shoot cameras available that approach the quality of the digital SLR.

These new little cameras From Casio, Nikon, Canon, Olympus and other companies sport from 7 to 9 mega pixels and fit perfectly in a purse or pocket. Many of the features are the same ones offered on their bigger models. If you have an older digicam replace it right away, with one that’s at least 7 megapixels your ancestors will thank you and you will notice the difference too.

Back Up Your Photography. Set aside a saturday and scan every photo you own, even the ones on the wall. These images are what make a house your home. Pull out all your old negatives and get those in the computer immediately and preserve them. They are way too valuable to be deteriorating somewhere in the house. As you did with your framed family artwork carefully take apart your photo albums and scan those too. Next time you are visiting a relative, call ahead and ask if you can bring your photo scanner with and scan some family photos while you are there.

If anything were to happen to their photos, they would be able to replace their cherished memories with a simple call to you. Also give them a cd of the family photos that you scanned on saturday to hold as a backup for you just in case.

After you have your photo collection together, look for a photosharing website such as smugmug that lets you upload every photo you own, no limit. Once you’ve uploaded to your own private gallery at your own web address on the internet (Ex. johnstonphotos.smugmug.com), family members can order copies online anytime and any size they want. You can even order a burned cd of all of your photos and have it delivered. Having your family pictures in a few locations is very smart.

Use either link below to compare several different online photo sharing providers. Some are free like Kodak EasyShare and some are not, they all have different features to compare.

Take your camera with you everywhere you go. Bring it out and use it. Take it to the kids sporting and scouting events and capture them participating in activities. The only thing more tragic than losing a photo you love, is missing the shot to begin with. It’s not like you have to pay for film and developing anymore. Shoot it up!

Read books to learn more about photography, a few tips here and there will really improve your photos, which will be enjoyed for generations to come.

Have your families photo taken professionally on a regular basis. Every photographer has their own style including you. It’s always good to sprinkle another artists interpretation of the family into your photo collection. It makes it richer and more interesting.

Get one of the new photo viewers, like the Archos AV500 with a 100 GB hard drive. Store all your family photos on it and when you visit family, they can look at your photos on the built in screen or hook it up to the TV, for a show everyone can enjoy. Then exchange photo files. Upload your files to their computer and download their images to the Archos.

A photo from the photographer at the scenic overlook in Vail Colorado, of your family skiing together, is $35.00. The same photo, 20 years from now, framed on your wall, is worth more than money! In the long run, the investment in professional photography services is worth it.

Instead of washing the car on saturday, take control of your photos. It’s really much more important. Our photos are our most valuable family heirlooms. Great photography enhances your family’s legacy.

Visit KISSERreviews.info to compare several online photo sharing plans, and multimedia photo viewers. Read our review of the 5 best digital cameras over 7 megapixels. Read actual customer reviews or find accessories. You will also find KISSER reviews for digital cameras and inkjet Printers.

For helpful information about, How to Become a Freelance Photographer, visit our unique Freelance Photographer Jobs website at: FreelancePhotographerJobs.com for There’s a lot of free photography tips, tutorials and travel information there along with more great ideas. I have been a professional photographer at many western ski resorts. Starting out in Wyoming. Where I landed my first professional photography job, taking action photos of skiers on the slopes at Grand Targhee. I am currently a freelance photographer in Lake Tahoe, California.

Getting The Rate You Deserve
The next time you apply for a mortgage ask your lender what is the yeild spread premium (ysp) that he will be receiving for the rate he is giving you. Lenders, Bankers, Brokers make money by giving you a higher rate then you could of gotten. If you applied for a conventional loan and were approved, then you are intitled to the best rate for that loan. Don’t be fooled that a little ding on your credit report will raise your rate, you are either approved or you arn’t, telling someone you have to have a slightly higher rate because of a 30 day late, or some other little ding should be in my opion criminal. Want more information go to www.d-r-l.com go to the information page and ask any question.

David Lee is a Senior Mortgage Specialist. He has just released a new website www.d-r-l.com where you can come and ask any Mortgage question and get the facts

What the nature of ‘mystery schools’ was before Tuthmosis re-organized them (25) is hard to say. The claims of people within the Masons are challenged by many scholars. In reading the work of Conor MacDari, who seems to be a truth-teller from a group within Masonry that deplores many of the undisciplined practices, I tend to think they do have a good claim to having been the builders of the Pyramid who originated the Hebrew ethnic group. His work in ‘Irish Wisdom’ has been a source of intense study and verification for me during the last eleven years and he seems to place the designer(s) of the Pyramid group above or outside his own cadre.

The ‘white’ refers to a powder used to levitate the Pyramid rock; according to Gardner and many others within the mystic community this is the only explanation for the ‘fit’ of the Pyramid rock. The interior dimensions of the resting place assumed to have been a sarcophagus (I am not sure there ever was a lid and I think it was a focusing chamber within the king’s chamber to position the individual at the optimum ‘power spot’. Don Juan goes into great length emphasizing this aspect of the earth energy grid and Cayce does as well. Cayce was a 33rd degree Mason and his father was a Mason as well.} by Egyptologists (26) have 1/200th inch tolerances. We find it hard to believe even Christopher Dunn can explain this by machining and drills. Geopolymerization (rock-making) was covered in Science from the modern day patent holder Dr Davidovits, of this eminently do-able method. Serious scholars of fair intent have difficulty settling the debates over how the Pyramid was built. No credible answer is exclusively reached and it is our opinion a variety of methods were used in different situations. For example it would be difficult to justify building molds for obelisks of specific one time dimension or corniche stones of unique application. The machining approach would be used to finish rock poured in place. In the time before I read Davidovits and Morris’s book, I thought the levitation approach was the only answer that make sense of the large rocks at Ba’albek and the 600 Ton cornerstone of Solomon’s Temple. And that did not turn me on.

After intensive discussion with Marjorie Morris, including chemical analysis and weighing done by Kansas State University (not included in their book) I was convinced ‘rock-making’ was a major part of the process and that made me feel a lot better about the ’slave’ issue. It didn’t seem likely given the opportunities to be a mercenary and the lack of rational reasons to suggest 40 years would be enough to build this pristinely precise monument - as Egyptology suggests. The recent attempts to duplicate the feat are woefully inadequate and actually include fraud and misrepresentations. The recent ARCHAEOLOGY magazine issue that intimates they were just imitations of natural landforms is patently ridiculous. Whether the ‘white powder’ was usable in building these structures I can’t say. Gardner’s descriptions of the way it works include a fluctuating weightlessness that would still make the ‘fit’ difficult. The quarried rock would still be even more difficult to machine to actual tolerances that sometimes mirror the Tiahuanaco exactitude where angled {N.B.} rocks are almost earthquake proof! How can one quarry rocks with numerous angles and not break them?

This problem so threatens modern academics whose whole history is founded on the ignorance of ‘Stone Age’ or Neolithic people that an editor who was working with me quit and called me an ‘occultist’. So, the battle against heretics like me and other seekers of wisdom does wage on, with the tenured and other spokespeople drawing massive wages at taxpayer expense. Here are his words regarding the Pyramid.

“It’s generally known that the Pyramid and Giza was a colossal albeit prosaic engineering feat carried out mostly by slaves.”

I will show him due deference and not cite his name, but he possesses many doctorates and was a professor with 14 years of post-secondary education. He deserves the opportunity and the freedom to express himself but I suggest we don’t need such ‘expertise’ in our schools unless they volunteer their time in an open forum. It is certain he has done little research and is simply engaging in the conventional ‘me-too’ arrogance that resolutely and militantly (if not with vile purpose) repeats such utter hogwash! It is not just ‘occultists’ who write whole books on the subject of the Pyramid from different disciplinary backgrounds including mathematics and most physical sciences. ‘Occult’ is only ‘hidden’ because of inquisitorial exercise of academic proscription. I know few universities would allow me to speak in a free or open forum to debate such ‘experts’!

Giving Gardner his due, I would say he has done some excellent scholarship, albeit Bible Narrative in style if not intent. My belief is that closure can not be reached by any true seeker and I am open to ecumenical approaches that neither my editor nor Gardner (’Genesis of the Grail Kings’) exhibit. So, if that makes me an ‘occultist’ like alchemists who the Great White Brotherhood claim to be (at least derived from the same shamanistic roots) then so be it. Of course, my credentials are not recognized and therefore I am ‘persona non grata’ or what Jesus and any other occultist who dared to tell the truth (like Socrates) risked in ancient times, is likely my crucifying judgment. Yes, Jesus was a seeker who studied the Tree of Life and other Qabalistic (changed to Kaballah in Spain much later by the Sephardic and/or Hassidic Jews) ‘Sources’. That makes Gardner closer to the truth of Jesus and his ‘Therapeutae’ that came from or with the re-organization engineered by Tuthmosis. The ‘Star Fire Ceremony’ practiced by these ‘occultists’ and the communion which involved other bloody (literally) devices is definitely beyond the ‘norm’ and pale of proper behavior as we see it today.

How influential these elitist ‘mystery schools’ are in our present environment is yet to be seen. Certainly they have been the dominant factor in history for at least 3500 years. We will show Napoleon and Aquinas are joined by the likes of Cecil Rhodes and Winston Churchill on the way to a Skull & Bones Society far more obscene than any you might imagine. When you see pictures of Pharaohs they often have pointed hats to augment the pineal ‘Third Eye’ aspects and attributes of the human machine. This pyramidal structure focuses forces that the GWB was more aware of than any conventional academic of today who might put a similar hat on a kid they send to a seat in the comer of the classroom (Dunce Cap).

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Author of Diverse Druids
Columnist for The ES Press Magazine
Guest ‘expert’ at World-Mysteries.com

“Virtual Real Estate Investing” is a relatively new concept. What is meant by “Virtual Real Estate Investing” ranges from online games like SecondLife (where real profit can be made) to the use of internet technologies to make normal real estate investors more profitable.

To get the facts, I sought out the man generally considered to be the father of virtual real estate investing: Bryan Ellis.

“I began using the term ‘virtual real estate investing’ in the late 1990’s when I realized the clear similiarities in profit strategies, regardless of whether the “real estate” is “virtual” or “physical” said Ellis.

Bryan Ellis cites the similar strategies one can employe to make money from “virtual property” and “physical property” as a primary parallel of the two markets. “These types of assets - websites and physical real estate - can be monetized in very similar ways like buy lo/sell high, leasing/rental and advertising opportunities” he says.

I must admit: Its easy to see the parallels. After all, if you own a valuable piece of real estate, it’s “valuable” because other people are interested in that specific piece of property. Likewise, if you own a desirable domain name, others will find value in it because it serves their purposes. In either case, you could sell or lease the asset and turn it into cash.

In our next installment of this series on virtual real estate investing, Bryan Ellis will share the internet analogies to the physical concept of real estate development.

Did you ever wish that it was your song playing on the radio? It could be. It is not that hard once you know the formula. With a little creativity, a little knowledge, a little luck and a good formula to follow, your song could be one of the next biggest hits.

Songwriting comes easy for some, and is very difficult for others. I have actually written songs in my sleep, and immediately upon awaking, written it as quickly as I could get the words on down on paper.

What I want to discuss here is popular songwriting, like the songs you hear on the radio. A good pop song, whether rock, country, middle of the road, is composed of two things: a catchy tune and some good lyrics.

There is a formula that most great songwriters use to write great songs. It regards the structure used to write a song. Granted, it is music and it is art, so the rules are not hard and fast. But if you want to increase your chances of getting your song on the radio, it is a good starting point.

Here is the formula. Verse, chorus, verse, chorus, bridge, chorus.

Write that down on paper leaving plenty of space between each word and this will be your script.

Verse

The verse is the part of the song that tells the story, the part that leads to the chorus. Each verse is usually different, telling a different part of, or adding to, the story. It usually explains how you got to the things you are singing about in the chorus.

Chorus.

The chorus is the part of the song that is repeated after each verse. The lyrics are usually the same each time the chorus comes around. The verse usually leads to the chorus, and the chorus is usually the pay off for listening to the verse. Does that make sense?

Here is a lame example (you did not think I would give you my best work, did you?):

(verse)
My dog is sick, he’s got a tick
He’s my best friend, don’t let it end

(chorus)
Oh, woe is me, can’t you see
Woe is me, will I ever be free

(verse)
My car broke down, just out of town
It got towed in, but it’s broke again

(chorus)
Oh, woe is me, can’t you see
Woe is me, will I ever be free

Now, if you would kindly stop laughing at my lame song for a minute, I want you to think about whether or not you understand my point. Songwriting is story telling. The verse tells the problems, the chorus expresses the results or the emotions.

All right, now that you have that mastered, let’s tackle the bridge. Ah, yeah, there is more to the song than the pain and the release. We need the diversion. That is what the bridge is; it is the diversion from the verse and the chorus.

The bridge may have a slightly different melody to it, or it could even have a different rhythm or a different tempo (Elvis’ “Suspicious Minds” did a great job on this technique).

Let’s go back to the lame song and add a bridge:

(verse)
My dog is sick, he’s got a tick
He’s my best friend, don’t let it end

(chorus)
Oh, woe is me, can’t you see
Woe is me, will I ever be free

(verse)
My car broke down, just out of town
It got towed in, but it’s broke again

(chorus)
Oh, woe is me, can’t you see
Woe is me, will I ever be free

(bridge)
Tomorrow is a better day, I’ve got a new truck on the way
My dog just had a flea it seems, so once again I’ll live my dreams

(chorus)
Oh, woe was me, can’t you see
Woe was me, but now I’m free

The bridge offers a solution to the problems I was having. You don’t want to leave your listener on the edge of suicide, you want to give them hope.

Notice, I also changed up the wording of the chorus. This was done to reflect my new found joy.

One more thing on formula. It can be anyway you want, but most verses and chorus come in lines of 4. So, instead of this:

(verse)
Oh, woe is me, can’t you see
Woe is me, will I ever be free

(verse)
My car broke down, just out of town
It got towed in, but it’s broke again

it would be:

Oh, woe is me, can’t you see
Woe is me, will I ever be free
My car broke down, just out of town
It got towed in, but it’s broke again

The same goes for the chorus. Again, if you are creative, do it however you want. But for a new songwriter, this gives you some guidelines to scratch out and start carving out your new creation.

One more thing, do not make the notes to the melody so high that your fans cannot sing along. We are certainly all not Stevie Wonder.

Michael Russell
MgrCentral.com
Established 2001
Home Business Training and Information Guides

How can you make your networking experience a valuable one? What is the single, most important action you can take at a networking meeting?

It is simply to show up and be present.

This may sound like no big deal to you, but the fact is that there are plenty of people who show up at networking meetings and they go home or back to work with nothing to show for it. They might say it was a waste of time, they didn’t meet anyone to do business with and they didn’t learn anything at all. This is not anyone’s fault but their own. What this means is that they weren’t fully present.

A networking meeting is fertile ground for anyone who cares to show up and be truly present. It is the path to the kingdom, the road to riches and the little thing that make the big difference. Networking is the key to business success, and it all starts with showing up and being present.

Being fully present is definitely an action. It is not just about being in the room, in your body, sitting in the chair, breathing the air, eating the food and taking up space. Being present is an action. Being present is much more involved than it sounds. Being present takes energy. Being present takes brain waves. Being present is most definitely an action.

There are five steps to being fully present.

First, being present means being aware. When you walk in to the room, take a few seconds to look around the room. Take it all in. See who’s in attendance. Ask yourself… Who’s here that I know I would like to connect with today? Who’s here that I don’t know and I would like to meet? What can I learn from these people today? How can I serve this group today? Be aware of the energy, the people, and the space. Be aware of the time, the sounds and the silence. Be aware of your impact on those you connect with. Being fully present is being aware.

Second, being present is listening. It isn’t always important to talk. In fact, some of the best conversations you will ever have with anyone are the ones where you do most of the listening. The conversations, where you simply interject a comment or a nod of your head here and there, can be the most insightful. The ones where you ask the questions and you receive the answers with enthusiasm and undivided attention are the ones where you have the opportunity to create a deep bond. Listening is an art. Being present is about listening.

Third, being present is about being genuinely interested in what is going on around you. Being genuinely interested often requires you to ask questions. Showing a genuine interest in someone or something often leads to new knowledge for you. Being genuinely interested often leads to a new relationship. Sometimes, being interested for a short time will let you know where not to spend your time in the future. Being genuinely interested leads to valuable information, and the more information you have, the more valuable you are!

Fourth, being present is about engaging your mind before you take action or speak. It is about thinking three or four responses ahead. It is about not asking the questions you don’t want the answers to. It is about making sure you are being true to yourself and moving away when the conversations around you do not serve or the energy is draining you. Being present is about engaging your mind.

Finally, being present is about giving and receiving. It is about giving your energy to the group, to the speaker to the facilitator. It is about giving your full attention to the immediate conversation in which you are involved. It is about giving your time, your specialized knowledge and your thoughts to whoever is in need of them. Giving is fully 50% of the Universal Law of Giving and Receiving.

The other 50% is in the Receiving. It is about receiving the compliments, advice and know-how from others. It is about sharing in the laughter, the smiles and the concerns. It is about a give and take relationship, kind of like breathing in and breathing out. Being present is always a two-way street.

Who knew that being present could be so involved? Who knew it could be so complicated? And who knew that being fully present is synonymous with networking? If you already know this, kudos to you! If you’re just learning now, that’s great!

If you still don’t think Networking is about being fully present, try not being “present” at a meeting and notice how you feel. Chances are, you will find it a waste of time. And I don’t know about you, but I know I have no time to waste.

Time is precious and Networking takes time. So, go ahead and follow these steps. Make your time networking work for you!

Sue Urda is the Co-Founder of Powerful You! Women’s Network and a two-time Inc. 500 Fastest-Growing Private Companies honoree. Her vision is to contribute to a global consciousness of women helping women succeed in business and in life and to expand Powerful You! by creating chapters and Tele-Networkstm around the US and beyond. Sue’s mission is to create venues for women to grow their businesses, nurture relationships and to foster empowerment, gratitude and self-development. http://www.powerfulyou.com