August 24, 2015 / como / 0 Comments
Housed in a spectacular inn over looking the southern Pacific coast of Nicaragua is an innovative new clinical program offering intensive couples and family therapy in the context of an extraordinary Central American vacation. Although only in its second year of operation this program has established a strong record in helping turn around struggling relationships.
Dr. Stewart, the programs director, indicates that the experience of being away from the distractions and habits of home, immersed in a distinct culture and the extraordinary beauty of Nicaragua provides a different kind of platform from which to address relationship issues. The combination of a wonderful vacation and relatively intensive therapy (daily couples, family and individual sessions) provides unique treatment opportunities.
Areas of clinical focus include couples struggling with poor communication patterns, emotional distance, entrenched resentment, substance use, infidelity, sexual issues, general parenting issues, step parenting, management of adolescent children and parenting children with special needs (i.e. ADHD & Autistic Spectrum).
The program is capable of serving couples and families, as well as larger extended families (groups of 8 or more utilize an adjacent hotel for accommodations). The program may also be utilized for clinically supported family reunions. Please note that unlike many relationship retreats, clients involved in this program have no contact with others clients, group work outside of ones family is not a part of this program.
This approach has been particularly effective in work with treatment-resistant individuals who have been drawn to the vacation aspect of the experience more than the therapy; allowing for relationship work to take place in a manner not possible in a more traditional therapy setting. The intensity of the work with its daily sessions often allows therapeutic gains difficult to establish in more traditional weekly sessions.
These therapy services may be provided as an adjunct to existing individual, couples or family therapy, or without involvement in prior therapy. When appropriate, Dr. Stewart will communicate with other treating clinicians both before and after participation in the program. The property used for this program is a former eco-luxury inn and offers exceptional accommodations with a fully open orientation to the ocean below.
In addition to clinical services clients are provided extensive travel and vacation support while in the program, as well as use of an all terrain vehicle to allow full access to this remarkable region. This region of Nicaragua offers wonderful vacation options including: spectacular beaches, many excellent beach front restaurants, exceptional surfing, sailing, horse back riding, canopy tours, yoga, Spanish lessons or simply sitting by the pool and enjoying the natural beauty.
August 22, 2015 / como / 0 Comments
Family businesses have a different set of circumstances, then regular businesses, which they should be aware of.
This article will attempt to address some of the strengths and weaknesses of a family business, so that you can help to improve your family business, by addressing the weaknesses and optimizing your strengths.
First I will start off by addressing the 3 main weaknesses that come with owning a family business.
1) Less Concern over profits – Family businesses sometimes have a tendency to focus on things that don’t necessarily bring their company the most profits. They will often try to lower the price of their product, and raise their products quality, which will usually hurt the companies profits per sale.
Family businesses tend to have much lower profit margins that publicly owned companies. Studies have shown that the family businesses tend to have half the profit margins of publicly owned companies. This is partially do to the fact that public companies feel required to show growth, in earnings were as private businesses usually don’t feel as much of an obligation for increasing revenue.
2) Non-Financial Goals – Small business owners have the ability to pursue their own goals. These desires and goals may not always be in the companies best interest. Publicly owned companies on the other hand feel pressure from the share holders, and thus will be much less likely to do things that aren’t intended to help the company.
3) Nepotism – Family businesses sometimes feel an obligation to promote and hire family members, solely because of their relationship. The business owner(s) will often overlook people that are better suited for the job, in order to hire family members who may or may not be the best choices. This can wipe out a companies profits, and cause problems within the company.
Next, I will mention the strengths that family businesses have over public companies.
1) Greater Sacrifices – In family businesses, the members of the family are more likely to work extra hours, and get paid less, because they know that they are helping there company, and they are working to help their family. They will often not take dividends unless the company has a surplus cash flow.
2) Company Loyalty – There is less turnover in family businesses, specifically with management, this makes it much easier to keep employees for long periods of time. In non family businesses the managers of a company will often go to a competitors company, in order to get an increase in salary, or they may even set up their own company. If a family member does decide to quit the family business, it is very unlikely that they will go to work for a competitor.
3) Greater Employee Interest – Employees for family businesses are interested in improving the companies profits where as the employees of larger public companies, will often just work the 40-hour workweek, and then go home. Taking their salary with them. Family business employees on the other hand will try very hard to make sure that their company is successful, often putting in extra hours.
4) More Teamwork – Members of family businesses don’t have to try to figure out the motives of their fellow employees, they know that whatever the other employees want will usually be in their and the companies best interest. This makes communication, and teamwork much easier.
For any business it is essential that the company recognizes its weaknesses and deals with them, and that they also recognize their strengths, and try to utilize them for the biggest advantage. If you are the owner of a family business, you should figure out what your companies strengths and weakness are, and what you should do about them, to try to benefit the company the most.
August 21, 2015 / como / 0 Comments
Time management tips are all about power – your power. To unlock your potential, learn how ancient assumptions about time hold you back. 7 simple questions provide the key.
How often do you find yourself restless with your daily routines? What do you do with the gnawing sensation that life may be passing you by? If you feel trapped in a fishbowl, remind yourself that with sufficient insight, you can create a paradigm shift. As the saying goes: :
“One thing about which fish know exactly nothing is water, since they have no anti-environment which would enable them to perceive the element they live in.” Marshall McLuhan
To make a strong start, focus on your family of origin. You can tap profound insights by traveling to your roots.
The rhythm of your family’s time choices moved through you from your first moments. So it’s hardly surprising that you may frequently overlook ways you restrict your options. Your family legacy about time use is a current that will run through you unchecked. That is, until you see it, claim it and use your power to change your scripts!
Family Origin Exercise – Identify Your Lifetime Scripts About Time Choices
Fill-in-the-blank exercises help generate startling insights. Explore your history with a relaxed and open mind. Take a few minutes to write down your responses. Fresh family insights will enrich you considerably! Broaden the exercise to include other family members too, if they influenced your early development with regard to time.
1. I liked the way my mother/father always took time to _______.
2. My mother/father always dreamed of __________ but never took the time.
3. When under stress, my mother/father would spend more time ________.
4. My mother/father spent lots of time _________ no matter what.
5. I felt valued when my mother/father spent time __________.
6. I used to promise myself in the past that I would not ever spend time ________ the way that my mother/father did.
7. When I look at where my life feels out of balance and think of my mother/father’s time choices, I see that ____________.
* What do you learn by completing this exercise?
* What takes you by surprise?
* Which of your family’s time choices have you adopted as your own? How do you use them in your life today?
You may experience a range of emotions as you consider what you now know. But this is the first step in your revising your approach to the rest of your life!
Keep in mind that the friendly acceptance you bring to yourself as you trace these patterns will help you forge new paths in the days ahead.
Why not return to this exercise from time to time to see what additional insights you gain? And while you are at it, ask your dreams, as well!
As you intuitively make your way forward, you will discover more and more possibilities. The best way to honor your legacy is to consciously choose what to bring forward, and what to release.
So invest the time and care in writing this upcoming chapter of your life enriched by wisdom from these family stories.
And to energize and mobilize yourself, sign up for our free Finding Time Success Kit, with “The New Finding Time Boundary Template: 9 Steps to Find More Time & Recharge Your Energy!”
This time template plus workbook will help you move beyond disappointment, and overwhelm. You’ll find 24 hours really are enough!
Offered to you by Paula Eder, the Time Finder Expert.
August 20, 2015 / como / 0 Comments
Families are the most controversial social institutions (Gilding 1997). Each of us has connections to a ‘family’. We each have a biological mother and father, and most of us grow up within proximity of one or both of our parents. The idea of the family has connections that are embedded in our cultural, religious and linguistic history. When we speak of the ‘family’, we refer to relationships with what is familiar or well known to us within a household.
Historically, we are born into a culture whereby marriage is considered to be part of the ‘natural’ progression of life. We get married and become part of a ‘nuclear’ family, defined as consisting of two generations of biologically related people, typically a man and woman who marry, maintain a socially approved sexual relationship, and have one or more children (Murdock 1949).
Today however, the idea of the ‘family’ as a monolithic notion has been replaced with the assumption that the structure of families is fluid and changeable. Contemporary families are inclusive of single parent families, blended families, step-families and homosexual families to name a few. To define the concept of the family as consisting of one pattern of attributes leads to controversial discussions pertaining to the ideologies of marriage, divorce, sex and children. The family is no longer a concept that can be contemplated within an essentialist notion, rather the concept of the contemporary family has evolved into a fluid ideology that is constantly shifting and changing throughout society.
Since the 1960s, Australians have seen the concept of the family change rapidly to include gay couples, childless couples and de-facto families. Such changes have not only occurred due to the shifting trends, expectations and norms of society, but have also occurred as a result of wars, economic depressions, changes in the identify of women and the decline in birth rate. Such changes, subsequently led to changes in other concepts such as ‘marriage’.
Since the 1970s, Australians have been rethinking marriage and the ways in which the ‘family’ is managed. More people are delaying marriage or simply opting not to get married and more people are having fewer children. Additional to those who are still making the choice to get married; more people are also getting divorced whilst others are journeying through cycles of marriage, divorce and re-marriage.
While marriage continues to remain popular, more people are opting to remain in de-facto relationship prior to getting married, with many never actually making it down the aisle. Statistics indicate that in 1975 only 15. Further reports reveal that by 1998, two-thirds of Australians had accepted that de-facto relationships were an alternative rather than a prelude to marriage. These statistics continue to rise, with more people delaying marriage or simply accepting the ideology of the de-facto status to be inclusive of the definition of the ‘family’.
The concept of the family has changed to incorporate the changes that have occurred within society and the attached ideologies. Marriage is no longer considered to be an identity marker that sets precedent for one to be part of a family, rather it has become a formality that excrete other social markers affiliated with status, class and power. To be ‘married’ or to be part of a ‘married’ family indicates stability and normality. Thus, it is easy to see why so many people embark upon marriage in order to gain a sense of belonging, and to be deemed ‘normal’ only to later realise that the marriage is far from normal.
The changes we see within the idea of the family and the concept of marriage will continue to remain fluid and changeable. We live in a society whereby change is inevitable. Whilst the idea of the ‘nuclear’ family remains popular, it is important to understand that modern families are diverse. We will continue to see a variety of ways in which people work individually and collectively. Today’s family incorporates a variety of notions, all of which fit within the definition of the family.
August 18, 2015 / como / 0 Comments
Honda bikes have always attracted Indian women riders. In India, this scooter has been an instant hit due to its fuel economy and robust nature. It is the best example of showcasing both style and performance at the same time. Honda has already launched its many models India. The previous versions were Honda Activa, Honda Dio, Honda Pleasure and Honda Aviator. The latest model Vision 110 is the most stylish and is quite hyped among the women in India.
Major Features of Vision 110:
The scooter has a displacement of 108 cc and an inbuilt engine of 108 cc 4 strokes OHC 2 v single engine technology. The maximum power is 8.3 Bhp @ 8000 rpm and torque can maximum extent up to 8.7 Nm 6500 rpm. The scooter has no clutch but has automatic gears. The bore and stroke are 50 and 55 respectively. It is air cooling type and the carburetor is PGM-FI with electronic fuel injection technology. The scooter is equipped with all the features, which will provide comfort and convenience to the riders. It is self start and has an analogue fuel gauge and speedometer. Moreover, it also has indicators to indicate the level of fuel, oil and battery. To know more about this vehicle, you can read Honda Vision 110 Reviews.
Specifications of scooter, which are attracting female riders:
Weight and attractive colors of these Honda bikes have attracted the female riders. The estimated weight of is 102 kg, which is quite easy for a female to control it while riding. The dimension of scooter is 1845 mm length, 607 mm width and 1090 mm height. The suspension and braking technology is quite efficient in proving full safety to the riders. Moreover, the pleasant colors of scooter have attracted the women to a great extent. It is available in Pearl Procyon Black, Boss Grey Metallic, Pearl White, Candy Lucid Red and Candy Aluja Blue. Honda Vision 110 price is close to its previous versions but the features are much advanced.
From Honda Vision 110 Reviews, you will find that the aluminum cast wheels are tubeless and its size is 80/90- 14- 90/90-14 mm. Apart from the wheels, it is more hyped due to its fuel economy. It has mileage of 40kmpl in the city, and on the highway it can perform up to 50kmpl on highways. The capacity of fuel tank is about 5.5 liters, which is quite sufficient to travel a long distance journey without any fuel deficiency. This scooter will hit the roads of Europe in the month of August. The launch of scooter in India is also going to be planned soon. Honda Vision 110 price is quite reasonable and people of almost all classes can easily purchase it.