In terms of life success, there are four pretty obvious levels of accomplishment.

First is the class of the current winners or those who have figured out what they want, and are taking focused action to attain their goals.

On the far end of the "level of accomplishment" measuring stick is the class of non-players or those who have not yet realized their own potential.

But in between are two very interesting additional classes.

One is the class of emerging winners or those who have grabbed onto a goal, and are beginning to take focused action to shape their own lives.

The other is the class of potential winners or folks whose beliefs are not yet in total alignment with success. They may have hit a tough bump in the road that knocked them off-course, or perhaps just need to make an adjustment to their self-concept.

Are you an Emerging Winner?
You already know if you are an emerging winner. You can feel the fire and excitement of pursuing what you want. And you know that the only thing that can stop you is your own beliefs. Probably you're also discovering the amazing power of networking with other winners and emerging winners. And chances are you are also in the process of creating your own way in the world of business or are seriously thinking of doing so.

Are you a Potential Winner?
Potential winners are always searching. They read self-help books, attend motivational seminars, and buy and listen to inspirational tapes -- believing sooner or later they will figure out how to create the life they desire.

The most empowering thing to do is to break out of your comfort zone, and take action to move your life to the next level of accomplishment.

Growth involves change, and let’s face it, change is sometimes uncomfortable. Moving from the *theory* of personal transformation to the *action* of personal transformation will cause some turbulence in your life. Drive yourself past your fear and doubt.

Think you are a Non-Player?
If you have a deep sense of restlessness and dissatisfaction with life, you are likely on the path to change and personal empowerment. That’s how it all starts when you're becoming a potential winner. Something inside you knows there are possibilities out there, and is encouraging you to reach out and claim more of your potential. Actually this is a very good sign that it's time to move up into the class of the potential winners and go to work to manifest more of who you can become.

No matter how clean you think it is, your kitchen could be hiding billions of germs!
Research proves that kitchens contain more germs than any other room in your house, triggering colds, and other illnesses. Send bacteria out the door with these simple, yet effective suggestions:

Avoid the most common mistake.
That mistake is using the handy dishtowel to dry your hands. If you do use it, you could put bacteria right back on your hands. Instead dry your hands with a paper towel.

Clean like a pro.
Let disinfectants stand on counters, door pulls and other surfaces for 10 minutes before wiping. It takes that long for them to kill the germs. After washing countertops, wipe them dry to kill bacteria and other organisms. Use a paper towel so you can toss any germs that you may pick up into the trash.

Disinfect the phone.
We all get calls while cooking, and unknowingly transfer bacteria to the phone. Using a disinfectant wipe will eliminate the problem.

Follow the sink rule.
Once food falls into the sink, just toss it. Why? Sinks are a haven for illness-causing bacteria. Sinks can hold more germs than your toilet bowl.

Make your sponge germ-free.
Microwaving your sponge does not kill the multitude of bacteria that could be hiding there. The surest way to kill germs is to soak your sponge in a mixture of 1 ounce of bleach and 1 quart of water for 5 minutes at the end of the day; then air dry.

For the utmost in germ-fighting effectiveness, make sure your hand-sanitizer has 60% to 90% ethanol, isopropanol or ethyl alcohol.

Lighten up your closets. Storage space is a priority for buyers, so tidy closets to make them appear larger. Since a well-lit closet looks bigger than a dark closet, install a battery-operated light inside each one. Add a few empty hangers to create the illusion of extra space. Hang extra mirrors. Strategically place them across from windows to make even small rooms feel larger and airy. Put away family photos. Make it easier for potential buyers to imagine it as their home, not yours! Clear the fridge door. Memos, magnets and children’s drawings are distracting personal clutter. Turn on the lights. Select the most flattering lighting. The warm glow of a table lamp or dramatic track lighting can attract the best attention to the whole décor.

Whether you are packing now or later, these easy tips will help you move without breaking the bank – or your belongings.

Save your money: Check out member discounts for movers with your union, AAA or CAA. Move in the middle of the week. When movers are less busy, discounts often apply. Get at least 3 in-person estimates. Phone prices may produce an unrealistic quote that could surprise you with bigger charges later. Save your stuff: Turn dishes on their side. Pack them flat and they are more likely to break. Color code boxes room-by-room for movers to easily put them in the correct place in your new home. Place glassware in liquor cartons with dividers and plenty of wadded up paper inside them. Pack a “morning after” kit: Fill it with the essentials for making coffee, disposable dishes, cups, soap, towels, light bulbs, screwdrivers, and a few of your child’s favorite toys.

An air conditioner's main job is to cool the air, but it also controls humidity and it filters, cleans and recirculates air within a house. If the unit is too small, it won't provide sufficient cooling; if it’s too large, it will cool quickly and shut off before removing a sufficient amount of moisture from the air.

An evaporative unit (called a "swamp cooler") is typically used in dry desert regions. These units are mounted on the roof or beside the house. Inside the unit, water is sprayed on a sponge-like blanket and hot outside air is pulled through the blanket by a blower, causing the water to evaporate and cool the air. The cool air enters the house, forcing hot stale air through open windows.

A refrigerated system simply absorbs heat from air within the house and transfers it to the outside. The system contains a liquid refrigerant that is turned into a gas which flows through evaporator coils, cooling the coils and extracting heat and moisture from the room air. Then, the warm gas flows into the compressor and it is heated by compression. The hot gas enters the condenser where the coils dissipate heat to the outside. A condenser tray catches the moisture and discharges it to a waste drain or directly outside.

An integral system has all components encased in a single unit. It can be located in the attic or crawl space, with ducts through the exterior wall to provide air for cooling the condenser. In a split system, the compressor-condenser is located outside and the evaporator coils are located in the house.

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Know your style and use it to your advantage in your personal or business world.

Straight Talker
You are a no-nonsense type who says and does exactly what you mean. You keep things simple and direct. You speak your mind without embellishing the facts. You keep your conversations short and sweet and never fidget when delivering difficult news.

Seasoned Diplomat Flexible and fair, you size up your audience before speaking, carefully choosing your words to inspire rather than ruffle any feathers. Since you can see both sides, your balanced view keeps you neutral even in sticky situations. No wonder you make friends easily and keep them for life. Speaker from the Heart When you talk, you always look people in the eye and punctuate your words with a gentle touch on the arm. You really listen and gauge how others respond to what you are saying by watching their body language. That's why family and friends come to you for compassionate, non-judgmental advice.

Your house can have people thinking that they would love to live there even before they step through the front door.

Spruce up the grounds.
For love at first site, neatness counts. Trim bushes and shrubs. Clear the driveway. Place a pretty welcome mat by the front door.

Coordinate the hardware.
Don't mix and match metals. Brass locks, silver door handles and a black mailbox will clash. For a coordinated appearance, all outdoor metals should be the same color.

Change the color.
Go with a neutral, traditional gray or beige. Classics don't go out of style. Color is key. The same house may look like a dream in sage green, but a nightmare in brown.

Make a great first impression.
The front door is the most telling detail of your house. Give your entryway an instant makeover by choosing a handsome wood such as mahogany, or cut-glass storm doors.

Do not operate at temperatures below 60° F. Do not operate unless the compressor has had power for at least 24 hours. Do not locate the condenser coils in direct sunlight. Clean the condenser coils at least once a season. Place the unit on a level slab at grade or mount level on the outside wall. Clean the air filter every month during the cooling season. The condensate drain should have a U-shaped trap. If accessible, vacuum and clean the evaporator coils to eliminate bacteria. Watch for signs of rust and mineral deposits around the plenum.

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