Procrastination Triggers: Anxiety


By Julliet Mburu

Defined as a strong unease about something, anxiety is the leading cause of the prevalent "almost-there" disease.

Surprisingly, most of the time we normally don't know that we are anxious. This negative energy however sneaks up on us through procrastination. Could you be confusing the anxiety with general boredom?

One sure way of pin-pointing anxiety as the trigger is to face the task head-on. You may not be able to start the task with the required enthusiasm but its okay. The main idea is to just be aware that you are (once again) about to run from the task. At this point, pause, and ask yourself the following questions:

What does this (task) involve?

Can I do it?

What am I feeling?

Normally, we usually are able to work through the first two questions without much of a hassle. The last question we tend to avoid. Confronting feelings is one of the hardest tasks any human can undertake, more so when it involves admitting our failures and faults. This is why many people don't know that they are anxious, and that it's actually triggering their procrastination.

The upside of challenging our feelings is that, once addressed, the effects last a lifetime. By challenging that anxiety, you will be able to figure out if a particular environment is triggering the anxiety, or if you are over-estimating the task itself. The key here is to acknowledge that there exists a form of anxiety, and that is the first step towards the solution. You can never fight an adversary you don't acknowledge. Acknowledging anxiety is not the same as resigning to the anxiety. Dodging it only makes it worse, and it gets covered up by many other issues until you can't tell exactly why the task puts you off. To be honest, many of the things we find annoying are as such because they make us anxious and we don't want to admit it.

Once you have acknowledged whatever undercurrent is bubbling inside every time you think of the task, go back to the first two questions. Go through every step involved in the task and one by one, be mindful how each step makes you feel. You will be able to identify the particular steps that trigger any uneasy feeling, and take note. Also, ask yourself what it costs to go through all the steps. This way, you will be able to challenge every part of the task that acts as a trigger, and you will know where to ask for help, or when to take it slow and do more research.

Thoughts On Dark Matter - What the Hell Is Dark Matter?


By Lance Winslow

Dark Matter is matter that we cannot see because it doesn't reflect light, so our sensors cannot reveal it. Dark Energy is energy in the Universe that we know must exist but cannot see and currently don't completely understand. Recently, I was asked this question, and this is the answer I gave, maybe you can explain it better, if so, that just shows your intelligence and understanding of these concepts. Now then, here are my thoughts on this topic;

Well, as I understand it, Dark Matter, is merely the amount the equation E=MC squared is off compared to what we can measure. So, maybe the equation is wrong, or there is something else. Indeed, there is always 'something else' right? For instance if you count the number of cows in a field and then take that number of cows out, then there are zero cows and your equation of the finite set is neutral or zero, however there is still grass, insects, and an occasional critter living in a hole, like a gopher, field mouse, hedgehog, mole, etc. Are they dark matter?

If you don't know what's there, they are, once you know, you have to change the equation or add in that difference. So, the equation is slightly off, or there is 'something else' or 'something elses' there. Whatever is there that we now call dark matter - or dark energy depending on how the equation is finally balanced out, providing it is correct, it won't be dark once we know. We also know that things can change from matter to energy and/or be in a state in between.

If our fundamental understanding is off, our equation is obviously off. Problem is we don't know and many suspect components that are missing. Transition particles for instance, new states of matter we don't know about. If our universe wraps around itself we might be measuring some stuff twice, thus off. We might also be missing to measure that which we cannot yet observe, or have mislabeled and erroneously measured as other than it is.

If photons have a very tiny mass, but there are so many to light up everything, maybe that is the missing issue, if light is bent around and around objects, there is much more of it than we are measuring, how much? If the universe is not expanding, but the light is moving around, it might appear to be expanding when it's not, then the equation won't match either. I have so many questions on all this stuff. From what I am reading and all the sub-theories, it is possible we will get to the answer soon - that is if someone hasn't already figured it out but is not considered to be a learned physics expert so none of their papers are considered worthy, if they have written one at all.

Lance Winslow is an Online Author, his latest Science eBooks are about   Space, Cosmology and Astronomy. Lance Winslow is semi-retired and Founder of the Online Think Tank http://www.WorldThinkTank.net - You may contact Lance Winslow by email for dialogue, discourse, discussion, or debate on interesting topics.

Socialize to Relieve Stress


By Peggy Everson

Socialization is one of the most effective yet oft-forgotten methods of relieving stress. Remember that we're not meant to be solitary individuals. We need not only one or two but layers of connections to be able to feel whole and connected.

These positive connections with the people we love and with those who share the same hobbies, interests and likes as we do, helps greatly in counteracting the stress we are subject to in our lives.

The effects of stress are cumulative and the emotional load can become heavier and heavier until it seems unbearable. Positive interaction with others provides recognition, often at a subconscious level, that we have not been singled out for a life of pain and stress. Realizing that others, in fact almost everyone, has their own challenges and must work to overcome them, can provide balance to our own thinking.

Socializing and sharing with others can provide an antidote to the stress we unwittingly put on ourselves when we indulge in negative patterns of thinking and behavior. These social activities affect us at a hormonal level, which means the effects are not superficial but positively benefit our emotions and our physical states.

Socialization Boosts Oxytocin Hormones

Joining social support groups is an effective way of balancing our hormones. People who regularly engage in social support will most likely find themselves having increased levels of oxytocin in their system. This hormone helps decrease anxiety levels and facilitates the activation of calming responses by stimulating the parasympathetic nervous system.

The hormone oxytocin also stimulates a person to seek out further social contact and improves the sense of attachment to loved ones and other individuals who are important to them. Boosting oxytocin levels will help improve confidence in a person's ability to cope and cause them to become more drawn to other individuals.

This will then perpetuate the beneficial cycle of constantly wanting to engage in social support and other activities that promote socialization. An individual who is experiencing stress and feelings of disassociation from others, needs to make the effort to engage in socialization to receive an oxytocin boost. This can be the start of a positive self-reinforcing loop which will be beneficial for alleviating feelings of anxiety and mitigating the symptoms of chronic stress.

Socialization as a Mood Elevator

Regular encounters with other people have been proven as an effective mood elevator and those who have a robust social life will have many health benefits from it. If in your daily activities you meet someone familiar, you may not notice it right away but your body will experience an instant rush of uplifted emotions.

These positive feelings you experience when meeting a friend or an acquaintance in public places will make you feel more fixed in the society where you belong. Having a short conversation with someone who shares the same hobbies, likes or even outlook can help you forget your negative thoughts, at least for a while. A brief encounter with a friend requires little time and effort but has long-lasting benefits.

Socializing Helps You Direct Your Energy Outward

When you spend more time with other people it is inevitable that you will direct your energy outward as you focus on reaching out to those people around you. In turn, you spend less time focusing your energy inward and ruminating on negative thoughts that add to your stress load.

In addition, taking time to help and reach out to others is investing in your own social support, as you are more likely to rely on these people in the future if you find yourself needing their presence.

When you spend more time socializing you'll realize that life has meaning and purpose. This appreciation is enough to elevate your mood and decrease your stress levels. Some people always set aside time for socializing because they're very aware that being in groups of people is so important to their health and well-being. It may seem a bold declaration but socialization can rival the effectiveness of medications in providing stress relief.

Do keep in mind that your goal of socializing is to help to keep your stress within beneficial levels. Every person is different and not all people will be harmonious to your particular lifestyle, needs or outlook. Be aware of relationships or situations that drain your energy, as not all contacts will result in beneficial relationships. However, those that do will provide balance and happiness to your life and in doing so, greatly help reduce symptoms of stress.

Peggy Everson - Superior Organized Solutions

Certified / Strategic lifestyle/business coach, Professional Organizer, People Problem Solver, Small business owner, Rescue Dog Lover. Got a problem? Let's talk!

Transforming the lives of individuals and entrepreneurs, through coaching and personality profiling! I want my clients to live the life they are meant to live and be happy, healthy and successful. http://superiororganizedsolutions.com/

Why You Should Always Have Olive Oil Bread Dip In Your Pantry


By Morris Raymond

Though popular media tends to portray families living very posh lifestyles, most people tend to have fairly regular lives doing the usual - getting the kids ready for school, heading off to work, etc. Even if we'd like to believe that we want to get a little fancy sometimes, there's a good chance that we've never worried about having olive oil bread dip in our pantry.

Really? Is this a thing? It most definitely is, but is it really something that we should have on-hand? More often than not, we tend to associate the idea of a bread dipping oil as something very lush and upscale. Even if we do tend to entertain people such as family, friends, or co-workers, our usual food fare may be nothing more than chips and dip. Rarely does our hospitality lean toward something gourmet. It really just seems so overtly refined that we don't give it a second thought, but what we're really doing is missing out on some good eating.

Perhaps one of the strongest movements in the culinary world has been the "foodie" revolution. More people have decided that stuffing our faces is not the same as actually enjoying our food. This means tasting new ingredients & having new food experiences. Even the setting of a meal becomes a part of the entire food experience. Cue bread dipping oil. A well-made, high-quality bread dipped in a quality dipping oil is as simple as food gets, but you'd never expect the flavor bomb with which you're working. Now, imagine your guests having their own minds blown as well. Your entertaining would be next-level awesome!

Here are a few reasons why you should readily have olive oil bread dip in your home:

Offering a Bite to Last-Minute Guests - We love having people over, but if you may not always have something to offer. Some good bread & dip is quick, easy, and always satisfies.

A Simple, Perfect Appetizer - If you're going full gourmet for a meal, let your appetizer wow your guests & get them set for a tremendous feast.

Provides a Clean Slate for Flavor Experimentation - Your imagination is the only limit to how to craft your olive oil bread dip. Find the combinations that work for you & plumb the internet for some killer recipes.

A Perfect Addition to An Italian Meal - When you've got an Italian menu for someone special or a group of friends, bring the magic with the great bread dip.

Makes You A More Careful Shopper - You'll want good quality olive oil, so ditch the lesser quality stuff and opt for a local producer. Smaller domestic orchards are becoming huge in the olive oil world, so shopping local will garner fresher olive oil & support local business.

Bread dipping oil can be as simple or complex as you'd like to make it. Be it for serving guests, making a good meal even better, or getting your inner chef on, you owe it to yourself to give it a try.

Visit    Texas Hill Country Olive Company in Dripping Springs, Texas for olive oil bread dip and other fabulous items to always keep in your pantry.

Slow Cookware Best Tips: Cook Healthier Bone Broth In Less Than 3 Hours In A Natural Pot


By Sharon Ray

Still cooking bone broth for 12-18 hours in a slow cooker? This type of cooking is long and destructive to the nutrients in the food. There is another way of cooking bone broth but in less than 3 hours! No nutritional compromise, no toxins from the pot leaching in, and the broth is more delicious according to cooks who do it this way!

Traditional slow cooking is great, but it takes many hours and destroys the food's nutrients in two ways:

Traditional slow cookers are made from metal or ceramic pots. All metals are reactive, no matter which one you choose - cast iron, stainless steel, copper, aluminum, titanium etc. The ceramic material which is a composition of metal ores, oxides and chemicals are no different. These elements react with nutrients present in food. This makes the food toxic. These toxins are like slow poison in the body. The metal toxins keep accumulating in organs, tissues, and blood and cause damage to body functions and immunity. As a result, we start getting sick and the sickness may range from minor illness, infections to serious diseases like cancer.

The practice of slow cooking evolved as a result of trying to keep the nutrients intact. People said, if the pot's heat is destroying the food, let's try to cook the same food on low heat for long hours and hopefully preserve the nutrients, but tests show otherwise.

Scientific Testing Shows Food's nutrients are DEAD with long hours of slow cooking

Scientific research done on amino acid lysine in peanuts showed that long hours of cooking even at 220�F destroyed this nutrient:

Twenty percent of it had been found to get cooked out after an hour and a half exposure to 150�F heat. After two and one-half hours, 40% was lost. According to World's Healthiest Foods, the majority of vitamins have less heat stability than this amino acid. So, a greater amount of loss of most vitamins and minerals can be expected when cooked at 200�F over six to eight hours.

So which material is healthier and why?

For healthy cooking, you need a cookware made from 100% non-toxic, healthy material that preserves nutrients. Primary clay or pure clay is one of the best non-toxic materials that's been used for thousands of years. It is naturally inert and free from contaminants. But more importantly, you can cook bone broth in less than 3 hours if beef bone and 1.5 hours if chicken, and right on the stove-top!

More importantly, the heat from the walls of these pots is gentle and non-destructive - the same kind of life-giving heat the earth radiates (pure-clay is a pure and uncontaminated "earth")

Here's how to cook bone broth in less than 3 hours on the stove-top:

Following any recipe, add all the ingredients, set the pot on your stove and start on medium.

Once the food is cooking and boiling for about 40 minutes, reduce heat to low - and let it cook at that temperature till fully done.

You can know when the broth is done when the bones are thoroughly cooked and will be of a softer chew-able consistency (if chicken bones). The soup will be savory and any meat will be falling off the bones. The beef bone may not be chew-able like chicken but they would look a shade or two darker than how they started, and the broth savory. When it starts cooling down, the broth will be thick and gelatinous.

By cooking at medium heat, you get the food cooking sooner, saving time but without damaging nutrients because the heat from the walls of pure-clay is safe and gentle, unlike from metal and ceramic pots.

More features that make it ideal for slow cooking:

Pure clay pots are great retainers of heat - keeps food warm for hours after the stove is turned off.

The conventional slow cookers take 12-18 hours for beef and 12-14 hours for chicken. They take less than 3 hours in a pure clay pot.

Pure clay pots are semi-porous, oxygen can pass through them. Your food is cooked with sufficient oxygen and just the right amount of heat. In the words of some experienced    pure clay cooks: "it turns out to be soft, juicy and delicious!"

For any health-conscious cook, these are enough reasons to head over to Miriam's Earthen Cookware http://www.miriamsearthencookware.com - the only pure-clay makers in the USA and get a pot of your liking. Start cooking healthy today - they ship directly to your home.

What Is Passive Income And Wealth Building?


By Rizwanaa Shaikh

Have you ever thought of keeping on 'earning money while doing nothing'? Isn't it a great idea? O yes, it is. All of us want to earn and keep on earning money in abundance without doing a job or work. Some people may feel this thing like a dream, not reality. But, it is quite possible. However, it needs a lot of intelligence, smart work, the right usage of time and energy, experience and knowledge, and a long journey, no doubt.

Today I'm going to talk about passive income and wealth building. There are two types of income: active, and passive. Active income needs you to keep on working constantly like a regular 9-5 job. If you are jobless or fired from the job, unluckily, you will stop getting paychecks. No work; no paycheck. It is that simple. On the other hand, passive income doesn't need you to go to office daily and work for 6-8 hours.

So, how is it possible to have money in abundance and coming continuously while staying at home and having fun? For this type of income, you need to build assets and wealth, like:

Purchase a property, plaza/shop/mall etc. and rent it out. You will get a handsome amount of rent money every month.

Set up a gym, beauty salon, wellness club etc. and hire a team of professionals to run it. Your team will work and earn for you.

If you have writing talent and can write good books, you can earn money with this talent. Once you write a book, you will keep on earning the royalty as long as the book is on sale. Amazon online book store gives you an opportunity to publish your book there free of cost.

These are a few ideas for earning passive income. But the ideas of purchasing a property and setting up a gym/beauty salon/wellness club needs a great investment. And the idea of book writing requires a great writing talent. Investment and writing capability is not possessed by all of us. Therefore, all the three ideas are not possible for everyone. So, how can you earn passive income and build wealth?

One of the easiest and the most feasible ways of building wealth and assets, and creating a source of passive income is to join a Direct Sales and Network Marketing company.

First of all, let me give you the idea what Direct Sales and Network Marketing companies are:

A direct sales company sells its products through individual distributors. It has authorized shop/dealers to run the business. Its products are not available on retail stores and common shops. You won't see any type of advertisement of the company and products on media. If you want to have their product(s), you need to join them as distributor or purchase through any authorized distributor. That's why, it is called direct sales company.

You join such a company through a distributor who performs as a 'sponsor' for you. He/she introduces you to the system and products, and you join as his/her 'downline' or 'network'. An authorized distributor can spread his/her network to thousands of people by sponsoring them. When you join a company under one's sponsorship, you too become an authorized distributor. Then you also invite new people for purchasing company's products and join it also. The bigger the network grows; the more you and the company earn. If you have an initial network of three people, they will make their network of three persons each. That way, you all will grow. Each of the individual distributor will get his/her own profit as well as a fixed chunk of the sales done by the 'downline'. That's why, it is called a network marketing company. Generally, all the companies in this category work on both the models: direct sales and network marketing.

If you want to join such a company, first of all, do research about the Network Marketing companies in your state/country. Have answers of these questions first of all.

Which field you like the most and the feasible one for you? Like there are the fields of health, food, fashion accessories and cosmetics, electronics etc.

How much time can you spare for it like a few hours daily or weekends only?

What skills and right strategy do you need to achieve success in the respective field?

What talent and characteristics you already possess and can polish to help you in the work, for example, do you have presentation and communication skills?

What products you are excited about; you need and want to use yourself?

Are the products beneficial and interesting enough to persuade common people to use them?

How much time you need to start earning, a few months or more than a year for example?

What is the company's compensation plan? How much can you earn on monthly basis?

Don't forget to check out the rules and regulations of the company you want to join. This is very much necessary for avoiding any misconduct and breach of rules.

21st century is called the century of Direct Sales and Network Marketing business. The beauty of this business is that it doesn't need a business administration degree, huge investment, and hiring an office building etc. It just needs determination, a burning desire for freedom of money and time, willingness to learn new things, and a strong will power to do anything to achieve success. Direct Sales and Network Marketing companies give you training which won't be free of cost. This training is going to let you know how to work as a distributor and develop a network.

Around the world, there are hundreds of Direct Sales and Network Marketing companies. Some are working on country level and some on international level also, allowing any person of any creed, color, religion, and nationality to join. This is declared a superb source of passive income and wealth building. A few of the initial years are tough but after that, you have to do nothing. Money will automatically come to you.

If you want to have a great source of passive income, join a Direct Sales and Network Marketing company in your area.

Rizwanaa Shaikh is directly involved in network marketing business. She closely follows network marketing trends and can be contacted for any relevant assistance on Twitter: @Rashwriter.

Online Mobile Panels: Market Research in the Mobile World


By Courtney Ray

The times they are a-changin'. Little known fact: Bob Dylan was singing about market research. Market research is changing, and smart businesses are seizing the opportunity to use smartphones to gather data in a timely, efficient way. There are two options when conducting market research in the mobile world: in-app surveys and mobile-optimized surveys that are housed on a webpage and accessed from a smartphone. According to eMarketer, the average adult spends 131 minutes a day accessing content through a mobile app, yet only 26 minutes using their phone to connect to the internet. Keep reading for more reasons why mobile panels online are the future of market research.

Panel research, a method of collecting data repeatedly from a pre-recruited set of people, is extremely important in the market research world. These individuals generally provide demographic, household and behavioral data, which can make conducting future studies easier. Technology, primarily the internet, has transformed panel research methodology by the ease of which we can access larger numbers of respondents. Panel research provides many advantages for companies including: faster turnaround, higher participation rates, and cost savings. The quantitative data can provide companies with insights into pricing, effectiveness and sales projection of their products or brand.

QUALITY: The quality of your data matters. According to a report by comScore, the average American adult spends 2 hours, 51 minutes on their smartphone every day. By using mobile panels online, you are able to get reliable data, as it's in real time, while the information is fresh in the respondent's mind. They can also use their mobile devices to take pictures and videos that allow you to gather the exact information you're looking for.

RESPONSE RATE: As we've discussed, everyone is glued to their mobile phones. Mobile panels online have less than a 25% dropout rate because you're able to access respondents whenever, wherever, so it is easy for them to take the survey. With mobile, you can send push notifications to your panel that there is a survey available for them, then follow-up reminder emails. Studies have found that survey notifications increase response rates by 4-29 percentage points, and reminder emails have been shown to increase response rates by 3-8 points.

TRACKER SURVEYS: Tracker surveys are a great way to gain insight into purchase behavior, brand sentiment, product awareness and customer satisfaction. Tracker studies require ongoing interactions with respondents and getting their feedback over a period of time. In older survey research where landline surveys or focus groups were used, it was difficult to get accurate data, because it was dependent on the respondent's memory. With online mobile panels, you are able to get real-time responses and ongoing feedback.

QuestionPro provides our customers with an advantage when conducting market research in the mobile world with our mobile app, MyPinion. MyPinion is the fastest market research tool that allows mobile users to provide critical insights to leading brands by participating in short surveys. With our mobile panel of more than 250,000 active smartphone users around the United States, you are able to get thousands of responses within minutes with the highest respondent engagement. Our respondents are pre-screened and highly qualified to participate in a variety of research studies of any level of specificity.

Visit our website for more insight into the market research world!   https://www.questionpro.com/blog/questionpro_products/audience/

5 Easy Steps To Getting Speaking Gigs Like An Expert


By Rosalind Miller-Choice

Determine your target audience

Start with knowing your niche audience. This is a vital factor because you can establish your relevance and better make your presence felt in the lives of those who really have passion about the information that you hold and can share.

You will need to know who specifically will relate to your message.

Research organizations that have members of your target audience

One you have determined which people will resonate with what you have to share, research what organizations, associations and groups they would belong to. Create a directory of organizations along with the contact information of the person responsible for booking speakers for conferences, workshops etc.

Prepare a "1 minute presentation highlighting who you are and how your speech can help people

If you're trying to land speaking engagements with little to no prior experience, then create a presentation examining who you are and the way and manner your speech can assist your niche audience. Put together a compilation reel with highlights if you have some previous engagements under your belt.

If you are an Author and have a book that has been published or is soon to be released, be sure to include this information.

Contact those organizations and ask if you can give a speech to their members at one of their upcoming events

Make contact with organizer's coordinator. Explain who you are and that you are a speaker. They will want to know the subject of your speaking so be prepared with a few highlights of your speech. Be sure to emphasis the value you would bring to their membership.

Ask if you may send them some marketing material. You want to have a summary of your "talk" and your bio ready to send to them.

Follow up with those contacts via email and send them marketing materials to remind them of the value your speech will bring to their membership

You can make this a simple email where you write "I wanted to checking-in again regarding potential guest speaking opportunities," and then include the text from your previous email.

You may feel like a nag emailing someone two or three times, but it is important to remember that everyone is busy. However, some of the most successful live workshops or speaking engagements were with people multiple emails were sent to. Marketing materials must be sent to the targeted audience to emphasize the benefit each member will receive from your speech.

In conclusion, Gaining traction as a professional speaker takes time and hustle. You need to do much more than to hang out a shingle claiming that you are a Speaker. To be booked to speak consistently requires you to get out there and market yourself.

Roz Miller-Choice is known as "The Expert Maker" she helps her clients package their expert knowledge and create marketable products and services. She is the author of the soon-to-be-released book called "The Expert Maker: Turning Your Knowledge into Multiple Streams of Income."

The Mad Hatter


By Ricky Taylor

My first experience with Doctor Teitelbaum was at the Hub in the Correctional Treatment Center of the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego, California. I stood in front of the wrap-around desk that contained the daily sign-in sheets for the MTAs, chatting with the officer on duty, when I heard a voice behind me. The voice was a warbled mix of falsetto and feminine baritone.

"I wish to be escorted to the Facility One Clinic. I was told to meet MTA Taylor here."

I turned to get a view of the speaker. She was a heavyset woman in her early fifties with a shocking amount of frizzy, dyed red hair, sticking crazily out from under a wide-brimmed, magenta hat. She was wearing what might have been a workout suit of a shiny material in two different shades of purple. Her shoes were yellow sneakers and she carried a large, red leather bag. Small, beady eyes peered back and forth between the officer on duty and me, through large glasses on her pale, moon-shaped face. Taken aback by the sharp disparity of her appearance among the uniformed officers and scrub-wearing medical staff, I would not have been entirely surprised if she had told me she was there to don a bright red nose and make balloon animals for the inmates. I was the MTA assigned to Facility one clinic. An MTA, or Medical Technical Assistant, was a position unique to the California Department of Corrections. It was both a medical position and a peace officer position. MTAs responded to all medical emergencies and ran the day to day of the clinics on the yard. The department would soon do away with the position, and we would be given the choice of being either nurses or correctional officers. I would later choose to become a correctional officer.

"I'm MTA Taylor," I said, "I don't believe we've met before. Can I ask what your business is at the clinic?"

She made a dramatic flourish with her left hand and raised her odd warble of a voice, affecting the style of a Shakespearian actor.

"I am Doctor Teitelbaum," she announced not only to me, but to every person in the nearby area, "I am the new Psychiatrist."

Five minutes later, I was escorting Dr. Teitelbaum across the plaza to the Facility One Clinic. We reached the Facility One gate, and the gate officer checked our identification.

"Are you new to the prison system, Dr. Teitelbaum?" I asked. I knew entering a prison yard for the first time could be an overwhelming and frightening experience.

"I am new to the prison system, Mr. Taylor, but not new to those imprisoned by mental illness." Her eyes took on a fevered, dreamy, faraway look. "I am here to help men escape their prison."

The gate officer, a black man in his late forties, looked at her, then looked questioningly at me. Talk of helping inmates escape was not something taken lightly. I assured the officer that Dr. Teitelbaum was using a euphemism.

"It's Just talk," I said. "Dr. Teitelbaum doesn't mean escape from the actual prison, but the prison of mental illness."

Dr. Teitelbaum looked wordlessly up at the officer through her large glasses. The gate officer frowned but opened the gate. He looked Dr. Teitelbaum up and down, taking in the full oddity of her attire. He grimaced and rolled his eyes.

"It's on you, Taylor," he said. "It's all on you."

We stepped onto Facility One Yard. The prison yard was a large, oval strip of land surrounded by a track a third of a mile long. Inmates wearing blue CDC uniforms walked around the track, returning to their housing units from morning chow. They walked counter clockwise in the same direction, with occasional reminders over the loudspeaker to "Keep moving on the track." Prison is nothing if not redundant. Inmates see the same colors every day; blue and gray inmate uniforms, green and khaki officer uniforms, gray prison walls. You can imagine, then, the reaction among the inmates when they saw Dr. Teitelbaum entering the yard in her purple ensemble, magenta hat, red hair, yellow sneakers and a large red bag. Inmates stopped on the track, pointing. Inmates standing in the pill line in front of the clinic stared. Some appeared hopeful, no doubt thinking, as I had earlier, that she might be some form of entertainment. Others laughed, and I heard a few jeers.

Inmates were lining up in front of the clinic for pill line. They were allowed medicine in their cells, but psychiatric medicine had to be administered at the clinic. Much of what occurs inside a prison is in reaction to lawsuits filed by inmates. The California Department of Corrections had settled or lost several lawsuits filed by inmates who suffered due to poor medical standards and nonexistent or inadequate psychiatric treatment. The courts ordered the department to remedy the problem, and the department struggled to hire physicians, psychiatrists and other medical personnel. Because of this, hiring was the priority. Anyone with a medical license could obtain a contract position working in the prison. The standards were quite low. Over the years, I have worked with fine psychiatrists and physicians. I have known and respected dedicated psychologists. I have also known the ones who, in the departments rush to fill positions, fell through the cracks of the screening process. To meet the requirements ordered by the courts, Inmates were screened for mental health related issues. This was appropriate and necessary, but it also had a tremendous impact on prisons. Suddenly, inmates were being diagnosed with bipolar, schizophrenia, psychosis and antisocial behaviors. They were placed on psychiatric medications, which required follow-up appointments with the psychiatrists. Soon, thousands of inmates were on medication, and more psychiatrists were required to meet the need for follow-up appointments. The increased numbers of psychiatrists resulted in even more inmates being placed on medication, which required even more psychiatrists and psychologists. The day Dr. Teitelbaum first walked into Facility One Clinic, the cost of psychiatric medication at Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility had exploded to well over one and a half million dollars per month. This did not include regular, physician-prescribed medication.

Psychiatric medication can be divided into three categories: Anti-seizure medication, uppers and downers. If you pull back the curtain of psychiatric and psychological jargon, you soon realize that psychiatric medications are drugs, plain and simple. I remember a conversation with one of the contract psychiatrists. He was a in his late forties, an agreeable man without the typical airs psychiatrists are known to have. We were having lunch in the MTA office in the clinic. The inmates were locked up in their cells for count, and we were alone.

"Do you know what I do for a living, Taylor?" He asked.

I smiled at him across the desk over my lunch.

"As far as I can tell," I said, "you're a psychiatrist."

"Well, of course I'm a psychiatrist," he said," but I'm not talking about my title or license. I'm talking about what I actually do."

"Well, Doc," I said, swallowing a bite of a tuna sandwich, "I may be crazy, and you're better suited than I am to make that determination, but it seems to me you talk to inmates about their issues, then come up with a diagnosis and a treatment plan. Does that about cover it?"

"Well, that's certainly how we phrase it, but that's not the heart of it," he said. "What I really am is a licensed drug dealer."

"Do I need to get my handcuffs out?" I said. "Is this a confession?"

He grinned.

"I did say licensed, Taylor. But licensed or not, that's what I am. Have you ever really thought about what psychiatric medication is? Drugs, Taylor. That's what they are. They're uppers and downers, and I prescribe them to drug addicts in a correctional facility. If I wasn't licensed to do it, I would be sitting in a cell instead of sitting here having lunch with you."

"Now, Doc," I said. "I think you might be selling yourself short. I'm sure you're doing a lot of good. There's a big difference between what you do and what drug dealers do."

"A difference in motivation, I agree. But not in what I do. When I first started, I opened an office in the city, and advertised for clients. I wanted to help people, I really did. But you know what kind of clients I got?" I shook my head and motioned for him to continue. "People started coming into my office with memorized symptoms. I knew they were just telling me symptoms, so I would prescribe them specific medications. It was obvious. But I had a lease and bills to pay. You know what I did, Taylor? I prescribed the medications they wanted. After that, word spread, and clients kept making appointments. Over half were drug addicts wanting legal drugs." He pointed to the nearby medication cart. "That's what they are. Drugs, man, drugs."

I had experienced the effects of the medication myself about a year before, when someone handed me a bottle of liquid risperidone, a medication prescribed to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Some of the liquid had spilled and was on the side of the bottle. I touched the liquid with my bare hand. The medicine seeped through my skin and entered my bloodstream. For a good hour, I was euphoric, laughing and extremely talkative. Though the medication never touched my lips, part of my upper lip went numb. Even today, whenever I recall the incident, that part of my lip turns numb. Like the good doctor said, "Drugs, man, drugs."

The pill line was very long, reaching from the pill line window to the track about fifty yards away. Close to a thousand inmates were incarcerated on Facility One Yard, and half of them were on psychiatric medication. An MTA stood inside the medication room window, handing inmates their medication through a rectangular slot. The MTA, a balding pale-skinned man by the name of Ford, looked at Doctor Teitelbaum as she passed by. He smiled at me and shook his head. Several inmates looked at the new psychiatrist, then looked questioningly at me. I ignored the questioning looks and made my way to the clinic. I opened the clinic door and led Dr. Teitelbaum to an office in the back.

"This is your office, Dr. Teitelbaum," I said, opening the door and switching on the lights, illuminating a small office with two chairs facing each other across a wooden desk. Dr. Teitelbaum entered the office and sat heavily in the desk chair, plopping her large red bag down on the desktop. "I will bring a schedule of inmates and inmate medical charts in a little bit."

"Patients, Mr. Taylor," Dr. Teitelbaum said. "They are not just inmates. They are my patients, and I cannot wait to see them." She looked up at me through her large glasses, the faraway gleam returning to her eyes. "I assure you they have never seen the likes of me."

"Yes, Doctor. I believe that may be the case," I said. Despite her decidedly odd appearance, I fully intended to give the new psychiatrist the benefit of any doubt. Part of my philosophy was, and still is, not to judge a book by its cover. "Would you like the door closed or open?"

"Please close it," Dr. Teitelbaum said. "It is time for my calming ritual."

I nodded and exited the office, closing the door behind me. I had a busy day in front of me and had to prepare for it. Leaving Dr. Teitelbaum alone in her office, I grabbed a cup of coffee from the already brewed pot in the treatment room, sat down at the desk, and began organizing the inmate medical charts, dividing them between medical and psychiatric patients, making sure each chart had fresh doctor's notes to write new prescriptions on. I was absorbed in the ritual, when I heard Dr. Teitelbaum singing opera in what I thought might be Italian, as loud as she possibly could. I stepped out of the treatment room. MTA Ford was coming out of the medication room.

"What the heck is going on, Taylor?" He asked. I stood outside Dr. Teitelbaum's office door. The opera continued in her warbled voice. Inmates peered through the clinic windows, wondering why the pill line had stopped, hearing the Italian opera coming from inside the clinic. I shook my head and knocked softly on the office door. The Italian opera continued inside. I knocked louder.

"Dr. Teitelbaum?" I called. The opera persisted. I shrugged at MTA Ford and opened the door. Dr. Teitelbaum was sitting behind her desk. Her eyes were closed, her hands lifted above her head, moving dramatically back and forth, conducting an orchestra which only she could hear. Seeming unaware of my presence, she continued her performance, her voice straining to reach soprano levels, then falling to baritone lows, all at the top of her lungs. All I could do was wait for her to stop. For several minutes, the opera continued. Then, with one final crescendo of screeching soprano and faltering baritone, the performance came to an abrupt end. Slowly, she lowered her hands and opened her eyes, blinking in the light of the office. She stared up at me through her large glasses, acknowledging me for the first time since I entered.

"Is there something I can help you with, Mr. Taylor?" She asked.

"Well... " I said, "Uhm... What I mean is... "

"My singing, Mr. Taylor. Is that why you are here?"

"Well, yes, Doctor," I said. "It was a little surprising."

"I find opera to be calming, Mr. Taylor. It is part of my morning ritual. It lowers my stress level and prepares me for the rest of the day. Now, if you will excuse me, my routine is not yet complete."

"Will you be singing again?" I asked.

"No, Mr. Taylor," she said, "I will be meditating. Close the door, please. Let me know when the first patient arrives."

I left Dr. Teitelbaum alone in her office. MTA Ford had overheard the conversation.

"She's crazy, man," he said.

"What can we do about it?" I said.

"We need to tell somebody. I mean, she's a real mad hatter."

"I'm not in for telling," I said, a phrase used by both inmates and officers. It meant you were not a snitch. Snitches were equally hated by inmates and officers.

"This is different, Taylor. Somebody has to know."

"Let's just see how it plays out," I said. "What's it going to hurt?"

Ford agreed reluctantly and returned to the pill line. I continued to get ready for the medical and psychiatric appointments. Dr. Wong, the physician, a diminutive Asian man with thinning hair, wearing a doctor's smock over slacks and a dress shirt, arrived. He knocked on the clinic door and I opened it. He entered the clinic.

"Good morning, MTA Taylor," he said.

"Good morning, Doctor," I said.

"Is it a good morning?" He said. I opened the door to his office, letting him in. He asked me the same questions every morning.

"A fine morning, Doc." I said.

"A fine American morning?"

"Yes, Doctor," I said, "It's a fine American morning. There's coffee in the back. Want a cup?"

The doctor smiled, nodding.

"Is it American coffee?"

"It was purchased in America," I said.

"Then yes," he said. "I want an American cup of coffee."

This routine had played out five days a week for nearly a year. Doctor Wong, a transplant from Asia, who had lived much of his childhood struggling to feed himself, who somehow not only made it to the United States, but became a medical doctor, loved America with a fervency bordering on insanity. It wasn't a fine day unless it was an "American" day. He had a headache once, and I brought him a Motrin. He asked if it was "American" Motrin, taking it only after I assured him that it was.

"Good, Doc," I said. "I will bring it to you."

I returned to the treatment room to get the doctor a cup of coffee. I heard low humming coming from underneath Dr. Teitelbaum's office door. I ignored it. She said she would be meditating, which was fine with me if she did it quietly. I made Dr. Wong a cup of coffee and brought it to him, placing a schedule of inmate patients on his desk. He took the cup of coffee from me and sipped it.

"Thank you, MTA Taylor," he said. "That is a good American cup of coffee."

"You're welcome, Doc," I said.

The pill line ended about half an hour later. Inmates began arriving for their medical and psychiatric appointments. I let them in, individually checking their identification and medical ducats to the schedule, patting them down for weapons and contraband. I checked their blood pressures and told them to stand on a scale to check their weight. Afterwards, they waited together on a long, wooden bench in the clinic area. I opened Dr. Wong's desk and placed the first inmate's medical file on his desk. I opened Dr. Teitelbaum's office door to hand her the file of her first patient. She was still humming lowly to herself, her eyes closed.

"Your patients are arriving," I said, placing the file on her desk.

"Five minutes more, Mr. Taylor. I am not quite done with my calming ritual."

"Fine," I said, "let me know when you're ready."

She closed her eyes again and began humming to herself. I left her there, closing the door behind me. Ten minutes later, her office door opened. She was holding the file I had given her. She looked at the inmates who were waiting on the bench.

"Mr. Williams?" She called. A black inmate in his mid-thirties stood up. He looked at the psychiatrist, then looked at me. He raised an eyebrow.

"For real, Taylor?" He said.

"This way, Mr. Williams," Dr. Teitelbaum said.

The inmate shrugged and entered the office. Dr. Teitelbaum closed the door. I opened it again.

"Doctor" I said, "the door has to be open at least enough for me to hear what's going on. For your protection."

"That is unacceptable," Dr. Teitelbaum said. "There is a such thing as patient confidentiality."

"This is a prison," I said. I motioned toward Inmate Williams. "He is an inmate, and I can't leave you alone with him."

Her face turned a bright shade of pink, but she took her seat behind the desk.

"Very well, then," she said. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Let us continue."

I exited the office, leaving the door open about a quarter of the way. More inmates were arriving for the medical and psychiatric lines, and some already seen by Dr. Wong were wanting to leave. I patted down a couple inmates to make sure they left with only what they had arrived with, and let a couple more inmates in. I entered the treatment room where MTA Ford was busy transcribing new orders from the medical charts.

"How's the Mad Hatter doing?" He asked.

"Just seeing the first inmate now. I guess we have to wait and see," I said.

It did not take long to learn how Dr. Teitelbaum was faring with the inmate. I heard Inmate Williams cussing loudly and Dr. Teitelbaum shouting in her unmistakable voice. The inmate shouted back. Dr. Teitelbaum released a hysterical scream. MTA Ford and I ran from the room, ordering the inmates in the clinic to get down. They lowered their selves to the floor. I pulled a canister of pepper spray from my duty belt and entered the office, shouting for Inmate Williams to get down. He complied, immediately leaving his chair and sitting on the office floor. Dr. Teitelbaum was standing behind her desk. Her face was red and glistening with perspiration. Her magenta hat was in her hand, and her red hair was in disarray.

"Are you alright, Doctor?" I asked.

Dr. Teitelbaum stared up at me. Her lips trembled. Her round face quivered with indignation.

"What is the meaning of this, Mr. Taylor?" She shouted. "I will not be interrupted during a therapy session!"

"You were screaming at each other," I said.

"This is therapy, Mr. Taylor," she said. Her entire body was shaking. "Do you not understand? This is therapy!"

Inmate Williams held up his hands.

"I didn't do anything to her, Taylor. I swear it, man. She's a crazy lady."

Dr. Teitelbaum twisted her hat, staring angrily down at the inmate.

"I am not a crazy lady," she shouted. "I am the psychiatrist!"

Leaving his office, Dr. Wong walked up behind me. He looked at Dr. Teitelbaum. He saw the inmate on the office floor and examined the psychiatrist, who stood, shaking visibly, clutching the magenta hat in both hands. Dr. Wong shook his head.

"This," he announced gravely, "is simply unamerican." He turned from us, entered his office and closed the door behind him.

Dr. Teitelbaum lasted a month or so longer, the need of the department to fill medical positions outweighing the need for competent providers. She never got any better, though her shouting "therapy" was ended by order of the chief psychiatrist. I was in the clinic on her last day. She was wearing her now infamous magenta hat and was attired in yellow and orange, rather than purple. We made it to the end of the shift without major incident, and I was sitting in the MTAs office. She stuck her head into my office.

"Mr. Taylor," she said, "as you probably already know, today is my last day. The establishment was just not ready for my special brand of treatment."

"I'm sorry to hear that, Doctor Teitelbaum," I said, not meaning it in the least.

"Yes, well," she said, "I am going into business for myself." She handed me a purple business card. The card read, DR. Teitelbaum, Psychiatrist extraordinaire, and included her phone number. "If you are ever in need of psychiatric care, call me." She looked at me through her glasses, that dreamy, faraway look in her beady eyes. "I am not cheap," she said, "but I am the best... "

Apartments - Top 9 Wealth Creating Reasons to Invest


By Dennis Genaw

The main reason people invest is to provide for themselves and their family in the future when it is time to retire from a long and distinguished career. When the future arrives, hopefully we have enough capital accrued that we are secure financially for as long as we need. However, life can get in the way. We don't invest enough, or we get too busy to make investing a priority and put it on autopilot in a CD, money market fund, or an IRA vehicle. Then when we get close to that retirement date, we begin to wonder if we are going to outlive our money. We realize that medical care continues to get more expensive every year. We may even see that the stock market did not deliver the expected returns projected many years ago.

The richest people in the US invest in Real Estate. Many of them made their fortunes in Real Estate. With that thought in mind, let us review the Top 9 reasons how investing in Apartments (Multi-Family property) can assist you in achieving the Lifestyle you desire, help you create generational wealth and provide for your favorite charity.

#1 Cash Flow - Cash Checks!

Multifamily properties generate enough income, every month, to cover the cost of operations (e.g.management, utilities and maintenance), capital improvements (e.g. replacing equipment), and financing (mortgage). The rest goes into the investors' pockets.

#2 Turbo-Charged Appreciation

Multifamily values are based on the net income they produce. Increasing the profit the property nets each year significantly increases the value of the property. This is the best vehicle in multifamily to achieve significant growth in your investment. Even with mostly stabilized properties, optimizing management can yield big returns while enjoying cash flow from day one. Let us look at an example 200 unit property. In a 200 unit complex with an 8% Cap Rate, the management successfully raises monthly rents by $25 per unit. The value of the property will go up by $750K. How does this happen?

200 units x $25 x 12 months/8% Cap Rate

What we get is $60,000 in increased rents (cash) per year, but when divided by the approximate value (Cap Rate) of 8%, the property value increases by $750,000. The same applies when expenses are also reduced through effective management. WOW! You can't do that in single-family homes.

The more distressed a property, the deeper the discount on the value at purchase, but also the greater the risk and possible significant return.

#3 Higher Returns

The combination of Cash Flow and Appreciation can provide returns ranging from 2x to 10x of the yields of today's savings instruments. With the average Money Market, CD and Savings Accounts earning less than 2% annually, it is easy to see the value of investing in Apartments. While the exact return will depend on the property, double-digit annualized returns are common.

#4 Diversification and Stability

Apartments provide the Investor a more stable means to achieve their investment goals when compared to the stock market and other kinds of real estate. Apartment values are derived from the Net Operating Income (NOI) it generates, not speculation. Most people believe they are being prudent investing in the stock market and that investing in a stock fund is sufficient to diversify their portfolio. A real diversified portfolio should contain real estate that generates income. Adjusted for inflation, from 1/1/2000 through 12/31/2017, which includes the Great Recession of 2008, an Investor in the stock market earned 75 cents for every $1 invested. Most of that gain was in 2017 alone. However, their average return was only 4.74% and their Compounded Annual Growth Return (CAGR) was 3.15%. This is over 18 years. Will 4% annually achieve your investment goals or requirements.

#5 Inflation Protection

One of the best mechanisms to avoid the impacts of inflation is to own real assets. The value of these assets will increase with inflation, thus being protected by the impacts of inflation. Real cash, on the other hand, will decrease in value from inflation, as each dollar will be able to purchase less in the future than it can today. Additionally, periods of inflation also put upward pressure on wages, allowing for continued rent increases. At a time when the Fed is printing billions of dollars out of thin air, owning multifamily properties is a great inflation hedge.

#6 Tax Benefits

Apartment properties are able to take advantage of depreciation on the building and equipment to help offset income. This essentially offsets some or all your income taxes from the property cash flow. Depending on your personal tax situation, this benefit will further increase the yield on your investment.

#7 Professional Management and Metrics

Asset management and property management teams oversee the property for Private Equity Investors, using sales, cost and profit metrics, making Apartments a truly 'passive' income investment, with professionals handling operations. A vast majority of single-family investments require more involvement and focus from the Investor.

#8 Power of Leverage

Private Equity Investors provide capital for the down payment on the property (typically between 20% - 30% of the purchase price), while the acquisition/asset management company uses that deposit as leverage to get a loan to complete the purchase. These loans are also typically non-recourse, meaning that the person signing for the bank loan does not personally guarantee the loan. The risk is born by the property and its NOI. The Investor realizes all the advantages provided in this article using the power of leverage.

#9 Economies of Scale

Multi-Family complexes have huge economies of scale on their side.

Vacancies impact cash flow less due to large number of units

Marketing and logistics are more efficient

Repair and maintenance is more cost-effective, 200 units on 1 property is easier to manage than 200 different houses

Dedicated employees are easier to manage than contractors

Upgrades can be carried out with less impact on revenue

Maybe the best advantage of all is the peace of mind of knowing about your future. Knowing that your portfolio is less subject to wild swings in value and that your invested capital is actually linked to real, tangible brick and mortar assets that provide income. Investing in Apartments can provide you these benefits if you are willing.

Dennis Genaw can be reached by email at  info@PhilaApt.Network.

If you are an Accredited Investor, interested in passive Monthly Income, looking to Turbo-Charge your portfolio results and create Wealth, get our free eBook 'Create Higher Yields thru Apartments' at    https://goo.gl/soVnNc. This book is 50 pages jammed packed with the latest, up to date information about investing in Apartments. We are looking for the right people to partner with in building the income and lifestyle that Commercial Real Estate, and Apartments in particular, can provide. 'Create Higher Yields thru Apartments' goes into more detail about the mechanics and benefits of Passive Apartment investing.

Our Mission is to work with our Private Equity Partners to invest in Cash Flowing Multifamily properties (Apartments) in Emerging and Growth markets nationwide, to provide high returns to our Investors and a quality living experience for our Customer Tenants. We value performance, not promises. None of our partners are salaried. Our earnings are based on continuously finding, operating and successfully managing each asset investment. We put our Investors first. We offer cumulative preferred returns that are paid before we receive payment.

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