Beautiful Day!!

Sunday Funday!! It is absolutely beautiful outside!! Going to the park or paw park with your dog? Stop by the office-we have Frisbee's to give away. Enjoy your day everyone.

Paying Your Oates Energy Bill (Water Bill)

Just a friendly reminder about your Oates Energy bill. The bill will come to you directly via mail. Please make sure you are paying Oates energy directly, not the leasing office (unless you are delinquent). If you need assistance with your bill, you may contact Sarah Lee at 912-748-9096 or slee@contravest.com

Oates Energy Information

Online Payments

https://www.starnik.net/utilitytrakr/ut1/current/R_default.aspx?ImageFolder=oat

To pay your bill by phone please call:

(800) 717-9811

Hours of Operation:

Monday - Friday, 8:30 A.M. - 5:00 P.M.

Mail

Oates Energy, Inc.

415 Pablo Avenue, Suite 100

Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250

Paying Your Water Bill-Oates Energy

Just a friendly reminder about your Oates Energy bill. The bill will come to you directly via mail. Please make sure you are paying Oates energy directly, not the leasing office (unless you are delinquent). If you need assistance with your bill, you may contact Sarah Lee at 912-748-9096 or slee@contravest.com

Oates Energy Information

Online Payments

https://www.starnik.net/utilitytrakr/ut1/current/R_default.aspx?ImageFolder=oat

_{To pay your bill by phone please call:}

_{(800) 717-9811}

_{Hours of Operation:}

_{Monday - Friday, 8:30 A.M. - 5:00 P.M.}

_Mail

Oates Energy, Inc.

415 Pablo Avenue, Suite 100

Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250

Savannahs Signature Boutique Bridal Event

Save the Date: Sunday, January 30, 2011At Savannah Weddings magazine’s second annual Behind the Veil bridal salon, our select group of the area’s best wedding professionals will be on hand to help you envision your perfect day — right down to the last hand-finished detail. Join us for an upscale afternoon of tastings, consultations and inspiration.1-5 p.m. at the Telfair Academy (121 Barnard St.), Telfair Square (Barnard Street at President Street) and Jepson Center (207 W. York St.).

General admission tickets are $15 in advance $20 at the door. Reserve your tickets by clicking here: www.savannahmagazine.com/articles/behind-the-veil Find “The Dress” at Our Fashion ShowOscar de La Renta, Monique Llhuillier and Vera Wang are just a few of the exclusive labels you’ll see marching down the aisle at our top-label bridal fashion show, hosted by BleuBelle Bridal with hair by B Street Salon and makeup by Glow MedSpa.

Set to the live tunes of the Equinox Jazz Band, this live display of luxe looks on stunning local brides is part of every ticket.

Join Us for a V.I.P. LunchMeet Emily Newman of the internationally acclaimed wedding website Once Wed and trade ideas with other brides and attendants over a gourmet lunch hosted by Café Zeum and Elizabeth Demos Event Design.11 a.m. at the Jepson Center, 207 W. York St. V.I.P tickets include general admission and are $35 in advance, $45 at the door. Reserve your tickets by clicking here: http://www.savannahmagazine.com/articles/behind-the-veil

http://www.savannahmagazine.com/articles/behind-the-veil

Concerts & Family Events to check out

Upcoming Events You Don't want to miss! Whether it's having a girls night or inviting a huge group of friends together and going to a concert or a fun family day: Savannah has it all.

Bryan Adams
Wednesday, Mar 16 7:00p Lucas Theatre, Savannah


Tim McGraw
Sunday, Apr 17 7:00p Martin Luther King, Jr. Arena, Savannah Location: Martin Luther King Arena

Of if you want a fun family activity for everyone to enjoy check out the Coastal Heritage Society Family Events Calendar:

Throughout the year, most of our events at our historic sites (the Roundhouse Railroad Museum, the Savannah History Museum, Battlefield Park, and Old Fort Jackson) invite families to come and explore a part of Savannah's history and have fun while doing it. Some of these events include the Old Fort Jackson Overnight Camp, Night at the Museum, and Santa Train. In addition to these events, we also have regularly scheduled activities for children.

Family Happenings: Family Happenings occur on Saturdays, usually once per month, usually on the 2nd Saturday of the month. Each month's activities have a theme that stories, crafts, and activities are based on. These events provide parents and children with the opportunity to play together and learn more about the topic for the day. Some past events have included Easter egg hunts, pumpkin painting along with trick-or-treating, and ornament and snowflake decorating for the holiday season.

Story Time: Story Time occurs once a month, usually on the 2nd Wednesday of the month in the Kids Zone Baggage Car for children, ages 2-5. Each Story Time has a theme and we share several stories related to that theme and participate in an age related craft.

Reading Express: The Reading Express is a special Family Happenings event usually held late summer where children, along with their parents, enjoy stories while on a train ride.Families can also receive an email newsletter that will keep them updated on family friendly events at our sites. To be included, parents send your name, your child's name and age, and your email address to childrensevents@chsgeorgia.org.






http://go.savannahnow.com/savannah-ga/events/savannah+concerts

http://www.chsgeorgia.org/home.cfm/page/FamilyEvents.htm

Power Yoga workshop with Bryan Kest

Jan 28-30, 2011

Location: Savannah Yoga Center
Admission: See description
Website: WWW.SAVANNAHYOGA.COM
Phone: 912.232.2994

January 28 – 30, 2011
All levels welcome
Register: www.savannahyoga.com
Location: 1319 Bull St, 31401

Entire Weekend $225 before Jan. 17 / $245 after Jan. 17.

Friday: 7 - 9 p.m. Orientation & Power Yoga class - $60
Saturday AM: 10 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. - $60
Saturday PM: 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. - $60
Sunday: 10 - 12:30 p.m. - $65

A Bryan Kest Workshop is an immersion in the “Practice of Yoga.” The workshop will have a practice that strengthens not just the body, but even more importantly, the qualities of our mind that actually have the largest impact on our physical well being.

The workshop will be a strong, well rounded, yet simple physical practice that leaves every nook and cranny in our bodies vibrating with vitality while challenging our minds in the sense of strengthening the qualities of mind that are most useful, positive and powerful, while eradicating the qualities of our mind that are harmful and stress inducing. It will strengthen qualities such as calmness, patience, focus, gentleness, gratitude, humility and acceptance, while weakening qualities such as judgment, competitiveness, distraction, reaction, and criticism.

Arranging Move-in Details with Your New Apartment Community

It’s time to move in! As you complete the tasks on your moving checklist, you’ll want to make sure everything is arranged at your new apartment community.

Here are some tips for drawing on your community’s resources to make your move simpler and less stressful.

New apartment walk-through
Schedule a walk-through with a community manager before you move in. During the walk-through, discuss and document imperfections in the apartment that you want addressed before you move in, or that you want a record of so that you’re not held responsible later. (You may want to bring a digital camera and take photos of any existing issues, such as minor imperfections or scuffs in the paint.) This is also a good time to measure doorframes in case you have any very large furniture you fear might not fit through.

Moving day
Discuss moving day details with your apartment community manager in advance of your move. Your manager may ask you to schedule the move for a time that minimizes hassles for you and current residents. For instance, she may ask you to begin your move after a certain time of day in order to minimize traffic or noise issues. If someone else is scheduled to move in or out on the same day, it may be easier for both of you if your moves are coordinated so that your moving trucks aren’t fighting for space.

Your apartment community manager may begin talking with you about moving details as soon as you sign your lease. If not, you’ll want to be proactive. Call at least a week in advance of your move and tell the community manager clearly when you plan to show up with your moving truck. Get ready to ask the following questions, and write down the answers:

• Will there be any problem with you arriving on your chosen day and time?
• Where should you park the moving truck?
• Can you reserve access to an elevator or freight elevator for your move?
• Do they have a particular route into the community or flight of stairs recommended for your use?
• Do they have any dolly carts or other tools they can loan you, or do you need to bring all your own moving equipment?
• Will someone be there to give you the keys to your apartment? If not, where and when can you get them?
• If the community is gated, will you need someone to open the gate and help your moving truck get in? Can you pick up your access card along with your apartment key?
• Do they want to send a community manager to supervise or help you with your move?

After these details are sorted out — perhaps close to your move-in date — you may want to confirm your move-in time with your apartment community by e-mail.

Getting answers to these questions from a community manager — preferably one who’s frequently working on-site — doesn’t guarantee a smoother move, but it should help to solve many potential moving problems. Arrange details like these in advance, and then concentrate on moving into your new apartment home.

Source: http://moving.apartmentguide.com/moving-packing/arranging-move-in-details-with-your-new-apartment-community/?WT.mc_id=30281

Southern Women’s Show February 4 - 6

February 4 - 6 will mark the 8th Annual Southern Women’s Show, which will be held at the Savannah International Trade & Convention Center. Click here for the discount information for Chamber Members who are interested in being vendors. The Southern Women’s Show is a consumer event designed to attract middle to upper income women, ages 25-54, who are mothers, working women and homeowners. In each market, the show delivers a qualified audience of women who make the fashion, food, health and home decisions for themselves and their families. They are interested in new products and services and come to the shows to compare, sample, shop and have fun! Regular adult tickets are $9 at the door. Military Discounts are available at $7/day throughout the show Tickets will be offered for a Super Bowl of Shopping on Sunday for the Super Bowl. The cost will be $5 all day, with giveaways and “Find the Football(s)” promotion in order to register to win for a large prize giveaway.

Admission :

Adults: $9.00 at the Door
Youth: (6-12) $5.00 Children Under 6 FREE with Paying Adult

Advance Discount Tickets: Discount Tickets Available at Kroger for $7.00!
Online Advance: $8.00 each
Youth: $5.00 each
Group: (10 or more; Advance Only) $7.00 each
Re-Admission: Tickets for 2nd day admission can be purchased for $5.00 during your initial visit (with your ticket stub) at the Show Office.

FREE PARKING!

Hours :

Friday: 10am-8pm

Saturday: 10am-7pm

Sunday: 11am-5pm

Cleaning Up After Your Pet and Community Pet Rules

Courtney Station is proud to say we are a "Pet Friendly" community. We understand pets are family too. We would like to take the time to go over some pet rules so you, the pet owner, can help maintain our community. Please reference back to your Pet Addendum in your lease for detailed information.

• All pets on property must be documented in your resident file. Please contact management office in regards to start the process.
• 2 pets are permitted per apartment ONLY
• In order to keep the grounds clean & sanitary all pets must be taken to the designated areas away from the building perimeters & all pet waste must be cleaned up with baggie or poop-scoop immediately.
• Your pet must be kept on a leash at all times when outside the apartment.
• Pets are not to be tied or staked outside the apartment and cannot be left unattended on the balcony/patio.
• The pet owner is responsible for ALL damages caused by the pet & agrees to reimburse for all such damages done.
• The pet owner agrees management has the absolute right to request that a pet be removed permanently from the premises if such pet causes unusual noise & disturbances or unusual damage to the premises or personal property belonging to the premises.
• If y our pet urinates on the carpet in any room, management will replace the carpet & pad throughout. Urine cannot be removed by steam cleaning or deodorizing. You will be charged the full replacement cost minus depreciation for each full year of carpet age.

We ask that you cooperate with the pet rules to help provide a great living environment for you, your pet and your neighbors.

What are some questions I can ask ahead of time to narrow down the list of properties I will go see?

The phone can be an excellent resource for those looking to narrow down a list of potential apartments. Many times the advertisement for a rental will give just basic information and a telephone number to call for more details. Take advantage of that and make sure you know some of the questions to ask when apartment hunting. Here are some to keep in mind when you call:

• What is the address of the property? This information is not always included, and is important to know as it can mean the difference between an apartment that is conveniently located and one that is not. It can also help you in the quest to decide if the neighborhood is a good fit.
• How many units are in the building? You'll want to know how many neighbors you will have and decide if the number is something you are comfortable with; everyone has different expectations in this department, but it is an important thing to know.
• Is parking available? If you have a car, you'll need to find out what the situation is for parking and if it is included in the price of rent or available for an extra fee.
• What floor is the apartment on? Some people prefer to be on the first floor to save on trips up the stairs, while others prefer a bit more of a view out the window.
• Don't forget to add anything else that is important for you to know ahead of time. Everyone has his list of factors that he can't live without.

http://www.forrent.com/apartment-tips/tips/What-are-some-questions-I-can-ask-ahead-of-time-to-narrow-down-the-list-of-properties-I-will-go-see%3F.php

Source:

How can an apartment hunting checklist help me and what should I consider adding to it?

Finding the perfect apartment starts with developing a checklist of things you want to make sure to have in your rental property. This list will be a little different for everyone, but it is a good way to be sure you are remembering to check for things that are important to you when the apartment hunt begins. A little notebook is all you need to have the information handy.

Some items to consider adding to the checklist include: location, safety, laundry facilities, proximity to stores and schools, parking and transportation, storage, cleanliness and the pet policy. Bring the checklist with you when looking at properties and take notes so you can compare them later to help narrow down the choices.

Decide ahead of time which things you may be willing to compromise on and those that you simply can't do without. Remember that signing a lease usually involves a time commitment, so you'll want to be sure the place is a good fit before making any final decisions. Take your time, and don't allow anyone to pressure you into a particular direction -- this isn't the time for spur-of-the-moment decisions. Compare the properties using the checklist and see which one best suits your needs and lifestyle.

Source: http://www.forrent.com/apartment-tips/tips/How-can-an-apartment-hunting-checklist-help-me-and-what-should-I-consider-adding-to-it%3F.php

Your mobile phone is becoming your wallet

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Welcome to the dawn of mobile currency.

For years, tech companies have demoed flashy prototypes of systems that let customers use their mobile phones in place of cash or credit cards. This year, those systems are heading out of the labs and into the real world.

The result: A gold rush on the next e-commerce frontier.

"There's a lot of money at stake if it's done right," says Omar Green, director of strategic mobile initiatives at Intuit (INTU).

Starting Wednesday at Starbucks (SBUX, Fortune 500) stores throughout the U.S., the cashier can now scan your phone to deduct payment for your latté from the balance on your pre-loaded Starbucks card. Splitting the dinner bill with a friend? Download Bump, and you can beam over the cash from your PayPal account.

Those transactions are small slivers of a global mobile payments market analysts estimate at $69 billion in 2009, the latest year for which data is available, according to research firm Generator Research.

But by 2014, it expects mobile payments to reach $633 billion annually, with 490 million customers using their phones to move cash around.

The battlefield: The mobile payments space right now is a primordial soup. Both new and entrenched players are battling about fundamental aspects of how the market will work.

Issue number one: How many middlemen will there be?

PayPal created an empire for itself by making it easy for consumers to send money online to friends and merchants. Rivals like Google Checkout and Revolution Money never gained much traction.

The company is determined to extend its dominion. "We are already the leader in mobile payments," says Laura Chambers, senior director of PayPal Mobile. "We're going to continue to innovate, and we're getting very aggressive about mobile payments in the next two years."

PayPal, a unit of eBay (EBAY, Fortune 500), processed $700 million in mobile payments in 2010, according to Chambers. While that's a small fraction of the more than $70 billion a year PayPal handles, it's an increase of almost 500% increase over the prior year's $141 million mobile total. PayPal's platform is an easy one for developers to build on top of, and the company has been actively striking integration deals.

But PayPal sits in the commerce market's shaky middle ground. It doesn't control the financial network payments run through -- that's in the hands of companies like Visa (V, Fortune 500) and MasterCard (MA, Fortune 500) -- and it doesn't control the devices consumers use, or the data networks their transactions happen on.

The companies that do control those things are determined to get their piece of the action.

Three of the nation's biggest wireless carriers -- Verizon Wireless, AT&T (T,Fortune 500) and T-Mobile -- teamed up in November to create Isis, a new mobile commerce network the carriers hope to have up and running within 18 months. Working around the Visa/MasterCard duopoly, they picked Discover Financial Services (DFS, Fortune 500) as their financial services partner.

Banking giants Visa, Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, and Wells Fargo have also been testing technologies that would transform a smartphone into a wallet.

What happens next: The looming game-changer in mobile payments is a technology called "Near Field Communication" (NFC), which swaps data over very short distances.

Put a NFC chip -- for example, one built into in your smartphone -- near an NFC reader and you don't need to awkwardly scan a bar code on your phone or send a text message to transfer money.

Key mobile players are on board. Just months ago, Google CEO Eric Schmidt said that the next version of Google's Android would include tap-and-pay functionality and "could replace credit cards." Apple recentlyhired an NFC product-development veteran to lead its mobile commerce efforts.

"The lifecycle of a phone is fast: 18 months. If some of the big players -- like Apple, RIM, Google and Motorola -- all get going with NFC, it could be a standard within two years," says VeriFone CEO Doug Bergeron.

5 ways to pay with your phone right now

Developers are currently kludging together workarounds. Startups likeBlaze Mobile and Bling Nation are pushing stickers with embedded NFC chips. Slap one on your phone, and you can use it to pay at participating merchants that have installed compatible NFC readers.

That's where VeriFone (PAY) comes in. The 30-year-old company makes point-of-sale systems that are used by millions of U.S. merchants. VeriFone is experimenting with the pay-by-phone market, striking partnerships with many of the field's pioneers, including PayPal and Bling Nation.

"We're going to play the role of Switzerland," Bergeron says. "The more the merrier in our view."

The scramble: In a year or two, NFC technology will be more widespread. Isis will be closer to launching. The battle lines will harden.

But for the moment, it's anyone's game.

"There's no cut and dry 'this is how to do it' approach," says Nick Holland, a Yankee Group senior analyst. "In the U.S., it's going to be the Wild West, since anyone can play in this space."

Quick-moving startups are charging in. Last week, investors poured $27.5 million into Square, a venture launched in 2009 by Twitter cofounder Jack Dorsey. Square lets mobile merchants accept credit-card paymentson their phones.

Source: http://money.cnn.com/2011/01/19/technology/mobile_payments/index.htm

Nintendo releases details about its handheld, 3-D gaming system

Gamers got some long-awaited answers about Nintendo's 3-D handheld gaming system on Wednesday.

The Nintendo 3DS, which displays three-dimensional images without the help of glasses, will go on sale March 27 in the United States and sell for $250, the company announced during simultaneous events in Amsterdam and New York.

The system will be released March 25 in Europe. European prices will vary according to the retailer.

The handheld gadget turned heads when it was unveiled last summer at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in Los Angeles.

The Nintendo 3DS's hallmark feature is that it renders games in 3-D without requiring special glasses. It has two screens -- only one in 3-D -- and includes its own Wi-Fi connection and a camera that lets players create avatars using images of themselves.

The console will come with a new game called "Face Raiders" installed. The game takes advantage of the handheld's 3-D camera, letting users take photos and add the images to a target shooting gallery.

In Amsterdam, Nintendo announced that a 3-D version of Capcom's "Super Street Fighter IV," and new versions of the long-running "Dead or Alive," "Resident Evil" and "Sims" series will be among the titles available.

The New York event also confirmed that a new offering from the popular "Madden NFL Football" franchise will offer a game on the console.

"In terms of game selection, there will truly be something for everyone," said Satoru Shibata, president of Nintendo of Europe.

"This isn't just the launch of another game device, but the start of a new entertainment era," he said.

At E3, Nintendo President Satoru Iwata showed off updates to the "Legend of Zelda" and "Mario Kart" series on the handheld system. Other titles that have been spotted in online stores include the "Metal Gear" franchise as well as 3-D versions of classics like "Contra" and "Frogger."

Nintendo said it will offer more than 30 games this summer, developed by both the company and outsiders.

The company already has announced that the 3DS will go on sale in Japan next month for about $300. The console will be available in black and aqua blue. The 3-D effect is adjustable, letting players turn it off or slide it to full 3-D, as well as stopping somewhere between the two.

The 3DS will let gamers play with friends, or even strangers, with interactive features called Spot Pass and Street Pass.

Street Pass exchanges game information not just with friends, but people you pass on the street.

"To be clear, no such transfer will occur unless you want them to," said Nintendo Europe marketing director Laurent Fischer.

Unlike rivals Sony and Microsoft, which launched respectively their Move and Kinect motion-control systems in 2010, Nintendo didn't roll out a major advance to its Wii console, which paved the way for that gaming genre.

But the promise of the 3DS still helped Nintendo create one of the biggest splashes at E3, the video-game industry's glitzy annual coming-out party.

Many reviewers who have spent time with the game believe its 3-D capabilities have the potential to significantly change the experience of handheld gaming.

The company did not address a warning it issued last month, saying children younger than 6 shouldn't play with the 3DS because it could harm their eyesight.

Source: http://www.cnn.com/2011/TECH/gaming.gadgets/01/19/nintendo.3ds/index.html

44 Ways to Kick-Start Your New Year

What are you going to do now to make sure you have your best year ever? What one thing will mean the difference in actually achieving your goals rather than chalking them up to yet another year’s unfulfilled resolutions? What can you do to enhance an aspect of your life that you’ve neglected in your single-minded pursuit of that elusive brass ring? Think about it.

We asked a host of experts, readers who follow SUCCESS on Twitter and Facebook, and our SUCCESS staff what they will do to kick-start 2010. We got wide-ranging answers, anecdotes and tips. Our aim is to get you thinking and to inspire you to reach farther, go faster, achieve more than ever before. Are you energized by this prospect? Or maybe a little overwhelmed? Then start small, focusing on just one thing you want to accomplish. Read Publisher Darren Hardy’s article (page 66) on what it takes to achieve your goals, and sign up for his upcoming blog to help you design the best 10 years of your life. This life is yours to make of it whatever you desire, so start now!

1 - Expand your thinking with new experiences. Each month for 30 days in a row, commit to doing something new that you have thought about doing, but have not done, and notice how it affects your life. Some possibilities: do aerobic exercise for 30 minutes, listen to only positive music, don’t read the newspaper, stop watching television, eat only vegetarian or raw food, verbally appreciate at least 10 people a day, get eight hours of sleep, meditate for 20 minutes, visualize your goals as already complete, do 20 minutes of yoga, read a self-help book every morning for 30 minutes, plan your next day’s schedule and prioritized to-do list before you leave work, do five things every day that forward your No. 1 goal, spend an hour with your spouse, call one of your children on the phone, write a handwritten thank-you note to someone, drink 10 glasses of water, take a nap, listen to a motivational CD on the way to work. Start this month and do one activity for the next 30 days in a row and then assess how it has impacted your life. I started doing this in July of 2009 and it has created the most magical year of my life. —Jack Canfield, co-founder of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series and co-author of The Success Principles: How to Get from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be

2 - Write letters to three people in your life to let them know what they mean to you.

3 - START A BUSINESS PLAN. If you’ve been sitting on a business idea for a while and haven’t acted on it, it’s time to do something about it. Write down your ideas and start working on a business plan. If you don’t know how, buy a book on starting a business and read it, or check the Internet for tips.

4 - WRITE A 101 LIFE-GOAL LIST.

5 - Make a commitment to fitness. Don’t just make a resolution and join a fitness center you won’t see after February—make a commitment and build fitness into your schedule. Join a class at your fitness club, an exercise group or a team sport. Or, if you can afford it, hire a trainer. Doing any of these things will not only make your workouts more productive, but they will also be more fun. Plus, you get the advantage of having others hold you accountable to your workout commitment. —Deborah Heisz, SUCCESS editor in chief

6 - Find a volunteer opportunity at Volunteer.org.

7 - Invest in a bright financial future. I will start a savings account. I graduated from college a little over a year ago and I need to start planning out my financial future. I want my financial future to be bright and to have no worries when I’m older and ready to retire. —Brandy Jules, SUCCESS researcher/ staff writer

8 - Build value every day. Business is all about high-touch/ high-trust relationships. In this age of dramatic distraction, it’s especially easy to forget that. People do business with people they trust and people who make them feel special. Create a ritual that ensures you reach out to three possible or current customers every day. This isn’t about asking for the order; this is about adding value. The more people you help, the more profits you’ll see. Send them an article. Connect them with a business opportunity. Do something to help them close in on their greatest dreams. They’ll soon help you close in on yours. —Robin Sharma, leadership expert and author of the new book The Leader Who Had No Title

9 - PRACTICE THE ONE-A-DAY PRINCIPLE. You can’t delight everybody all the time but you can do something extraordinary for someone each day. Find a customer, colleague, relative or a friend each day and do something remarkable. Using the one-a-day principle will make your business and life remarkable.—Mark Sanborn, leadership development speaker and author of the best-selling book The Encore Effect

10 - Sign up for a birthday/anniversary reminder service.

11 - Increase your awareness of your thoughts. Become aware of what leaves your mouth by recording everything you say for at least an hour each day for the entire month. Words have power! When you listen carefully to your language, you will know whether or not you are moving with momentum and purpose toward your vision. As you develop a keen awareness of your communication, you become empowered to purposefully choose language that inspires and empowers you to realize your vision. If you catch yourself speaking about limitations or problems, give yourself the chance to look for solutions and possibilities. Holding yourself to a higher standard in your choice of language is key to achieving consistent outstanding results. —Niurka, speaker, author, entrepreneur, trainer

12 - Write a personal mission statement or mantra.

13 - Schedule family time. I want to set up a schedule that is devoted only to my family. Maybe it’s playing a game with the kids twice a week or going to get ice cream. It’s hard to make time to do those family things, but I want to make sure I’m working to live instead of living to work. —David Lee, SUCCESS assistant editor

14 - LOSE OTHER PEOPLE’S OPINIONS. Quit worrying about trying to please everyone. As Bill Cosby says, “I don’t know the key to success, but I know the key to failure is trying to please everybody.” —Gina Muré from Facebook

15 - STOP USING THE “BAD THING” LABEL. Whenever something happens that is not in line with our desires, we get disappointed. We stick the label “bad thing” on it. And when we do, we experience it as such. In truth, we do not know whether something unexpected is “good” or “bad,” and we may never know.

When Greyston Bakery filled its first order for brownies for Ben & Jerry’s, the thin brownie sheets stuck together in 50-pound lumps and could not be separated. You could certainly label this a “bad thing.” But Ben pondered what to do and ultimately Chocolate Fudge Brownie ice cream was born— one of Ben & Jerry’s most popular products. So don’t stick a label “bad thing” on whatever happens to you that you don’t like initially. Who knows, that may be the very thing that you need to break out into a brilliant new future. —Srikumar Rao, professor teaching personal mastery and the best-selling author of Are You Ready to Succeed?

16 - Find a mentor.

17 - Take stock and charge forward. I’ll ask myself: What battles did I fight and not win last year? Are any of those battles worth continuing? Why didn’t I win them last year? What can I do to win them this year? How can I make those things I liked most about last year happen more frequently? 2010 is going to be another great year! —Alan Dwelle, SUCCESS production manager

18 - Reach my financial goals. I want to evaluate my cost-of-living expenses and see where I can cut back. I just started my own business, and I want to evaluate my income versus my expenses to see where I am currently, with the ultimate goal of hitting the salary I want to make. —Erica Jennings, SUCCESS Media digital consultant

19 - Get a whole new hairstyle or haircut.

20 - Keep friends close. My oldest friend is my former college suitemate. We used to laugh that no matter how many months passed between conversations, we could still pick up as though we’d spoken yesterday. But a lot of time has passed—fast. Work schedules, family obligations: life gets in the way. She’s not the only out-of-state friend I’ve lost touch with, either. This year, my 50th, I’ll make changes. I’m working on taking time off for visits, but meantime I’ll reconnect the old-fashioned way by writing, sending cards throughout the year, little gifts the family might enjoy, too. Last time we spoke, we agreed life’s just too short. Too short, indeed. —Lisa Ocker, SUCCESS editor

21- GET A LEG UP. You know what I’ll be doing! I’ll take the stairs because success means doing what others won’t. —Rory Vaden from Facebook

22 - Create an environment fostering your success. You might not even realize to what extent you are influenced—negatively and positively—by things and people around you. Start a journal to keep track of these influences so you can eliminate the negative and increase the positive. For instance, if being around a certain friend always makes you feel discouraged or drained, you should limit time with that person. Nurture your emotional well-being by choosing friends who genuinely want you to succeed and who encourage you. Also, consider your environment—is your home or office dreary or energizing? And make sure to read and listen to inspirational and motivational material. Make it a point to go to funny movies or watch a TV sitcom that makes you laugh. Overall, whether it’s gossip from co-workers, violence in the media, pessimism in your own thoughts or other influences, make conscious efforts to reduce your exposure to the negative. You’ll see positive benefits immediately! —Tony Alessandra, a communication and sales expert and co-author of the best-selling book The New Art of Managing People

23 - Write your top 10 goals for this year and post them where you can see them.

24 - INCREASE PRODUCTIVITY. I’m going to put the 80/20 rule to serious work, focusing on the 20 percent of my work that generates 80 percent of the revenue. —Haziq, via Twitter

25 - Take daily steps toward achieving my long-term vision. I’ve learned that my daily choices make a big difference in my long-term happiness. Les Brown says, “Greatness is a choice; it’s not our destiny.” I’ve always been a big-picture person, but this year, I’m breaking down my vision into daily, actionable goals that I can measure. The choices I make to spend a few minutes each day on my long-term vision will make great things happen! —Amy Anderson, SUCCESS managing editor

26 - Refresh your network. Have a host of contacts you’ve lost touch with over the last few months? Pull up those numbers and refresh your network! Now is the perfect time to check in and keep your network working for you.

27 - Automate bill payments.

28 RECONNECT WITH FAMILY. I’m making the change to reconnect with family by having a conference call scheduled for the same time once a week with my mom and brother, so that we can catch up and stay close even though we live in different cities. —Kathlena Smith, SUCCESS production artist

29 - Do something that scares you.

30 - Be a student of all you do. You must become an expert in your field. How? Read! Ask questions of mentors and peers. Attend training. Start today by identifying areas for improvement, looking for training opportunities in your field and signing up for seminars and web-casts, reading or listening to personal-development material, seeking out people you would like to emulate and approaching those you’d like as your mentors. —Stedman Graham, speaker, entrepreneur and author of You Can Make It Happen: A Nine-Step Plan for Success

31 - Have gratitude. I often think I need new clothes, but when I clean out or organize my closet, I realize I have lots of options and everything I need at my fingertips. In many areas of my life, I am often surprised by how I already have what I need if I just choose to look at things differently. Take a life inventory. How are your relationships with friends and family? How often do you laugh? Are you doing the things you love the most? Be sure to delight in all the amazing aspects of your life and don’t live in a constant state of —Sandra Bienkowski, SUCCESS columns editor

32 - Stop smoking.

33 - REVIEW YOUR EXPENSES AS A COUPLE. The first of the year is a great time for couples to sit down and take a good look at their financial goals and habits. Are you both on the same page about your long-term plan? Are your investments meeting your needs for that plan? Do you need to adjust your spending or look for new ways to increase your income? This year, why not focus on diversification? Make a specific plan to put those new wealth-building ideas into action.

34 - Take a dance or fitness class.

35 Slow down to speed up. It’s easy to stay busy, moving as fast as you possibly can. But what’s the point of spending your days climbing a mountain, only to realize at the end of this new year, you’ve climbed the wrong one? The best businesspeople are staggeringly focused on their vital few—those few priorities that will yield explosive results. And the way to build this type of business focus just might surprise you: Slow down.

If only for 30 minutes each day, slow down to think, plan, visualize and recite your best moves in a journal. You’ll become aware of your biggest opportunities, your smartest activities and your greatest tactics for growth. With this insight and clarity, you can then take actions that will drive excellent results. Commit to making it your breakthrough year and slow down for a bit each day. Then you’ll be perfectly prepared to speed up. And win in your business. —Robin Sharma, leadership expert and author of the new book The Leader Who Had No Title

36 - Cut up credit cards.

37 - Plan a trip to a place you have always wanted to go.

38 - Write a not-to-do-list. There is a difference between being busy and being productive. What are you wasting time on? What are you doing that doesn’t produce revenue? Here’s a powerful exercise. In 15- to 30-minute increments, keep track of each of your activities during the workday. Do this for a week. Then annualize the total amount of time for each activity that doesn’t lead to a sale or increased cash fl ow. How much more would you make per year if you did not do those activities any longer? How much more free time would you have for family? For health? Put those things on your not-to-do-list and pay people to help you with the stuff that doesn’t produce the sales and lifestyle success you desire. —Todd Duncan, sales expert and author of the best-selling High Trust Selling: Make More Money in Less Time with Less Stress

39 - Clean out your closet and donate unwanted clothes to charity.

40 - Schedule a regular date night on your calendar with your spouse.

41 - Schedule all doctor and dentist appointments for the year.

42 - SAY “YES” WHEN YOU WANT TO SAY “NO.” In this new year, we want to increase our possibilities, options and opportunities. When we say “no” to a business, social or community project, invitation or event, we are also saying “no” to the serendipitous benefits that arise. Rather than waiting for these events to present themselves, start today by actively seeking opportunities to meet people, gather new ideas, learn more about your industry and just connect and share.—Susan RoAne, networking expert, speaker and author of the best-selling How to Work a Room

43 - Communicate and connect. With my three kids off to college this year, setting up new ways to communicate regularly is important. So I’ll be making a lot more cell phone calls, texting, posting to Facebook, e-mailing, sending handwritten letters to their school mailboxes and surprise goodie bags during exams, and heck, maybe even making a surprise 7 a.m. visit one weekend! —Reed Bilbray, SUCCESS Media group vice president

44 - Lower your blood pressure. Cut your sodium intake. The American Heart Association recommends consuming less than 2,300 milligrams daily, which is about a teaspoon of salt. Some people—middle-aged and older adults, people with high blood pressure and African-Americans— need less than 1,500 milligrams per day, the AHA says. Start by reading product labels for sodium content. Be wary of processed foods and soups, sugar-free items; even raw poultry can contain added salt. Baking soda also contains about 1,000 milligrams of sodium per teaspoon. Ask restaurant servers for low-sodium options—you’d be surprised how eager they are to help. Look for low-sodium options at the grocery, such as bread and deli items and, of course, fresh produce.

Source:http://www.successmagazine.com/kickstart-new-year/PARAMS/article/919#