When shopping for a sign company to handle the next commercial real estate project, is your company comparing apples to apples? Shopping for the best bid package is wise for any developer, but be sure to know exactly what’s in the proposal. Does the bid include every aspect of the project? Are there hidden expenses or fees? Does the sign vendor provide a complete turn-key solution or just part of the solution? What is your company responsible for? Are taxes included in the bottom line? Are designs extra or are they included? Be sure to find out what grade of steel or aluminum is being quoted and what type of screws are being used. What’s the quality of the welds? Are the signs built to be easily serviced? What’s the quality of the EMC in the proposal?

Why is all this important? It’s important to know how long the signs are expected to last. It’s also important to know what the long-term maintenance and service costs look like. Saving money on the front end may not always look good when examining the overall picture, especially if the signs will need repaired or replaced sooner. In the long run your company may end up spending double a lower initial investment. In many cases investing in quality up front will actually save your commercial development company money.

Another consideration is the design of the sign. Is it being designed by an architect or a professional advertiser who understands how to drive business to your tenants? Is the site triangle being considered in the design or is the sign merely an afterthought?

Are the signs built to last? Are warranties offered? Does the sign company handle permit procurement or is that your company’s responsibility? Is the proposal truly turn-key and hassle free in the long run? What’s the sign company’s track record of safety and customer service? Are old signs properly disposed of or is your company exposed to legal risk? Your team has likely given great care to the choices made in the investment of your building, mall, or shopping center, be sure to use the same care when choosing a professional to handle your sign package. Your signs are the advertising beacon that draw business to your tenants and your investment. Is your team comparing apples to apples, or apples to oranges?

Some food for thought when comparing competing sign bid packages.

A close friend of mine has been struggling with the concept of dressing up as a French Maid this Halloween. She is conflicted over the sexuality and the servitude the costume represents. She has the desire to look great but not to project a poor image of women. I have written down my response to her concerns in one sentence: Get over it!

It would not be an exaggeration to say that Americans like Halloween. It is clear that we love it! People of all ages, races, economic backgrounds, creeds and temperaments all enjoy celebrating Halloween in one form or another. Decorating the house, hosting a Halloween party, going trick or treating, and carving  jack-o-lanterns are all proof of this. What most adults enjoy is the excuse to get dressed up as something different from ourselves. We get the opportunity to show a side of ourselves that we don’t normally show to the world, and to be accepted by everyone for doing it. 

In recent years, many Halloween costumes for women have decidedly become sexier and more revealing. The traditional French maid costume falls under this category. This is proven by the fact that many women’s costumes have the word, “sexy”, in the costume name and description. Is it a statement about the erosion of our morals or is it a rebellion for women against modern society’s image of what a successful, professional woman should be? I tend to lean toward the latter and here are the reasons why.

Our society has continually told women that being sexy and desirable is a bad thing. You have to dress professionally to be taken seriously in the work place, and any hint of femininity in this environment can be viewed by other coworkers as a weakness, or as the reason behind why a particular woman is successful. So women today, try to hide their sexuality behind professional, business dress. Is it unreasonable to think, that total suppression of feelings of sexuality and being desirable is going to have some sort of backlash? I think not, and that is where sexy Halloween costumes come into play.

On Halloween you are allowed or even encouraged to assume an alternate identity for an evening. This allows people to express something about themselves, they normally keep hidden. People can display all of their hidden fantasies and dreams without the danger of harsh social judgment. This is where the French Maid Costume comes in.

The French Maid may not be the ideal choice for all women, but some women who are looking to show their sexuality in a saucy, sexy and funny way it could be perfect. The great thing about this particular costume choice is that you have a wide variety of styles to choose from.   If you are a little more modest, you will be able to find an adult French Maid costume that will show your femininity without revealing everything to everyone. However, if your desire is to show a little skin and display your sexy side for everyone to see, you can find a costume that will accomplish that, as well.

No matter what costume you decide to wear this Halloween, I encourage you to let your hair down a little and release a little of that pent up frustration in a healthy and socially acceptable way. Dress how you really want to an show the not so apparent side of your personality. It will be good for you and your self esteem. Don’t let society tell you what it is acceptable at Halloween, you decide! By getting your own French Maid Halloween Costume this year, you will show that you are  comfortable with being a woman who can show the sexy side and yet still be powerful and formidable at the office. So to my friend out there and all women, be a French Maid this Halloween, it could be the healthiest thing you do all year!

Sociologists have proven just in the last half a century that just because a person has all the qualifications and skill sets necessary for a job, doesn’t necessarily guarantee that he or she will thrive in it. This is mostly due to one aspect – Soft Skills, or more popularly called, people skills. Companies have recognized the value in this and now invest considerable resources into behavioral training or soft skills training for employees. These organizations focus on the human element and develop skill sets that will equip an employee to thrive and flourish amongst his or her peers. Corporate training institutes are popping up in every major city and country around the world to equip people with the cutting edge for success. But exactly what kind of qualities or traits are hiring managers looking for with respect to soft skills? In this article we will look at 5 types of soft skills that are considered invaluable in the business world today:

Effective Communication

Being an excellent communicator is probably right up there on the hierarchy of most valuable soft skills. Most performance review sheets require that the employee have the skill-set of ‘effective communication skill’ in addition to technical and job related skills.The efficiency to transmit ideas across the board sets an employee apart. Being a good communicator also entails being articulate in speech, being a good listener and also using body language wisely.

Confidence

While nobody likes an over-confident know-it-all, a considerable amount of self-esteem is looked upon as valuable. After all the ability to believe in oneself regardless of the circumstance or people around us can sometimes make the difference between success and failure. It goes without saying however, that merely having confidence is insufficient and must be backed up with a good dose of knowledge and skills to support it.

Being a Team Player

This aspect is probably where the existence or efficiency of soft skills can be the most obvious. A person could possess exemplary communication skills and confidence but use those poorly in interacting with others. This does not do justice to those skills. Having the ability to cooperate and work with people creates a sense of camaraderie that can be contagiously healthy for a team to be successful.

Flexibility

Some employees do well only when the conditions are just right to suit their tastes and preferences. The ability to adapt to a myriad number of circumstances and people is a strength that every company likes to tap into. Employees that are adaptable can deliver consistently even when the situation is dire or the stakes are high. ‘Fair-weather’ employees on the other hand are unreliable and inconsistent.

Problem-Solving Skills

An employee that freezes up or shuts down emotionally or mentally is a hazard to any team let alone a company. Employees that are able to think through difficult scenarios, troubleshoot complicated situations, and manage difficult people are considered invaluable in a working environment. Every organization faces inevitable situations that need their employees to not only be prepared but also come up with solutions to those problems. This earns the company’s trust and reliance on that employee. Companies constantly look for such traits and incorporate them into their professional development training to help equip employees with these invaluable skill sets.

Soft Skills Training is an important aspect of corporate development in countries around the world. It works on the principle of developing invaluable people skills for employees in order that they may thrive within their working environment.

Libra is a powerful zodiac sign. She can be a bit moody this year because of her high stress. She may indeed take matters into her own hands and it will leave you guessing if you are being sent a secret message. If you are in a relationship with a Libra man, you will find that their anger tends to be a bit more aggressive this year than last. Perhaps it is because they are struggling to find their life purpose. The zodiac calendar is in favor of the other 11 signs getting along with Libra. You will find that music calms them down. Love songs are at the top of the list. Try playing love songs from the 1980’s. You will find that it triggers the mind.

Try not to raise your voice this year to a Libra. You will find that fights erupt almost instantaneously. This sign is going through a lot of old pain that was not there before in previous years. This is mainly because the earth is in a shift right now. Most people have no idea what their horoscope is saying to them. If you read astrology books, you will be able to understand a lot more of what the spirit world has to say. Only those with unique interpretation and mind sets will be able to look at this world and feel a sense of power. You will find that you can easily approach any subject and find answers.

The best way to speak with this horoscope sign is to be gentle with your words. If you say something, follow through with an action. They will enjoy more conversation this year. Speaking with a Libra is a lot easier because of their attention to detail. You will find that their happiness level goes up when you pay more attention to them. It is not easy to understand why something is happening. However, when you discuss the situation, more positive energy comes through.

Think about love from ten years ago and how it affected you. If you can understand that, you will better understand why Libra is being affected this year more than other years. Take your time with assuming. Don’t assume that you are being walked all over. Try to understand why a person may be feeling sad, happy or not wanting to be bothered. The more that you talk your problems out, the more you will see a new sign occurring for the better in your life. In time, you will find that the spirit world has a lot more to say to you. You will find that in time, you can open yourself up to change and learning a new walk in life. As each day passes, you will find new information.

Mood is not always directed at you. Sometimes people just feel cranky because they have not eaten properly or taking enough walks. Others have a negative mindset of feeling that everything will go wrong in their life. There is something going on with every person in life.

Starting and running your own business can be exciting and rewarding, but it can also be very stressful. For most of our almost 40 year marriage my husband has been an entrepreneur and I have sometimes worked with him. Having built my own business as a Stress Reduction Coach I have been reflecting on the stresses of being an entrepreneur.

Signs and sources of stress

Some of the signs of stress overload include irritability, anxiety about the sustainability of the business, and/or high business debt. Relationships within the family can suffer if they do not understand the entrepreneurial drive or the time and effort it takes to start and run a business. For women entrepreneurs, the job of running the household and balancing work and home can create enormous stressors. When you work from home, all the household tasks that need to be done can pull you away from your business. People who are drawn to be entrepreneurs are sometimes idea people who don’t like detail and repetitive tasks. Having to work on those things can create stress as well. And when you’re stressed it’s harder to concentrate and focus.

Organize your environment

One of the solutions is to reduce the stress and create an environment that discourages stress. Have a place where you can keep everything together and organized. A written plan of action for the business posted where you can see it along with a daily plan can help you focus the time you have available.

A system that works for me

I am not a person who comes to organization easily and I have struggled to find a way that works. Daytimers and lists help for a short while, but I have never been able to keep up with them. One thing I have found that works is to have a “big picture overview” of what needs to be done where I can see it. I have a poster board size piece of “static cling” presentation sheet that adheres to my door. It can be easily rolled up and removed if needed. I have several categories that I’ve posted at the top of the sheet, such as “website,” “presentation,” etc. These are written on standard sized post-it notes so they can be easily removed and changed. I brainstorm everything I need to do on small post-it notes. After I brainstorm, I then organize the notes in the appropriate columns. I also have a category that says TODAY for the urgent and important things. I can glance at the poster while I am working and see what else I might need to do and when I finish what I need to do, I can throw the post-it away. If something comes up that is not posted, I can put it on a post-it note and put it where it needs to be.

This “system” helped me write many graduate papers and I used it when I planned and wrote my dissertation. Now it helps me as I plan and work my business. This is just one technique that helps me reduce the stress of being an entrepreneur.

Laurel Thatcher Ulrich, “Well behaved women rarely make history.” There is a long list of women who have made history by not being the obedient daughter, or the barefoot and pregnant wife, or the stay at home sister. Sacagawea became famous because she did not listen to her father who probably said, “Don’t go with those men.” Harriet Tubman became famous because she refused to be an obedient slave, and instead spirited other slaves away. While Sojourner Truth is famous for giving a speech where she said, “Ain’t I a Woman”? Eleanor Roosevelt created a whole new image of what a First Lady could be, “A Woman is like a tea bag – you never know how strong she is until she gets into hot water.”

For the first time in history a woman is running for the Presidency here in the U.S. When I first saw Hillary Rodham Clinton walk down the Capitol steps at Bill Clinton’s first inauguration I burst into tears. I had no idea who she was, but I knew she was a powerhouse. Today young girls actually believe that a woman can be a president. When I grew up I was told that a woman’s place was by her man’s side. Instead of following that mandate I have done my best to be an unruly, “nasty” woman.

Who are your inspirational role models? Perhaps they are an inspiration because they refused to do what they were supposed to do, and instead followed their consciences or their intuition. The change we want to see in the world is up to us. As women we are more than the peacemakers, the nurturers, the cheerleaders, and the child bearers. We can be the strong backs, the compassionate warriors, the catalysts, healing witches, and uppity bitches. How much time do you spend caught in fear trying to figure out the “right thing to do” or wondering why your life is not as fulfilled as you envision? Instead challenge yourself by doing at least one scary thing a day, and see what happens. Maybe your fears will become less tangible, and your dreams more real than you ever thought possible.

I have spent too much time being cautious, and indirect, or trying to figure “it” out before I am halfway through doing what I am inspired to accomplish. Often I channel my creative impulses into communicating with an international circle of friends on Facebook. Those impulses support my passion of making a positive difference in people’s lives, and being one of many lights transforming the world into a more humane and loving community. Some days I have to dig deep to find the inspiration to work for myself, write my columns, be a part of a family, as well as be of service in my community. Other days, I am totally confident that the best I can do is better than I did the day before.

This week’s exercise has three parts.

The first is to read the following sentences from a fiction book, (The Cipher, by Diana Pharaoh Francis) the character Errol Cipher said, “Women are quite reasonable right up to the point where they become unreasoning, and then they do exactly as they wish without concern for the consequences. Men, however, have hot fierce tempers that burn out quickly. They are more easily deflected from their stupidity. Women are single-minded about it.”

The 2nd part of the exercise is to ask yourself, when was the last time you became unreasoning, and damned the consequences?

The 3rd part of the exercise is to write the experience down and then ask yourself 2 questions; how do you feel about what you did, today, and would you do it all over again?

There are many milestones involved with birth. Your first child is a large milestone. While not as big a deal, your first grandchild is a wonderful milestone too. When you reach it, you’re a grandparent.

While this is an unfortunate sign of age, it’s the most welcome sign of aging. Grandparents and grandchildren are natural allies. They have the most important thing in common. Namely, the one in between, the baby’s parent and grandparent’s child. This person unites the two as their link and their common adversary. While this may seem unfortunate for the parent in the middle, it works pretty fairly in practice.

Grandparents should enjoy their grandkids. Not only are they the automatic ‘I told you so’ to their own kids, the two have a beneficial relationship. Grandchildren remind the grandparent of youth and the need to exercise. Grandparents guide the newborn grandchildren and share the wonders in the world.

In some cases, grandparents are better at guiding than parents. They have more experience with children. They have more time to pay attention to children because they are often retired, while the parents are busy at work. These two advantages make them natural advisers or mentors who will always be ready to listen.

It is incredible fun to make up tall tales to your grandchildren. They will believe it and they have not yet learned to scoff. However while it is fun, being a mentor to your grandchild carries responsibility along with it. Don’t let your kids (the baby’s parents) carry the weight alone. Lord only knows what irresponsible things that they may teach your grandchildren.

Mold the children’s minds. Teach them about the wonders and dangers of the world. Take them to a park and play around. Name the insects flying through the air and teach the kids how to catch them. Help them identify trouble like wasps and boys. Play simple games and teach the children sportsmanship and other values.

Experience is the grandparent’s trump card. You will know more about the world than anybody else. Teach them about the history that you have lived through. Show them the pitfalls that you have encountered and most of all the lessons that you have learned.

Teach your grandchildren about your hobbies. If you don’t have one, try taking one up. This will give you one more thing to share with the kid. If you’re into quilting, they make wonderful gifts for your grandkids, as well as something to demonstrate creativity. Gardening, cooking, collecting, etc. are all interesting hobbies for you and your grandkid.

Grandparents are a font of wisdom and fun. Be that way to your grandkid.

What is Health?

How do you define health? Is it a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being? Is it merely the absence of disease or infirmity? Or is health a resource for everyday life, rather than the objective of living; a positive concept, emphasising social and personal resources as well as physical capabilities?

Good health is harder to define than bad health (which can be equated with the presence of disease), because it must convey a concept more positive than mere absence of disease, and there is a variable area between health and disease. Health is clearly a complex, multidimensional concept. Health is, ultimately, poorly defined and difficult to measure, despite impressive efforts by epidemiologists, vital statisticians, social scientists and political economists. Each individual’s health is shaped by many factors, including medical care, social circumstances, and behavioural choices.

Health Care

While it is true to say that health care is the prevention, treatment and management of illness, and the preservation of mental and physical well-being, through the services offered by the medical, nursing and allied health professions, health-related behaviour is influenced by our own values, which are determined by upbringing, by example, by experience, by the company one keeps, by the persuasive power of advertising (often a force of behaviour that can harm health), and by effective health education. Healthy individuals are able to mobilise all their physical, mental, and spiritual resources to improve their chances of survival, to live happy and fulfilling lives, and to be of benefit to their dependants and society.

Achieving health, and remaining healthy, is an active process. Natural health is based on prevention, and on keeping our bodies and minds in good shape. Health lies in balancing these aspects within the body through a regimen consisting of diet, exercise, and regulation of the emotions. The last of these is too often ignored when health advice is dispensed, but can have a pronounced effect on physical well-being.

Diet

Every day, or so it seems, new research shows that some aspect of lifestyle – physical activity, diet, alcohol consumption, and so on – affects health and longevity. Physical fitness is good bodily health, and is the result of regular exercise, proper diet and nutrition, and proper rest for physical recovery. The field of nutrition also studies foods and dietary supplements that improve performance, promote health, and cure or prevent disease, such as fibrous foods to reduce the risk of colon cancer, or supplements with vitamin C to strengthen teeth and gums and to improve the immune system. When exercising, it becomes even more important to have a good diet to ensure that the body has the correct ratio of macronutrients whilst providing ample micronutrients; this is to aid the body in the recovery process following strenuous exercise.

If you’re trying to lose weight by “dieting”, don’t call it a diet, first of all – successful dieters don’t call what they do a “diet”. A healthy diet and regular physical activity are both important for maintaining a healthy weight. Even literate, well-educated people sometimes have misguided views about what makes or keeps them healthy, often believing that regular daily exercise, regular bowel movements, or a specific dietary regime will alone suffice to preserve their good health. Despite the ever-changing, ever-conflicting opinions of the medical experts as to what is good for us, one aspect of what we eat and drink has remained constantly agreed by all: a balanced diet.

A balanced diet comprises a mixture of the main varieties of nutriments (protein, carbohydrates, fats, minerals, and vitamins). Proper nutrition is just as, if not more, important to health as exercise. If you’re concerned about being overweight, you don’t need to add the extra stress of “dieting”. No “low-fat this” or “low-carb that”; just healthful eating of smaller portions, with weight loss being a satisfying side effect. Improve health by eating real food in moderation. (For many reasons, not everyone has easy access to or incentives to eat a balanced diet. Nevertheless, those who eat a well-balanced diet are healthier than those who do not.)

Exercise

Physical exercise is considered important for maintaining physical fitness and overall health (including healthy weight), building and maintaining healthy bones, muscles and joints, promoting physiological well-being, reducing surgical risks, and strengthening the immune system. Aerobic exercises, such as walking, running and swimming, focus on increasing cardiovascular endurance and muscle density. Anaerobic exercises, such as weight training or sprinting, increase muscle mass and strength. Proper rest and recovery are also as important to health as exercise, otherwise the body exists in a permanently injured state and will not improve or adapt adequately to the exercise. The above two factors can be compromised by psychological compulsions (eating disorders, such as exercise bulimia, anorexia, and other bulimias), misinformation, a lack of organisation, or a lack of motivation.

Ask your doctor or physical therapist what exercises are best for you. Your doctor and/or physical therapist can recommend specific types of exercise, depending on your particular situation. You can use exercises to keep strong and limber, improve cardiovascular fitness, extend your joints’ range of motion, and reduce your weight. You should never be too busy to exercise. There’s always a way to squeeze in a little exercise, no matter where you are. Eliminate one or maybe even two items from your busy schedule to free up time to fit in some exercise and some “YOU” time. Finding an exercise partner is a common workout strategy.

Emotions

You may have heard about the benefits of diet and exercise ad nauseam, but may be unaware of the effect that your emotions can have on your physical well-being and, indeed, your longevity. Like physical health, mental health is important at every stage of life. Mental health is how we think, feel, and act in order to face life’s situations. Prolonged psychological stress may have a negative impact on health, such as weakening the immune system.

Children are particularly vulnerable. Caring for and protecting a child’s mental health is a major part of helping that child to grow into a normal adult, accepted into society. Mental health problems are not just a passing phase. Children are at greater risk for developing mental health problems when certain factors occur in their lives or environments. Mental health problems include depression, bipolar disorder (manic-depressive illness), attention-deficit / hyperactivity disorder, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, schizophrenia and conduct disorder. Do your best to provide a safe and loving home and community for your child, as well as nutritious meals, regular health check-ups, immunisations and exercise. Many children experience mental health problems that are real and painful, and they can be severe. Mental health problems affect at least one in every five young people at any given time. Tragically, an estimated two-thirds of all young people with mental health problems are not getting the help they need. Mental health problems can lead to school failure, alcohol or other drug abuse, family discord, violence, or even suicide. A variety of signs may point to a possible mental health problem in a child or teenager. Talk to your doctor, a school counsellor, or other mental health professionals who are trained to assess whether your child has a mental health problem.

Control your emotions. If a driver overtakes you on the wrong side, or pulls out of a side road in front of you, don’t seethe with rage and honk your horn; You’re hurting no one but yourself by raising your blood pressure. Anger has been linked to heart disease, and research has suggested that hardening of the arteries occurs faster in people who score highly in hostility and anger tests. Stay calm in such situations, and feel proud of yourself for doing so. Take comfort in the knowledge that such aggressive drivers only increase their own blood pressure. Your passengers will be more impressed with your “cool” than with your irascibility.

If you are in a constant rush, feeling that every second of your life counts, just slow down a little. Yes, every second does count, but consider the concept of quality of life. Compare how you feel when you’re in a hurry with how you feel when you’re not. Which feels better? Rushing everywhere increases your stress level. The body tries to overcome stress by making certain physiological adjustments. Some time after you slow down, the physiological adjustments and the stress symptoms revert to normal. If you don’t ever slow down, the physiological adjustments and the stress symptoms persist. It is this persistence of the body’s response that matters. You may develop physical, physiological or psychological problems, and may not be able to lead a normal life. Many cases of stress are somehow connected with money, or rather the lack of it. Such people struggle to make ends meet or to acquire more material possessions. This brings us to our final discussion: attitude.

Attitude

It is always pleasant to enjoy the fruits of our labours, of course. Sometimes, however, it seems that whatever we do, it’s just not enough to be able to afford that new car or that foreign holiday. So, what do we usually do then? We work harder, longer; we increase the stress on our minds and bodies; we spend less time with our families and friends; we become more irascible and less likeable people. If you find yourself in this situation, just stop for a moment, and consider: Is it all worth it? What is the purpose of life? Surely it is to be happy. You’ll probably be happier if you adopt the philosophy that true quality of life is not to be found in material things. If you convince yourself that you want less, you’ll need less. If you need less, you’ll cope with life more easily, and the happier, and therefore healthier, you’ll be. Buddha called this “enlightenment”. Enjoy a “good-health attitude”. Focus on your abilities instead of disabilities. Be satisfied with what you have, rather than be dissatisfied about what you don’t have and probably never will have.

If you simply cannot cope with a healthy diet, exercise and emotional control, but genuinely prefer to eat junk food, be permanently drunk, be under constant stress, and be disliked by others, then enjoy your life while it lasts, but understand that the trade-off is that it will probably not last long. If you accept this willingly, you’ll be happy. There is some merit in the philosophy that it is better to live a short, happy life than a long, miserable one.

Conclusion

Personal or individual health is largely subjective. For most individuals and for many cultures, however, health is a philosophical and subjective concept, associated with contentment, and often taken for granted when all is going well. The evidence that behavioural factors such as diet, physical activity, smoking and stress influence health is overwhelming. Thus, health is maintained and improved not only through the advancement and application of health science, but also through the efforts and intelligent lifestyle choices of the individual and society. Perhaps the best thing you can do for your health is to keep a positive attitude. Optimal health can be defined as a balance of physical, emotional, social, spiritual and intellectual health. Maintain a positive attitude!

Anyone who has risked his or her life, experienced being away from home and family, and loyally served this country in the armed forces deserves to be welcomed back into civilian society with open arms. However, a lot has changed in the world for a soldier between the time he or she first enters the military and when it is time to return to civilian life. The process is not always easy and several potential obstacles must be overcome to make a successful transition.

Former U.S. Army Sergeant Michael Bluemling, Jr. has been there. He knows what it is to leave the military with an honorable discharge and feel pride in having served his country, only to find he was not fully prepared for civilian life. He learned many things the hard way during his transition with very little guidance; therefore, he has written this book, Bridging the Gap from Soldier to Civilian, to provide other soldiers with a roadmap to success as they make a similar transition.

Bridging the Gap from Soldier to Civilian is divided into two sections: “Phase 1: Expiration of Time and Service from the Military,” and “Phase 2: Personal and Professional Growth as a Civilian.” I would have expected the second section to be in the book, but I had no idea how much work was involved in getting all your paperwork correct before you leave the service. As Bluemling points out, it is better to have your paperwork in order before you leave than to try to make claims for any types of benefits after you leave the service, only to discover there is no supporting paperwork and you then have to spend months or years going through appeal boards to receive what should be rightfully yours as a veteran.

This first section of the book is specifically broken down into three chapters on “Information and Data Collection,” “Getting all Personal Affairs in Order,” and “Medical Documentation Preparation.” Bluemling walks the reader through all the documents you need to make sure you have copies of for yourself and that, more importantly, are also filed with the military. He makes it easy for readers to work through the process by including in each chapter a 7 step checklist. For example, the first chapter’s list is “7 Steps to Prepare Yourself for ETSing” (processing through the “Expiration of Term of Service”). The steps that follow range from discussing your decision to leave the military with your family and making a list of goals for yourself to contacting your state veteran career adviser and doing research on the new career field you want to enter.

The second section of the book focuses on adjusting to the civilian world once you have left the military. Bluemling makes an excellent point that the outside world has not stood still while you were in the military. Many changes have occurred and you need to learn how to adapt to them. This section is longer than the first and contains information ranging from focusing on your psychological well-being during the transition to earning an education with the GI BILL and also how to start your own business as a “vetrepreneur.” Bluemling is especially knowledgeable on this last topic since he is the founder and CEO of Power of One, LLC, a disabled-veteran-owned company centered on meeting its customers’ needs by providing dynamic inspirational presentations that allow for personal growth and life fulfillment. In addition, Bluemling’s tell-it-like-it-is, yet positive attitude shines through in these pages, making readers believe that if Bluemling could make the transition from soldier to civilian and successful vetrepreneur, then so can they. Each chapter in this section also is broken down into seven steps to achieve that chapter’s objective.

Bridging the Gap from Soldier to Civilian is not a long book, but it’s all the better for that. It is a succinct yet informative roadmap that will make any veteran’s path easier. Also included in the book is a foreword by retired Lieutenant Colonel David A. Rababy, whom I wholly agree with when he states about the veteran transition experience, “Suddenly, you find yourself a stranger in your own land. How do you navigate your way home? The best way I have found is by learning from others just as you have learned methods of dealing with your new life. One person you can learn from is Michael Bluemling, Jr.” Finally, there is an extensive Veterans Resources list at the end of the book that cites numerous websites to assist veterans in all aspects of their transition from acquiring veterans benefits to disability questions, appeals, and pension information. I doubt a more comprehensive list is available anywhere, and it, alone, makes this book worth its price.

Finally, throughout the book Bluemling has several key phrases that stand out. Some read almost like proverbs, and they all offer great advice. One that really stood out was, “You are about to be in for the fight of your life, but if you are properly prepared, everything will be easier in the long run.” I couldn’t agree more. Let Bridging the Gap from Soldier to Civilian be the start of that preparation and lead you to the help and resources you will need to make your transition a smooth and successful one.

If you’re a veteran reading this review, thank you for your service to our country. If you know any veterans or soldiers about to leave the service, get them copies of this book to show your appreciation for their service.

One of the most significant choices you make in asserting your personal power revolves around how you orient yourself in the expression of your own energy. Generally speaking, you orient yourself either toward expressing as a victim or expressing as a director. No doubt there is quite a significant difference between these two orientations.

The expression of victim has to do with choosing to view your life as an unrelenting series of events and circumstances which unavoidably happen to you. In this mode, rather than viewing your life as an incredible, wondrous expression within physicality, you view yourself as a helpless victim of your environment, of your own personal history and experiences, of other people and even of yourself. Pain, suffering, anxiety and trauma abound.

Directing your own energy, on the other hand, generates quite a different view and experience. As you direct your own energy you literally empower yourself to go in the direction that you prefer to go in. As a result, you naturally feel better and more in touch, in sync, with yourself. And for good reason – you are more in sync with yourself. In this orientation, life is an uplifting, inspiring and satisfying experience. And, yes, even fun!

This choice of perceptual orientation also influences your experience in another powerful way. What and how you express within your energy essentially attracts more of the same. Now, that doesn’t happen due to some sort of immutable like-attracts-like cosmic law, as is fashionable to say.

Rather, as you get more in sync with yourself by directing your own energy, and as you view and appreciate your day-to-day reality as a creation of your own energy, you reflect that and allow yourself more freedom of movement.

Now, let’s do a quick time out and consider another perspective: there is nothing inherently wrong with orienting and viewing yourself as a victim. Victim is also your own creation. And the creation of victim is not any better or any worse than any other expression – assuming, that is, that you have chosen that expression. What is dis-empowering and enervating, however, is being stuck on auto-pilot, so to speak, and not recognizing the ever-present choices you do actually have.

Recognize that you always have choice and that you configure and express your personal power to the extent that you consciously act as a director of your energy. This perceptual awareness and conscious action puts you in sync with yourself and thus leads you, naturally and effortlessly, to personal empowerment and freedom.