There is a fun way to take notes and actually make chapter come to live.

Ever heard of Mind Mapping?

No, it is not about anything psychic. It is simply drawing colorful images to represent things. It can be used for summarizing facts in a book and retaining what you have read. It can also be used as a brainstorming tool or for planning. Personally, I use it a lot in my work. It helps me be more effective.

So how do you start?

Get some color pnecils and blank paper, or a sketchbook.

By GARY DURKIN

© 2005 - All Rights Reserved Worldwide.

You may not be familiar with title of this article, or indeed my writing style - but often they go ‘hand-in-hand’.

I use phrases or sayings to support my articles - as this often acts as a good starting point to drive home various key facts I am trying to emphasize to my readers.

The phrase or saying ‘Buyer beware’ has some legal background, but is more often linked to everyday life when trying to warn people against perils of purchasing - that’s purchasing, often without good deliberation, consideration of facts - or sometimes just good old ‘commonsense’ (me included!)

Today’s fast pace World is all about ‘here and now ‘ getting things done today - action, not delays.

We are all part of it. We all want things immediately, we hate waiting, postponing, complications…..

Without this hyper-energetic lifestyle, there would be no need for fast-food, microwave ovens, email, cell phones, instant coffee, 500 TV / Cable channels, express elevators…….

But … that’s World we live in, and life we lead.

Who, more than anyone, has grasped this concept of high-energy, turbo-boosted lifestyles than…. sales, business and marketing industry?

They are dominating virtually every aspect of our lives, often subliminal, subconsciously - but always effectively.

This drives passion inside us, acting as catalyst which results in our eagerness, need, often greed - to make impulse decisions, instantaneous purchases…. many of which are regrettable.

Hands up those of us who have never bought something on spur of moment, then later wished they hadn’t??

It’s not all our fault.

Whilst we must hold ourselves partly accountable, society too, but we mustn't forget experts all around us who are preying on our weaknesses - to make ‘that’ sale.

It’s all about…..

‘BUY NOW - Limited Stocks’. ‘ Sale Ends SOON’. ‘ Offer Won’t Last Long’. ‘ This Deal Closes Tomorrow’. ‘Price Goes Up At Midnight’. ‘Get It While You Still Can’. ‘One Day Sale’.

It’s all very clever marketing and sales techniques - nothing illegal (not usually), some might say not even immoral.

Here’s a little ‘hint’ about morality of ‘sales’……….

Where I live, I am constantly bombarded with Sales and Special Offers, just like many other countries.

I will see an advertisement offering me a 75% discount off normal price of a set of dining room furniture.

Sounds good so far - that’s one hell of a saving - 75% off. This means I pay only one quarter normal price.

However, and here’s catch…….. retailer, part of a large chain, has at some time in past few months, at one of their outlets / stores (usually one of their smallest, and least popular) - placed a ‘higher than normal’ price on items for a short period.

So - usual price in usual stores would be $2,000

But they applied a ‘special’ price at a small, unpopular store of $3,500 - for same items.

Advertise 75% OFF (but hidden in small print they refer to price at this ‘one’ store, where item was on sale there for a few days.

SO - here’s bottom line.

If it REALLY was 75% off - ‘usual’ price of $2,000 - you would pay just $500