Healthcare Professionals Volunteer Aid To Human Trafficking Victims

January 26, 2011 -(MMD Newswire) - Ida Lopez, the head of Tampa's branch of World Relief recently presented Gracia Bennish, President of United for Human Rights Florida (UHR), with a "Humanitarian Acknowledgement" for the generous community minded contributions of United Physicians for Human Rights Tampa Bay (UPHR).

UPHR Tampa Bay is a grassroots group of physicians, dentists, chiropractors and nutritionists who are contributing their professional services to assist human trafficking victims who have been rescued from their captors.

UPHR Tampa Bay is under the umbrella of United for Human Rights, a non-for-profit international organization. UHR actively works together with Youth for Human Rights (YHR) to increase public awareness about human rights as well as supports the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a document approved unanimously by the United Nations in 1948. Additionally, UHR and YHR provide educators with free human rights educational materials, which includes the award-winning documentary film,

The Story of Human Rights. These materials are created in collaboration with the Human Rights Department of the Church of Scientology International.

Gracia Bennish found that the non-for-profit organizations in the community who work with human trafficking and other human rights abuse cases have an urgent need for assistance with health care issues. Other sources are available, but not always on an immediate basis or they are not always able to meet specific needs. United Physicians for Human Rights was created to fulfill this need with the healthcare professionals donating their time free of charge.

This "Humanitarian Acknowledgement" was given to United Physicians for Human Rights in recognition of their generous contributions of time, supplies, expertise and support of human rights. Ms. Bennish was delighted with the acknowledgement. "It is our hope to expand this grassroots movement to service more nongovernmental organizations in the Tampa Bay area and beyond and to forward understanding about human rights".

Ms. Bennish and her colleagues work for UHR on a pro bono basis donating their time and efforts to further the goals outlined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

For more information contact Gracia Bennish at 727-942-4668
Visit the website www.humanrights.com.

How to Find Good Books to Read

Gone are the days(well almost..) when people go directly to the library/book store and stare at several book shelves, wondering what good book to read/buy. This post is for people who want to do a bit of research online before going to a bookstore to find a good book to read (whether online or your neighborhood bookstore).

As part of my New Year post, I mentioned to, “read more books”. Rather than, just preaching, I made a commitment publicly, to list a several books I plan to read this year. Yes, my way of making my self-accountable. Anyways, one of my blog readers emailed me and asked how I came up with that list. So I thought answering that in a blog post.

Given below is the process I followed. It is pretty straight forward.

1. Select an area you want to read about

Obviously, you need to have some idea of what you want to read about. Are you looking to read fiction books? Latest detective stories perhaps? Do you want to get ahead in your career ? Any area you want to work on your communication skills? You get the idea; Write a few keywords.
Example from my reading list: A few areas I concentrated on was blogging, personal development, management, personal finance etc

2. Search an online bookstore or search engine for the keyword

Once you have a rough idea about what to read about, visit an online bookstore (I use amazon.com) and then search for the keyword. The search result will give you a list of books. Depending on the results, sort it by either bestselling, relevance etc

Example from my reading list: I searched for blogging, and ProBlogger: Secrets for Blogging Your Way to a Six-Figure Income was listed as #1, by relevance.
Alternately, you can use the search engine directly.
Example from my reading list: I Googled for “best books on blogging”

Additional ideas,
• Pick another book by the authors you have enjoyed the most.
• Use Amazon suggestions or other recommendation tools.
o See what "Other people have purchased" section on the website.
o Look up a book you particularly enjoyed and browse through the suggested books for another book to pick to read next.

3. Use a search engine and read a few book reviews for one of the books

Now, you should have a list of books. There may be some titles that immediately catch your eye. If so copy the title, and paste it in a search engine and append book review. See what other people are saying about the book.

Example from my reading list: Search for “Problogger book reviews”
Additional ideas,
• I would read the amazon review
• Read a first few pages of the books, summary, table of content

Going through all this, made it very clear to me whether it was a book I would want to read, enjoy reading and whether I would benefit from the book.

As you would imagine this would take a fair about of time. I wanted to be fully in control of what I would read. Looking back at it now, I think it was time well spent. Don't waste your time (and money!) randomly selecting books, unless you like surprises!

How do you go about choosing books you want to read? I’d like to hear from you.

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Just Because You Are Angry, Opinionated, Frustrated or Jealous

It’s intangible, invisible and mysterious; it’s one of the most powerful things our world has ever produced. Each day zillions of people battle with it and make a choice.

The force I’m talking about here.... negative emotions. Numerous times, we find ourselves reacting to circumstances, which periodically seem beyond our control. Sometimes, we are not even aware of such situations, until we’ve reacted to another person’s negative inter-communications. Every time we react, we allow the other person to control our emotions.

Often, we don’t realize it. Our ability or rather the inability to deal with negative emotions has a huge impact on the quality on the “quality of life” we lead.

So remember,
Just because you are angry
Doesn’t mean you can take it out on me.
Doesn’t mean I have to agree with you.

Just because you are in a bad mood
Doesn’t mean I should also be in a bad mood.
Doesn’t mean I should treat you any differently.

Just because you have an opinion
Doesn’t mean you are right.
Doesn’t mean you have to share it.
Doesn’t mean I am wrong.

Just because you are jealous
Doesn’t mean I can fix it.
Doesn't mean you have to be a [censored!].

Anything you would like to add? Leave a comment and share.

Note This post was partly inspired by Seth God’s post, and is also follow up to one of my older posts, 5 Emotions That Drag Us Down Or Shape Our Destiny.

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12 Books On Blogging I Plan To Read This Year To Improve My Blogging

In my new year motivation post, I mentioned that we all could do with a little more reading. I also mentioned that I plan to read at least 3 books per month; 36 books in 2011. This would be an average number of books by most people’s standard. However, for someone who reads about 12 books each year, this would be a giant leap! Anyways, I was very selective in what I wanted to read.
I decided to focus books on 3 main areas

1. Blogging (blogging itself, writing, marketing, web analytics, affiliate marketing etc)
2. Personal development (Attitude, innovation, finance etc)
3. Career (technical, leadership, management etc)

I thought of writing separate posts on each category, listing each book. Once I read the book, I will write a review post. That way, I am publicly making myself accountable!

This post will focus on the list of books I selected, to improve my blogging.

1. ProBlogger: Secrets for Blogging Your Way to a Six-Figure Income

Why I want to read this book
I have been an ardent reader of Darren’s blog problogger for over 4 years. I think I even started Enhance Life, because I wanted to try out blogging. Anyways, his blog offers a wealth of information and I believe the book would have the same standard. Also, when I type “blogging” in the amazon.com search page, this is the first book that’s listed! Also, the book is selling well, it must be good!

2. Idea Mapping: How to Access Your Hidden Brain Power, Learn Faster, Remember More, and Achieve Success in Business

Why I want to read this book
A few weeks ago, I started using the software Xmind, for idea generation for my blog posts. Idea mapping has an effortless way of putting things together and it makes my writing easier. So I want to invest some more time on idea mapping and learn it further.

3. On Writing: 10th
Anniversary Edition: A Memoir of the Craft

Why I want to read this book
I want to improve my writing. This is one of those classic books on the “writing attitude” recommended by the top writing gurus.
I have also gone through several reviews of this book. It seems to be living up to its expectations.

4. The Super Affiliate

Why I want to read this book
Apart from EnhanceLife (this blog), I write a few other blogs. This blog is more or less a “my hobby” blog so I rarely monetize this blog. I have a few advertisements here and there, just so I could cover the hosting costs. However, I want to use my other blogs to promote more products and this book is one of the best books, in affiliate marketing, I am told!

5. Blog Marketing:The Revolutionary New Way to Increase Sales, Build Your Brand, and Get Exceptional Results

Why I want to read this book
I rarely spend time promoting my blogs. I am not actively involved in social media etc and I know I could have more readers if I know how to or rather the art of marketing a blog.

6. The Six-Figure Second Income: How To Start and Grow A Successful Online Business Without Quitting Your Day Job

Why I want to read this book
I mentioned before that I have a full time job at an software firm. Last December, I had a vacation of about 2 and half weeks. Out of which I dedicated a few days to writing. I did nothing but work on blogging and I enjoyed it; it felt good.

By reading this book, I hope to get some insight on being a online entrepreneur. The by line of the book says, How to start and grow a successful online business without quitting your day job. Sounds just about right!

7. Manage your writing

by Kenneth W. Davis
Why I want to read this book
I don't know how this landed on my hardisk. I must have downloaded this free ebook from somewhere! Manage Your Writing is a guide to a more effective, and efficient, business writing process. It’s more about “shaping your writing”. For someone who hated writing essays and got an average grade in school (ahem), I think this book is never too late to visit!

8. Search Engine Optimization: An Hour a Day

Why I want to read this book
When I write a blog post, I don’t obsess over keywords, headlines, long tail keywords etc. At least not in this blog! Surely, you will know that this blog post it not SEO optimized at all.
That doesn’t mean I don’t want to. I am hoping this book guide me on the theoretical aspects of Search Engine Optimization as well as how put it to daily practice.

9. Everything I Know about Marketing I Learned From Google

Why I want to read this book

The introduction of this book mentions,

This book is about Google.
This book is about marketing.
This book is about how you can learn from all the companies out there Googling themselves.
Everything I know about marketing I learned from Google.
So can you.

Well, most of the readers that visit my blog are directed via google. It motivated me want to learn a bit more about how Google goes about doing things. Also, being in the software sector, I never took any marketing lectures. So I am hoping I will learn and thing or two on marketing as well.

10. Web Analytics: An Hour a Day

Why I want to read this book
At the moment, I don’t analyze the data (number of visitors, where they come from etc) related to my blogs. I just stick to the default reports, sitemeter or google analytics provide. But I know I could do a lot more beyond the basics, with Web Analytics. Thus, this book is an attempt to educate myself more on Web Analytics.

11. Landing Page Optimization: The Definitive Guide to Testing and Tuning for Conversions

Why I want to read this book
A bit similar to what I mentioned earlier. I don’t have a marketing or sales background. Additionally, it would be good to know more about the “online specifics” about what drives people to buy, not buy etc


12. [need one more]
Well, I’ve intentionally kept this blank because I am bound to run into a book I might want to read within the year. Also, if you have any other book recommendation for me, please leave a comment and let me know.

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6 Things You Can Do More Of To Enhance Your Life This Year

1. Be More Conscious

You wake up in the morning, have a shower, get dressed, eat breakfast, go to work, return home, eat dinner, watch television, go to sleep ..(or something of the sort)
Do you repeat the same sequence of actions from Monday to Friday without being totally conscious of what you are “really” doing?

It seems as if every day is centered on 3 things.
1. Trying to get a handle on what happened yesterday
2. Trying to cope with what’s happening now
3. Wondering/Worrying about what will happen tomorrow

Days, weeks, months and years pass by. Each year, goes faster than the previous one. It seems "life just happens", doesn’t it?

2. Be More Time Rich!

(When everyone around is concentrating on being Money Rich, Time Poor!)
If you haven’t figured it out already, "true wealth" has very little to do with the zero’s in your bank account. Yes, yes, I am not denying that you need money. The problem is, I don’t think any of us are satisfied and we will always want more!

As Tim Ferriss says, "the currency of the New Rich is time and freedom. Most people think they need to sacrifice their life, to get the money to achieve either one. Only when it’s too late they figure out they are wrong"

3. Be More Authentic

(less “fake”!)
In this day and age, more and more, the tendency is to copy others; or try to be someone they are not while living in pretense. How fake is your smile?
You are unique in many ways. Be more "you"!

4. Read More

No, I don’t mean spending time on the internet reading gossip and other news! Ask yourself, what is it that you want to learn more about?

With everything that’s happening in your life e.g Facebook, twitter and continues updates, do you have "uninterrupted" time to sit and read?
Select your books and make a list of books that you want to read this year. I’ve already selected mine. Aiming at around 3 books a month. I will share my list in a future post and make myself accountable!

5. Take more care of yourself

Most of us know the basic rules for ensuring we don’t cripple ourselves at our desks. The problem is that often we not actually practice them!
Eat well, and by well I don’t mean scrumptious dessert and junk food! Yes, some of might need that to get by, but the point I am highlighting here is that there should be a healthy balance.
Exercise, get more sleep, rest and remember allocate some time “just for you”.

6. Be More happy

I know that I want more for myself. You probably want to be happier yourself. However, most of us really don’t know what makes us happy. You think it’s the SUV, you always dreamed of or [your need here], but you will realize that even if you get that, you will only be happy for a while. How can you sustain happiness?

Go, be more happy!

Happy New year everyone!

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