The aroma, the ambience, the atmosphere! Starting a coffee shop and serving the public in a friendly atmosphere is a goal many coffee loving entrepreneurs consider. But there is a reality that goes with almost any industry.

The slick sales brochures for the franchises, and the current owners advertising their businesses for sale only tell HALF of the story.

There are always two sides to any legitimate business venture. The first part is all the things you research and are told when examing the business niche from the outside. The second, darker part is the realities you find once you take the plunge and become an owner.

Here’s the truth: Starting a coffee shop business is actually fairly easy. Keeping it open and making it very profitable is the hard part.

There is some information you should be aware of BEFORE you start your business that will give you a much better chance at success. We suggest you learn this information BEFORE you put a lot of your hard earned money at risk.

Here’s a link to read more about the “little things” inside the coffee shop industry that you NEED to know before you decided to start a coffee shop!

Technorati Tags: coffee shop industry, coffee shop start up, start a coffee shop

Katie, a 33-year-old mother of two, has been on her share of diets over the years. From Weight Watchers to the Zone to Sugar Busters, she feels as if she has tried them all. While she has had moderate success in losing weight from time to time, she has never found a long-term weight loss solution. Her weight is a point of contention in her marriage; her husband—who also happens to be obese—wishes she were thin, but says he loves her anyway. The two have been separated a number of times, and even filed for divorce once. The stress has caused Katie to begin binge eating again.

There is hope for Katie and others like her who feel as if they’re trapped on the diet carousel. The key to long-term weight loss success may not be the body, but the mind. Research indicates that those who have a positive outlook on life are more likely to lose weight—and stay thin. But how can you have a positive outlook when you’ve been burned so many times before? Is it possible to “will your way” to losing weight?

One technique that has been proven effective in sports training is something called visualization. For instance, a baseball player might visualize his bat connecting with a ball, leading to a homerun. A soccer player might visualize kicking the winning goal in a soccer match. And a golfer might visualize sinking the winning putt in the Masters Tournament.

The same technique can be used by dieters. Visualize yourself as thin. Picture yourself in that dress that is now two sizes too small. Imagine stepping onto the scale and being pleased with the result. Visualize yourself saying “no” to that piece of chocolate cake or that plate of Fettucini Alfredo. These mind exercises can help to spur you onto weight loss.

When people learn they are suffering from cancer, they are encouraged to imagine their cancer cells being destroyed by healthy cells. You can follow the same technique in order to lose weight. That means imagining your fat cells being destroyed by thin cells. Through such a method, you can “think your way” to a healthy weight.

In addition, it is critically important that you maintain a positive attitude. Be forgiving of yourself. If you veer off your diet plan, simply get back on course with your next meal. Don’t spend precious time “beating yourself up” over your failures. Instead, celebrate your successes—in a non-fattening way. For instance, when you reach a milestone—say you’ve lost ten pounds—reward yourself with a trip to an art museum or to your favorite coffee shop (but skip the cream and sugar). Marking milestones will give you a sense of accomplishment, a sense that you are triumphing over food.

Another helpful technique can be prayer or meditation. Some support groups even offer Bible-based weight loss programs that use scripture verses to help inspire. Taking stock of your life and handing your weight loss problems over to a higher power can be cathartic and may give you a sense of peace about your weight difficulties. It has been said that a clear head leads to a healthy body. Try praying or meditating ten minutes at the start of your day. Chances are you will feel refreshed and ready to tackle the weight challenges that come your way.

Yet another technique you might consider is role-playing. Grab your spouse or a friend and ask him or her to act out a situation in which you might be tempted to overeat. You’ll be forced to come up with strategies to fight temptation. This rehearsal could prove to be quite helpful when a real life diet dilemma comes your way. If role-playing works for job interviews, it should be beneficial for your weight as well.

Mind over matter is not just a clever saying. It can actually be the solution to your weight loss problems. By using your brain power, you can develop the techniques needed to make healthy food choices. When your mind and your body are both healthy, you have the best of both worlds.

Faith
http://www.articlesbase.com/nutrition-articles/key-strategies-for-weight-loss-success-mind-over-matter-714641.html

When I was a youngster back in the turbulent ’60,s, like most of my peers I used to hang out in the various coffee bars that were around town, and I would feed the juke box which always stood in the corner.

It used to be the unspoken word that everybody drinking coffee in the shop would take their turn to feed the juke box, and by doing this you were announcing to the world (or at least those in the coffee shop) what type of music you enjoyed listening to.

I remember that I used to stay in the coffee bar until about 9 or 10pm each evening (in those days entertainment options were rather limited) and then I would go to my bedroom and tune in to Radio Luxemburg.

Do any of you remember Radio Luxemburg? It was a well known, and much loved, radio station.

There were a lot of radio stations around in the 1960′s, and many of them were stationed in offshore ships. I can’t remember any of the names of those stations or ships now, but if any reader can remember then please let me know.

I also cannot recall now whether Radio Luxemburg was a ship, or whether it was based on land, in Luxemburg. Again, if anybody can enlighten me it would be appreciated.

Well, it was while I was tuned in to these radio stations that I first got a ‘taste’ for the guitar. Somehow it seemed to resonate with my soul and I just loved listening to any record which had a guitar solo in it.

Much as I loved the guitar, I never considered playing it for myself, that is, not until a rather curious event occurred.

Those of you familiar with the road system in the U.K., will know that we have many roundabouts on our roads. These are designed to aid the flow of traffic, without stopping it as happens with traffic lights. They are literally a large circle placed at the junction of two roads, and they often have a small area of grass in the middle just to improve the appearance.

Well one day I was out on my bicycle ( I was too young for a car then) and about a mile from my home I came across a roundabout, and there, sitting in the middle of this roundabout was a friend of mine who was happily strumming away on his guitar.

All the cars that went past could not help but notice him, it was such an unusual sight right there in the middle of a roundabout. It was a bit like being on stage, in the middle of the road!

I sat with him there for an hour or so, and I just wished that I had a guitar to take out and start playing.

But that started me on the path from which I have never turned back. I saved up furiously until I had enough money to go out and buy my own guitar, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Over the years I have played in many bands, and have made music all around the world, but I have never forgotten that ’roundabout experience’.

Now I spend my time teaching others how to play the guitar, and how to find their own roundabout to sit on.

John Charles
http://www.articlesbase.com/art-and-entertainment-articles/how-to-play-guitar-in-the-middle-of-the-road-730417.html

One of the things that many singles have difficulty with is talking with a new person or going out on a first date. Whether it is chatting with someone that you met online or going on a blind date, these experiences can sometimes be uncomfortable and stressful. Here are some tips on first date ideas, as well as starting a conversation up and keeping it going.

First Date Ideas
For most people, the goal of a first date is to meet a person and to figure out if you are either interested or compatible with that person. While a first date doesn’t have to be a perfect 10 to know that there can be something in the future with this person, most people just want it to go positively.

One of the best places to go for a first date is to a coffee shop. Coffee shops are great, because you can sit and talk to one another. You won’t get to know each other sitting in a darkened movie theater staring at a screen for two hours. Coffee shops are usually made for conversation; they are affordable for singles on a budget and located in convenient locations. Plus you can meet during the evening or even schedule a lunch date.

If you find that you are not that sociable or pretty quiet when you date, you might want to set up a date where you both do an activity. First dates such as bowling, rollerblading or ice skating are a great way to meet someone new and if the conversation slows down, you can focus on your activity. You can take this idea one step further and instead of doing an athletic based activity, you can choose a cultural activity, such as an exhibition, visiting a museum or enjoying a live musical performance.

Ultimately, your goal is to figure out if you enjoy this person’s company, so choose dates that fit your style and personality, while also giving you an opportunity to get to know someone new.

Conversation Starters
Let’s face it; it can be very difficult to start a conversation with someone that you don’t know at all or very well. While there are people that are experts and can make friends with anyone, most people usually find themselves tongue tied or speechless at certain moments. One of the ways to avoid this obstacle is to remember common and easy to use conversation starters.

First off, conversations starters are not closed ended sentences that require no input from the other person; they are open ended questions or statements that invite the other person to share their thoughts. You don’t have to ask very smart questions, you can just engage in small comfortable chit chat that gets you both talking, eventually, this small chit chat will lead to a more meaningful and interesting conversation. Some of the most common conversation starts are; how was your weekend? Have you been to a specific place before (the restaurant or coffee shop that you are at)? What area are you from originally? W school or college did you attend? You can also talk about movies, music, favorite television shows, etc. The goal is to relax and feel comfortable conversing with the other person, once relaxed and comfortable, the conversation will usually flow.

Roman Zazulak
http://www.articlesbase.com/dating-articles/first-date-tips-and-conversation-starters-100199.html

Creating your own baskets to give as gifts is really easy and fun. You can save money by making them yourself instead of buying them from a trendy store. You could also start a home based gift basket business. You only need a few simple supplies to get started.

Supplies:

Basket (base container)
Filler (shreds)
Clear Cellophane Bag or Basket Wrap
Ribbon (to tie off the bag)
Ribbon (to make a bow)
Gift Tag
Product Fillers
Scissors

You don’t have to fill your basket with all of the following product suggestions. The suggestions are just to help you with your creative process.

Try to be creative with your bases. Instead of using baskets, you can use: Chip ‘N Dip bowls, ice buckets, cleaning buckets, plastic bins, popcorn bowls or for the sportsman themes, try using small tackle boxes and tool boxes.

Now let’s get you started with some theme ideas for your gift baskets.

1. Movie Night – 2 movie tickets, 3 bags of microwave popcorn, bonus-sized candy packages, DVD movies

2. Grilling – oven mitts, BBQ apron, seasoning mixes, bottles of marinades, BBQ sauce, small grilling accessories, grilling cookbook

3. Handyman – hammer, screw drivers, wrenches, nails, screws, bolts, washers, measuring tape, honey-to-do list pad

4. Fisherman – fishing hooks, sinkers, flies, bobbers, fishing line, small tackle box, fishing books

5. Grooming – razors, shaving cream, aftershave lotion, cologne, shower gel, soaps, nail grooming accessories, male hair care products

6. Games – poker playing cards, poker chips, dice, score pads, pencils, snacks, handheld electronic games

7. Snacks – potato chips, pretzels, cheese curls, snack mix, popcorn, candy, peanuts

8. Coffee Lover – coffee mug, coffee commuter cup, 2 bags of coffee, coffee shop gift card

9. Meat and Cheese – 3 different sausages, cheeses and crackers

10. Football Fan – Nerf football, chips, pretzels, jar of salsa, jar of cheese sauce, nacho chips, peanuts and a few small items featuring their favorite team.

11. Best Dressed Man – tie, tie tack, cuff links, cologne, watch, wallet, key fob, belt

12. Mexican Night – taco chips, mild salsa, hot salsa, chipotle cheese sauce, jar of hot peppers, can of refried beans, gift card to local Mexican restaurant, bandana

13. Car Care – sponges, drying cloths, cleaning products, steering wheel cover, gift card to local car wash, gift card to local car parts store

14. Traveling Man – toiletries travel bag and travel-sized: shampoo, conditioner, shave cream, razors, after shave, deodorant, shower gel, soaps

15. Dog Lover – dog book, bones, treats, leash, collar, clean-up waste bags, shampoo, dog toys and a disposable camera.

I hope these 15 theme ideas have sparked the creative process in you.

Shelly Hill
http://www.articlesbase.com/crafts-articles/15-creative-gift-basket-ideas-for-men-957438.html

There’s a lot that can be said about single men in their thirties. Obviously, they have been around the playing field a couple of times and know what’s out there.

With experience, they have learned what it is they want in a woman and what to avoid. Oftentimes, the problem isn’t who they want and how to get her. Rather, it is where to find her.

If you’re one of those men, then the time for picking up women at keggers and strip clubs is over (or maybe not).

You might still frequent bars and clubs for that occasional one-night roll in the hay, but if you’re looking for a relationship with substance and staying power, that may not be where you will find the girl of your dreams.

It’s time for a more refined locale as befits your acquired tastes and substance. The following are a few suggestions about where you can begin your search.

(1) The Gym or Fitness Class
Whether you are lifting weights or taking classes in Tae-Bo or yoga, gyms and fitness classes are an excellent place to meet attractive, well-toned women.

Nothing wrong with checking out your fellow gym rats (but do it discretely) or letting them check you out. And once you spot someone you like, try to find out her workout schedule or position yourself next to her in fitness class. There’s nothing like a women who enjoys some strenuous physical activity.

(2) The Museum
Australia is home to some great museums and they attract countless women of good taste. And these women really know how to appreciate a man with a cultured mind. So brush up on your old art lessons so you can chat her up on the uses of color and shape. With any luck, you will be sharing more than just your opinions on art in no time.

(3) The Coffee Shop
If there’s someone in your neighborhood you’ve taken a fancy to, then probably the best place to get to know her is your local coffee shop. Make it a point to bump into her while she’s having coffee and ask her if you could sit with her. Women find this charming, especially if you have the conversational skills to capture her interest. Besides, she’s probably seen you around the neighborhood as well.

Next thing you know, you will be buying her a cup of coffee on your first official date.

(4) The Bookstore
Women adore men who are witty and well-read, so it’s a good idea to hang out near the collected works of E.E. Cummings. If you see someone you like, try to catch her eye. And don’t be afraid to display your knowledge of literature and the arts. She will find this intriguing and impressive.

(5) House parties
This setting is ideal since all the guests obviously have mutual friends and probably common interests, plus with wine and other alcoholic beverages flowing freely, women are less inhibited and more likely to let their guard down.

It’s easy to sidle up to a woman for a chat in a setting like this. Later, you can invite her to get some fresh air outside and ask for her number.

(6) Weddings
There is something about weddings that makes single women think about romance and meeting the man of their dreams … or any man for that matter.

Meeting women at weddings is easy. Just walk up to her and start a conversation. You will be surprised at how receptive they are to that under these circumstances. A great ice breaker in this situation is to discuss how each of you know the bride and/or groom.

Of course, don’t try that with someone who came with a date.

(7) Online Dating services
Of course, no such article would be complete without mentioning the hugely popular Online/Internet Dating services now available.

There are heaps to choose from, and it’s almost like going to a restaurant – you can browse the “menu”, and pick anyone you like, then say hi (via an email or instant message type alert). Once contact has been made, its over to you 2 lovebirds to see if you hit it off.

This approach has lots of advantages over the alternatives, if only because there’s a large market of AVAILABLE ladies wanting to meet a nice guy.

In the words of Maverick (Top Gun), it’s a “Target Rich Environment”, so go for it Big Guy.

Jodie Brittain
http://www.articlesbase.com/dating-articles/where-can-30plus-single-guys-meet-women-134894.html

You originally bought an embroidery machine to embroider your own items and to make gifts. Then you buy an embroidery digitizing program as you couldn’t find your patterns already digitized. With the cost of the program, the only way you could justify the purchase is to start an embroidery digitizing business.

You make sure you get plenty of practice. Not wanting to leave anything to chance, you learn to hand punch your own design so you can make sure the program is doing the embroidery digitizing the best way possible. After you are sure you know the embroidery digitizing program inside and out, you start embroidering the digitized patterns. You want to have plenty of samples to prove you know how to digitize embroidery patterns.

Once you are satisfied with your digitizing skills and once you feel you have plenty of samples to show, you start thinking about beginning your business.

However there is more to consider. To start a crafting business, you need the same information you need for any other business. You need to write a business plan. That’s where you sort out what your plans are for the business. You need to consider advertising, you need to consider what you are going to charge, and you need to have a plan in place for bookkeeping. Like any small business, you need to look at how much competition you will have.

When you consider advertising, you may come up with many ideas. You can find a web designer with skills at search engine optimization. As your embroidery digitizing business is driven by digital files, it will not matter if your customer is not local to you. You can put a business card up at a local coffee shop or other local gathering place. You might decide you want to embroider some items and get a booth at a craft fair. Not only will you be able to sell your embroidered items, you can put out your business card for your embroidery digitizing business. You may decide to start small. You can join an embroidery forum and post there, offering embroidery digitizing services in your signature line with each post.

There are any numbers of other advertising ideas you may decide to follow. Once you have the business plan and advertising ideas in place, you may be surprised to find that your business can grow by leaps and bounds. There are many people out there who do digital embroidery. A good portion of these people are not going to want to learn to digitize their own embroidery patterns. That’s where your business comes in.

One final thought, statistics show that when starting a business, the first five years are the toughest to get through financially. Some days it may seem too difficult to stick with it, but if you do, your business will be a money maker.

Sahel Khatri
http://www.articlesbase.com/business-articles/earning-a-living-with-embroidery-digitizing-126679.html

I believe that Bible reading can be as enjoyable as anything we do under the sun. It should anyway because after all, it is the Bread of Life for our soul. But it takes a little extra effort, and perhaps investments, to grab the attention of say, the children, and make them see the importance of the Bible.

The Bible of course is not just any ordinary book. It is a rich resource of spiritual insights and wisdom that can only be understood with the help of th Holy Spirit. Paul argued this effectively when he said:
For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. (1 Corinthians 2.11)

Even then, the Bible should not be misunderstood as a puzzling book that only smart men can decipher. Indeed, God has revealed His plans, not to the wise, but to babes in heart. (Matthew 11.25) The Bible is simple enough for even the least educated to understand.

Here are my simple ideas that can help anyone get back their passion for Bible reading.
Decide to read the Bible for your own spiritual benefits. What do eating, working, playing, and watching TV have in common? They are actions that we decide to do every day. Why not reading the Bible? Why not read the Bible when you can learn so many things from God from its very ages? I’m convinced that unless we make a decision to step into a spiritual journey with the Book. (If you want to know what the Bible means to you and your faith, read this article.)

Set a time and a place for you to read your Bible. There is a saying that goes, “a place for everything, and everything in its place.” In a world that’s getting more crowded and noisy, God’s Word requires that we set aside a place and time if we want to gain the wisdom It offers freely. Find your self a corner where you can focus on your reading. It can be any place in your house, in a park, or a coffee shop. In my younger days I used to bring my reading materials outdoors, usually under the shade of a tree, where I read for hours with nothing to disturb me (except the chicken in our back yard). When I moved to the city, my favorite reading hangout was any coffee shop that is cozy and quiet. (Starbucks!)

Now, one reason we cannot stand reading the Bible is because we usually reserve the time when we are most tired, stressed and totally spent. Why not give the most active time of your day to Bible reading? The early morning is also a good time to spend with your Bible.

Bring your tools with you. Consider Bible reading as a task as well as an adventure. Why? Because when you go on an adventure trip, you will want to bring tools with you to help you along the way. That’s why. Read your Bible with a pen and a notebook and probably a dictionary and other reference materials that can help you discover and understand the meaning of words and things. You will also want to write down your questions, the ideas you discovered, the wisdom you learned, and things to do later. Now that’s an adventure!

Decide which way to take the trip. There are a number of ways you can begin your Bible journey. Basically, the Bible as a book consists of biographies, historical accounts of places and records of ideas and cultures of the ancient days. The Bible is also a book of wise sayings, love stories, doctrinal expositions and prophetic utterances. Whichever way you start the path will surely lead you great adventures with God and His people, and will unravel spiritual riches that are definitely out of this world.

Write as you read. As I’ve mentioned earlier, write all your discoveries because it is one of the surest way of not losing them. Don’t trust your mind.

Don’t end your reading session without giving yourself an assignment. Having an assignment that you will work on helps you look forward to your next Bible reading session. You can take not of things that you might do to supplement your Bible reading. Is there anything you will need to ask to your Pastor or parents? You can use your friends, the library or the Internet to supplement and expand your learning.

Treat yourself afterwards. Better yet, bring your things to your favorite coffee shop so you can read and enjoy your favorite blend.

Also, you can try reading with a group of friends. This is very interesting when you have friends who want to read and share at the same time. This is exciting, I tell you.

Jonathan Togonon
http://www.articlesbase.com/self-improvement-articles/can-you-read-the-bible-and-enjoy-it-729079.html

Research, research, research – this cannot be stressed enough. Read as much as you can about the industry. Here are some book titles that are relevant:

* Ultimate Guide to Specialty Retail: How to Start a Cart, Kiosk or Store — by Patricia Norins
* Start and Run a Coffee Bar by Tom Matzen, Marybeth Harrison
* Coffee Basics: A Quick and Easy Guide by Kevin Knox
* How to Open a Financially Successful Coffee, Espresso & Tea Shop by Elizabeth Godsmark
* ESPRESSO! Starting and Running Your Own Specialty Coffee Business by Joe Monaghan

There are plenty of free informational resources out there. Check the source box for links to articles.

Hope that helps! I wish you much success & happiness in all your ventures!