M.J. Domet Recently Published the Book "Waves of Blue Light"

By Cambridge Who’s Who Member and Contributing Author M.J. Domet

I attended a conference a few years ago called Humans Being More — not doing more, but being more. This concept was new to me at the time as I had grown up with the belief that the harder you worked, the more success for which you were destined.

As a society, we tend to equate more of anything — whether money, acquisitions or education — as a determinate for success in life. The problem with this outmoded perception is that many people are not happy, even with all they have. Achievement orientation can overtake the sense of self as a human being, resulting in deteriorated physical, emotional, mental and spiritual health.

Believing that options are limited in their pursuit to regain optimal wellness, many choose to take the well-travelled medical route. This is without realizing other choices exist, which may serve them better and get to the core of the issue rather than mask the symptoms that are causing distress. I am not saying that medical care is unnecessary; only that new information is available allowing us to become participants in our own healing process.

I have been greatly influenced by authors such as Bruce Lipton, author of “The Biology of Belief: Unleashing the Power of Consciousness, Matter and Miracles,” who has a scientific background as a cell biologist. Through deduction and experimentation, this scientist — and many others — have found that we are not a product of our genetics, but of our beliefs.

How empowering is that? We no longer have the excuse of being victims of our gene pool; we have the power to change our health by our thoughts. The old paradigm of blame no longer applies as each individual is accountable for the state of his or her own being. If you have acquired disempowering beliefs from your family or from society, you have the ability to change those ideas and take control of your own healthy future.

Just the thought of being in complete control of your life versus thinking things are out of your control can transform you. Realizing that healing comes from within rather than outside of you manifests a feeling of empowerment. You are truly your own healer. Changing your focus from believing you have to suffer to loving yourself unconditionally brings in the energy needed to solidify the understanding of your perfection.

These concepts are not entirely new but many people have yet to let go of their old beliefs to allow in the new truths. In accepting ownership of your health, the idea that you have to do more to be successful is replaced by the truth of who you really are — perfect in your being.

To learn more about M.J. Domet or the courses she offers, please visit the Expect to be Empowered website.

Biography

Alberta, Canada-based spiritual teacher M.J. Domet is on a mission to teach people that their strength lies within. As the owner of a company named The Gemini Potential, she conducts workshops to empower individuals through self-discovery and conscious realization techniques. These self-help tools help her clients to advance in their personal and professional lives so they can experience true strength, abundance, passion and purpose.

M.J. Domet, a Cambridge Who’s Who Lifetime member, provides personal development training for clients with a focus on Reiki, Deep Healing Emotional Energy and Awareness & Enlightenment. Her comprehensive Empowerment Series is made up of 11 three-hour classes designed to increase her clients’ self-awareness. Participants are challenged to reflect upon their lives and observe the precepts that rule over their daily activities, and find ways to change them.

She became involved in her profession after she attended self-development workshops, when she realized her desire to offer life-changing services to others. A mother of two and a grandmother of one, she leads a productive and joy-filled life. She enjoys reading, writing, teaching, learning new things, riding horses, traveling and spending time with her granddaughter.

While much of her time is spent inspiring others through classes and workshops, she is also a published author. Her first book, “Waves of Blue Light (Heal the Heart and Free the Soul),” merges prose, pictures, poetry and affirmations, juxtaposed to enlighten readers. The motivational read comes straight from M.J.’s heart, as she looked deep within herself to find empowering words of healing and encouragement.

“Waves of Blue Light (Heal the Heart and Free the Soul” is available by visiting M. J. Domet’s Xlibris Author Page. Additionally, paperback and Kindle versions may be purchased at Amazon.com.

Article(s) by M.J. Domet:

• Health Consciousness — Connection of Body, Mind and Soul

Biography

Cambridge Who's Who VIP Member Nadia Farooq

Cambridge Who’s Who^® member Nadia Farooq is a senior financial data analyst for Imagine Software Inc., a leading provider of on-demand derivative trading analytics, portfolio and risk management solutions. Ms. Farooq has four years of professional experience in statistics, specializing in time series and real data analysis, handling correlations, analyzing actual market data, maintaining data integrity and accuracy of interest yield rate curves and ensuring quality.

Nadia Farooq started her career as an entry-level financial data analyst after graduating with her master’s degree. Shortly thereafter, she was promoted to the position of senior financial data analyst. She then moved into quality assurance, utilizing problem solving techniques. She currently performs time series data analysis, real data analysis, correlations analysis and analysis of actual market data. She also maintains data integrity and quality assurance in addition to ensuring the accuracy of interest yield rate curves. In addition to these responsibilities, Ms. Farooq has extensive knowledge of fixed income products with a concentration in convertible bonds.

In 2005, Ms. Farooq received her Master of Arts in Statistics from Columbia University, having received her Bachelor of Arts in Statistics from Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey in 2004. In addition to her other accomplishments and accolades, she was awarded the Mabel Smith Douglas Honor Thesis in Mathematical Finance. She is a member of The Phi Beta Kappa Society and the Golden Key National Honour Society. In her spare time, Ms. Farooq contributes to such worthy charities as the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre and the Helping Hands Association.

Nadia Farooq became involved in her profession through her educational background in statistics, and she attributes her success to her hard work, problem-solving and decision-making skills. In five years, Ms. Farooq hopes to write several self-help books to improve the lives of her readers.

Visit Nadia Farooq’s Cambridge Who’s Who Press Release to learn more about her accomplishments and experience in the finance industry.

Article(s) by Nadia Farooq

• Tips for Maintaing Healthy Relationships in an Unhealthy Economy New!

By Cambridge Who’s Who Contributing Author Jenny MacKay

In tough economic times, streamlining a business is a cruel necessity. This could mean carving out departments and letting employees go, which often places new burdens on the remaining staff as essential projects get shuffled elsewhere. The result could be an overworked and disgruntled workforce where creativity and enthusiasm are squelched under the weight of the daily grind.

Freelance help could remedy this situation. In many industries, freelancers have always been a mainstay to doing business. But when layoff rates are high, talented and skilled professionals in every industry can find themselves in a position to become self-employed. There is no time like the present to tap into this freelance pool to supplement and enhance your operations.

What Is a Freelance Worker and Why Hire One?

Freelancers are self-employed individuals who provide services on a per-project basis. They work as independent contractors and, traditionally, have been most common in creative industries such as writing and photography. These days, freelancers abound in other occupations, too – web design, computer programming and graphic art are a few fields that have become freelance dominated in recent years.

The benefits of hiring freelancers are numerous. As a freelancer’s client, you pay only for the specific job you need done and are not responsible for benefits, Social Security, Medicare or workers’ comp. Freelancers usually own their equipment and software and work remotely, eliminating your need to provide office space and the technology needed to complete an assignment. A freelancer becomes a satellite employee for the duration of a project. It can be a very flexible and convenient relationship.

Another benefit of hiring freelancers is their enthusiasm. They typically work hard to please their clients and hold themselves accountable for the quality and timeliness of their work. As specialists in their fields, freelancers can also bring in new vision and expertise.

Will My Company Benefit from Freelance Help?

Almost any industry could potentially benefit from relinquishing tasks to freelancers. If you recently have had to downsize your business, it may be worthwhile to consider freelance help to fill in the gaps. If you have been putting off a project or company goal because you feel that there is no one on your staff who has the time or experience; and you do not have the resources to hire a regular employee, a freelancer may be a very good option.

Ask colleagues, fellow business owners and your own staff for suggestions of people who may be interested in a freelance opportunity with your company. If you recently had to lay off someone or may do so in the near future, this individual may be amenable to a freelance relationship. You can also search for freelancers through the same channels you would use to fill any new position in your company. Just be sure to mention that this will be a contract job.

Hiring Freelancers

Professional freelancers should be able to provide references of current and former clients. Also, ask to see portfolios or samples of their work, or ask if they will take tests that demonstrate their skills (freelance editors, proofreaders and transcriptionists expect such tests as a reasonable part of a client’s consideration process).

Once you have chosen a freelancer, you will need to negotiate a contract that outlines the specific job duties, payment (hourly or flat fee), job duration and quality parameters. Confidentiality, non-disclosure and non-compete clauses are other protections often written into a contract to prohibit freelancers from revealing company data or taking business away from the company. It is wise to seek legal counsel when drawing up and negotiating a freelance contract. This will eliminate many of the concerns and uncertainties employers often have about hiring freelancers.

Freelancers and businesses can form mutually beneficial relationships, and the advent of telecommuting technology makes this a more viable option than ever before. If you are a business owner, now may be the time to consider working with freelancers.

Jenny MacKay’s Biography

Cambridge Who’s Who member Jenny MacKay is a full-time freelance writer, editor and book production coordinator. Her expertise is in – but not limited to – creative writing and copyediting of science, technical, medical and social science journals with proficiency in AP, APA, Chicago, MLA, CSE and AMA styles. Ms. MacKay also specializes in creating content for academic, scientific, educational and fiction publications. Her contributions have appeared in books, scholarly journals, magazines and newspapers.

In 2000, Ms. MacKay received a bachelor of arts in English education from the University of Nevada. A stay-at-home mother of two, she pursued an occupation in freelance writing while her children were still young. Her career flourished, as she authored numerous articles for magazines and various clients on a national scale. A love for her profession and the flexibility it affords has enabled Ms. MacKay to excel in her industry. She has worked for several leading publishing companies including Sage Publications, Cengage Learning, Linworth Publishing and Gannett.

Ever since she can remember, she has maintained a longstanding interest in children’s literature. In recent years, she became a frequent contributor to Lucent Books, which publishes nonfiction page-turners aimed at educating high school students. She has authored seven enriching titles for the company, including “Criminal Profiling” (Crime Scene Investigations), “Fingerprints and Impression Evidence” (Crime Scene Investigations), “Phobias” (Diseases and Disorders) and “Amnesia” (Diseases and Disorders).

Presently, Ms. MacKay also works as a freelance content and development editor for American Book Publishing. She is a published member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators, an organization that caters to creative types (e.g. writers, illustrators, etc.) who work in children’s publishing. Additionally Ms. MacKay is an active member of the Nevada Region of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. As a contributing editor for Zephyr – their quarterly newsletter – she helps pool writers and edits submissions. In her spare time, Ms. MacKay reviews children’s books, writes freelance articles and enjoys cooking. She hopes to teach college level writing classes and publish children’s books in the future.

For more information about Ms. MacKay, please visit her Cambridge Who’s Who Connect Profile: Jenny MacKay. She can be reached at jopm@sbcglobal.net.

Cambridge Who’s Who Resource Center Article(s) by Jenny MacKay

• The Business of Hiring Freelancers New!
  

By Cambridge Who’s Who Contributing Author Bruce Deitrick Price

Here’s an odd thing to confess: I have been writing about education for 30 years. It has been an exciting adventure; it has also been at times totally mystifying.

We have grown to expect that there are faster, more pleasant ways to accomplish any task; conversely, there must be slower, ineffective ways of doing so. It is the second methodology that the education establishment seems to prefer. Our public schools appear almost intentionally designed to perform at a mediocre level. How can this tendency be explained?

When you look at the statistics and surveys, you will notice that they paint a consistently bleak picture. We spend billions every year on public education, yet SAT scores continue to fall. Our top students do not compete well with top students from other countries. The general public seems to know barely enough to read a daily newspaper. And then there is the really big mystery of 50 million functional illiterates. Who let this tragedy happen?

To answer these questions, I researched further back in history. I tried to understand how the early educators from a century ago looked at life, children and this new field they had created. The unexpected reality is that they were not primarily focused on education as most of us understand the term, but were preoccupied with social engineering. Education was a set of tools with which they intended to build a new, more leveled society.

Many of the articles I have written attempt to explain where and why our educators got off track. I have been especially fascinated by the Reading Wars, a significant conflict in American education and a clear illustration of what can happen when elite educators lose their way. Basically, phonics was scorned; a flawed method called whole word was enshrined and literacy promptly started to decline.

As I gained more understanding about the damage caused by bogus reading methods, I began to have a clearer sense of what we need to do across the board to improve our public education system. We simply have to identify the failed ideas and get rid of them.

Education reformers typically try three other approaches: spend money, recommend new policies or point out best practices. I do not think these techniques will work now. The problem is that the education establishment is married to its bad ideas; these people are set in their ways. We need an intervention.

Oddly enough, we are engaged in an education war with our own educators. I want to persuade the public that this is an intellectual war – we must fight the bad ideas with good ideas. I do not think we have any hope of improvement unless we confront what happened to American education: namely, that our schools were made ineffective by design.

So now we have to move in the opposite direction: discard the gimmicks that were smuggled into the system; then restore basics and academics to their proper prominence, albeit taught in the most ingenious ways. Our first job is to zero in on the dozens of overhyped “progressive” innovations that turned out, in practice, to be destructive and regressive. We will be better off without Whole Word, Reform Math, Constructivism, No Memorization, Self-Esteem, Bilingual Education, Cooperative Learning, Fuzzy Anything and a dozen others.

Many people like to believe that our educators are clumsy or befuddled by fads. No, I am afraid not. You would have a much clearer sense of what happened if you were to imagine a bunch of guys like John Dewey seated around a table discussing their ideological goals, devising tactics, and trying to keep the public from interfering. I know people who shy away from the word “conspiracy,” but let’s be realistic. This track record goes back nearly a century. Let’s show respect for those 50 million functional illiterates who spent their lives in a twilight zone, thanks to John Dewey and his pals. You cannot create this kind of disaster in a few years or by accident. No, the perpetrators have to keep plugging away, decade after decade. I think the evidence proves that our education establishment did just that.

It is painful to deal with such an unpleasant history, but it is also very liberating. Suddenly, everything makes sense. Dewey and his friends were socialists; they were trying to create a socialist America. This goal is clear in their writings. For them, the obvious first step was to reduce individualism and to raise more cooperative children. How do you do this? Dewey’s answer–and it is still in play–is that you drastically limit the time spent on reading, writing, arithmetic, geography, etc., while giving much more time to group activities. And when you do teach substance, you teach it in muddled, ineffective ways. There is the whole agenda in a nutshell. It is only a matter of time before everybody knows a lot less and thinks much less clearly.

I should mention, by the way, that I never criticize teachers. I am concerned only with top education theorists, administrators, etc. These people are responsible for what happens in American education. Teachers are as much the victims of these educators as the children and parents are.

—
Bruce Price deals with all of these topics on his website Improve-Education.org and in his fifth book “THE EDUCATION ENIGMA – What Happened to American Education.”

Bruce Deitrick Price’s Biography

Cambridge Who’s Who member Bruce Deitrick Price is an outspoken artist, novelist and education advocate whose numerous creative works can be viewed online. He is the owner of Word-Wise Advertising, a creative and intellectual consulting firm based in Norfolk, Virginia, that he founded in 1980. Services offered by Word-Wise Advertising include copywriting, corporate identity, brochures, mailings, logo designs and marketing consulting.

For his site Improve-Education.org, Bruce Deitrick Price has written approximately 55 articles on education-related topics. While education reform is the main subject of many of these essays, he also writes about robots, sophistry, Latin, phonics, George Orwell’s 1984, Ivan Pavlov, English usage and design. One of his favorite themes involves “the foolish things that our elite educators do,” although he is quick to point out that he is not criticizing teachers. For his Cambridge Who’s Who Contributing Author article, Bruce Deitrick Price explores the negative impact that flawed education ideas have had on today’s schools.

Lit4u.com is Bruce Deitrick Price’s creative writing outlet; it showcases his ability to compose original short fiction and essays. There you can find information about “Too Easy,” his novel published in 1994 by Simon & Schuster. Additionally, you can read excerpts from two of his unpublished novels, titled “In the Shadow of the White House” and “Two Will Die.” He is particularly proud of his long poem “Theoryland.”

Throughout his artistic career, Bruce Deitrick Price – who received Honors in English Literature from Princeton University – has presented original work in more than 40 exhibits. He is known for his abstract, modern and hip approach, as best witnessed in his collection named Small Universes. “The goal is that each [painting/construction] should contain the maximum amount of creativity, energy and beauty, i.e., each is a universe,” he describes.

For those interested in viewing Bruce Deitrick Price’s work as an artist in the traditional and digital disciplines, you can visit http://www.artnorfolk.com. If you are in the Norfolk area, be sure to visit his art gallery, Word-Wise Modern,which was recognized as the Best Place to Discover New Art in the Spring 2008 issue of Hampton Roads Magazine. Bruce Deitrick Price, who is well-versed in digital art, has curated a major show featuring the work of other digital artists.

To learn more about Bruce Deitrick Price’s education crusade, visit his blog: “Education Improved”

Cambridge Who’s Who Resource Center Article(s) by Bruce Deitrick Price

• A Quick Guide to the Reading Wars New!
• Exploring the Education Enigma

By Cambridge Who’s Who Member and Contributing Author Shirley Patterson

Freelance writing – the act of submitting authored works to a company or individual on a per project basis – offers a lot of advantages, especially for people looking to shapetheir own schedules. There are endless possibilities for the freelance writer, depending on your ability to tackle a wide range of projects. Writers are needed at every level of business, from corporate to creative. Some companies may hire a freelancer for copywriting, which is the act of generating copy specifically for advertising campaigns and publicity projects. Other organizations will seek out freelance writers for more in-depth marketing materials, corporate communications and correspondence with shareholders, investors and/or clients. Magazines usually have a reserve of freelance writers who can tackle investigative stories, depending on their specialties and interests.

You don’t have to be a published journalist to become a professional freelance writer; people are constantly looking for articles on every topic. With the migration of newspapers and magazines to the Internet and the emergence of blogs as self-publishing tools, there are more outlets than ever to choose from. You just have to prove that you possess the knowledge and skills needed to contribute relevant articles that will reach the organization’s intended audience.

How to Start a Freelance Writing Career

At first the idea of beginning a career in freelance writing may seem daunting – even impossible. But all you need is commitment, dedication, some specific areas of interest/expertise and the ability to come up with creative ideas, or story angles, that you can pitch to editors. Constructing a winning pitch is a skill that every writer considering a career in freelancing should have. Think about the different points to your story as well as the story’s cultural and historical context. Figure out a unique way to approach the subject matter that will make it more interesting or intriguing to the reader.

Now that you know how to approach an editor, let’s figure out where to begin. To make a living out of writing for the Web can be challenging because a lot of online publications do not pay well and you will have a lot of competition. Nonetheless, the Internet is a good place to start looking for freelance writing gigs. You can begin by writing engaging articles, blogs and essays on popular topics and sending out some article proposals to magazines and websites. Even if you do not get compensated initially, by getting your name out there and building your online visibility, you will create a robust portfolio that you can present to potential employers. You should also diversify your writing abilities and the outlets you select to publish your work in order to make more money. Write e-zine articles, contribute newsletter content and become involved in a variety of projects – your work load will grow and so will your income. Start your own website, join forums and writers groups and cover various article topics for an online magazine of interest. If they are pleased with your work, some of these online publications may ask you to contribute content-for-pay, including features in their print properties. Be patient. This process will take a lot of hard work and determination, but it can be very rewarding.

Gaining Success as a Freelance Writer

Perseverance and dedication will help you to reach your professional goals. If you work diligently at writing and obtain the necessary exposure for your content, your dream to build a lucrative career as a freelancer will come true. And the harder you work at your craft, the more your skill set will develop and the easier you will be able to find inspiration for your work. Once you are focused, ideas will begin to appear out of nowhere. Your characters will whisper in your ear as you are standing in line at the check-out counter of a grocery store. You will come up with a series of fascinating article ideas while sitting in the waiting area of a doctor’s office. It will hit you like a bad habit, but this time it is for the good! Actively seek work, maintain a website, join online communities, network with other professionals, and write articles and submit them to article directories. Your hard work will ensure your success as a freelance writer.

Shirley Patterson’s Biography

Cambridge Who's Who Contributing Author Shirley Patterson

Cambridge Who’s Who member Shirley Patterson is a writer who uses her personal experiences to inspire the creation of fiction and non-fiction works. Ms. Patterson is currently studying journalism at The Writers Bureau . She is also nearing the completion of her first novel, titled “Canadaville: The Beginning.”

Shirley Patterson is open to sharing her life story with others, which centers on the devastation she witnessed due to Hurricane Katrina. Forced out of New Orleans by the engulfing flood waters, she relocated to an unfamiliar location in search of shelter and safety. “The looting was getting very dangerous for anyone to hang around,” she remembers, “and it became all about survival.” Once she was ready to leave the Big Easy behind, she ended up at the Baton Rouge River Center, a facility used to house 5,000 displaced hurricane victims. Packed in like sardines, she faced several obstacles before finally ending up in Canadaville – a self-sustaining community on 900 acres of land in Simmesport, Louisiana, designed specifically for Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita evacuees.

After six months had passed, Ms. Patterson settled into Canadaville, but she began to feel restless and depressed. “There were no jobs here, and I had no transportation,” she recalls. “I asked God, what am I going to do here?” The next morning, she awoke, walked to the front door and opened it. She marveled at the beautiful setting before her. She stared at the trees and, without hesitation, picked up a pen and pad. She began writing nonstop until she had completed six pages. The next day, she repeated her steps and wrote 10 pages.

Ms. Patterson had found the answer to her important, burning question. “The trees sparked my imagination to put pen to paper and write,” she remembers. “I love Canadaville and I will never forget this place for as long as God gives me this will to live.” Aptly titled, “Canadaville: The Beginning” should be completed by the end of June. Additionally, Ms. Patterson is penning a short story called “Living Among the Trees.”

Since discovering her newfound talents and abilities, Shirley Patterson acknowledges that she has found her true calling in life. She feels very enthusiastic about writing and does so in abundance. When she is not authoring her new book, she composes monthly newsletters for Canadaville, contributes to the local newspaper and writes gardening articles. While on her path to becoming a skillful wordsmith, she has learned the importance of meeting assignment deadlines. Her secret to success: “I devote all of my free time to the craft.” In five years, Shirley Patterson hopes to publish more novels and develop a career writing for newspapers and magazines.

In order to remain abreast of trends and new developments in the writing industry, Shirley Patterson reads a lot, subscribes to writers’ websites and reviews industry-related newsletters. She is a member of the Writers Guild of Acadiana. Aside from writing, Ms. Patterson loves gardening plants and flowers and is a member of her local garden club.

Cambridge Who’s Who Resource Center Article(s) by Shirley Patterson

• The Benefits of Freelance Writing New!