KizaPark

Mario Ernesto Sanchez, who moved to Key Biscayne when he was 21 years old, is undertaking a lifetime dream. His Teatro Avante produces the International Hispanic Theatre Festival each year, and it’s already gotten a decade under its belt. There have been tough times, especially lately, but last year a grant allowed them another two years of funding. Some people might take that opportunity to relax and rest on their laurels, and for this company there are a lot of laurels, but relaxing is very far from his mind.

He would certainly like to relax, and spend more time away from the city so he can enjoy all that the island offers, but there’s simply too much work to be done. He’s been able to mobilize large numbers of people to move forward with his vision, but he’s still the one who likes to drive the bus. The festival happens every year in the summer, making it the perfect time for travelers to book hotels. Key Biscayne is a wonderful place all year round, but this is a particularly good opportunity to check out the island life as well as enjoy some of the world’s best theatre.

The 2010 Festival focuses on Mexico with a sumptuous offerings of plays from one of the most exciting countries making theatre right now. The plays are usually subtitled or supertitled, in order to make them more accessible to audiences who don’t have the Spanish language. This is a vital step in introducing ways of entering into the theatrical worlds, and in Latin America, it’s much more common to see work in other languages. But in the Miami area, and in many places in the U.S., it’s not yet a part of the culture, and efforts like these to change that will open up the audiences so that they can enjoy some splendid work.

Harry Potter has been one of the most beloved book series in the world. It has been named the number one book series to get kids to read, but it has also become one of the most beloved book series by adults. The movies have inspired even more people to come out of the woodworks and look into the books as a place to find adventure and fun. As the last movies are fast approaching it is no wonder that Universal Studios is also looking toward the series for inspiration for their next theme park.

Opening up June 16th Harry Potter has become a wizarding theme park all to itself. There will be rides, food and shopping. One ride will be Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. This ride will include a tour through the halls of Hogwarts including going in and out of some of the most well known areas such as Dumbledor’s office and the Gryffindor common room. Just when the rider thinks they’ve seen it all the ride takes off soaring above Hogwarts grounds. For some fans this will be more fun than any movie ever could be. It is really about being immersed in the world of the book series.

Just when fans and visitors are done immersing themselves in the world, it may be time to get some food at an authentic rendition of the Three Broomsticks Tavern complete with butterbeer, pumpkin juice and a number of other items out of the Harry Potter menus. The drinks aren’t the only things that have been Harry Potter inspired however and fans should ask waiters what sort of foods are available that day. There will be some more normal foods for those picky eaters, or the kids who are not willing to try something new.

The only thing that could make this theme park better for the die hard fans would be a hotel in the park, but instead they will have to settle for one of the five star hotels in Orlando that are nearby.

Venus and Serena Williams are the sister duo tennis players that have dominated the sport and gained international respect and attention during their careers. Venus is the older of the two and first gained recognition as the World No. 1 player. This title now belongs to her younger sister Serena, who also just recently won the women’s singles title in the Australian Open. The sisters won the doubles title together. They form one of the most formidable doubles teams in the history of the game, and they are unequaled as sibling players.

Venus Williams is currently ranked World No 2, having had the number one title on three previous occasions. Her first number one ranking occurred in February of 2002. In addition, she has won three Olympic Gold Medals, one was for her singles competition and she won two for women’s doubles. She is 29 years old and will turn 30 on June 17 of this year. Among her many impressive status feats, she had a 35 match winning streak in the 2000 Wimbledon tennis championships. She is the current leader on the WTA active list and is tied for 10th on the overall history of titles.

Serena first received the World No. 1 title in July of 2002 . She is the reigning champion of singles and doubles competitions. Of her many distinctions, she has won the most career prize money than any other female player, of any sport, in history. She has also won two Olympic gold medals, both of them in the doubles category. Serena is now tied with Billie Jean King for winning 12 singles titles and is ranked as sixth on the all time list. In all three categories, singles, doubles and mixed, she has won more titles than any other active female player. She and her sister are on the Wimbledon schedule for 2010.

The Balkans are a place that all-too-often falls into the realm of a liminal space, those places in between places. Because of its location and unique geography in Europe, it has historically been very difficult to pass through, and left to the mental rooms marked unknown. When there is any unknown, there is an equal move toward creating and inventing what might happen there, and the Balkans have become subject to these inventions for centuries. Montenegro is one of the more picturesque places, perhaps, but they’re all made for pictures. Some pictures are conceived in different lights and different shadows.

But for tourism, it’s been a very accommodating place, and has fallen back into favor in recent years. This brings more people from all over the world, who can see for themselves what happens here. Any of the cozy Montenegro hotels can be a respite from the busy world at large, or it can also be a perfect doorframe that opens up into other, unimagined worlds. For this, there is theatre. Montenegro does have a wonderful reputation for this form that is always on the verge of becoming something else, with festivals like HAPS every year. Companies from all over the world come to perform, exchanging cultures and dreams, and sometimes history sneaks in.

There is nothing sneaky about Dah Theatre , but there is every level of mystery that the deep sea can offer. They come through Montenegro quite frequently, and this offers a brilliant chance to see their work near their native Yugoslavia. Jadranka Andelic and Dijana Milosevic began the great work that’s become this force in world performance during the time of the great war. It began as an act of protest, and an offering to the citizens for an entertainment that could speak to them, and offer something that might lift them out of themselves.

Since then, they’ve been performing all over the world, as well as offering extensive workshops and residencies . The work is always ethereal and at the same time grounded in history. Using some of Grotowski’s methods for developing physical theatre, they’ve made their own style with a magnificent beginning, and a very breathable middle. It’s worth the trip into liminal space to discover the origins of a contemporary soul.

Saint Malo is one of the most original places in the world, with old world and new world tales that blend into each other to make for some fascinating traveling. World travelers seem to fancy the city that rests against the sea, with walls to fortify it against invaders from a long lost past. During the second world war, the city suffered great damage from the Germans, but has been restored to its former graciousness. There are some splendid new touches, too, giving it an almost odd sense of being somehow out of time. For sheer tourist pleasure, there is something very rare about the hotels in Saint Malo that is hard to beat anywhere else.

The sea pervades through everything here, and it’s very difficult to forget. Not that one would ever want to, because it is some of the most exciting seascape in all of Europe, with a very exciting history. Today, visitors can enjoy the great selection of seafood available widely in the local restaurants. Venturesome travelers can check out the local fish markets, as well as looking into the other markets in nearby cities, but that could lead to a serious case of envy for the lifestyles that are possible here.

In 1905, however, the stories that the sea could tell are of a significantly darker turn, because that’s the year of one of the great shipwrecks in these waters. The SS Hilda left Southhampton for Saint Malo in December, and never did arrive. It was having trouble getting into port because of extreme snow squalls, and eventually hit the rocks at Pierre de Portes.

The stories of the attempts to save their own lives are harrowing, and 131 people died in the wreck, leaving only 6 survivors. Parts of the hull, the rear mast and parts of the boiler have been found recently, but so little else, that the scant wreckage is a testament to the severity of the wreck. In 2005, there were ceremonies to commemorate the ones who were lost in the tragedy, including “Onion Johnnies,” the name given to the Breton men who sold onions door to door in the U.K.

Seoul, Korea is one of Asia’s most misunderstood, underrated and unfounded maligned cities. Like any booming metropolis, Seoul is a place to be embraced rather than rejected, for instance Seoul’s lively contemporary art scene, which is beyond eclectic and ranges from traditional landscapes to dream quality modern renditions all the way to hard-to-label public art sculptures. Just spend a day in some of the galleries such as Samcheon-dong, Insa-dong and all through the new Tongui-dong and the sheer variety of art will amaze, astound and inspire you.

All of the top-notch Seoul hotels surpasses most 5 star accommodations found anywhere else in Asia. The shopping in Seoul is synonymous with Singapore and Mayalsia put together. Seouls night markets, like Namdaemun or Dongdaemun market last all night and out shines Thailand’s night markets in size and in deals. Chic, slick boutiques and department stores of Apgujeong and Myeong-dong will please even the most pickiest of shoppers.

As for food, well there’s a reason why Korean cuisine is on the rise in the United States, because Korean food offers a substantial menu to please any appetite, like the nokdu bindaetteok, which is mung-bean pancakes, or the freshest fish dishes like the Saengseon hoe, which is thinly sliced raw fish very similar to Japanese sashimi. Don’t forget to get a side order of Kimchi, which is considered the national food of all of Korea. Kimchi is a very spicy fermented cabbage dish, one that even made it onto the International Space Station.

Seoul, not wanting to disappoint their visitors, offers free entertainment, like excellent demonstrations of Taekwando at Gyeonghui-gung, or performances of traditional music at the Seoul Plaza , or the changing of the guard at Gyeongbok-gung, or the most spectacular light shows in all the world along the Cheong-gye-cheon either at the Bampo Bridge or at the N-Seoul Tower. All of these attractions won’t cost you one Korean ‘won’ as they thoroughly guarantee to entertain and enthrall.

Selling door to door can be hard. Every person who has ever done it can tell you the ups and downs, and each one of them will give you different advice. If you asked them what you need to do in order to make sales however, the basics would boil down to these pieces of advice.

Listen to your sales training.
Most companies, such as Southwestern Company , will offer sales training. If you can’t get sales training from your company try to go listen to successful sales professionals speak. This will help you understand what you are trying to do.

Research.
Even though it is door to door gives no reason to avoid research . Know the type of people that live in that area. Know what sort of problems they have and how your product can fix them. Be careful though because you don’t want to insult someone with an assumption.

Have a Goal
This means a few things. First of all, have a goal for the number of sales you need that day, that week, that month and that summer. It needs to be more specific than being the top Southwestern Company salesperson. Be willing to disclose this to people, but be less inclined to disclose how many you have made. Also, don’t use your goals as a way to try to make people buy from you.

Have a goal for each meeting. Whether that goal is to get a longer chance to talk to them when they have more time, or if that is to sell them the product on the spot, know what you want and try to reach it.

Stay Motivated

There will be a number of doors that will close in your face. Be prepared for this and don’t be too down on yourself. You are doing the best you can do. If you have a team of sales people, use them to help cheer you up. You are probably all down right now.

Learn

Always keep learning. After each good sale look back on what you did right and what you could have done better, same with every sale you don’t make. As you grow you will get better at making sales.

People recruited to summer sales programs at organizations like The Southwestern Company usually get more than the expected sales training program. Many people expect an easy ride, but the truth is that their summer of selling might be the longest, hardest summer they will experience. There are a lot of lessons to be learned though working a summer sales job and the ones that are most often remembered are the ones below.

Hard work

You have to work hard to make sales. Not because of the economy, or because of anything else, but because knowing your material, knowing what problems your product solves and giving your customer something that can solve their problem can be hard work. In many cases you will have to do some kind of extra work to help out the customer the best you can. If you aren’t willing to do the work you can’t make the sales.

Persistence

Sometimes when someone says no they mean no, but other times they simply don’t know how the product could improve their lives .

Perseverance

People will say no. Although you can get upset by it, that will do you no good. Keep going and eventually you will make a sale. You may even make a number of sales. It might not be today and that is ok.

Positive Attitude

People know if you are unhappy and it makes them unhappy too. No one really wants to buy from someone who seems upset. Smile and you will get more customers. It is also more professional to at least seem happy. This is usually part of the sales training program at the Southwestern company and similar organizations, but it only sticks because there are always times when a sale is lost to a bad attitude.

The Golden Rule

Don’t lie to others, don’t cheat them out of their money, you wouldn’t want that. You shouldn’t have to either because you should only be selling products that you back one hundred percent. If you don’t believe in the product you should not be a sales person for it.

Doing What Is Right

Always do what is right . It might be a little hard sometimes. There will be times when you could do something out of spite, but it is never worth it. Treat people with respect and apologize when something is your fault, the customer will want to work with you again.

The Internet has truly become the information super-highway. Breaking news and information is passed around and shared within minuets of its release. Social media sites and blogging have opened up the Internet to a much broader base of users. Now anyone can easily go online and share their thoughts and opinions on just about anything. For most individuals this of no consequence. Unless you are looking for product reviews, it doesn’t really matter. However for those who are in the public spotlight, like politicians, or business owners this could present problems.

One of the key roles of a politician is dealing with controversy. Whether it at work or on the campaign trail, there will always be people who disagree. No matter which way you lean — conservative or liberal — you can’t agree with everyone and you can’t make everyone happy. However blogging, tweeting, etc. have made it even easier for those who do disagree and harder for you to maintain a positive online reputation. This is where having the right SEO tools comes into play. By monitoring and adapting your sites you will have more control over the websites that appear when someone searches for your name.

This is equally important for business owners. If a disgruntled customer or former friend makes negative remarks about you online, it could have negative effects on your business. When there are negative reviews of you as an individual it generally discourages people from seeking out whatever services your business offers. For this reason it is important to maintain your personal reputation online as well as maintaining an awareness of the ranking your sites receive from search engines like Google.

We live in a digital age . It is no longer enough for people to make a good first impression and maintain a smile in public. If you aren’t diligent about monitoring your sites and the information that is available online about you, your online reputation can very quickly be destroyed.

Both Arizona and Nevada share some striking similarities, as well as some vast differences. The similarities are perhaps greater, however, as they also characterize the states, and make them part of a unique configuration that’s known as the southwest. Native peoples have occupied the lands for thousands of years, making up a large part of the rich history here. In Phoenix, where the canal system is based on something the Hohokam constructed hundreds of years ago, there are signs everywhere of human presence that predated the origins of the city proper. In Nevada, the history is very similar, where there are multiple cultures making up the cities, themselves based on older civilizations.

The characterization of the southwest as a young place in terms of the history of the country, then, is perhaps rather unfair. Or perhaps it simply points out some blind spots in the history of place. In the grand scheme of things, then, any law firm that’s local would be considered young. In terms of the age of the state of Arizona, which was incorporated in the 1880s, and entering into statehood in 1912, a law firm that can be considered local would have lived through many of the changes that the state has weathered while constructing its own identity in the national and international arena.

Like Nevada, Arizona ‘s identity is still in flux, and still something that’s constantly under construction. Arizona as a whole often reflects that iconic bird, the Phoenix, which gave its legend to the city. The bird is engulfed in flames, and rises out of its own ashes, and that’s an apt metaphor for the southwest. In the same way that an Arizona law firm’s interests and areas of focus become entwined with the needs of the community, a firm’s Las Vegas lawyer team would become connected to the community in the Silver State. It will be interesting to see how the future of law might tie the states together, just as they have been linked to a remarkable and fascinating past.