And Then Some News

Thursday's Essay Preview

I read and reviewed Sharon Begley’s book, Train Your Mind, Change Your Brain (Ballantine Books, 2007).  I gave it an outstanding review ---- five stars out of five.  Then I read and reviewed Shawn Achor’s book, The Happiness Advantage: The Seven Principles of Positive Psychology That Fuel Success and Performance at Work. (Crown Business, 2010).  I gave it an outstanding review — five stars out of five.  What these two books have in common — and I’m sure there will be many more that discuss the topic — is neuroplasticity — the basis of and foundation for neurogenesis (brain growth).

Thursday's Essay Excerpt

I know that you’ve heard it all before; however, there is a better context now (neuroplasticity) that should renew the spirit, regenerate the willpower, and reinvigorate the body.  And, in all of this renewal, regeneration, and reinvigoration, you will automatically be renovating, redeveloping, and rebuilding something even more important than your spirit, willpower, or body, you will be revitalizing your brain.  Now, that’s a powerful incentive!


And Then Some News

Thursday Essay Preview -"Lucky Sevens" and Relationships

Thursday's Essay Preview

Thousands of couples got married on July 7, 2007, because they believed that date would result in wedded bliss—“lucky sevens” they thought.  But, what effect does luck have on relationships?

For this essay I depend on the research of Professor Richard Wiseman of the University of Hertfordshire who studied “luck” for more than ten years.  I have avoided using quotation marks, however, I depend on his article, “The loser’s guide to getting lucky” (sponsored on the Web by BBC News) for the information in this essay.

Thursday's Essay Excerpt

So, for those who chose to marry on July 7, 2007, because it had the potential of bringing them triple the amount of luck for wedded bliss, I leave them the following suggestions.  Let your luck motivate you to pay attention and plan carefully.  First, pay attention to everything around you so you can take advantage of all opportunities to make life better for your relationship and your relationship partner.  Second, plan not just for today but for years ahead.  Plan to make time for yourself, for your partner, and to enhance your relationship.  Save money every week to assure financial security.  Because there is always an element of chance in life, you need to capitalize on that chance to make life more rewarding, challenging, and  exciting.  If luck is truly the confluence of preparation and opportunity, then it is easy not just to understand but to support what Thomas Jefferson said: “I’m a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work, the more I have it.”

And Then Some News - Thursday Essay Preview

Thursday's Essay Preview

My wife and I took a seminar some time ago that used Wilson Learning materials, and one of the conclusions after learning about various social styles and determining our own, was that one of the key predictors of relationship success was versatility or a relationship partner’s ability to change and be variable.  The more rigid or inflexible a partner was, the less likely a relationship will survive.  In my mind, having a marriage that has lasted more than forty years, this appeared to be common sense.  I, as it turns out, am less versatile than my wife; however, she scored as extremely versatile, and it is revealed daily at a variety of different points in our relationship.

Thursday's Essay Excerpt

Once you and your partner come as close as possible on important components of compatibility, then it depends on your versatility — your flexibility and willingness to adjust.  Improving versatility reduces tension in relationships and enables people to focus efficiently on daily tasks and the work to be done.  Partners who remain versatile, flexible, and nimble will benefit their relationship. This versatility helps them resolve problems — even though clear-cut answers may be impossible to find.  Effective partners know how to handle uncertainty by drawing on their experience and the experience of their partner. They are able to notice and analyze important issues in complex matters, track down answers, and resolve issues in mutually compatible and satisfying ways.

Site-stripe Updates and Richard L. Weaver II Thursday Essay Preview

And Then Some Publishing and ANTworkstudio Updates

This week the yellow site-stripe was updated.

What is that you ask?

Atop all of our blogs and many websites there is a yellow band that includes links to more books, videos, blogs... And Then Some!

Upon visiting the pages that include the site-stripe, the popular opinion was the site-stripe was too demonstrative and felt as if you were to navigate the current website using this feature. Confused? Most people were and that wasn't the point.

Our goal was for you to visit our many websites, videos, and blogs in the And Then Some Publishing and ANTworkstudio world using the yellow site-stripe. We weren't supposed to create confusion.

We hope we've fixed the issue. Use the new yellow site-stripe links and see more books, videos, baby books...  you guessed it... And Then Some!

Let us know what you think of our yellow site-stripe atop this page. Did you find something interesting? We hope you did! 

It's always fun to start off with a joke:  Laugh... And Then Some

Thursday's Essay Preview

 As I write these words (at the end of the first week of February), over one-third of those who made a New Year’s resolution have already broken them.  According to John C. Norcross, a professor of psychology at the University of Scranton, six months after January 1st, 46% of those who make them will not have fulfilled them, and FranklinCovey, based on a poll of 15,000 customers, claims that 80% of those making resolutions will break them.  So, how long does it take for the shine of a new resolution to rub off?

Thursday's Essay Excerpt

At the Time/CNN web site, Maia Szalavitz, in her essay, “How to Keep Your New Year's Resolutions: Advice from the Experts,” writes: “ . . . recognize that willpower is like a muscle — it gets stronger with appropriate use but ultimately weakens if overloaded” . . .  set “short-term goals that are moderately difficult, realistic, concrete and measurable” . . . start “at a level that is challenging but not overwhelming [to] provide a sense of achievement and success — which can give you the drive to take on bigger challenges.”  That is, not only do you not need to let the shine rub off, but you can polish it to an even higher level of shine!

News... And Then Some

 

Interview with Author Richard L. Weaver II, New Blog Design, and Thursday Essay Preview

Blog Design Changes

Have you seen our redesigned blogs?  If you're getting our blog via email and haven't visited our online blogs, you're in for a treat!  Our goal was to create a better navigation system throughout our blogs.  Using the colored navigation tabs above, you can easily click to the news, quotes, essays, fine art+, jokes... and then some!  Each blog open in a new tab in your browser. We hope this will help you keep track of where you started from.  Everyone dislikes getting lost in links and hitting the "back" button in our browsers ad nauseam.  Our brain gets fried and we end up not caring where we started from.

Here's a great place to start... Let's Laugh

New Video Interview with Richard L. Weaver II

And Then Some Book 1 has been hard to describe.  There are 50 essays

covering a variety of subjects from self-improvement, public speaking,
relationships, travel, and more.  Richard L. Weaver II and Anthony Weaver
discuss how And Then Some Publishing's first book came to fruition,
and Dr. Weaver's inspiration and approach to this book. 

See lots more videos with author Richard L. Weaver II via ANTworkstudio YouTube Channel

Thursday's Essay Preview

What prompted me to make a return visit to my seven “Messages” essays, is the current state of politics in America.  This is not designed as a political essay, and I am trying not to take sides; however, the political climate, best symbolized in the expression, “the party of ‘no,’” brought my “Messages” essays to mind.  I haven’t written an essay entitled, “Messages Politicians Need to Hear,” but the political climate certainly encourages me to make the effort.  It would easily fall into line with six of the other seven “Messages” essays, the essential message of which is: “take responsibility for yourself and your behavior.”

Thursday's Essay Excerpt

In the essay, “The Message Students Don’t Want to Hear,” I end the essay saying: “Drop the excuses, change your attitude, and recognize that it’s all up to you!”  In, “The Message Women Don’t Want to Hear,” my final line in the essay reads, “Just remember that, in the end, the burden for the strength and endurance of your relationship falls squarely on your shoulders.”

Essay Preview - Self-efficacy, self-discipline, and self-motivation: Like 3 peas in a pod

Thursday's And Then Some Essay preview:

From where does hard work, pressure to excel, push, and drive originate?  In the final analysis, it doesn’t come from friends, parents, siblings, or teachers, although all of these can lend some assistance.  Look at the three sets of words in the title of this essay, and you find one common denominator: self.  Hard work, pressure to excel, push, and drive all originate with your self.  If you yourself do not have the efficacy, discipline, and motivation to work hard, excel, push and drive yourself, then there is little (or no) hope that it will appear.

Self-efficacy, self-discipline, and self-motivation: Like 3 peas in a pod
by Richard L. Weaver II

Excerpt:
Having self-efficacy, self-discipline, and self-motivation are essential to succeeding in life. Those who don’t possess these traits will find themselves left behind.  Developing these characteristics means that you believe that you can succeed even when others may say you cannot and continuing on even when you would really like to quit. Those who have these attributes will be more likely to complete tasks, try out new things, and not give up when things are hard.  Having self-efficacy, self-discipline, and self-motivated means that you have important internal goals that you want to reach and reasons for doing things.  It is like being motivated to fill your time with purpose and direction.  It is like being stimulated, invigorated, and inspired on a daily basis.  It is like having a reason for living rather than just occupying space.

And Then Some News

Thursday's Essay Preview

The first paragraph of the essay, "Self-discipline can change your life in any way you want it to," reads as follows: "During my early years, I heard from my parents about the Puritan work ethic, but every time I heard the phrase it was connected with working hard.  Never did I know that it was a Biblically based teaching on the necessity of hard work, perfection, and the goodness of labor.
                                      
                                                                                                                                                                                                      

Thursday's Essay Excerpt - from the last paragraph of the essay

"If you tend to be undisciplined, use the little discipline you have to build more.  The more disciplined you become, the easier life gets.  Challenges once impossible will seem like child’s play as you learn new skills, overcome difficulty and hardships, and improve your life.  Because we are what we repeatedly do, self-discipline will not be an act, but a habit."
      




And Then Some News

Essay Preview: It all boils down to self-efficacy

Thursday's And Then Some Essay preview:

For much of my life I have thought that growth, development, and change all depend on a single element: self-discipline.  On January 6, 2009, as I was sitting at the dining-room table reading The New York Times page on“Health.”  It was in an article by Tara Parker-Pope entitled, “If You Find the Motivation, Exercise Follows,” that the underlying key to self-discipline revealed itself, and I was astounded I hadn’t thought of it much sooner.  It all boils down to self-efficacy.

It all boils down to self-efficacy
by Richard L. Weaver II 

Excerpt:

The point of this essay is to demonstrate how to develop self-efficacy.  Since it is so important, I wrote about the same four methods from the point of view of two writers.  Of course, it is easier said than done, however, awareness of how to achieve it is the first stage of developing it.  People who are successful have self-efficacy.

Happy New Year and Essay Preview: If you want to change, you must be open-minded

Happy New Year!


We hope your New Year's was safe and lots of fun! In 2011 And Then Some Publishing will be releasing more videos through our ANTworkstudio YouTube channel. These videos will include "How-to Paint a Portrait," more interviews with Richard L. Weaver II about his books, and the introduction of eBooks to our repertoire. We expect 2011 to be a GREAT year!

Thursday's And Then Some Essay preview:
Thursday’s essay is called, "If you want to change, you must be open-minded." Open- mindedness requires that you be open to new findings and understandings, and you must be open to options, alternatives, and possible new choices.  It can be a great journey, but without a commitment from you, there’s likely to be no journey at all — just words on a page or ideas that travel in one ear and out the other — if, indeed, they get that far.      


If you want to change, you must be open-minded
by Richard L. Weaver II

Excerpt:
For many people, it isn’t necessarily fear, doubt, and concern, it is that you either think you know everything you need to know, or you think there is no need or room for improvement.  Another possible problem is that you know that a change in your self-concept may require other changes, new behaviors, actions you cannot anticipate, and an unknown set of problems that you are just not ready or willing to take on.

And Then Some News

<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">Find out more about what And Then Some Publishing has to offer:</span></b></span>

<span style="font-family: arial;"></span><span style="font-family: arial;">One of the reviewers of Willis's book said, “While some veterans would be content to simply remember through a haze of rose-colored reflections, Dr. Willis clearly reports the truth as he knows it.” </span><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Civilian-Ill-fitting-Uniform-Memoir-World/dp/0984302522?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=andthensomeworks-20&amp;link_code=btl&amp;camp=213689&amp;creative=392969" target="_blank">Civilian In an Ill-Fitting Uniform: A Memoir of World War II, by Edgar E. Willis</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=andthensomeworks-20&amp;l=btl&amp;camp=213689&amp;creative=392969&amp;o=1&amp;a=0984302522" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" />, </span><span style="font-family: arial;">reports the truth—unvarnished as it may be.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">The book is available right now from Amazon.com.</span>
<span style="font-family: arial;"><b>
See more book reviews every Monday:</b> <a href="http://bookclubandthensome.blogspot.com/"><b>Book Club... And Then Some!</b></a></span>
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</span><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #006600; font-size: 130%;">Thursday's And Then Some Essay  preview:</span></span></span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span>

<span style="font-family: arial;">Thursday’s essay is called, "If you want to change, you must be open-minded." Open- mindedness requires that you be open to new findings and understandings, and you must be open to options, alternatives, and possible new choices.&nbsp; It can be a great journey, but without a commitment from you, there’s likely to be no journey at all — just words on a page or ideas that travel in one ear and out the other — if, indeed, they get that far.&nbsp;  &nbsp;&nbsp;

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<span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #006600; font-size: 130%;">
</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><b>If you want to change, you must be open-minded</b></span></span><span style="font-family: arial;">
<span style="font-size: 100%;"><a href="http://www.andthensomeworks.com/biography/biography.htm"><span style="font-weight: bold;">by Richard L. Weaver II</span></a></span><a href="http://www.andthensomeworks.com/author/author.htm"><span style="font-size: 85%;">  </span></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">

Excerpt:</span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">For many people, it isn’t necessarily fear, doubt, and concern, it is that you either think you know everything you need to know, or you think there is no need or room for improvement.&nbsp; Another possible problem is that you know that a change in your self-concept may require other changes, new behaviors, actions you cannot anticipate, and an unknown set of problems that you are just not ready or willing to take on.</span>


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<span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #006600; font-weight: bold;">And Then Some Works!</span></span><span style="font-family: arial;">
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And Then Some News

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">Thursday's Essay Preview</span> </span>

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I have discovered a brilliant way to begin the New Year.&nbsp; This does not include the traditional celebration, gorging on food that you will have to work hard to remove from your waistline, clinking glasses of champagne at midnight, or even partying with friends.&nbsp; My way to begin the New Year has the potential of making you very happy or very sad.</span>

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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Thursday Essay Excerpt</span></div>

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">As you might imagine, there are hundreds (probably more like thousands) of websites that not only list New Year’s Resolutions, but give advice as to how to accomplish what you plan to do.&nbsp; One website makes it very clear that most resolutions are broken within 48 hours of when they are made.&nbsp; That can be easily explained by talking about laziness, habits, and comfort zones — but everyone already knows this.&nbsp; Changing any of the ten areas where you realize you could use some change requires huge amounts of planning, persistence, and patience, not to speak of time and effort.&nbsp; Most people just say to hell with it and live their lives the same way they have been living it.</span>

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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And Then Some News</span></div>
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Happy Holidays with a Christmas Joke

And Then Some Publishing News

At And Then Some Publishing we celebrate Christmas, however we don't want to leave anyone out... in that vein: 
 
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from And Then Some Publishing, LLC!

Thursday's And Then Some Essay preview:
Thursday’s essay is called, "Christmas Jokes." I decided to compose a different kind of essay to celebrate Christmas this year.  Here, then, I have listed some of my favorite Christmas jokes.  Although some of the jokes are clearly better than others; however, there is no order in their presentation here.  Some are a little more sophisticated than others, but most are quite silly.  I begin with one that fits the “silly” category very well—and I apologize in advance.

Christmas Jokes
by Richard L. Weaver II

Excerpt:
Three men die in a car accident Christmas Eve. They all find themselves at the pearly gates waiting to enter Heaven. On entering they must present something relating or associated with Christmas.
    The first man searches his pocket, and finds some Mistletoe, so he is allowed in.
    The second man presents a cracker, so he is also allowed in.
    The third man pulls out a pair of stockings.
    Confused at this last gesture, St. Peter asks, "How do these represent Christmas?"
    The third man answers, "They're Carol's."

Find lot's more jokes and a joke every Friday at Laugh... And Then Some!

How do you deal with people different from you? - Essay Preview

And Then Some Publishing News

How to achieve and support relationship rules is what the book, Relationship Rules: For Long-Term Happiness, Security, and Commitment, is all about. There are numerous suggestions, steps, and additional ideas that will motivate, encourage, and challenge relationship partners. Relationship Rules is available at Amazon.com.

The books Richard L. Weaver II enjoys reading offer a look at the truth. One of the reviewers of Willis's book said, “While some veterans would be content to simply remember through a haze essayof rose-colored reflections, Dr. Willis clearly reports the truth as he knows it.” Civilian In an Ill-Fitting Uniform: A Memoir of World War II, by Edgar E. Willis, reports the truth—unvarnished as it may be. The book is available right now from Amazon.com.

See more book reviews every Monday: Book Club... And Then Some!

Thursday's And Then Some Essay preview:

Thursday’s essay is called, "How do you deal with people different from you?"  Sometimes in a new communication situation with a person different from us, we may interpret the other person as abnormal, weird, or simply different.  It is important to learn to control the human tendency to translate “different from me” into “less than me.”  Rather, we need to raise questions.  Are there effective ways of dealing with different kinds of people?  Can I develop a repertoire of five or six approaches that will help me reach others in real and meaningful ways?  I will discuss seven different ways taken from the book, Communicating Effectively by Hybels and Weaver.

How do you deal with people different from you?
by Richard L. Weaver II

Excerpt:
How you learn to deal with people who are different from you depends entirely on your willingness to seek, discover, and experience.  Today, the Internet is one of the most important influences on the knowledge and information at our disposal.  We are increasingly linked together across the globe, and we can connect with people on the other side of the world as quickly as we do with friends and family at home.  You will quickly find out that the knowledge and understanding you gain is well worth any effort you put forth.


And Then Some Works!

Choice Overload Essay Preview

And Then Some Publishing News

Thursday's And Then Some Essay preview:

Thursday’s essay is called, "At what point do customers have choice overload?"  Choice produces paradoxical effects.  For example, people feel an enormous burden to get enough information to make good decisions.  Do they have the time to find the best digital camera, the best cell phone plan, the best 401(k), the best health insurance, the most economical automobile?

At what point do customers have choice overload?
by Richard L. Weaver II

Excerpt:
Studies have proven that when customers are given a narrow-range of choices, they are more likely to make a purchase.  In one study, significantly fewer choices increased purchasing propensity by ten times. It is true that without any freedom of choice, life would not be worth living.  But, it is also true that more choice does not necessarily mean greater happiness.  You do wonder, at what point customers have choice overload?

And Then Some Works!

New SMOERs Video and Women are Superior Essay Preview

And Then Some Publishing News


We've been talking about the SMOERs book and now the video interview is here! Watch the video and find the book at SMOERs.com.


Author Richard L. Weaver II talks about his book of quotations, "SMOERs: Self-Motivation, Optimism, Encouragement, Rules".  Discover this tasty treat of quotations based from his delicious book. From the famous, the infamous, and quotes you have never heard before. Listen as Dr. Weaver shares quotes from the book and answers questions about the inspiration for his books, the setup, plus the reasoning behind the concept. Think of the delicious S'Mores... just spelled funny: S M O E R s





Watch the video and find the book at SMOERs.com. 

Thursday's And Then Some Essay preview:

Thursday’s essay is called, "Women have superior leadership traits."  Although I cannot make the complete case that Dee Dee Myers makes in her book, Why women should rule the world (HarperCollins, 2008), and although her conclusion resides in the title of her book, in this essay I am interested in the research that supports her conclusion.   

Women have superior leadership traits
by Richard L. Weaver II

Excerpt:

Whether liked or not, stereotypical males are “aggressive, ambitious, assertive, forceful, [and] self-confident” whereas stereotypical females are “helpful, kind, friendly, sympathetic, and affectionate” (p. 149).  Perhaps the key now is to redefine leadership and redefine power.  In the information age in which we are living, fortunately, that is already happening. 

And Then Some Works!

S'Mores and Celebrating Daily Life Preview

And Then Some Publishing News

How do you turn a unsavory situation and make it tasty again? Sometimes you have to throw it all away and start again. That is not the situation we are in. Richard L. Weaver II and Anthony Weaver filmed numerous videos on Tuesday, November 16, 2010 and they turned out fantastic! We were hoping to release the first video today, however due to technical difficulties the first release has been delayed. 


The first video we are releasing is all about S'Mores... wait... no SMOERs. What is SMOERs? It's a tasty book quotes compiled by Richard L. Weaver II. In the video he explains the inspiration for the book... and then some!

We will continue to try and figure out what the problem is and will let you know when the video is available in the next couple of days.

Thursday's And Then Some Essay preview:

Thursday’s essay is called, "Celebrating daily life."  Most often when we think of celebrating, it is just at those special times (e.g., birthdays, Christmas, New Years, athletic victories, Thanksgiving, Fourth of July, etc.), and we seldom believe (or think) about celebrating on a daily basis.  What do most of us have to be thankful for?  A brief list may stimulate your thoughts: parents, family, children, health, abundance of resources, liberty and freedom, friends and neighbors, independence, self-sufficiency, and life itself, to name a few.

Celebrating daily life
by Richard L. Weaver II

Excerpt:

And I want to close this essay on celebrating daily life with my own quotation: The beauty of celebrating everyday life is the joy of having a carnival of the spirit, a festival for our frame of mind, and a tribute to our way of thinking that boosts our morale and provides an ongoing force that drives our daily espirit de corps.  Celebrating our daily life may not seem that important; however, it gives each of us a chance to show our appreciation for those things that really matter to us, and daily celebrations remind us of how fortunate, privileged, or simply lucky we are.

And Then Some Works!

And Then Some Book 1 and Taking Healthy Risks Preview

And Then Some Publishing News

Anthony Weaver and Richard L. Weaver II will be shooting new videos this week. Dr. Weaver has authored many books about relationships, motivation, and optimism. Relationship Rules, SMOERs, You Rules, and And Then Some Publishing's first book And Then Some Book 1 all have have something in common. They all need videos to help explain more about each book.

Specifically, And Then Some Book 1 is hard to explain. To start it was their first book. Anthony and Richard L. Weaver II (Dick) didn't know if they were going to be able to produce another one. There were many complications from technology, building the first website, beginning blogs, and then some! From the book conception to the finished product the book took two years to complete. 

When you take the complications into consideration and the wonderment if another book would be produced, everything and the kitchen sink was put into And Then Some Book 1. Containing 50 essays with subjects that include family, humor, education, travel, and more, this book reads sometimes as advice, a little bit of education and learning from personal life experiences, or as a short story about Dick's travels... and then some! 

And Then Some Book 1 covers a wide gambit of essays and is a fun read... and now Anthony and Dick will be shooting a video to better explain this book.


We hope to start releasing the first videos from this shoot by next weeks news, however we're not sure which videos will be released first.


Thursday's And Then Some Essay preview:
Thursday’s essay is called, "Take healthy risks for positive rewards."  You have to learn how to take healthy risks. The important thing to remember when it comes to taking risks is that you live life only once.  Life is too short to be wasted on things you don't want to do or on things that you have done over and over.  That’s how comfort zones develop.   

Take healthy risks for positive rewards
by Richard L. Weaver II

Excerpt:

There were several important learnings that emerged from my run for student-council president.  First, and this is supported by research, I never regretted the effort.  A report in the journal Psychological Science reveals that whether you miss achieving a goal by a little or a lot, you won’t lament going after it nearly as much as you think you will.  The failures from risk-taking behavior, for the most part, don’t last long with respect to regret, sorrow, sadness, disappointment, or residual unhappiness.

And Then Some Works

Blind Spots in Relationships that Rule!

And Then Some Publishing News

Have you seen all the books, videos, and blogs from And Then Some Publishing? An easy place to get started is the black and yellow links at the top of this page. We don't want you to get lost so every link opens in a new tab/window. Get more information about World War II, baby books, public speaking, relationships, great art... And Then Some!

Coinciding with this week's essay about relationships, author Richard L. Weaver II offers a book to help you in your relationship. Once you understand the "rules" of relationships you will be able to create a long lasting bonds built for long-term happiness, security, and commitment. There are numerous suggestions, steps, and additional ideas that will motivate, encourage, and challenge relationship partners. Relationship Rules is available at Amazon.com.

Thursday's And Then Some Essay preview:

Thursday’s essay is called, "Blind spots in early dating often jeopardize the ability to make proper decisions."  Just as I had completed my essay on “Judging Others,” and how important it is to be aware of our limitations, I read an article by Kaja Perina (the editor of the magazine) in Psychology Today (January/February, 2007) entitled “Love’s Loopy Logic,” which explained the reasons why our ability to judge others is so limited — a situation in which Perina explains, “it sometimes pays to deceive ourselves.”  I found it to be such a perfect example of what I wrote in my essay last week, that I felt an obligation/responsibility to share it with readers.

Blind spots in early dating often jeopardize the ability to make proper decisions
by Richard L. Weaver II

Excerpt:

You [the reader] will best profit from [at the very least, identify with] the observations in this essay if you can transport yourself back to the time when you were trolling for the wit, kindness, curiosity, intelligence, and “chemistry” that would allow you to make the proper decision regarding a future mate.  It is often within the parameters of such a quest that an explanation for the limitations of our observations and judgments can best be understood.  Perina casts both her observations and descriptions within the broad rubric of “mating intelligence,” which, she explains, is as oxymoronic as the term suggests.  The key sentences in Perina’s article are, “We’ve all got blind spots about the opposite sex.  And sometimes that’s for the best.”

And Then Some Works!

S'Mores and Essay Preview | In judging others, we need to be aware of our limitations

And Then Some Publishing News

Do you need some motivation, encouragement, and/or inspiration? Sometimes an inspiring quote is just the ticket. Our words of wisdom blog, SMOERs, has tons of quotes and we guarantee you will find a quote that will spark your inner being. 

The SMOERS quotes on our blog are derived from the compilation quotes in our book of the same name. SMOERs is based on the delicious snack S'Mores... just spelled funny. The quotes are based upon the title, Self-Motivation, Optimism, Encouragement Rules. The book is broken into 365 days with an average of 4 quotes a day. Pick any day and read some great quotes!

Visit our SMOERs blog or go to SMOERs.com and get a taste of our book with 30-days of quotes.

Thursday's And Then Some Essay preview:

Thursday’s essay is called, "In judging others, we need to be aware of our limitations."  You cannot make accurate predictions about how even top-rated individuals might behave in specific circumstances---even though you have judged their character positively in other instances. The point is simply that it is not easy to assess the character of a person. 

In judging others, we need to be aware of our limitations
by Richard L. Weaver II

Excerpt:
In most cases in life, we decide who we like or dislike for no good reason.  It is truly an unfair decision based on little or no evidence.  But, if we waited until we knew everything about someone before we made up our mind, we would spend much of our time with no commitments to anyone—in relationship limbo.  Not only do we not have access to the kind of information we need to make up our minds, but even when we think we have gathered sufficient evidence to confirm a decision, the person behaves in such a way as to counter our judgment—totally repudiating not just our evidence but our ability to root out the essential information we need.

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S'Mores, Campfires, and Communication

And Then Some Publishing News

The leaves are changing colors, campfires are cooking up S'Mores, and friends to help keep you warm. It's Fall. The smells, sensations, and of course the gooey warmth of melted chocolate, marshmallows, with a graham cracker crust rushes memories of times well spent with friends. 


When sharing S'Mores with friends invariably quotes come up from famous and not so famous people. Some quotes you remember far into next week, the next month, and in the end become a staple of your conversations retold numerous times. It's that S'More and your friends that fire those memories and keep that time alive.


This is what SMOERs is all about. Quotes that inspire the mind. Find out what SMOERs stands for and delicious examples. Find your quote... find inspiration. SMOERs offers more... and then some!

Thursday's And Then Some Essay preview:

Thursday’s essay is called, "Communication competence builds on competence."  The most important reason that competent communication is important is because it has been proven to aid in gaining success in a wide range of social and occupational situations.  It is a process through which interpersonal impressions are shaped and satisfactory outcomes are derived from an interaction.  So, the real question becomes, how often do you offer others the impression you intend and derive the outcome you want?  In this essay, I will define the characteristics perceived to comprise competent communication.

Communication competence builds on competence
by Richard L. Weaver II

Excerpt:
These five characteristics provide a fairly broad foundation; however, if you consider them overall goals to be achieved, you will find the important perception, listening, feedback, language, and nonverbal skills necessary for moving closer to achieving them on a regular basis.  The nice thing is that awareness of these five characteristics that can establish a solid and interpersonally competent foundation and as you gain more experience — especially positive, supportive, and rewarding results — you will have constructive, practical, and productive personal examples that you can use to build an even more competent future.  That is why it can be said that competence helps build greater competence.

And Then Some Works!