text:
I left school at 15 to live in a hippy squat house in
London. I've tended bar in a strip joint … inspected bolts
at a factory … waitressed in a Chinese restaurant …
But today I get paid to visit white sand
Caribbean beaches … wildlife sanctuaries
in Borneo … Indian Ocean hideaways …
Rome … Paris … London …
I invite you to do the same. In fact, I'll even
help you get your first assignment.
Dear Traveler,
The work I do today is the stuff of dreams … stress-free, romantic, fun. And all sorts of everyday people do it. Like me, they've left behind the drudgery of 9-to-5 … the boring desk job … and today they get paid to follow their bliss. Care to join us?
As far as I'm concerned, it's the best job in the world. Who wouldn't want to travel the globe and get paid for it?
For me, last month's "work" involved checking out facilities at a quaint spa village deep in Germany's Black Forest. And arduous work it was too … moving from my sun bed into the pool where I was pummeled with blissfully warm jets of thermal water.
My German work schedule also involved visiting Neuschwanstein, the fairytale castle built by Mad King Ludwig of Bavaria … riding the cog wheel train and cable car to the summit of the Zugspitz, Germany's highest mountain …
I stayed in das Schiefes Haus (the Crooked House), a beautiful half-timbered hotel in Ulm dating back to medieval times … feasted on venison and Pfifferlinge mushrooms served with noodles in a creamy sauce … sampled far too many varieties of local wine.
In this past year alone I've made three trips to Paris. I've visited Spain, Portugal, Latvia, and the Bohemia region of the Czech Republic (and there are more wonderful spas in Bohemia, by the way).
Last January–under pale blue skies–I meandered down the east coast of Italy, exploring the hill towns of Le Marche and the curious trulli dwellings of Apulia.
In February, I was in Greece, island-hopping from Athens to the Saronic islands of Aegina, Poros, and Hydra.
I spent Easter on La Reunion, a gorgeous French-speaking island of volcanoes and white sand beaches cast adrift in the Indian Ocean.
Yes … There IS More to Life
I feel very lucky. Most people trudge to work every day … to a job that pays the bills but provides little by way of inspiration. They endure a life of commuting, business suits, and fluorescent lights.
… and no reprieve but 10 days of vacation a year. It's a life. But it's no way to live.
At least, that's the conclusion I finally came to…
And not only did I crave a change … I desperately needed one. I was out of money. The situation was getting dire …
How It Came to Pass that I Get Paid to See the World
Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Steenie Harvey, and I'm not exaggerating when I say my passport pages are as well-turned as a child's favorite story book. I really do travel the world … and get paid to do it.
In fact, the "work" never stops. Next week I'll be in England's East Anglia region—the soft rolling countryside of poppy-sprinkled cornfields and ancient wool towns made famous in the paintings of John Constable.
At the beginning of October it's back to Italy—Tuscany and Umbria. Then, later in the month, I'm going to Mexico. Christmas? Well, the last one I spent in Sicily. This Christmas I'm extending my "working vacation" to 18 days— I'll be discovering the Caribbean islands of Martinique and Guadeloupe.
Apologies if I'm making you envious, but you too could quite easily have a "job" like mine.
If you're interested in traveling the world and getting paid to tell other people what about what you discover – like I do – there's plenty of "work" to be had.
And you should know that it's easily something you can do on the side. You needn't commit full-time to it (unless you want to).
In a moment, I'll tell you exactly how you can quickly and easily make this dream lifestyle a reality. But first, let me tell you a little more about how I did it …
My Not-So-Brilliant Career …
My life wasn't always so exciting. I didn't always flit about the globe for pay.
Before this, I tried everything. I never graduated high school, so "career" jobs were out. I tried tending bar (in a strip joint, no less). I inspected bolts at a factory. I waitressed in a Chinese restaurant…
Fifteen years ago, I was working as an office clerk in the miserable English midlands. (And I do mean miserable—think grim, industrial, dark-satanic-mills England and you'll get the picture.) Me—a high-flyer with a glamorous lifestyle?
When I wasn't typing reams of invoices, I was telling elaborate lies to customers about why their printing orders weren't ready. Plus the pay was absolutely dire. My boss could have given Scrooge a good run for his money.
Like many people, all I had to look forward to was the annual two-week summer vacation. I loved traveling—problem was, I couldn't afford to do it very often.
Then my husband lost his job. Maybe it was the shock of discovering our income had been cut in half (How could we afford two weeks in Spain ever again?)… but we had this crazy idea. Why not move away? Try a completely different lifestyle? And so we sold up and bought a bargain-priced country cottage in the west of Ireland.
A new, stress-free life. At first it was like a permanent holiday. I had great plans to turn our wild green acre into an organic smallholding … be completely self-sufficient.
Not Gardener, Not Painter …
But my new enthusiasm for gardening seemed unlikely to reap huge dividends. Slugs munched happily away on the lettuces and cabbages. Rabbits waltzed in and ate all the tops off my newly sprouted green beans. The organically grown radishes did just fine, but there didn't seem to be much of a market for them.
And though my husband found work, nobody seemed keen on employing me.
So I tried my hand next at painting… strange landscapes inhabited by silver-colored birds and beasts. Never having been afraid of humiliation, I took them off to an art gallery, wondering how much I'd be offered for my masterpieces. The man sniggered and sent me packing.
By now, the money situation was getting serious.
The Treasure in the Garden Shed
But as luck would have it, the previous owner of our cottage had left behind an ancient manual typewriter in the garden shed. I only remembered it when I came across one of those "You Too Can Have a Career as a Writer" ads in a Sunday newspaper. It got my brain whirring …
I decided to bash out a humorous article about our own search for a home in Ireland … which hadn't exactly been an easy task. Not as we had been seeking somewhere habitable for $10,000 … or less! I went on about real estate agents taking us to see hovels with tin roofs and no bathroom facilities.
I penned the sorry tale of shacks with no front doors … the farmhouse where cows were actually using the kitchen as a barnyard … finishing the story with a description of the cottage that we did eventually buy.
This was the first thing I'd ever written since leaving school. I didn't have a clue about how an article should be presented. Mine featured single-spaced typing, thickly whited-out passages covering all the errors I'd made, and a dog-eared left corner to hold the pages together.
… and Thus a Writer is Born
Despite my woeful presentation, the property editor of an English daily newspaper called The Independent published it … and she paid me what was then the equivalent of around $180. Plus she asked me for a follow-up, a more factual article detailing the kind of homes that were on sale in western Ireland. It was an easy piece to write— I simply visited local real estate agents and asked what they had for sale.
Was anybody else out there interested in reading articles about buying Irish cottages? Yes, indeed—three more English newspapers: The Guardian, The Daily Express, and London's Evening Standard.
How about this monthly publication called International Living in the States? I sent a note to the editor, and she wrote back saying that she had long been looking for somebody on the ground in Ireland. Boy, had I struck lucky!
In the nearly two decades since then, I've written hundreds of stories for International Living and others—about not only Ireland, but destinations as far-flung as Poland and Mexico.
These days, editors actually pay my expenses as I travel the globe reporting on their behalf…
If I Can Do It … You Most Certainly Can
You know, I'm going to stop for a minute and answer a question I hear all the time … because it's usually about here in my story that people ask it: Can anybody become a freelance travel writer?
Well, going by my own experience, yes. You don't need to spend thousands of dollars going to journalism school or have had a university education—I never did. (I actually left school when I was 15.)
And you don't need to suffer years of hard labor working full time for a newspaper or magazine. I certainly didn't.
It's fair to say that in my case, much of my success is a result of luck … at least, it was at the outset. I happened upon that typewriter, after all.
The rest I learned through trial and error … and, more importantly, through the kindnesses and guidance of editors I've worked with over the years.
I've made a real go of writing for a living—in the last 15 years my by-line has appeared in such illustrious publications as The Washington Post and The World & I, among many others in the States, Ireland, Britain, Australia, and Germany.
And I've had three travel books published (two on Ireland, one on European vacation rentals). Not that I planned to write any books—I was actually approached by a commissioning editor.
I've enjoyed a successful career as a travel writer, to be sure. But the truth is, there are more efficient, more cost-effective … and, well, smarter ways to go about doing what I did.
In fact, that's why I'm writing to you today.
How to Avoid My Mistakes
I'd like to introduce you to one of those editors I mentioned … one who really helped catapult my career into full-time travel writing. Her name is Jennifer Stevens, and she was my editor at International Living.
If I'd had the benefit of her tutelage earlier on, I'd have saved myself more mistakes than I can count … and I'd have been more successful earlier, too.
You see, not only is Jen a skilled and proven editor and writer, she's an excellent instructor.
It's one thing to know and practice your craft. But it's another altogether to explain to somebody else what you do and how you do it. Jen can. She has a real knack for making complicated ideas accessible.
And over the years, her advice has helped not only me … but literally hundreds of people transform themselves into working, paid travel writers … some part-time, some full-time.
From financial consultants, university professors, and travel agents … to acupuncturists, actresses, and photographers … people from all walks of life and all levels of education and experience have successfully reinvented themselves.
Now they—like me—are traveling the world and getting paid for it.
Jump-Start Your Travel Writing Career Today
In the summer of 2000, at the urging of International Living's publisher, Jen sat down and started methodically collecting all of the techniques and secrets she knew about creating saleable travel articles in one place.
She drew on her own experience. She's one of the most skilled editors I've ever worked with. And then she started calling and emailing the top people she knows in the business. It's an expansive network of contacts.
She asked a Wall Street Journal reporter, a New York Times correspondent, an acclaimed guidebook writer, an award-winning publisher, and a whole host of freelance travel writers—to share their hard-won secrets. And she catalogued all their tricks of the trade … all the techniques the most successful writers use to get their articles into print.
It took her ten months in all, but she developed what is, hands down, the best program I've ever seen for turning anybody into a working, paid, professional travel writer.
It's called The Ultimate Travel Writer's Program and it's published online by a company called the American Writers & Artists Inc. (AWAI).
I wish I'd had the benefit of its wisdom all those years ago when I was just starting out.
Because in the early years, the commissions didn't flood in the way they do now. It would have been a lot easier if I'd had someone to advise me where I was going wrong. I wasted a lot of time and effort sending off articles to magazines that were completely unsuitable.
That's what makes this program so great. It can take years off your learning curve. In a matter of months—even weeks—you could be traveling the world, writing about your adventures … and getting paid to do it …
"I've had two bits published by, guess who? International Living! It's a good system to subsidize the program fee! And clip-generating, of course."
– Peter H.
Earn Money as a Travel Writer … Without Ever Leaving Home
I'll share some more details about this extraordinary program in a moment, but first I want to let you in on a few more of the perks my writer colleagues and I enjoy.
First of all, to make money as a travel writer, you don't even have to travel.
Now, you might not see that as a perk. But hear me out. What I mean is: Where you live is a destination for other people. There are all sorts of stories you can write about what's in your own back yard. (That's how I got started, remember, writing about my adopted homeland of Ireland.)
For a religious magazine, I wrote about the annual pilgrimage up Crough Patrick, Ireland's holy mountain in County Mayo. For an equestrian publication, I wrote about the age-old tradition of Irish horse markets, where men still spit on their hands and shake to signify they've struck a deal. For a magazine devoted to culture and travel, I wrote an article on Irish fairy lore.
Point is: You can start cashing checks as a travel writer without ever getting on a plane.
For example, take one Florida-based freelancer whose stories about places close to her home include an article about Amelia Island for a Canadian newspaper … one on Jacksonville for the Miami Herald … a piece on the town of Cassadaga for Florida Travel magazine … an article about winter golf in Florida for a lifestyle magazine … and the list goes on.
I bet you can think of all sorts of worthwhile subjects you might write about just outside your own door. And who better to write about your hometown … than you?
"I've been comped four nights at a deluxe resort on Oahu after advising them of my plans. I wrote a letter explaining that I am a 'freelance travel writer' intending on writing an article on 'Hawaii's Most Romantic Room Views.'
"Although I won't be on 'assignment,' I've gotten some pretty good feedback from a couple of newspapers … so wish me luck!! I've got another idea, too. Something about 'Affordable Luxury in Paradise … Off-season in Hawaii.' I'm sorry to ramble on and on, but I'm pretty excited!
"This could be the start of something BIG! Thanks a million!"
– Alice C.
Travel Without Paying a Cent
Of course, you'll have plenty of opportunities as a travel writer to get out and see the world … in a way you never could as an ordinary tourist. You'd be amazed at the insider access and special treatment successful travel writers receive. It's like gaining membership in an exclusive club.
How would you like a trip to Cancun, at no charge, where you and your spouse would be wined and dined over a long weekend at a new, luxury hotel?
Or maybe you'd be more enticed by a complimentary rafting expedition down the Amazon in Ecuador's untamed rain forest?
Perhaps a no-charge cruise to Europe's most romantic cities?
Or a complimentary stay at one of New York's most decadent hotels … the sort that costs $650 a night?
Those trips might sounds like daydreams, but they are all money-free travel perks freelance writers I know have taken advantage of.
And not only did those writers travel without paying a dime, they got paid to write about their experiences, too.
I've enjoyed my own fair share of excellent freebies. One of the best was an all-expenses-paid trip to Borneo, staying in luxury hotels, visiting orangutan sanctuaries and native long-houses. The trip was organized by British Airways and The Daily Telegraph (an English newspaper).
The reason The Telegraph asked me to do it instead of one of their staff writers was because I'd never been to Asia before. They wanted a writer who was going to experience it all "with fresh eyes." And they paid me the equivalent of $1,200 to tell readers about it.
It Doesn't Take Years to Cash In on the Benefits …
If you've ever dreamed about living the romantic life of a travel writer, you don't need to wait years to enjoy it. That's part of what makes Jen's program so great.
If you learn the simple secrets and techniques she explains, you can be writing marketable stories … getting your own by-line … and taking advantage of travel perks … in no time at all.
Take retired television executive Duane Harm and his wife Harlene. They spent a recent summer traveling across the western U.S.
All told, they visited 23 different dude ranches in Colorado, Wyoming, and Montana over a three-month period, staying for free an average of three days at each ranch. The total value of their summer stays? About $55,000 … and they didn't pay anything. Not one cent.
The Right
Way To Travel
The Ultimate Travel Writing Program's FREE four-times-a-week e-letter will help you build a full-time or sideline career where your work might involve diving on the Great Barrier Reef, luxuriating at a spa, or touring Europe's greatest museums.
In it you'll hear from seasoned writer and photographer colleagues, professionals ready to share with you their in-the-trenches know-how… Plus you'll get profiles of publications looking for contributors, places you can land a by-line and a check… and more…
If you'd like to receive this exciting and informative newsletter by email, then simply enter your email address below and we'll get you your first e-alert this week.
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What's more, they wrote an article for Steamboat Magazine, a high-end coffee-table publication based in Steamboat Springs, CO that comes out twice a year. And they were paid for their work.
Duane and Harlene aren't trained journalists. In fact, before they enrolled in The Ultimate Travel Writer's Program, they were just ordinary retirees—bored with golf and looking for a sideline to keep them busy. Neither one had ever penned an article. But now they are successful, working travel writers …
The Secret Behind All These Free Trips
Why are travel writers able to take advantage of free trips … meals … accommodation … tickets to shows … invitations to museum openings? Why do people roll out the red carpet and treat travel writers with such respect … and prestige?
Actually, it's pretty easy to explain, once you understand how the system works.
You see, around the world, tourism generates $1.2 billion in spending per day, according to the World Tourism Organization. And competition for those tourist dollars is fierce–particularly now with the global economy in recession.
It's no wonder, then, that hotels … tour organizers … cruise lines … airlines … even local governments are willing to spend big bucks on travel writers–in hopes that they'll have a positive experience and write about it favorably in a magazine, newspaper, or newsletter.
The more articles are written about a place, the rationale goes, the more tourists will go there. More tourists mean more money … simple as that.
To give you a sense of the scale of this industry, consider The Bahamas. The estimated annual budget for the Ministry of Tourism there is $69 million. In New York City, the official tourism marketing organization has a budget of $14.5 million.
In those places–and elsewhere–a portion of those "tourism" funds is earmarked for wining and dining travel writers. (In the case of New York, that marketing organization's website actively caters to travel writers, offering to "arrange press passes for visitor destinations, coordinate press trips, and point you in the right direction to give you the information you need for your tourism related story.")
As you begin to get articles published, and your name becomes known in the business, you'll start to receive offers of hospitality.
Right now, for instance, I know of a tiny hotel on the Caribbean island of Antigua that's eager for media coverage and has put a call out to writers on assignment … offering them a complimentary stay under sunny skies and palm trees on a white sand beach.
There's a barge company in Europe that organizes luxury trips on the canals and small rivers of France, Scotland, Ireland, England, and Germany. Passengers stay in air-conditioned suites, enjoying spacious sundecks and elegant saloons. It's a week of pampering with a champagne welcome, wine with all the meals, an open bar, and daily excursions. Qualified travel writers are offered free on-board accommodation.
A tour company that designs hiking and walking vacations in the United States and Europe–week-long, guided excursions with nights spent at fine country inns and hotels–invites a handful of travel writers to join their trips at no cost.
"Loved the opportunity to write creatively again. Absolutely I would recommend this program … I've been a copywriter for 30 years and feel like I've been reborn. Thank you."
– Kathryn L.
The Other Way to Fly, Dine, and Stay … Money Free
Press trips aren't the only way writers travel without a cent. The truth is, well-established writers rarely pay their own way. If they aren't being treated to a press trip, the publication they're writing for picks up the tab.
At International Living, for instance, not only does the publisher send me around Europe on her dime, but in recent months she's paid for other writers to visit the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, and elsewhere. (Then on top of our travel expenses, she's paid us for our articles.)
Sure, you need a track-record–other articles you've written, called "clips" –before any editor is going to call you up and offer to pay for your trip.
But my point is: Once you've learned the secrets to producing the kinds of articles publications are looking for, you'll be well on your way to establishing a name for yourself. You'll be opening the door to a whole new life where you get to travel the world while somebody else pays your expenses … and then pays you to write about what you've seen and done.
The Quickest Way to Take Advantage of This Fabulous Lifestyle
The easiest way to do all that is to start with The Ultimate Travel Writer's Program. You'll see immediately that it's not like any other writing program offered anywhere—university-based or correspondence.
You won't find anything lofty, vague, or fanciful in it. That's because it focuses on practical, proven-in-the-real-world techniques that Jen has used over the years as an editor to help travel writers produce better stories.
As one satisfied member put it:
" The information and examples included in your Travel Writers program were so good that I've landed an assignment with an international travel magazine even before completing all the program elements … I largely credit the program material for putting me firmly on the path to success in travel writing."
– Larry L., Sugarland, TX
His is just one of many success stories:
Take Tim O'Rielly—a freelance photographer who travels regularly. He was looking for a way to get more mileage (and more money) out of his journeys, and travel writing seemed a good fit.
So he put the lessons he learned in the program to the test. Just two months after he completed the program, his first full-length feature article about travels in the Mayan World appeared in Vision Magazine. Since then, he's written two more cover stories for that publication (and sold his photos along with the stories).
Laura Gagnon, based in New York, has been successful, too. A bass player in a band by trade, she travels the world on tour and was looking for a way to spend her daytime, off-the-stage hours more productively.
She signed up for The Ultimate Travel Writer's Program, and now she has had two restaurant/lounge reviews published on www.sheckys.com, which is an online guide to nightlife in New York and LA. When the print edition of the guide came out, she was listed as a contributor. She said the editor was great to work with … and paid promptly.
In this program, you'll cover every technique, every secret—everything there is to know about how to have fun while you're writing articles that sell every time. For instance …
Learn the Tricks of the Trade the Pros Use
- Thirteen ways to parlay your travel writer status into travel experiences most folks only dream about… stay at the world's best hotels, no charge… dine at exclusive restaurants, compliments of the chef… experience the world's best festivals, with a mayor's invite in hand… read the New York Times bestsellers before they hit the shelves… and more…
- A fun, easy way to turn your journal entries into articles you can sell. Plus how to get them from inside your notebook to inside a glossy magazine… with your name right there under the headline.
- The three most important things to remember when you're positioning yourself for offers of hospitality -- ignore any of the three (as lots of people do) and you'll doom your chances of getting perks. But put them into practice, and you'll be traveling like a celebrity in no time.
- The one person in your hometown you want to be sure knows your name… because -- without question -- she'll pass it on to the folks who can hand you paying assignments and free travel perks.
- Train yourself to see story ideas in every place you look -- on a cereal box, at a coffee shop, while you're gassing up your car -- you'll never be at a loss for inspiration.
- How you can use photos to immediately increase your article sales (and the dollar amount for each one) -- and even develop a second income stream.
- A simple four-step formula that makes it 100% more likely you'll land a by-line and a check.
- Get the insider's list of what NOT to do (you'd be surprised at how many writers have no idea what makes editors crazy … ).
- A simple technique for tripling your travel writing income… with almost no additional work.
- Write a five-sentence email that will put your name on the invite lists for gallery openings… private museum tours… resort galas… concerts… and more…
- Travel to "forbidden" destinations… places like Cuba, for example, and experience them fully… even though most U.S. citizens couldn't get by the border patrol.
- Play the best golf courses and ski the hottest slopes. You needn't be Tiger Woods to find yourself walking on at Carnoustie… and you don't have to ski bumps like Bode Miller to spend a few charmed days in Vail… Find out how to land a sweet deal for a fraction the usual rate, and possibly for no charge at all.
… and much, much more …
Freedom … and Unbelievable Fringe Benefits
Travel writing can become a full-time passion if you like, or merely something you do on the side … a way to justify a vacation and defray some of the costs, maybe write off your trip on your taxes.
However you approach it, you'll find you'll never travel like a tourist again. As part of a distinguished circle of trained travel writing professionals, you gain a "calling card" of sorts.
You see, when you tell people you're a travel writer, you'll discover that they will bend over backwards to ensure you enjoy your experience. Nothing's too much trouble.
You'll be taken in the VIP entrance … served the best meals … escorted to the most expensive seats … offered a private tour …
It's amazing really. It happens to me all the time when I'm on the road. And all you need to do to start living this romantic, adventure-filled life is master the techniques and secrets detailed in The Ultimate Travel Writer's Program.
A Highly Effective Learning System
In addition to guiding you through the secret structure that supports the best travel articles … and giving you all the tools you need to get your articles published … this program has you build several travel articles of your own as you work through the material.
No matter what your experience or writing level is, you'll find this an excellent way to get your first few pieces under your belt.
In fact, many members have sent their "assignments" off to editors, gotten them published, and earned a check in return. The success stories are impressive… like this one, for instance:
"Hayley Clarke from West Australia here. I completed The Ultimate Travel Writer's Program last year and I wrote to you 6 or so months ago and let you know I had my first clip published. I have just returned from an 8-day, all-expenses-paid, 5-star trip to Malaysia taking in Kuala Lumpur and Penang, courtesy of Tourism Malaysia. I went on behalf of that same magazine that published my first article. Seemingly they were so impressed with my style and professionalism that when this trip came up, my name simply popped into the senior editors head! I am now in the middle of writing my 4th article for them.
"I just wanted to say thank you for producing this fantastic program because without it I would've just melted into the crowd of freelancers that bombard editors' inboxes around the globe every day! In fact the Senior Editor of the magazine I have been writing for said that she gets hundreds of submissions a week - but thanks to The Ultimate Travel Writer's Program, my "Sales" letter stood head and shoulders above the rest! So thanks once again for everything! Kind regards."
And it's not just the program work alone that creates successes like that.
There's also an active message board online where members can share ideas, brainstorm, answer questions, and critique each other's writing. You aren't left alone to wonder if you're doing things right … you can simply ask. It's a way to connect with other budding writers who are as eager as you to enjoy the good life … and with people who are already having success and can share their own stories about what's worked for them …
Some Insider Help to Get Your First Assignment
Plus there's something else … something critical that further distinguishes this program from any other. Even though Jen—like me—works freelance these days, she maintains a close association with the powers that be at International Living (the publishing company that asked her to create this program in the first place)
They've agreed to give special consideration to articles written by members of The Ultimate Travel Writer's Program because they've seen the content and they know that it produces good travel writers. In other words, they'll put submissions from people who have completed the program on the top of their in-box pile. That's a foot-in-the-door if I ever saw one.
What it means is that you'll be working on a "live" assignment as you take the program—not some made-up homework exercise. And when your article is done, you can send it directly to the editors at International Living.
If they like it, they'll publish it … complete with your by-line. And pay you, too.
It's a fantastic opportunity to get your first story under your belt, get over the "hump" of having your first "clip" published with your name on it so you can start building your new career … and enjoying all the prestige and perks that come with it …
I got a huge amount out of the program! In fact, IL has very kindly published an e-postcard." An Oxford Afternoon" already. It is definitely a psychological kick-start for me, so I'll keep going. I'm enjoying this so much."
– Jean F.
Your Travel Writing Career Could Start Here … Today
The powerful secrets, hands-on experience, real-life contacts … and the great potential to improve your lifestyle make this the most unique program ever offered to travel writers.
You'll gain all the tools you need–all the how-to information about what to say to an editor (and how to say it) … insider's tricks to landing plum assignments … how to find the best publications for your articles … and more.
So you won't just come away from this program with the writing skills you need … you'll also know exactly how to take an article from the "idea" stage all the way through to the pages of a magazine … and get paid, too.
While other would-be writers are spending thousands of dollars attending "Professional Writing Courses," seminars, and conferences at colleges and universities, you'll be way ahead of the pack working on an actual assignment. Plus, you'll have an inside advantage.
And it won't cost you thousands of dollars.
I'll give you all the details in a moment, but first let me share one more opportunity with you. It's another way for you to get paid again for a single trip you take … something I do all the time.
Enroll Now and Learn Another Way to
Make Money As You Travel
Open up any magazine, and what do you find yourself looking at first?
That's right. Pictures. Photographs!
There's a simple reason. No matter how compelling and interesting the writing might be … photos help grab a reader's attention.
Now, as a travel writer, you usually won't have to worry about providing photographs for the major publications.
But some publications will pay you handsomely for the right pictures. And I've discovered that when I can offer an editor a full package–article with photos–it's often a much more persuasive pitch. I feel certain that some of my articles wouldn't have been published so quickly and easily had I not had the pictures to illustrate them.
Plus, photos can really up your income. A freelancer I know, David Morgan, traveled all across Asia for six months. He dined with the Privy Counsel to the King of Thailand … met the late Mother Teresa … shook hands with the Dalai Lama. He took a week-long, four-wheel-drive journey across Tibet. He went trout fishing in a pristine mountain stream in Bumburet, a hidden valley in the Hindu Kush. He also got to see secret religious ceremonies rarely witnessed by outsiders.
The icing on the cake was that he got a profitable book deal on the photos from his trip. Not only did his connections SAVE him money, but he actually MADE money … over $6,000!
Agree to take a look at The Ultimate Travel Writer's Program now, and you'll also receive AWAI's insider's guide to photojournalism, called Money-Making Travel Photography (a $24.50 value), free. This lucrative bonus program contains all of the secrets you need to know about taking profitable photographs—secrets used by some of the top photojournalists in the world.
You'll learn everything you need to begin taking photos that will bring in checks that are complete gravy … find out the simplest and best camera to take with you (you don't want to be lugging a trunk full of equipment like some nature photographers) … how to use time of day … create a mood … how to photograph people … and so on.
Plus, it will divulge all the insider's secrets to getting your photos published.
Money-Making Travel Photography is a unique mini-program specially created for travel writers. It's just one more way to ratchet up your income as you travel the world. And it's yours FREE when you sign up for The Ultimate Travel Writer's Program today.
What Is This Stimulating Travel Career Worth to You?
It took me over a decade of trial-and-error to learn all the lessons included in this program. If I were just starting out now, I'd be willing to pay thousands of dollars for the secrets, techniques, and industry contacts it provides.
It's certainly worth that … when you think about the freedom, the money, and the adventures that come with being a successful travel writer. (Plus it's clear to me from my own experience that, even with a three-figure price tag, this program could quickly pay for itself many times over in money-free travel and paid-for articles.)
But in fact, all you have to pay to get started is $45. After that, you will be billed just $35 a month for each of 7 installments that follow. That means you can begin this exclusive program for less than $50.
"Jen is absolutely wonderful–there is an astounding amount of information."
– Amanda S.
Just think… for less than the price of a domestic,
round-trip airline ticket, you could begin a
completely new life as a travel writer.
Here's something else to keep in mind. If you have any trips planned this year—or even if you decide to do some sightseeing closer to home—now is one of the best times in recent years to start your new travel-writing career.
With nothing but bad news splashed across the front pages of newspapers and magazines worldwide—a mess in Iraq, terrorist attacks worldwide, a plummeting economy—people are looking for a way to escape. But they aren't venturing to such far-flung destinations as they did a few years back.
According to the International Air Transport Association, air travel is down 8.7% from this time last year. But car-based trips are on the rise—up 3%, the Travel Industry Association of America reports. And publishers, tuned into that trend, are looking for stories about where their readers can escape closer to home.
In other words, it's never been cheaper and easier for you to get started. You can get published—and paid—very quickly, just by writing about places and things to do near your own hometown.
How to Put the Odds of Success Clearly in Your Favor
Our long-term success is tied to you – to the success you have in turning your travel experiences into articles you're paid for and offers of hospitality you enjoy on the cheap or even for free.
Here's how it works: The more folks like you who begin to earn money from your travels, the better we look and the more "in demand" our programs become.
It's as simple as that.
That's why our office walls are covered in framed letters from the dozens and dozens of people who have changed their lives through one of our programs. We are very proud of our record so far. Every time we get another unsolicited testimonial, it makes us all think, "This is why we like our jobs!"
We are proud of our success and hopeful it will continue. But we have a challenge. You see, a large percentage of the people who buy our programs don't do much more than open the package, skim through it, and put it on a shelf, promising themselves they will "get to it later."
Given how busy everyone is these days, this is to be expected. But when eight out of ten buyers are not following through on the program, it makes us look bad. When asked, "How many of those people who buy your program end up turning a profit on their photos?" we have to answer honestly, "Too few."
But that's a good thing for you if you are one of the 20% persistent enough to complete the program and put what you learn into practice.
If you're willing to stick with us, complete the program and work on building your travel-writing skills day by day, then your chances of turning your trips into publishable stories for newspapers, magazines, and online publications are very good. And so are your chances of capitalizing on that track record to cash in on great perks. We know this because that's what our most successful members have told us– they had a strong desire to succeed, and we gave them all the tools they needed to do it.
So take heart – if you have the determination to stay with us, we have the program that will help you succeed. And it goes without saying that whatever you do, your 100% satisfaction is 100% guaranteed.
A 100% Rock-Solid, No-Risk Guarantee
Sign up for the program today, and examine your first installment for 30 days. If you decide within that time that the life of a travel writer isn't for you, simply let AWAI know by phone, fax or email and they'll issue you a full refund. It's that simple. No questions asked. Money-Making Travel Photography is yours to keep, no matter what.
After the initial 30-day period if, for any reason, you want to stop receiving installments of the program, again, just call and let AWAI know. They will discontinue your enrollment immediately.
Frankly, they get so few returns, it's a piece of cake to handle the handful that decide travel writing isn't for them.
For less than the cost of a single college credit – and without any of the risk – you can be on your way to one of the most life-fulfilling careers there is.
To my mind, it's an incredibly modest investment today … for the skills that can deliver a lifestyle most people will only ever dream about. Can you really afford to ignore this opportunity?
If you've ever dreamed about the romantic life of a travel writer … of getting paid to explore the world … here's your chance to actually live it.
Simply click "Order Now" below, fill out the registration form, and you'll be on your way.
Wishing you good travels … with all the perks,
Steenie Harvey
Freelance Travel Writer
P.S. One more great thing about being a travel writer: It enables you to live anywhere in the world.
I know one writer who calls Paris' Latin Quarter home and writes frequently from a round-top table at his favorite corner café. Another enjoys the big-city hustle from her Manhattan studio. Still another writes from a restored colonial-era home in a small town in Nicaragua. A fourth enjoys the peaceful, friendly setting of her Colorado hometown.
P.P.S. Also, as soon as you order, you'll receive The Right Way to Travel e-letter at no charge. In it you'll hear from seasoned writer and editor colleagues, professionals ready to share with you their in-the-trenches know-how… Plus you'll get profiles of publications looking for contributors, places you can land a by-line and a check… And we'll send you all sorts of practical guidance, like insider's tricks to landing plum assignments… how to find the best publications for your first travel article… and more…
American Writers & Artists Inc.
245 NE 4th Ave., Ste 102
Delray Beach, FL 33483
(561) 278-5557 or (866) 879-2924


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Sony Xperia Z is Sony's latest flagship device. It has a stamina mode using which the user can save the battery by up to 4 times. Stamina mode works almost similarly to the other battery saving apps on the Google Play Store. However, it is quite useful.
XDA Senior Member Aeron sagar has managed to port this feature on the 2012 Sony Xperia devices. It has been tested on many devices – Xperia S, Xperia SL, Xperia Ion, Xperia Acro S.
Continue reading

subset: commoncrawl


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Make Your Next Holiday Destination the Far North Town of 90 Mile Beach
Located on the western coast of the North Island of New Zealand, Ninety Mile Beach stretches from just west of Kaitaia towards Cape Reinga.
Ninety Mile Beach (Te Oneroa-a-Tohe in Maori) is one of New Zealand's most popular destinations for both local and international travellers. Known for it's desert-like views and vast sand dunes, it's a great example of the untouched beauty of New Zealand landscapes.
Located on the western coast of the North Island of New Zealand, Ninety Mile Beach stretches from just west of Kaitaia towards Cape Reinga along the Aupouri Peninsula. It begins close to the headland of Reef Point to the west of Ahipara Bay, and ends at Scott Point, five kms south of Cape Maria van Diemen. To find out more about Ninety Mile Beach and its attractions, read on!
Ninety Mile Beach trivia
Despite its name, Ninety Mile Beach is actually 55 miles (88km) long. While it is officially a highway in New Zealand, it is only suitable for 4WD vehicles, and local rental companies will not allow cars on the sand due to safety concerns. Another little-known fact is that the beach was also used as the runway for some of the earliest airmail services between Australia and New Zealand back in 1932!
Nearby attractions
Ninety Mile Beach is conveniently located near to a number of other popular New Zealand destinations including Kaitaia, Cape Reinga and Paihia.
The nearby town of Ahipara is a pickup point for Cape Reinga tours - or you can hire a rental car and explore the entire region, including the countless beaches along both the eastern and western coastlines.
Visit Aupouri Forest
Ninety Mile Beach runs alongside Aupouri Forest - a beautiful example of native New Zealand flora, and a great place to rest away from the sun.
Try digging for TuaTuas and Pipis
TuaTua and Pipi are native New Zealand shellfish that can be found in the sand at low tide. Give them a try - they're considered a delicacy by many Kiwis!
Boarding down the sand dunes
For those with an adventurous spirit, there are plenty of opportunities for body boarding down the sand dunes. It's a lot of fun - just remember to keep your eyes closed and follow the lead of someone experienced!
The Snapper Classic fishing competition
This fishing competition takes place towards the end of summer each year. Running for five days, it attracts hundreds of surf casters who hope to catch the biggest snapper.
Go Quad Biking in the sand dunes
Hire quad bikes for a ride around the sand dunes - another fun way to explore this stretch of beach.
Te Houtaewa Challenge - The Ninety Mile Beach Run
The Te Houtaewa Challenge has been running for over 21 years and is one of the most challenging beach races in New Zealand. Choose from different options to suit your ability level; a 6 km walk, a relay, an 'ultra marathon', a marathon, a half marathon, or ride the distance by bike.
Ninety Mile Beach accommodation
You'll find comfortable camping grounds, bed and breakfasts and hotels in both Ahipara and Kaitaia. Whether you choose a budget-friendly option or something boutique, the friendly locals and stunning New Zealand landscape will make your holiday one to remember.
Swimming and Surfing
Ninety Mile Beach is safe for swimming, especially at the calmer points. If you're a keen surfer, try visiting Tauroa Point - it's known to be one of the best left-hand surf breaks in the world!
As you can see, there are a number of reasons why so many people and their families travel to this beautiful destination in the summer months. And despite being a popular tourist destination, the upper north of the North Island of New Zealand is largely untouched - with plenty of secret beaches, stunning views and forests to explore.
For your next holiday, visit Ninety Mile Beach and book your accommodation at the best New Zealand camping grounds.


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Journey into exciting knitting territory with Alasdair Post-Quinn. He'll guide you through the basics of double-knitting and lead you all the way up to his more adventurous techniques.
Begin your adventure with a basic diamond pattern, where youll discover how to knit both sides of the fabric simultaneously and change yarn colors. Move on to more daring patterns and master double-knit increases and decreases, cabling, and working in the round. Finally, finish the journey with Alasdair's extreme double-knitting techniques, where you'll explore two-pattern and three-color methods. Brandish your knitting needles and take the class today!
If you're not delighted with your Bluprint experience, we'll make it right or give you a full refund.


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- WiFi
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Choose your room
With a stay at Best Western Ft. Walton Beachfront in Fort Walton Beach (Okaloosa Island), you'll be convenient to Emerald Coast Science Center and Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park. This beach hotel is within close proximity of Camp Walton Schoolhouse Museum and Indian Temple Mound Museum. Relax on the private beach or enjoy other recreational amenities such as an outdoor pool. Additional amenities include complimentary wireless Internet access, concierge services, and wedding services. Featured amenities include complimentary high-speed (wired) Internet access, a 24-hour business center, and limo/town car service. Planning an event in Fort Walton Beach? This hotel has facilities measuring 800 square feet (74 square meters), including a meeting room. Free self parking is available onsite. Make yourself at home in one of the 99 air-conditioned rooms featuring refrigerators and microwaves. 40-inch flat-screen televisions with cable programming provide entertainment, while complimentary wireless Internet access keeps you connected. Bathrooms feature shower/tub combinations, complimentary toiletries, and hair dryers. Conveniences include desks and coffee/tea makers, as well as phones with free local calls.
Useful information:Other names for Hotel Best Western Fort Walton Beachfront:
Bw Ft Walton Beach


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2018. Feb. 23rd. Team Rubicon in Sun Prairie - jKalPhotography
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2018. Feb. 23rd. Team Rubicon in Sun Prairie
On a cold brisk Saturday member of Team Rubicon came out to Habitat's Sun Prairie site. They proved great support to our future homeowners with their hard work and good humor.
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In the age of men, one must face myriad challenges: epic quests, imminent danger, the evil gaze of Sauron . . . okay, so maybe not. But wouldn't life's day-to-day challenges be easier if one were to take a cue from the diminutive hobbit?
With The Unofficial Hobbit Handbook as your guide, you'll be ready to brave the difficulties, discomforts, and occasional orcs.


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AI War 2 is out now in Early Access! Get it on Steam today!
Nope, the redirection should be happening before you even recieve a response. We try to avoid redirecting people client-side because that is fairly easy to ignore and people with certain settings simply don't comply. Very strange. Can you give me a timestamp of a few instances of this occuring so I can check the logs for that period of time?
I didn't see anything in the logs or configuration files that would directly cause this, but I did find a rather nice solution. Let me if you still get sent there! Thanks for reporting this!
Seems to have worked fine. Even if I actively type dev.arcengames.com I still get redirected as intended now. Thumbs up!


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We were unable to find any products matching your requirements.
It's possible that you followed an out of date link.
If you are having trouble finding the product you are looking for try our sitemap or contact us
Browse the Black BOSS Casualwear Knitwear collection here at Northern Threads. Everything we sell has been carefully selected by our experienced team , so you can be guaranteed of the quality of our products whenever you shop with us.
Made with their exceptional standards, BOSS Casualwear puts a quirky spin on classic tailoring. If BOSS products are your kind of thing, then we also recommend that you check out the BOSS Athlesiure and BOSS Bodywear collections.
For more information about Northern Threads and current offers contact us today. You can also call our team directly on 0191 454 7358 to discuss our Black BOSS Casualwear Knitwear range in more detail.


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Obama: Law school should be two years
(CNN) — President Barack Obama argued Friday that the amount of time it takes to obtain a law degree should be shortened as a way for students to save money.
"This is probably controversial to say but what the heck? I am in my second term so I can say it," the president told an audience at Binghamton University in New York. "Law schools would probably be wise to think about being two years instead of three years."
The Harvard law grad and former law school professor said students would be better off clerking or practicing in a firm in their third year, even if it meant working at low wages.
"Now, the question is can law students, can law schools maintain quality and keep good professors and sustain themselves without that third year? My suspicion is that if they thought creatively about it, they probably could," he said.
The president was in New York on the second day of his two-day bus tour Friday to promote his plan to make college more affordable. He later speaks at an event in Scranton, Pennsylvania with Vice President Joe Biden.
"Sometimes when I talk to college professors and keep in mind I taught in a law school for ten years so I am very sympathetic to whether the spirit of inquiry and the importance of not just looking at X's and O's and numbers when it comes to measuring colleges. But what I also know is that there are ways we can save money that would not diminish quality," he said.
Obama also reiterated that he favors the idea of students obtaining their undergraduate degrees in less than four years.
Binghamton University is part of the State University of New York system.


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We've talked about it for a few weeks and now it's almost upon us. Months of preparation, involvement from a lot of the community and something we can all be proud of is about to happen.
Yes, our Young Woman of the Year program is envied by every other county in Kentucky... and maybe other states. And, yes, our young ladies are the prettiest and most talented in the Commonwealth. And, yes, our Aug. 6 Young Woman of the Year deserves our respect and support.
If you currently subscribe or have subscribed in the past to the The Lebanon Enterprise, then simply find your account number on your mailing label and enter it below.
Click the question mark below to see where your account ID appears on your mailing label.
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The first two documentaries from Disney's Disneynature label - 2009's "Earth" and last year's "Oceans" - were a stunning combination of vast, sprawling images and intimate, detailed moments. They provided high tension but also tugged at your heart and offered some laughs in between.
The latest in the series, "African Cats," which is opening on Earth Day like its predecessors, has all the impressive visuals but far less story. Shot over more than two years in the Masai Mara National
Reserve in Kenya by directors Keith Scholey and Alastair Fothergill, the film bills itself as a real-life version of "The Lion King." No one bursts into song here but Samuel L. Jackson, as the narrator, does talk. A lot.
And that's the movie's major weakness. The images - and the animals' dramatic interactions - should speak for themselves. Jackson's narration is constant and overwhelming. It spells out instincts that should be obvious and assigns human characteristics in a way that's obnoxious.
The film follows two families living on either side of a river. One is a pride of lions ruled by the fearsome Fang. At one point, Fang roars and snarls and gets a threatening crocodile to back down. Reading from the script, Jackson tells us: "Today, the pride's protector has earned his keep." Or he'll inform us that a female lion cub, Mara, possesses the fighting spirit of her mother, Layla. How could we possibly know this?
Ostensibly, the narration is meant to make the film as accessible as possible to younger viewers, at whom much of the material is aimed; this was true to a far less cloying extent in "Earth" and "Oceans." But "African Cats" can also be super violent, despite its G-rating, as it depicts the ins and outs of hunting rituals; at one point, several lionesses tear apart a zebra carcass, leaving their soft, furry faces bloodied. This was enough to send some parents and kids out of the theater at a recent screening.
But there's also an extremely high cute factor. On the other side of the river from the lions is a cheetah - named Sita - with her five impossibly adorable and cuddly newborn cubs. The filmmakers provide such beautifully personal moments between the mother and her babies, they'll make you wonder how they got so close.
But of course, because this is the wild, danger is constantly lurking. If we couldn't figure this out for ourselves, Jackson is there to remind us. Repeatedly. And far too often, "African Cats" feels episodic in its structure. Rather than featuring a driving, compelling narrative, it's: cheetah vs. gazelle. And then: hyena vs. cheetah. And then: lion vs. crocodile. Who will win???
And it absolutely should depict the harsh realities these animals face as they struggle to survive. But anthropomorphizing the creatures as good guys and bad guys to such a degree, to make "African Cats" palatable for the whole family, doesn't tell the whole story. And that is: Everybody's gotta eat.
"African Cats"
The Disneynature release, is rated G. Running time: 89 minutes.
Grade: C


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Hi my name is Anthony Campfield. I have been taking antiretroviral drugs over 20 years. I have developed atrophy. My face has sunken in on both sides and on the temper region. I have tried sculptra but to no avail. Is there a clinical trial that i could get into to restore my face to almost permanent? This condition has cause me to have low self esteem and confidence. Thanks, your help would be deeply appreciated.
I am currently unaware of any "clinical trials" for corrective HIV related volume loss. however, there are many fillers that are both temporary and permanent other than Sculptra that may be able to work better for you. i would consult a facial plastic surgeon in your area. see the list of members on this Web site.


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Hunt is on for tegu lizards in South Florida
The Argentine tegu lizard doesn't grow nearly as big as a Burmese python but it may be a greater threat to South Florida's native animals.
At a maximum size of four feet, a tegu can't gobble down a full-grown deer or alligator with its rapier-sharp teeth. But the invasive, black and white reptiles have the potential to cause even more ecological damage than the 18-foot snakes that have drawn international media attention in recent years. And now, scientists say, it's too late to eradicate them.
"When we first found out about them in 2008, we thought we had a chance to nip this population in the bud," said the National Park Service's Tony Pernas, who co-chairs the Everglades Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area group. "Now we've changed from eradication mode to containment mode."
Long a popular staple of the exotic pet trade, the tegus likely were released by irresponsible owners or escaped from captive breeding facilities in south Miami-Dade County. Right now, the escapees' epicenter is in the Florida City-Homestead area where federal, state and local agencies — with help from private trappers — are trying to round up as many as possible before the animals go into hibernation in October. Another distinct population has cropped up in west-central Florida's Polk-Hillsborough county area.
The chief worry among scientists and wildlife managers is the tegus fanning out to neighboring Everglades National Park (where a handful have been captured) as well as east to FPL's Turkey Point nuclear power plant and south to the Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge in north Key Largo. Containment is urgent, they say, because the lizards will eat just about anything — small mammals, birds, insects, plants, and their all-time favorite — eggs. That means goodbye to the baby American crocodiles that would have hatched in the refuge and the sand berms of the power plant — and recently were downlisted from an endangered to a threatened species. It could also mean lights out for the endangered Key Largo wood rat — not to mention other native creatures.
"They have the potential to impact all kinds of listed species," said Jenny Eckles, non-native wildlife biologist with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. "Tegus can go through the water. They're very adaptable to a number of different habitats, which is why we consider them to be problematic."
Unlike Burmese pythons, whose numbers were knocked down by the extended cold period in early 2010, tegus thrive in temperatures as low as 35 degrees and as high as South Florida's steamiest. Eckles and others tracking them say they often find tegus out in the open during the hottest time of day.
The animals hibernate in burrows from October until about January or February, then emerge once again to forage and reproduce. Females can lay 35 eggs a year.
Eckles and other scientists say they don't know the size of the tegu population here or in west-central Florida. But their numbers definitely are on the rise. Pernas said trappers caught 13 in 2009. So far this summer, researchers from the FWC, National Park Service, ZooMiami, University of Florida, South Florida Water Management District, and U.S. Geological Survey have captured more than 140 — mainly from public lands — which were euthanized humanely, according to Eckles. She said citizen trappers have taken more than 300 from private lands with permission from landowners. Unlike with Burmese pythons, people do not need a special permit to trap and keep tegus. However, they must obtain a Class III license from the state to sell exotic wildlife.
Tegus are very difficult to catch by hand and are much easier to trap using eggs as bait, according to Jake Edwards, a wildlife technician hired by FWC to capture the lizards in South Florida.
On a recent hike checking traps in the Southern Glades Wildlife and Environmental Area, Edwards tried unsuccessfully to catch a couple of free-roaming tegus.
"You're going to want to listen; you'll hear it going through the brush," he explained of his hunting methods. "It might be basking on the road. You might have about 10 seconds before it runs away."
But neither Edwards, nor Jeff Fobb — a trapper who also heads Miami-Dade Fire Rescue's Venom One unit — recommends grabbing a tegu by hand, due to its damaging teeth and claws.
"I'd rather get bit by a 10-foot snake than that guy right there," Fobb said, pointing to a two-footer he recently caught in someone's garage.
South Florida's burgeoning tegu population has spawned something of a cottage industry: trappers who sell them as pets.
Rodney Irwin, 59, of Homestead — a former yacht captain and demolition worker — began trapping tegus on private land for fun and profit about two years ago.
He estimates he's taken between 800 and 1,000, selling most of them directly to customers on his website, tegusonly.com for about $100 apiece. He also sells to a wholesaler for between $35 and $50.
Irwin says he's working to benefit South Florida's ecosystem.
"This is a chance for me to make a difference," he said. "I can't do anything about the apes in Borneo, but I can do something about the natives in my hometown."
Asked whether he was concerned that the pets he sells may end up right back in the Everglades abandoned, Irwin responded that none of his customers are local and, in any case, they could buy a tegu in a pet store. He said he shares his capture data with the scientists working to contain the lizards' spread.
So far, there are no plans to include tegus with Burmese pythons for restrictions on ownership, according to Kristen Sommers, who heads the FWC's exotic species section. Instead, more study is in order.
"We need to figure out what's going on with this," Sommers said. "We're still in an information-gathering mode, trying to figure out what's the potential for spread and expansion and what would be the impact if that did happen. I hope within the next year we'll have enough data to determine our next steps."


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Student Services
Discover the many kinds of help and support we offer our students
Find out about the wide range of help and support services you have access to while studying with us. We aim to help you deal with any problems you might come across so you can make the most of your University life.
Discover the many kinds of help and support we offer our students
Get to know our range of computer and IT support
Get support for learning differences, disabilities and health conditions
To find out more about the help and support services we can offer you, scroll down the page or click on the links in the list below to jump down the page.
Whatever your query, the Student Services Centre is your central point of contact, by phone, by email, or face to face.
Our trained advisors aim to answer 80 per cent of queries right here at the front desk. we can help with your questions about accommodation, fees, finance, visas and ID cards. In addition, we can process payments for tuition and accommodation fees. If you are a current student studying with us, you can find answers to your questions by using our FAQs located on your Sussed homepage www.sussed.soton.ac.uk.
We are located in the George Thomas Building (Building 37) on Highfield Campus.
Tel: +44 (0)23 8059 9599 Internal: 29599
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Monday - Friday: 08:30 – 18:00
We have two health practices at Highfield Campus – the University Health Service and Highfield Health. They provide a full range of health care services which are open to all registered students and their families.
If you are a student on a taught course, we will assign you a personal academic tutor and a senior tutor. These tutors will help support you throughout your time with us.
Your personal academic tutor will be your primary point of contact and will provide advice and guidance about your academic work and progress. If you experience difficulties that affect your studies, your senior tutor will work with your personal academic tutor to help you help you find the support you need.
You can travel between our campuses and halls and on to destinations in the city using our own Unilink buses. They provide a frequent, reliable and cheap service.
If you prefer to cycle you'll find good cycle routes as well as 47 lockable bike stores, bike repairs and cycling advice all available on campus.
Find out more about public transport, cycling and more on our transport page.
If you need support to help with a disability, mental health problem, or a specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia, our Enabling Services team can help. We can provide advice, counselling and support to help with your studies. This support begins while you are preparing for University, and then continues throughout your time with us.
As one our students, you'll have access to state-of-the-art IT resources, including over 1,700 PC workstations, course-specific software, high-speed internet, and free WiFi across campus. You will receive full technical support from our own IT support service, iSolutions.
If you are bringing a young family to Southampton, you may wish to enrol your child at our Early Years Centre. Based at Highfield Campus, we are open to children aged from four months to five years. Visit the Early Years Centre website to find out more and to enrol your child. The Centre is extremely popular, so please book early to avoid disappointment.
At the University of Southampton we are proud of our multicultural community. Many religions, faiths and beliefs are represented among our staff and students, and these contribute to the rich environment that we all enjoy. We support and encourage you to express your beliefs openly and with the understanding of others, who may have complementary or contrasting beliefs.
Students of all faiths and none are welcome at our Faith and Reflection Centre, located on Highfield Campus. We are open every day during term time from 10:00 to 17:00. We have a regular programme of events through the week, including lunch on Thursdays. A chaplain or chaplaincy volunteer will always be available during opening hours if you need someone to talk to, or if you want to speak to someone from a particular faith tradition we can contact one of our faith advisers for you. We can also put you in touch with local places of worship of all the faith traditions.
The Faith and Reflection Centre is also available for use out of hours to University students and staff. Highfield Campus also has a Muslim prayer room, located in Building 40.


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The regular season will end Sunday, and so will the voting period for the NHL's individual trophies.
Colorado Coach Patrick Roy is too brash to win any popularity contests but he deserves to win the Jack Adams Award as coach of the year, an honor voted by NHL broadcasters. And although Sidney Crosby still has detractors, the Pittsburgh Penguins' center is the front-runner for the Hart Trophy as the NHL's most valuable player, as chosen by members of the Professional Hockey Writers' Assn.
NHL referee: An NHL column in the April 8 Sports section said that referee Dan Van Massenhoven had worked his final game the previous week. The referee's name is Don Van Massenhoven, not Dan. —
Here's a rundown of whose performances should be rewarded with hardware:
Most valuable player (Hart Trophy): Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh. Honorable mention: Ryan Getzlaf, Ducks, Claude Giroux, Philadelphia Flyers.
Crosby has done more than lead the league with 102 points in 78 games. He has elevated his consistent excellence and lifted his injury-ravaged team with him. He didn't miss a game until a minor upper-body injury sidelined him Sunday. Getzlaf (86 points, second to Crosby) is a strong leader for a team that still sometimes lacks discipline. Giroux overcame a slow start to ignite the Flyers' playoff push.
Jack Adams Award (coach of the year) Patrick Roy, Colorado. Honorable mention: Mike Babcock, Detroit, Jon Cooper, Tampa Bay.
The Avalanche finished last in the West last season and had bleak prospects until Roy injected life and confidence into a young team. His coaching experience in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League prepared him well. Babcock's motivational and tactical skills have kept the Red Wings in the wild-card playoff hunt despite a succession of injuries to key players. Cooper did a good job to keep the Lightning in a playoff spot while Steven Stamkos' broken leg healed and after Martin St. Louis asked to be traded. Kudos also to Claude Julien for keeping the Boston Bruins among the elite.
Calder Trophy (rookie of the year): Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado. Honorable mention: Hampus Lindholm, Ducks, Olli Maata, Pittsburgh, Ondrej Palat, Tampa Bay.
MacKinnon, the top draft pick last June, has been an exceptional contributor (24 goals, 60 points) on a surprisingly good team. Lindholm's poise and plus-27 defensive rating are genuine. Maata is averaging 18 minutes 31 seconds' ice time for a team that had many injuries on defense. Czech-born Palat (20 goals, 55 points) has a bright future.
Vezina Trophy (best goaltender, voted by general managers): Tuukka Rask, Boston. Honorable mention: Semyon Varlamov, Colorado, Ben Bishop, Tampa Bay.
Rask has an outstanding team in front of him, but his numbers (2.04 goals-against average, .930 save percentage, league-best seven shutouts in 56 games) are too good to ignore. Varlamov (2.41, .927, league-leading 40 wins) has been exceptional while facing an average of nearly 30 shots per game. Bishop (2.23, .924, five shutouts) has kept the Lightning in a playoff position. Jonathan Quick of the Kings (2.03, .918, six shutouts) would have been a prime candidate if he hadn't lost seven weeks to a groin injury.
Selke Trophy (best defensive forward): Anze Kopitar, Kings. Honorable mention: Patrice Bergeron, Boston, Jonathan Toews, Chicago.
Always a tough choice, but with the schedule ensuring every team played every other team, East-based media now know and rave about Kopitar's two-way skills. Bergeron is having an excellent season, too, and Toews never wavers at either end of the ice. No bad choices there.
Norris Trophy (best defenseman): Duncan Keith, Chicago. Honorable mention: Ryan Suter, Minnesota, Alex Pietrangelo, St. Louis.
Keith is the consensus pick, with reason. He has 60 points and is plus-21 for the defending champion Blackhawks while averaging 24 minutes and 37 seconds' ice time per game. But Suter, who averages a league-leading 29:43, is the pillar of a team that has endured chaos in goal. And Pietrangelo has 51 points, 161 blocked shots, and is plus-23 while averaging 25:28 for a team that's vying for the President's Trophy (team with most points) and has a goal differential of plus-68. Any of the three would be a good choice.
Job security for Yzerman
Steve Yzerman signed a four-year extension with the Lightning, giving him more time to continue what has been an impressive turnaround. Yzerman, the team's vice president and general manager, had a year left on his previous contract.
Although his job is secure, look for some changes around the league after Sunday's regular-season finale. Most likely to go — Vancouver General Manager Mike Gillis and/or Coach John Tortorella, and Coach Kirk Muller in Carolina. Hurricanes GM Jim Rutherford will retire and be replaced by Ron Francis. The Maple Leafs' goaltending mess probably bought another season for Coach Randy Carlyle.
Slap shots
Genetics, anyone? Jake Chelios, son of Hall of Fame defenseman Chris Chelios, signed a tryout contract with the Chicago Wolves of the American Hockey League, the St. Louis Blues' farm team. He had been playing for the Toledo Walleye of the ECHL. Blake Coffey, the 15-year-old son of Hall of Fame defenseman Paul Coffey, was chosen by Windsor in the fifth round of the Ontario Hockey League draft last weekend. Chosen first overall was Jakob Chychrun, son of former NHL defenseman Jeff Chychrun.
Referee Don Van Massenhoven, an NHL official since 1993, worked his final game on Friday. He officiated in 1,278 regular-season games, 87 playoff games, and the Turin Olympics. A former Ontario provincial policeman, Van Massenhoven always brought an air of authority to the ice.
Twitter: @helenenothelen


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With the world's food supply facing an uncertain future, sludge has emerged as an unlikely hero.
An innovative recovery process in Denmark means the vital agricultural mineral phosphorus can now be efficiently extracted from wastewater. This allows for the production of essential fertilizers that are so pure, they can be used to grow crops for human consumption.
Phosphorus is essential for human life. It is also a finite resource for which there is no known substitute. Our bodies each contain about 800 grams (1.8 pounds) of the material, the second-most common mineral in our systems after calcium. Phosphorus resides in every cell and plays a central role in human metabolism, our nervous systems and skeletal health. It is also crucial for plants, helping them convert other nutrients into building blocks for growth.
About 90 percent of the world's mined phosphorus ends as the crucial ingredient in fertilizers. With the planet's population heading towards 9 billion people by 2050, we must ensure adequate supplies of phosphorus-enriched fertilizers to grow food.
The exact size of the world's phosphorus resources is unclear. The subject has been hotly debated by experts in recent years. Some argue that global supply will be depleted in 50 to 100 years and that production will peak in 2030. Others argue that the reserves will last for several hundred years. The United States Geological Survey estimated in 2012 that worldwide reserves of phosphate rock (phosphate is the inorganic form of phosphorus) are 67 billion tonnes, while world mining production in 2012 was 0.21 billion tonnes.
Just as OPEC controls 75 percent of the world's oil reserves, some 90 percent of the world's mined phosphate is in the hands of a few countries: Algeria, China, Jordan, Morocco, South Africa, Syria and the United States. Morocco including Western Sahara has larger reserves than the rest of the world combined. Parts of the world, such as Western Europe and India, are totally dependent on imports.
Where phosphorus meets wastewater
While agriculture needs phosphorus, operators of wastewater treatment plants must remove it. This is to prevent eutrophication of fresh water systems. Too many nutrients in a body of water cause excessive plant growth – especially algae. As a result, the resulting bacteria consume nearly all the oxygen in the water, choking the fish and aquatic life.
The removal process presents its own problems. Phosphates – salts containing phosphorus – combine with magnesium and ammonium to create struvite, a substance that clogs pipes, pumps and other equipment. This causes production disturbances and increases service costs.
In 2011, Aarhus Water Ltd, a municipal-owned company based in Aarhus, Denmark, set out to solve the problem with pump manufacturer Grundfos and technical consultant firm Norconsult. The solution they found was surprising and rewarding – recovering phosphorus and nitrogen from wastewater through the use of a separate reactor. They needed the reactor because the concentration of phosphorus and nitrogen is low in the main wastewater flow. To increase it, they
send a side stream of wastewater through the reactor and add magnesium salt. The precipitation process refines the phosphorus, discarding heavy metals and environmentally unfriendly substances. The outcome is a granulate that contains phosphorus, nitrogen and magnesium – well-suited for use as a fertilizer.
The technology is now being used in Denmark's first phosphorus recovery plant, inaugurated by Aarhus Water at Aaby in November 2013. The operation produces about 50 kilograms of phosphorus daily.
"It's new to us that we can actually make money on what we produce," says Claus Homann, chief operating officer of Aarhus Water. "At the same time, our operational costs are lower, we need less energy, and the amount of sludge is reduced. It sounds too good to be true."
Commercially viable recovery
The technology for recovering phosphorus has been around since the 1980s but is not patented, says Per Krøyer Kristensen, business development manager at Grundfos. "But now it is commercially viable to build recovery plants," he says. "The price of phosphorus has increased, and there is a general focus in the world on energy efficiency and reuse of nutrients."
To make the Aarhus project work, Grundfos supplied seven SEV wastewater pumps, six DME 375 digital dosing pumps and one Type KD mixing unit for magnesium chloride.
Denmark's phosphorus demand for crop production requires imports of 11,000 tonnes of phosphorus. But Kristensen says recovery plants can change that. "If similar recovery plants are built at the 50 largest water treatment plants in Denmark, we can produce 3,000 tonnes of pure phosphorus fertilizers per year, representing more than 25 percent of the country's imports," he says.
There is another benefit of separating phosphorus from sewage sludge. Sludge is normally distributed to farmers who spread it on their fields. But sludge is unhygienic and potentially harmful to certain types of crops and can only be used for fields where crops fed to animals are grown.
Furthermore, phosphorus left in sewage sludge binds to iron and aluminium salts, which make it difficult for the plants to take up phosphorus.
The new recovery system means good business for Aarhus Water. Lower operational costs combined with sales of fertilizers mean the investment pays for itself in less than seven years. Kristensen says it also means good business for Grundfos and Norconsult, which jointly own the concept.
"The second plant is already being constructed, this time for Herning Water, another Danish municipal-owned company, and we're in the process of creating new partnerships for sales in the rest of Europe," he says.
Click here for more information about Grundfos wastewater treatment.
About Aarhus Water
Aarhus Water handles rainwater, production and distribution of drinking water, transport and treatment of wastewater, emptying private holding tanks and ensuring a balanced and healthy water cycle. It treats more than 30 million m3 (7.9 billion US gal) of wastewater each year.


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24 arrested at Occupy Albany
Demonstrators taken away after curfew by state troopers at Occupy Albany site
ALBANY -- Police arrested 24 Occupy Albany protesters late Saturday after they crossed from city land into state-owned Lafayette Park and stayed past 11 p.m.
Protesters chanting "Shame on Cuomo" stood by on the sidewalk as others were arrested and taken away in State Police vans. The arrests were peaceful, though protesters yelled and chanted while the demonstrators were being hauled away by police. Demonstrators were charged with trespass and issued appearance tickets to appear in Albany City Court at a later date.
State Police gave several warnings via a megaphone before making the arrests. They told protesters they would be arrested if they did not leave the state-owned land.
The second of two vans that had been backed up into the park pulled away just after 11:30 p.m. with a load of the arrested demonstrators. Other demonstrators had been taken away earlier. Three State Police vans had been idling on North Hawk Street since at least 9:30 p.m.
After the second van pulled away, the other protesters stood on the sidewalk on the corner of North Hawk and State streets, right across from the Capitol. They were told by authorities that they would not be arrested if they stood there.
Police also urged reporters in the park to leave or face arrest.
After the second van filled with protesters pulled away, dozens of demonstrators milled about on the sidewalk and on the fringes of the park. The people serving as the legal team at the protest were speaking with police. A fourth police van arrived at about 11:40 as the remaining demonstrators sang "This Land is Your Land."
Geordie O'Brien, a legal observer for Occupy Albany, stood by as the demonstrators were arrested and consulted with police as the protesters were handcuffed. "The police have showed professionalism and restraint in the absence of provocation," she said. She praised the level of cooperation shown by the police as they checked off the names of the arrested with a list kept organizers.
Earlier Saturday, State Police had charged an Occupy Albany protester with trespassing on state land.
Bradley Russell was arrested by State Police just before 3 p.m. after he built an "illegal structure" in Lafayette Park, a small section of state land that borders the Occupy Albany encampment, which has been set up in the Albany city-owned Academy Park. He was charged with trespass and then was released by State Police shortly afterward. He immediately returned to the encampment.
Russell had been building a "freedom fort" in Lafayette Park out of squares of foam board, packing tape, an image of the Bill of Rights and protest signs and planned to stay in it past the park's curfew, challenging Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who has vowed to arrest anyone who remains in the park after 11 p.m.
Russell said his constitutional rights to assemble and speak out trump any curfew or rule about structures in the park, and he will challenge Cuomo through the courts to protect his rights.
"(Cuomo) kept saying, 'I'll enforce the law and I'll enforce the curfew,' and I kept thinking, 'How can you do both?' " said Russell, a 39-year-old Albany anthropologist who teaches at two local schools he declined to name and is married and has a 6-year-old daughter.
Russell, who had dressed in a Civil War Union soldier's uniform for the occasion, had just started to add American flags to his fort when the arrest was made in front of a couple dozen onlookers, some recording the arrest with their smartphones.
The Occupy Albany protest, an echo to Manhattan's Occupy Wall Street and part of several such protests around the country, is meant to raise concerns about what protesters term economic inequality and corporate power. Saturday was the group's 23rd day camping in city-owned Academy Park.
Immediately after Russell's arrest, fellow Occupy Albany members planned a "meditation flash mob" to begin in Lafayette Park at 10 p.m.
While a half-dozen troopers watched from the sidewalk earlier Saturday afternoon, Russell constructed his fort. Before he started building, Russell said police told him he'd be arrested for violating the curfew. He was also told no wooden structures were allowed, so he said it would be up to police to remove him from his fort.
Russell said police spent about 30 minutes watching him assemble his freedom fort, but didn't move in until he started to put up American flags. He speculated authorities acted then because it would have looked bad to be seen cutting through patriotic symbols to get to him at curfew.
"They really didn't want to rip red, white and blue bunting down," he said.
Russell also had made a nearly life-size poster that said "Take Your Picture with Emperor Cuomo" printed across the top.
Eddie Alkurabi, of Occupy Albany and the national Occupy committee, said "Occupiers" are on the offensive -- although peacefully.
"Andrew Cuomo is trying to play political games with our Bill of Rights, and he's going to lose because me and Brad are chess masters," Alkurabi said.
He said he and others are disappointed by Cuomo, whom they say seems to side with Wall Street rather than with people like Alkurabi, a social activist and student who spent thousands of hours campaigning for Cuomo.


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26 September 2012 at 10.17am | 5 Comments
Calling all students! And parents, grandparents, brothers and sisters of students – in fact, if you know a student, now is the time to tell them about the Royal Opera House Student Standby scheme and this year's exciting new activity. We're inviting students from all over the UK to apply to be a Royal Opera House Student Ambassador for the coming academic year.
If you already registered with our Student Standby scheme you should have received an email from us by now detailing what we're doing – however – if you are not yet registered with us why not do it today and then apply to become a Student Ambassador?
We're looking for passionate, creative and confident students who'll be brilliant advocates for the Royal Opera House in their universities this year. The first ever ROH Student Ambassadors will promote exciting productions from the Main Stage, the Alternative programme and the ROH Cinema Season throughout the year by ensuring that the Royal Opera House is represented in the right places and at the right times on and around their campus/universities. We believe that ALL students should have access to world-class productions at the Royal Opera House, whether it be in London or at cinemas nationwide and want you to be the one that helps spread the word to your fellow students.
As an Ambassador, you'll get:
- Access to discounted and complimentary tickets to Royal Opera House productions
- A fascinating insight into the inner workings of one of the world's greatest opera houses
- The opportunity to meet and network with other Ambassadors and arts professionals
- The opportunity to get an insight into the Royal Opera House creative departments
- The added bonus of bit of CV enhancement!
Plus, the most impressive Student Ambassador will be awarded with a week long work placement at the Royal Opera House in the Summer of 2013.
Applications are open to students from across the UK – you don't have to live in London to be part of the scheme.
How to Apply
To apply to be a Student Ambassador, please send your CV and a description of why you would make a brilliant Ambassador, including an idea of how you would promote the Royal Opera House in your campus to email@example.com (max 250 words). Please ensure that your email application states your University, degree course and year of study. The deadline for applications is 13 October.
Shortlisted applicants will be notified by 17 October and must be available for interview at the Royal Opera House on 25 October. Successful applicants will be notified the same day and are invited to a Welcome Event to meet other Ambassadors and the Royal Opera House team at Covent Garden on 8 November, followed by a performance of The Royal Ballet's Mixed Programme featuring Viscera, Infra and Fool's Paradise. Travel expenses for both events will be covered.
The Royal Opera House Student Standby scheme is generously made possible by the Bunting Family and the Robey Family.


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Upul Tharanga, Lasith Malinga, Chamara Kapugedara, Jeewaan Mendis, Chamara Silva & Tisara Perera have been drafted in to the 16 man squad named for the 1st 2 ODI's against the touring West Indies team to be played at Hambantota.
The other notable inclusion has been the retention of middle order batsman Thilan Samaraweera to the ODI squad after being overlooked for the tour of Australia.
- T.M. Dilshan
- Upul Tharanga
- Mahela Jayawardena
- Kumar Sangakkara
- Angelo Mathews
- T Samaraweera
- Chamara kapugedara
- Suraj Randiv
- Ajantha Mendis
- Rangana Hearth
- Lasith Malinga
- Nuwan Kulasekera
- Tissara Perera
- Dilhara Fernando
- Chamara Silva
- Jeewan Mendis


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Crawl, Walk and Run Your Way to Cloud Automation
Stretching the Olympic theme of my previous blog, where I used the analogy of a 100m sprinter and his backup team to introduce the new Cisco Intelligent Automation for Cloud Deployment Services, I'd like to now discuss how to roll out new cloud projects in the data center. Thinking again about a team of Olympic champions – and the Team GB (Great Britain) cycling team, illustrate this principle so well – with their fabulous winning streak, not least the incredibly exciting keirin event win by my countryman Sir Chris Hoy (yes, fellow Scot, however that's where the association ends 🙂 ). Such teams don't often win with a "big bang" all-at-once, approach. Their training and successes usually builds incrementally, over several years and phases.
In the case of Team GB Cycling, they have developed from practically "also rans" in 1998 to consistent world beaters in Beijing 2008 and now London 2012. They have improved incrementally, event by event, year by year, demonstrating incremental successes as they went along, to be world beaters. In essence, they have used an approach we in Cisco sometimes call "Crawl, Walk, Run", illustrating the progress to success. From my experience over the past 25 years in IT, there are big lessons here for IT project delivery. Let's use a Cloud Automation project as an example.
Prior to joining Cisco Services, I worked in software product development. I've worked in a number of organizations over the years and I've seen my fair share of "grand visions" – projects that map out the path to huge success in all-too-often a big bang approach, with huge goals – and long, often multi-year, time-frames. On occassion, they were successful. More often, they never achieved their potential. Sometimes they ended up as killed projects. I've even – being honest – helped map a few of these out myself. Many of you may share this kind of experience. On reflection, we could have been more successful, more quickly, by adopting an incremental approach to project delivery (and in fact the software community has widely recognized this via Agile Software Development methodologies). Here I will assert that this approach can also apply to data center projects, and cloud automation solution delivery in particular.
A cloud architecture has multiple facets and requirements, a key part of which is the need for cloud orchestration and provisioning, coupled with a self-service end user portal. Let's call this "Cloud Automation" for now. If you are designing and/or building a cloud, then, part of your work will be to deliver a cloud automation solution to deliver on that promise. How do you plan to go about that? One approach is to define your extensive list of requirements, based upon your business needs and current capabilities, and go about building out that solution.
Another approach is what I'll call "Crawl Walk Run". The incremental approach.
In the Crawl Walk Run approach, you plan up-front to deliver your project in stages:
Stage 1: Crawl: Get something up and running in your data center environment. Show something working. "Prove to your advocates and naysayers that this isn't a science project", as the eWeek article featuring my Cisco colleague Wayne Green, advocates. Set a clear expectation: this is a pilot (effectively a quick "experiment"), a learning exercise, so that you don't over-set. Sure, you may be able to deploy the outcome of the pilot right into production, however my advice would be to use your speed of delivery to convince your stakeholders to delay a decision until you have declared pilot success. Then use the concrete experience to figure out, not so much a laundry list of requirements, but as the means to identify the business problems you need to solve first. Use this first stage tpo define a reasonable phase 2 set of requirements that you know you can deliver on and will be appreciated by your stakeholders. More importantly, declare an early success. Show your management chain that you can deliver, sooner rather than later. In weeks (and I'll show you how below). How many data center software projects have you been on where you can declare your first success with a working system in weeks?
Stage 2: Walk: Identify priority requirements that you need to meet your minimum business requirements. Deploy. Declare more success. Again sooner rather than later.
Stage 3: Run: Now you have a track record. Now focus on the vision, and map our a longer term roadmap to your ideal solution. Don't forget you have early successes, you have learned from these and identified key priorities from your business stakeholders, based upon a working solution rather than a paper-based requirements capture exercise (which let's be honest, often turns out to be quite a wish list, with no clear phasing and prioritization). So now you have more credibility, perhaps more time, and definitely more experience, to get to that final vision. And your probability of success has increased immensely.
How then can you achieve the first results, a working system, in weeks? This is where our Cisco Intelligent Automation for Cloud Deployment Services come in, illustrated below. We've designed these services to map you into "Crawl, Walk, Run".
Stage 1: STANDARD: Using a proven methodology and experienced cloud autoamtion consultants, we'll get you up and running ASAP with Starter Edition. This gives you out of the box cloud IaaS capabilities, that our solutions consultants will align to your environment. Outcome? A working deployment. In weeks. Sure, it doesn't have all the whistles and bells, but you clearly set out a roadmap of expectations at the very start, so your management team knows to expect a phase 2. And now that you've delivered phase 1 in weeks, buy-in to start phase 2 should be a lot easier. And you never know, while others have been talking, you may have delivered sufficient cloud automation functionality to meet your immediate business needs. With a working pilot, you can prove this. And you may make the call to head straight into production, based upon this proven, demonstrated success.
Stage 2: ENHANCED: We can then further develop this solution with some of the most commonly requested enhancements. Further alignment to your vision is delivered. A working solution. You can declare more success!
Stage 3: CUSTOM: Finally, as another project phase, we can help you customize and extend this solution, specific to your individual business needs. This is the most time consuming phase, however by delivering on stages 1 and 2 via "quick wins", you will have built up executive support to keep investing. And you will have multiple successes under your belt.
Of course, I'm not advocating "Crawl Walk Run" for all projects. Sometimes, especially where you are faced with very unique advanced and extensive requirements, you may have to start with what we'd call a "Custom" design and deployment exercise. However, referring again to my Olympic cycling analogy above, in many data center and cloud projects, engaging Cisco Services to help you on the "Crawl Walk Run" journey will deliver success far more quickly. Most organizations can't wait for multi-year visions – they need progress and results sooner. What about yours? Can you wait? Or should you reach out to Cisco Services? – for us to work together to help accelerate your cloud automation project delivery – let's "Crawl, Walk and Run" together towards success!
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