TRADING PLACES

SPORTS HEADLINE-ALLEN IVERSON SET TO DEBUT FOR PISTONS
Veteran guard Allen Iverson returns to the Eastern Conference Friday night when he takes the court for his new team, the Detroit Pistons after being traded there earlier in the week. Iverson, the 2000-01 MVP and four time NBA scoring champion, was traded to the Pistons in an attempt by team president Joe Dumars to shake up the core of a team that has faltered in the Eastern Conference Finals the past 3 seasons.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT-
Ever been in a rut? You just feel like you are going through the motions, not really making any headway in any area of your life. You do the routine, see the same things, hear the same songs, eat the same foods and just feel blah. You need to create change for change's sake. Doing simple things like taking a different route to a familiar destination. Commit to trying one new place to eat or type of food each week or month. Take a class for a hobby you wouldn't ordinarily consider. Making these sublte changes will give you a boost of energy that will carry over into other aspects of your days.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT-
Some businesses think they have it all figured out. They have created the best process, the best product or the best service and they are going to corner the market. Most of those businesses fall well shy of the success they beleive they can acheive. It's been said that the best idea is a borrowed one. There are endless opportunities in business to develop partnerships or strategic alliances and trade concepts, information, strategies or experiences in order to create wins on multiple fronts. What you consider to be common knowledge and of little value can be of great value to someone who has yet to come to the same realization as you and vice versa. Keep an open mind to sharing and experience victory on many levels.

PERSONAL FINANCES-
There are few things that are more exciting than seeing your money make money. In the 1990's, individuals got rich, then poor, then rich again by day trading stocks. Day traders would spend their days buying and selling stocks, researching opportunities to make a quick strike and hoping to avoid a catastrophic loss. The era faded a bit with tougher economic times but the core concept is solid. Merely investing in a stock and letting it sit there is one strategy to employ, but in order to maximize your money work closely with your broker and/or fiancial advisor to deftly buy low and sell high and come out on the winning end of your trades.

GAME PLAN-
Life is full of chances to change things around. There are times that just making a change for the sake of change is appropriate but as a rule you always want to make a change for positive results. Look at where you are, where you want to be and what's it going to take to get you there. Implementing the right changes may be what it takes to lead you to victory!

DELAYED PROMISE

SPORTS HEADLINE-2007 #1 OVERALL PICK MAKES LONG AWAITED NBA DEBUT
Greg Oden was supposed to be 'next'. He was called the best true center to enter the NBA from the college ranks since Shaq. He had the footwork of Bill Russell, the shooting touch of Patrick Ewing and the athleticism of Alonzo Mourning. But before even his first preseason practice he experienced soreness in his right knee and went season ending micro-fracture surgery.

Oden finally made his debut Tuesday night in a pre-season game against the Sacramento Kings. In less than 20 minutes on the court, Oden scored 13 points, grabbed 5 rebounds and blocked 2 shots.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT-
Life is full of setbacks, unexpecteded pitfalls and unfortunate obstacles. Things will rarely go as you always plan or hope that they will go, so the question is-how will you respond? Physical injuries have a pretty set course, get treatment, get the injury repaired, get rehab and work your way back. Recovering from emotional or other personal setbacks seems to have a less clear path but in reality the road back is very similar. Take the necessary time to work through the stages of whatever you have to overcome but always have the knowledge that at the end of the road your victory awaits you.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT-
One of the hardest things to deal with when starting a business is the time that you often have to incur as you slowly grow your clientele. While you can clearly see the merits of your product or service and it's so clear to you why this is the best thing since sliced bread, it may take some time for the rest of the world to come around. Having the focus, determination and unshakeable belief that what you have to offer is the best option out there and you can perform it better than anyone else may be the difference between a great idea and an amazing, fulfilling career.

PERSONAL FINANCES-
Our finances have such an impact on every area of our lives. When times are good, it seems like nothing can get us down. When times are tough, it seems that the hits just keep on coming. Recovery from financial setbacks can seem and feel like a never ending road. It's so easy to focus on what you don't have, can't afford or are missing out on. But take the opposite view instead. Look at all of the lessons you've learned, the amazing opportunities ahead and how much you will be able to appreciate the sacrafices you've had to make.

GAME PLAN-
This one is really simple. Whenever you are faced with a setback or a significant unexpected challenge, rather than just focusing on the problem, look past just the solution to the ultimate outcome. Believe that you will emerge stronger, smarter and better after all is said and done.