Problem: Article: To complete the project, you will need a crew-necked shirt, a ruler or measuring tape (if using a tape measure, you'll also need a separate straight edge), stick pins, a fabric marker, fabric scissors, a seam ripper, thread the same color as your shirt, a sewing machine or sewing needle. An easy way to do this is to use a V-necked shirt that you like as a guide. Fold the shirt vertically in half, making sure that the shoulders line up. Lay it flat on a table.Then use a ruler to measure the distance from the point where the collar meets the shoulder seam to the point of the V. Write down this measurement.  If you don't have another v-necked shirt, you'll have to estimate how deep the V should be. In this instance, it's better to start conservatively as you can always make it deeper.  You may want to try on the shirt to gauge how deep you want the V. While wearing the shirt, look in the mirror and mark the spot you'd like the point of the V with a pin. The front of the collar should be on the outside of the fold. Make sure that the neckline, the shoulders and the arms match up exactly. Lay it out on a table, smoothing it down until it is free of wrinkles. Place a ruler in a diagonal line from the the point where the shoulder seam meets the collar down to the middle of the chest. Using the measurements you took in the previous step, mark off the point of the "V" with a fabric marker. Then draw a line between the mark and the point where shoulder seam meets the collar. Flip the shirt over and repeat this step on the other side.
Summary: Gather your materials. Measure the V. Fold your crew-neck shirt vertically. Trace the V.

Problem: Article: The prayer beads, also known as Mala, are used to keep track of your prayers, not as some punishment or benchmark. They are a bit like rosaries, but know that they are there to help, not hinder, your spiritual practice.  Counting the beads activates your body in the prayer, allowing you to work the body (beads), mind (prayer), and spirit (visualization) at once. You can use whatever prayers or mantras you desire with your beads. Prayer beads can be found online, or purchased at many Buddhist temples or Tibetan shops. There are, usually 108 beads on a Tibetan Prayer Bead, plus one larger "head bead." Whenever you get around the mala, you're considered to have accomplished 100 prayers/mantras, with the other 8 used as spares in case you miscounted or missed a mantra. Some people believe the head bead has special significance, and it is sometimes called the "guru bead." This bead is your teacher, leading you through the prayer cycle. Close your eyes and feel the first bead, often the head bead. Perform your prayer or mantra completely, then move up to the next bead, feeling your way up the mala. Some people use different mantras for the different sized beads, if you have them.  You may use your right or left hand to count on. Don't worry about getting it all "perfect." Focus on visualizing your prayer as you say it, staying completely in the current moment. Ground yourself in the physical world by keeping your hands on your current bead. Once you've gone all the way around the beads, flip the chain over and keep going in the same direction you were already going. This is mostly symbolic, indicating that you would not "step-over" your teacher, guru, or head. There is nothing wrong with wearing your mala, keeping it with you so that you can count your prayers anywhere. If you are not carrying it, hang it somewhere out of the way or on your alter, tucked away safely.
Summary: Use the beads to help count your prayers or mantras, not as a rigid amount of prayers you must say. Understand the make-up of a mala. Perform a prayer for each bead. Do not skip over the guru bead once you've completed the first set. Store your mala in a clean, high place, or around you neck and hands.

Problem: Article: Use these as the two highest cards in the deck. They can beat anything and will give the player(s) who get dealt them a good hand. Take two of each card (so two Aces, two Kings, two 3's etc.) and place them apart from the other half of the deck. Shuffle and use only these 26 cards to play. The game will go much more quickly. For instance, at the beginning of the game, pick a wild card.  Example: Designate the 2 of hearts and the 3 of diamonds to be unbeatable cards. Even an Ace cannot stand up to a wild card. Line up each of your 26 cards face-down directly across from your opponent's 26 cards. Go down the line and flip each card, as your opponent flips each card. Collect the pairs of cards that you win and repeat. Play until one player wins all of the cards.
Summary: Add the two Joker cards. Play with half a deck for a shorter variation of War. Designate special rules for cards. Play 52-card war.

Problem: Article: Rather than just saying "hello" or immediately starting on your pitch, start your call by greeting the recipient professionally. Use the recipients name in your greeting, trying to remain as formal as possible. For example, try "Good morning/evening, mr./mrs./ms. ____." Afterwards, immediately introduce yourself by name and introduce your business.  Use only your first name, unless you are the owner of the business. Say briefly what your business can do for them, but not exactly what you offer. For example, say "we save local businesses money" instead of "we offer cheap accounting services." This makes the recipient curious about exactly how you can save them money. In many cases, you will have a standard script to follow. However, it can be difficult to read off the script directly with any real fluidity, and you may lose your place if you are interrupted. To remedy this problem, memorize your script but only keep a list of key points in front of you. This will help you pick up your place and make your speech more natural. Thank them for taking your call. Promise that you won't waste their precious time and that you will soon let them get back to their busy schedule. Bring up the reason for your call as a question, like "would you be interested in a product that you could lower your accounting costs while maintaining the same quality?" Focus on what your product can do for them, not the product itself.  If you're not talking to someone who can make business decisions, keep working until you get to them. Use questions to assess the prospect's needs and identify how your product or service can remedy them. When pitching your product or service, focus on the benefits you can provide your customer. Tell them how it can save them time or money, increase profits, or improve their lives and happiness. It may help to explain what your product has done for others, with numbers to back this up. If possible, describe your benefits in the same language (the same terms) in which your prospect described their problems. This builds trust between you. Have your prospect commit to a meeting for more information or to see your product or service in action. Ideally, you'd close the sale over the phone, but in many cases this is just not possible. If nothing else, encourage them to consider your proposition and give them contact information so that they can reach you if they decide they want to know more.
Summary:
Have a standard, professional greeting. Follow a guide. Thank the recipient for their time. Identify the prospect's needs. Pitch your product. Make them commit.