On Moms Time

Who's Up For a Challenge?

2011-07-15T08:18:00.000-07:00

The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John C. Maxwell.

Do you have a passion for helping others?

Do you want to be a better leader?
Do you want to attract other leaders?

Then you want to read this book! I am reading it and am loving every page! I want to challenge you with a 21 day leadership challenge. I highly recommend reading the book as soon as you can but in the meantime each day for the next 21 days, make it your mission to practice one of the laws of leadership.

The 21 Day Leadership Challenge

The law of the lid. Every leader has a ceiling. Maybe you’re destined to be the supreme master of the universe or maybe you can’t even get your dog to come when you call him. Think about your leadership lid and what you can do to push it higher.
The law of influence. Leadership is not about your title or position. It’s about leading. Can you lead in a situation where your title or position don’t matter? Practice some anonymous leading.
The law of process. Leaders use a process whenever they build something. It makes your ventures repeatable and scalable. Build a step-by-step process for doing something.
The law of navigation. Setting goals is important. Navigation takes it one step further because you’re plotting a course of actions that take you to the goal. Define a goal for yourself and plot a course to reach it.
The law of E. F. Hutton. This law is taken from the old commercials “When E. F. Hutton speaks, people listen”. Find someone who’s a stronger leader than you are. Now just listen.
The law of solid ground. Leaders build trust. Spend some time today building or strengthening the trust that someone has in you.
The law of respect. Loyalty and respect take trust a step further. Think about who you would follow no matter where they wanted to go. And why.
The law of intuition. With experience, you’ll build great instincts. Leaders go with their gut many times because they need to make quick decisions. Practice making quick decisions using your intuition.
The law of magnetism. Leaders attract people like a magnet. And good leaders always attract the right people to get the job done. What kind of people do you need to attract? Figure out how you can do that.
The law of connection. Remember, without people there’s nothing there. Network and really connect with someone today.
The law of the inner circle. Every leader has an inner circle of people they trust and rely on. Inner circle people have great talents and vision of their own. Better than yours in some things. Start building your inner circle.
The law of empowerment. To build a team, you have to give other people ownership of what they’re doing. You have to let them lead. Empower someone else and let them lead.
The law of reproduction. Leaders create followers. Great leaders create other leaders. Start being a leadership mentor to someone today.
The law of buy-in. You believe in someone’s ideas after you already believe in the person. Practice selling YOU instead of just your ideas.
The law of victory. When something doesn’t work out, you learn something new. But it’s important not to start with that idea or else you might give in to it. Strive for nothing less than total victory today.
The law of the big mo. Momentum is capital. With every success, you build momentum that makes the next success easier. Take something small and use its success to do something bigger.
The law of priorities. Leaders are busy. And some things are more important than other things. Put together a list of everything you have to do and prioritize it from most important to least.
The law of sacrifice. You have more responsibilities to other people and other things as a leader. Sometimes, you have to give something up to take care of those responsibilities. Sacrifice something you care about for someone else today.
The law of timing. Opportunities are everywhere. One of the big things that makes something a good opportunity is timing. Recognize an opportunity and pounce on it right away.
The law of explosive growth. To grow, you need to lead everyone in the right direction. To create explosive growth, you need to lead other leaders in the right direction. Reach out and start leading other leaders today.
The law of legacy. Eventually, someone else will do what you’re doing right now. More than building other leaders, more than being a mentor, you have to build the leader that can take care of and do everything you can do. Start building a leader you can pass the baton to.

It’s a big challenge. Have some fun with it.

Get Some Ants in Your Pants

2011-07-13T12:54:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Pamela Crim at the Smokin Hot Mama Club for this post!

I think everybody should study ants. They have an amazing four-part philosophy. Here is the first part: ants never quit. That’s a good philosophy. If they’re headed somewhere and you try to stop them, they’ll look for another way. They’ll climb over, they’ll climb under, they’ll climb around. They keep looking for another way. What a neat philosophy, to never quit looking for a way to get where you’re supposed to go.

Second, ants think winter all summer. That’s an important perspective. You can’t be so naïve as to think summer will last forever. So ants are gathering their winter food in the middle of summer.

The third part of the ant philosophy is that ants think summer all winter. That is so important. During the winter, ants remind themselves, “this won’t last long – we’ll soon be out of here.” And the first warm day, the ants are out. If it turns cold again, they’ll dive back down, but then they come out the first warm day. They can’t wait to get out.

And here’s the last part of the ant philosophy. How much will an ant gather during the summer to prepare for the winter? All he possibly can. What an incredible philosophy, the “all –you-possibly-can” philosophy.

Wow, what a great philosophy to have – the ant philosophy. Never give up, look ahead, stay positive and do all you can.

These are the incredible words of one of my role models, Jim Rohn.

"The REAL Secret to Success" By Azam Corry

2011-06-26T19:31:00.000-07:00

Many people are constantly searching for the secret to online
success. Most never find it. Some go broke trying. Yet each year
the resources spent in pursuit of the 'holy grail' of Internet
Marketing continue to grow.

This 'secret' is touted in thousands of places, in thousands of
guises. The hype surrounding the subject is almost impenetrable,
so dense that even the experienced can succumb. If you are just
starting out online, chances are that you, too, will be sucked in.
To save you from wasting much time and energy, and maybe money, too,
Let me share the truth with you.

The REAL secret to your success is ...

YOU!

The most important criteria as to whether you 'make it' or not,
is simply YOUR ATTITUDE. All other factors are secondary.

It's all about making it happen. And not giving up until it does.

You must be determined to succeed; believing that you can, and
will do so. By it's very nature, such determination makes light
of hard work, and enables you to tap into resources you perhaps
hadn't realized you posses. You only fail when you stop trying.

There is no other secret. There is no magic formula.

There will never be a universal method of making money online
that will work for everyone. Conversely however, believing in
some of the myths propagated is guaranteed to bring nothing but
fatigue. Anyone seeking instant rewards, or seriously expecting
to make 'easy money' for doing almost nothing will get nowhere.
without a change of attitude, they are doomed to failure.

Why?

A) Because such things don't exist in the real world. While you
might meet people who appear to be getting money for nothing,
the reality is that at some time, somewhere, they have labored -
and probably very hard - for the fruits they now enjoy.

And

B) Because these people don't want to succeed. Not *really*, not
with all their heart. If they did, nothing else would matter.
They would be happy to work hard and make sacrifices. They would
feel their goal *worth* devoting all of their energy to, instead
of always seeking a 'comfortable' way.

People often say things like "I'd do anything to be able to live
like him (or her)," in reference to somebody successful. In
truth, most who make such claims aren't prepared to do much at
all. They'd love to eat the cake, but don't like the idea of
going into the kitchen and baking it.

Successful people are driven by the desire for positive results.
They focus on their goals, not the process of attaining them.
failures are willing to accept poor or mediocre results, so long
as what they do to achieve them is easy or enjoyable.

Successful men and women invest in their future, rather than
wasting precious time looking for shortcuts or a free ride. And
by 'invest,' I don't necessarily mean money. Having more cash to
spend won't in itself bring you success. The recent dot-com
failures are testament to that. Most spent millions before
folding.

Starting out with little money simply means you have to work
harder, and for longer, before you see noticeable results. Think
of it like savings at the bank: the smaller the initial deposit,
the slower it's growth will be. But it still grows.

Nor is your success dependent on knowledge. It's undeniable that
the more relevant knowledge you have, the faster your progress
should be. However, knowledge must be accompanied with the right
attitude to be of real use. And if you have that, you can attain
the same success starting from ground zero, learning as you go.

Being armed with the right knowledge is like traveling on the
highway. You have the opportunity to put your foot down and
proceed directly to your destination in the shortest time.

Not possessing that knowledge forces you to take the small and
winding back roads. Progress is slower, and you might make a
wrong turn or two along the way. However, as long as you focus on
your goal and keep moving, you will still reach your objective.
and you'll be wiser, too.

The only formula for success online or anywhere else is
determination, hard work and persistence. No matter how many
obstacles, setbacks, or downright failures you may face along the
way. (just have that "quitting is NOT an option" attitude, and you WILL succeed! Just have a blast along the way!)

Realize that only a minority succeed, and that therefore the
majority must be doing something wrong. Don't follow them. To
succeed is to be different. Do the things failures don't like to
do and success will come to you!!!!

Quotes and Words to Live By

2011-03-25T10:46:00.000-07:00

These quotes are from speakers, authors, friends and some are from unknown sources.
They have been a great encouragement to me.
I hope you will find one you like and put it somewhere you can see it and let it
remind you to be inspired!

The 3 C's of life...Choice, Chance and Change.  You must make the Choice to take the Chance if you want anything to Change!
Someone's opinion of you doesn't have to become your reality!
Decide to have a great day. Smile. Be positive. Assume the best of others.
Success is overcoming failure over and over and over .
Character is who you are when no one is watching.
 
Run your day by the clock and your life by your vision.
Once you become a mother you stop being the picture and you start being the frame.
It’s all possible . . . If you dream it and believe it, why not start walking in that direction today? Gain the knowledge, study it, take action, and enjoy the journey. You are more than capable, you are remarkable!
Instead of building a business that will give us the life we want, we need to determine the kind of life we want and build a business to support it.
You can't reach for a dream and remain safely mediocre at the same time. The two are incompatible.
It's never right to do wrong to do right.
Your input determines your outlook, Your outlook determines your output and Your output determines your future.
Whatever it is you do, enjoy it and you will get better faster 
You are good enough, BELIEVE it 
People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care

DO YOU HAVE PASSION?

2011-02-22T12:40:00.000-08:00

I think its easy to agree that having passion in your life is important. Passion is what helps us to excel and become all we can. It is what really gets our hearts racing with excitement. Passion comes from deep inside each of us and it is what sets us on fire. I think you’ll agree that a lamp without a bulb has no purpose. Its the same as a person without passion. We all need passion in our lives because it creates enthusiasm and excitement.

We have accomplished great things in life as humans. These great things were accomplished with passion and behind every victory lies passion. This is a choice we all make in life. Its the choice to devote ourselves to a better life.

How do we build more passion in life?

Take Responsibility ~ It's your life so choose. Do you want to stay where you are? Or do you want to have passion in your life that will enable you to accomplish all you can? Everything in life is a choice and you must make the choice to better yourself. Own up to it and figure out what it is you want and then take responsibility and OWN IT!
Find What you Seek ~ When we have a positive mindset we begin to attract more positive things in life. The Law of Attraction. Its been around forever and many people have used the Law of Attraction. Successful people did not get where they are in life today by being pessimistic. No, they got where they are because they believed in something and they knew if they wanted it, it would come to them.
Have a Plan ~ Once you know what it is that you want you’ll need a plan. When an architect builds something as wonderful as the Taj Mahal he doesn’t just pick up and begin building. There are plans that need to be made to ensure the beauty and safety of the structure.
Take Action ~ We don’t get anywhere in life without action. It takes action to get a reaction and so to accomplish great things we will need to take action on the plan we’ve put in place.

A football team doesn’t begin the season with a Super Bowl Ring in hand. They first begin with a plan and then they take consistent action. Along their journey they will have victories and they will have setbacks. But its how we react to the setbacks that will determine the passion we have in life for our success.

Room for Cream

2011-02-17T09:38:00.000-08:00

Marybeth Whalen

“The thief comes only to steal, and kill and destroy;
I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
John 10:10 (NIV)

“Shall I leave room for cream?” the smiling barista asks me as I place my coffee order.

I smile back at her and nod, anticipating receiving my cup full of dark liquid so I can carry it over to the doctoring station and customize it with a generous splash of cream and two sweeteners.

As I wait in line to create my comfort in a cup, I ponder the barista’s question. I think about the idea of leaving room for cream—not just in my cup, but in my life. I always leave room for cream in my coffee, but I can’t honestly say I always leave room for cream in my life.

Cream sweetens and lightens and richens. How do I leave room in my life for the things that sweeten and lighten and richen? As I pour and stir, my thoughts drift to the last week. I’ve done the have-to’s: laundry, carpool, dishes, exercise. But it’s harder to think of those little extras that fill my cup to the brim… sweet, light, rich extras.

Sweet: Time with friends just laughing and enjoying each other. Turning on a favorite song and dancing in the kitchen. Listening to my children when they talk. Taking the extra time to hear their hearts. Putting fun things I look forward to on the calendar. Turning the pages of a novel just for the joy of experiencing a great story. Pushing pause on my life so I can rest and recharge.

Light: Time in God’s Word, which the Bible says is a light for our path in life. Journaling what He’s telling me and what I’m learning about life. Time to pour my worries and anxieties out to Him, then leave them at His feet. Time to press into Him so I can hear His voice above all the others in this loud, busy world. Stepping out of the rat race and worshiping Him with abandon lightens my load.

Rich: Giving of myself through my time and talent. Tithing regularly to my church. Finding people who need a meal, a donation, a word of encouragement and then making the effort to actually give it to them and not just think it’s a good idea. Surrendering myself to God’s will instead of holding fast to my own.

All of these are things that bring me great joy, that help me reach that place of abundance I believe Jesus wanted us to live in now. Abundance, I am finding, does not come from merely wanting it. It comes from intentionally reaching for it—a result that requires action. It requires leaving room in my life for these things—not packing my life so full of have-to’s that the cup is already full.

When that happens, I can try to add the cream but it will only spill over, wasted. It starts when I leave room from the beginning or take a moment to pour out what is already too full. With a little thought and a little effort I can learn to hear Jesus ask me, “Did you leave room for cream?”

And I can smile back at Him and say, “You better believe I did!”

**Thanks to Proverbs 31 Ministries for this blog post!

The 4 Steps to Successful Goal-Setting

2011-01-24T18:33:00.000-08:00

Successful people have always had clear, focused goals that guide them to greatness.

It took Thomas Edison thousands of attempts and thousands of failures over many years to invent the electric light bulb, but he new exactly what he wanted, and his goal kept him going until he achieved it The rest, as they say, is history.

Michelle Kwan had a goal to be the best skater in the world. Oprah Winfrey was an abused child who determined to make a better life for herself.

Successful people always have clear goals. Great musicians, great athletes, successful salespeople and inspiring leaders know what they want in life, and they go after it. Great parents work at it. No one becomes an astronaut by accident!

And yet the great bulk of people continue to drift through life with no goals at all, or with only vague dreams, hopes and wishes. No wonder we achieve so much less than we could!

For those who have not yet experienced the joy of setting and achieving magnificent goals, here is a powerful set of principles that have worked for thousands of my clients. They will work for you, too. I call them The 4 Steps to Successful Goal-Setting:

1. Decide what you want. Decide if you would rather have money in the bank, or that new car. Choose the life you prefer! You can’t have everything in life; but you can have anything you choose, if you will focus, pay the price, and pursue it with all your heart.

2. Clarify your values. Too often, people choose goals that are inconsistent with their priorities and daily behaviors. Do you value health, or comfort? Is financial independence a priority, or merely a wish? In a clash between your values and your wishes, your values will win every time. Be certain your goals are consistent with your most important values.

3. Write them down! Have the courage to put your intentions on paper, in your own words. Be specific and describe your goals in detail. When will you achieve them? What will success look like? Write down the details and read your goals every day, even take a moment to summarize them every morning. Stay focused.

4. Take ACTION! To run a marathon, you must jog every day. Building a business requires that you make sales, every day. A loving marriage or happy kids require your time, your attention and your love, every day. Your daily actions need not be profound or heroic, but they must be consistent and persistent. Every day!

Success does not “just happen”. It is built like a work of art. First, it is imagined, then the skills, tools and materials are gathered, and the artist sets about creating a thing of beauty. It takes time. It requires skill, determination, persistence and faith.

Just as an artist will make preliminary sketches and work out the details in her mind, so your success requires written goals, careful choices, clear commitments and daily persistence. You can do this. Make something magnificent of your life!

How to Find More Mommy and Me Time While Working from Home

2010-10-28T19:13:00.000-07:00

Working from home is for sure a fine luxury. However, there are a ton of Moms out there that may challenge that statement. Moms with small children may find the idea of "working at home" a struggle, especially the ones with two or more little ones that need constant attention.

Finding that much needed time with your kids when you have certain deadlines regarding your work at home agenda is no easy feat.

Here are three options that may work for you, depending on your current situation at home.

Do you know a lot of stay at home Moms? If so, that's good news. Why not exchange play dates? If you're not familiar with the term, "play dates," They are days that you trade off watching other kids. So...you would have days that you will be watching extra kids, and their will be days where you have "no kids" in the house. If this is a workable deal for your household, you would have a day here and there to get caught up with your online work.

"Well, doesn't that defeat the purpose of having more time with my kids?" You ask. Not really if you think about the benefits and look at it in other perspectives.

1) Since you'll be having days that get you caught up with your work, you would be able to afford more Mommy and me time.

2) On the days that you do have extra little ones in the house, take full advantage of those days. Prepare to have some special activities planned for your kids along with the others. Plan some refreshing outings, weather permitting of course. Have fun with the children and find specific things to do that help relieve stress. This way both you and your kids benefit. You will have diverse days that get you out of the house and away from your work, and also have that extra time with your own kids.

Do you have a supporting spouse? Many moms do, and many, of course, do not. For those that do have their husband's full support, count your blessings. I see so many that don't have their spouse's support. And that only results with unnecessary domestic conflict. Although, those type of spouses don't see it that way.

But if you do have your significant other's full support, perhaps they will make a deal with you and watch the kids in the evenings while you do some of your work. If this is feasible, then maybe reprioritize your work time and family time.

Consider hiring a nanny while you work. Now I know that this option won't work for all Moms. But, it may be something to consider. Can you afford to? Well, if you had a few completely free days to get work completed, would this result with more income? It may or may not. It really depends on the type of business you're in. If hiring a nanny would be an option for you, you would have evenings for more time with the kids.

Hope you find these tips helpful! Here's to YOUR success!

4 Helpful Tips to Grow Your Business Using Twitter

2010-08-30T06:40:00.000-07:00

What is everyone tweeting about these days? Most often you will find reputable home businesses trying to connect with one another, cooking and baking enthusiasts searching for new content for their recipe and cooking websites, and some are just there for friendship. I see all kinds of people on Twitter every day. Twitter is one of the greatest forms of networking and word of mouth on the planet.

Considering Twitter to help promote your business further is a great idea. How do you go about doing this? Well, there are many right ways and wrong ways to network on Twitter. Let's take a look at the basics and see how they will benefit your business.

1) Profile - Fill it out! I see far too many people daily not sharing a single thing about themselves, their business, or why they are there. This is the most important thing you can do -- show everyone your name, your business, and some pertinent information about yourself. No need to get too personal, however, share enough that potential customers will get a feel for who you are and what your business has to offer. Share your credibility.

2) Photo - A photo of yourself shows your Twitter friends that you are a real person. It is a well known fact that profiles with pictures are sought after approximately 50% more than profiles that don't. Majority of fellow Tweeters will be more inclined to network with you and visit your website if you share a photo.

If you are not comfortable doing this, at the very least, put an image that relates to your business. However, do not just leave the default Twitter image there.

3) No Spam - Don't lurk on Twitter all day and send direct message spam links to your followers. This is not good Twitter etiquette. It is important to establish trust and build relationships. You can share business tips, ideas that are helpful to the market you are trying to reach, personal stories, etc.

It is a good idea to occasionally re-tweet other users who have informative tweets that may benefit your followers. They may return the favor!

For every 5 non business tweets, you can post one business tweet. However, you must be careful not to appear mechanical.

4) Daily Tweeting and Networking - You'll need to invest some time with your Twitter followers on a regular basis. Log in a couple of times a week to say, hi and how are you? You need to invest quality time and get to know your followers to build a reputable business presence.

The above tips are just the basics of using this ever-growing social network and word of mouth smorgasbord. Utilizing it wisely will only benefit your business.

2010-08-04T07:52:00.000-07:00

The Benefits of being a WAHM

It's not hard to point out the benefits of being a WAHM because there are multiple reasons that often outweigh the negatives. The joy is being there 24/7 for your family, but mainly for your children.

Remember all the times your kid called from school because they forgot their lunch, stepped in a muddy puddle and needed a new pair of socks and shoes, or forgot their math book at home? It was always Mom to the rescue.

Being a WAHM also allows you to spend quality time with younger kids and help older kids with their homework, volunteer at the school, attend field trips, etc. Working outside the home can be totally exhausting and coming home to cook, clean, and then find time to spend with your family can be daunting. On top of that, you also need downtime and to prepare for the next day.

The other benefits of being a WAHM are not solely focused on the family. Think of the price of gas, car maintenance or transit fare, work clothes and all the things associated with working out of the home. $5-$10 lunches or $5 Starbuck coffees daily can be huge money guzzlers, and don't forget those lunch-time strolls to the mall. You can easily save over $200 per month working at home!

Working at home allows you to be your own boss, working at your own pace and working on a schedule suitable to the needs of your family. If you're sick, your co-workers aren't taking the extra work and if your child is sick at least you're home to comfort them. You can take care of any emergency that arises, and you have the ability to leave at any time without having to explain yourself to your superior.

Many are choosing to be a WAHM for the benefits stated above, and many are finding it's financially more affordable for the Mom to stay home due to the rising costs of daycare. These are great reasons you should become a WAHM, because a happy family is a healthy family.

2010-07-18T10:08:00.001-07:00

How to Manage Stress as Home Working Moms

We all have stress from daily living. It's a fact of life and there is no escaping it. It's how we manage it that's important and is what molds us into the people that we are. The idea is managing stress before it dominates you and makes you a mean person by the time you are 20 years of age. We can experience harmful repercussions from stress unless we have effective ways of coping.

Deciding to work from home can be a stressful experience, if you let it. However, there are certain things you can do to combat jangled nerves more effectively.

Below are a few tips that may help

* Don't quit your brick and mortar job before securing your home job. Make for sure you can at least match your income. I see a lot of this...folks thinking they can make a killing overnight and suddenly quit their "real" job, as some people describe an "outside of the home" job. Realistically, it doesn't happen that way. There is always the option of getting your home business off the ground and work outside the home at the same time.

* All too often high anxiety is a foreseen result from stress. Anxiety can double for home working moms. They not only have to get the required work done, but they also have to make for sure their family is properly taken care of as well. Not to mention household chores. Sipping on some chamomile tea along with some anti-anxiety, natural herbs can be a big help, apposed to the general prescription medications. There are a lot of natural herbs out there. Maybe consider giving them a try. Adding to that, running your day by the clock works great for eliminating anxiety as well. Make a priority list and stick to it!

* Take breaks often from your home job. This doesn't mean just in the evenings. Make a habit of taking regular breaks during your busy work day. Maybe start reading a good book (I usually will take a break to read my latest business book); watch your favorite television program; or simply take a short, brisk walk. Also meal breaks away from your desk is encouraged.

* If you have children at home, do something special with them. Go for ice cream or go to the park. Plan certain days for activities with your kids. Laugh and play with them. Big stress reliever.

* Get daily exercise. This is so important for Moms working at home and really worked well for me. If you sit at your desk all day, the need for activity doubles. Exercise makes you feel better both physically and mentally.

* Breathe. It's simple. It's a proven fact that deep breathing relaxes the mind and emotions. As you sit and do your work, breathe. It doesn't take much energy and you will find yourself feeling better.

If you find these stress management tips helpful, try to use them daily even if you don't feel stressed on a given day.

2010-07-13T12:15:00.000-07:00

Proper Etiquette for Socializing on Business Message Boards

I see new members of business message boards every day conveniently forgetting to make an introduction post and immediately finding their way over to the "post your ad" section, posting their ads and disappearing. And these people call this socializing and networking with others?

Of course they do. They explicitly fall short of knowing the first thing about business networking. They think if you say "hi, how are you?" to a few people on the forums, that it's forum networking. It takes a lot more than a few times of saying "hi, how are you?" to properly socialize and get to know others on a public business forum.

To truly network with other work at home professionals, you need to genuinely get to know them, exchange ideas, marketing strategies, tips, and advice with them on a regular basis, (if possible, daily.) It's substantially competitive in the work at home industry, therefore, you need to stand out above all the other marketers online. Be unique, but be yourself, and consistently try new venues and strategies.

Then, as you are traveling through the work at home forums, take your time and be helpful to the other members. Show them you know the ropes and you definitely know what you're talking about. And at the same time, you will be building on business relationships and friendships.

Below are the proper steps for networking and socializing on message boards

Step 1) Find and join message forums in your niche - It's a good idea to take the time and read what the boards are all about before hastily signing up. Look for the ones that will benefit you the most and are relevant to your interests and profession.

Step 2) Fill out your profile - Take the time to fill out your profile on each board using your real name. Include your location, your website, and also a little bit about yourself.

Step 3) Forum rules and guidelines - This is the most important step of all if it is your desire to establish a good reputation. Most forums today have made it a rule to make an introduction post and sometimes a specific amount of quality posts BEFORE being able to post in the ad sections. Some board owners don't even have a "post your ad" section, and there's nothing wrong with that. The majority of the members are there to gain information and knowledge in a certain area or niche.

Step 4) Your signature and rules - It's important to take the time to determine if the community allows a signature, and if so, read the rules and tweak your signature accordingly. Most forums do allow signatures. However, refrain from having a long list of links, a brief signature with two, (three at the most) links is key. Most members will shy away from people that have a ton of web links to click on, as they are distracting.

Step 5) Introduction post - Make sure that your very first post is your introduction post, no ads or links, just a nice introduction and share a few things about yourself. Most people enjoy reading about what the other members are all about.

Step 6) Proper Networking - Business networking online is showing a genuine interest in others and what they can teach you, along with tips and advice. You then, share the same with other professionals. Share your best tips, strategies, and techniques on marketing, networking, and making money. You will be properly branding yourself. By doing this, others will see you as a professional in your field and be more inclined to purchase from you or try out your product. This is vital to your home business and your success. You need to continuously build on that trust and credibility. And spamming ads all over the boards will not accomplish this.

If you are going to market yourself on forum boards, at least learn to do it in the proper way. By taking the time to learn the correct way to socialize with other home business entrepreneurs, you are doing yourself an enormous favor, and thus, you are sure to reap a vast array of benefits.

Here's to your Success!

2010-07-08T18:37:00.000-07:00

Excerpt from: The Simple Truths of Service,
by Ken Blanchard and Barbara Glanz
Great Service is a Choice

No one can make you serve customers well. That's because great service is a choice. Years ago, my friend, Harvey Mackay, told me a wonderful story about a cab driver that proved this point. He was waiting in line for a ride at the airport. When a cab pulled up, the first thing Harvey noticed was that the taxi was polished to a bright shine. Smartly dressed in a white shirt, black tie, and freshly pressed black slacks, the cab driver jumped out and rounded the car to open the back passenger door for Harvey. He handed my friend a laminated card and said:
"I'm Wally, your driver. While I'm loading your bags in the trunk, I'd like you to read my mission statement."
Taken aback, Harvey read the card. It said:
Wally's Mission Statement:
To get my customers to their destination in the quickest, safest, and cheapest way possible in a friendly environment
This blew Harvey away. Especially when he noticed that the inside of the cab matched the outside. Spotlessly clean!
As he slid behind the wheel, Wally said, "Would you like a cup of coffee? I have a thermos of regular and one of decaf."
My friend said jokingly, "No, I'd prefer a soft drink."
Wally smiled and said, "No problem. I have a cooler up front with regular and Diet Coke, water and orange juice."
Almost stuttering, Harvey said, "I'll take a Diet Coke"
Handing him his drink, Wally said, "If you'd like something to read, I have The Wall Street Journal, Time, Sports Illustratedand USA Today."
As they were pulling away, Wally handed my friend another laminated card. "These are the stations I get and the music they play, if you'd like to listen to the radio."
As if that weren't enough, Wally told Harvey that he had the air conditioning on and asked if the temperature was comfortable for him. Then he advised Harvey of the best route to his destination for that time of the day. He also let him know that he'd be happy to chat and tell him about some of the sights, or, if Harvey preferred, to leave him with his own thoughts.
"Tell me, Wally," my amazed friend asked the driver, "have you always served customers like this?"
Wally smiled into the rear view mirror. "No, not always. In fact, it's only been in the last two years. My first five years driving, I spent most of my time complaining like all the rest of the cabbies do. Then I heard the personal growth guru, Wayne Dyer, on the radio one day. He had just written a book called You'll See It When You Believe It. Dyer said that if you get up in the morning expecting to have a bad day, you'll rarely disappoint yourself. He said, 'Stop complaining! Differentiate yourself from your competition. Don't be a duck. Be an eagle. Ducks quack and complain. Eagles soar above the crowd.'
"That hit me right between the eyes," said Wally. "Dyer was really talking about me. I was always quacking and complaining, so I decided to change my attitude and become an eagle. I looked around at the other cabs and their drivers. The cabs were dirty, the drivers were unfriendly, and the customers were unhappy. So I decided to make some changes. I put in a few at a time. When my customers responded well, I did more."
"I take it this has paid off for you," Harvey said.
"It sure had," Wally replied. "My first year as an eagle, I doubled my income from the previous year. This year I'll probably quadruple it. You were lucky to get me today. I don't sit at cabstands anymore. My customers call me for appointments on my cell phone or leave a message on my answering machine. If I can't pick them up myself, I get a reliable cabbie friend to do it and I take a piece of the action."
Wally was phenomenal. He was running a limo service out of a Yellow Cab. I've probably told that story to more than fifty cab drivers over the years, and only two took the idea and ran with it. Whenever I go to their cities, I give them a call. The rest of the drivers quacked like ducks and told me all th reasons they couldn't do any of what I was suggesting.
Johnny the Bagger and Wally the Cab Driver made a different choice. They decided to stop quacking like ducks and start soaring like eagles.

How about you?

2010-07-01T21:36:00.000-07:00

WAHMs and Work Schedules

Just because you're a WAHM, it doesn't mean you're the welcome mat for everyone else. You're a work at home Mom who's not only taking care of her family, but contributing to the family's income. Your job working at home is just as important as someone's job outside the home.

The challenge for many Moms working from home is not making it clear to family and especially to friends that being a WAHM means you have work or business priorities to tend to. Here are some tips to help you make it clear to the people around you aware of your work schedule.

Sit down with your family members and show them your schedule. This schedule can be posted somewhere prominent in the house for reference. Explain to them what your job or business is about. The more they understand what you do and why you can't be disturbed from so and so time the less interruptions you will get.

If you treat your work at home business like a real business, how you present yourself as being a business person will shine through and people will take you seriously. If you act like your business is no big deal then your friends will think it's just a hobby and expect you to have time to chat on the phone, go for coffee or even use you as their babysitter.

There are many advantages of being a WAHM because of the flexibility it offers, but also know when to say, "No." Doing occasional favors for family and friends are okay if they really need your help, but it's not okay to make it a regular thing.

One of the reasons you work from home is to have full control of what and when you do things. Take control of your work at home schedule, stick to it and don't let others disrupt it unnecessarily. Once people see you take your work at home job or business seriously, the more likely they will stop dropping by unannounced or calling you to chat.

Work does work but as Zig Ziglar says you have to live your day by a the clock and your life by your vision.

2010-06-28T16:23:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Becky for posting this poem!

Don't Quit Poem

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest, if you must, but don't you quit.
Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As every one of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about,
When he might have won had he stuck it out;
Don't give up though the pace seems slow--
You may succeed with another blow.
Often the goal is nearer than,
It seems to a faint and faltering man,
Often the struggler has given up,
When he might have captured the victor's cup,
And he learned too late when the night slipped down,
How close he was to the golden crown.
Success is failure turned inside out--
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems so far,
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit--
It's when things seem worst that you must not quit.-

2010-06-25T07:46:00.001-07:00

Plans go wrong for lack of advice; many advisers bring success.

~ Proverbs 15:22, NLT

2010-06-17T11:43:00.000-07:00

"WIth integrity you have nothing to fear because you have nothing to hide."
Zig Ziglar

2010-06-08T20:54:00.000-07:00

Want success? Stop wanting and get it NOW!

I have two teenagers, 15 and 17 and yes I'm still alive! Actually we have a lot of fun but I find in today's American culture we really do sit around and wait for things to come to us instead of going out and claiming them for ourselves. In a recent conversation with my 17 year old who will be 18 in September we talked about how you can want something all day long but until you prepare or plan for it, it's not going to happen.
I love this quote from Jake Franceschini that really brings that point home:

Success isn't magic or hocus pocus..its simply learning how to focus on things that need your attention immediately..so get started .....NOW..

So what will my 17 year old or I or YOU do to seize the day?

To your success,

2010-06-03T09:15:00.001-07:00

11 Rules for a Deeply Rewarding Life.
By Robin S. Sharma

1. Place people over possessions.
2. Never stop doing what you love.
3. Always stay true to you.
4. Remember that we see the world not as it is but as we are.
5. Turn your wounds into wisdom and look for the gifts of your failures.
6. Be the kindest person you know.
7. Do at least one thing every day that makes your palms sweat.
8. Read a book, once a month.
9. Spend at least one hour a week in silence and nature to renew yourself.
10. Commit to a serious exercise program to awaken your best physical life.
11. Dedicate yourself to making your mark and leaving a legacy.

2010-06-02T09:49:00.000-07:00

Goal Setting Every Piece Counts

Think about the different areas of your life — financial, physical, and intellectual — as pieces in a puzzle. When one or more pieces are missing, you can’t see the entire image. Wellness is similar. When one area is weak, your goal of total wellness cannot be achieved. Every piece counts.

Goal setting is a powerful technique that can yield successful returns in every area of your life. Achieve them, and not only will you be happier and more satisfied, but you’ll be more productive in the areas that matter most in your life.

How to Set Goals

Set goals that fit your lifestyle and what you want to achieve. Set two or three goals in one area, or one in each of several areas. If you have more than one goal in an area, assign a priority to each one.

Set attainable goals. For example, if your goal is to lose weight, establish a healthy long-term plan of losing 1-2 pounds per week, not 30 pounds a month. Think achievement!

Have a balance of short-term and long-term goals. Smart, short-term goals will actually help you achieve your more difficult, long-term goals. And make sure they’re your goals, not someone else’s.

Write them down. A goal is only a wish if it isn’t written down.

Now that you’ve set your goals, follow these simple steps to achieve them. Stay on course by keeping a record of your progress. At the end of the day, or first thing the next morning, make a note of how you are doing. This will help you establish patterns that work. For example, Mondays and Wednesdays may be your best days to work out, while Thursdays are easiest for family gatherings. Work on your goals accordingly.

After you’ve reached a milestone, reward yourself. The reward is up to you.

Don’t give up if you don’t succeed the first try.

Remember, Thomas Edison tried more than 1,000 different filaments before he successfully created the light bulb. Sometimes reaching your goals will take that level of determination.

Failure is the best!

2010-05-27T05:58:00.001-07:00

The Best Motivation Video

2010-05-24T19:22:00.000-07:00

5 “Must Do’s” to Accomplish Anything!

5 ‘Must Do’s’ to Accomplish Anything!

People often ask me, “How can stay motivated?”.

My answer is simple. It’s all in your “Why”.

Whatever it is your looking to accomplish, your REASON for doing it is the ultimate motivator.

The problem that occurs with those who do not accomplish their goal(s), in so many cases, is that they “forgot” or stop FOCUSSING on their reason or perhaps their reason wasn’t strong enough.

So how do you stay on task? How can you make it strong enough?

My advice: Develop a strong “Why”. Peel back the onion to get to the core of your reason.

Here are 5 “Must Do”s” to creating a strong “Why”, to help you stay on task with and to accomplish your goals. MAKE SURE YOU WRITE YOUR ANSWERS OUT. IT MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE!

Start with this. Ask yourself:

Why do you want to accomplish XYZ??
Next, expand on your why:
When I accomplish this, it will mean this …..(fill in)…………. to me.
3rd, expand further:
When I accomplish this, it will mean this …..(fill in)………… to those I love.
4th, expand again:
When I accomplish this I will feel ……(include at least 5 emotions)……………. .
5th…..SHARE it in the written form with someone.

Hope this was helpful! Make it a great day!

2010-05-21T21:33:00.001-07:00

Character is who you are when no one is watching

Something to think about...:)

2010-04-17T10:26:00.000-07:00

A Walk In The Mountains

~Author Unknown

A son and his father were walking in the mountains.

Suddenly, his son falls, hurts himself and screams: "AAAhhhhhhhhhhh!!!"

To his surprise, he hears the voice repeating, somewhere in the mountain:

"AAAhhhhhhhhhhh!!!"

Curious, he yells: "Who are you?"

He receives the answer: "Who are you?"

Angered at the response, he screams: "Coward!"

He receives the answer: "Coward!"

He looks to his father and asks: "What's going on?"

The father smiles and says: "My son, pay attention."

And then he screams to the mountain: "I admire you!"

The voice answers: "I admire you!"

Again the man screams: "You are a champion!"

The voice answers: "You are a champion!"

The boy is surprised, but does not understand.

Then the father explains: "People call this ECHO, but really this is LIFE.

It gives you back everything you say or do.

Our life is simply a reflection of our actions.

If you want more love in the world, create more love in your heart.

If you want more competence in your team, improve your competence.

This relationship applies to everything, in all aspects of life;

Life will give you back everything you have given to it."

YOUR LIFE IS NOT A COINCIDENCE. IT'S A REFLECTION OF YOU!

This C.E.O Mom has ATTITUDE!

2010-04-14T12:57:00.000-07:00

“Ability is what you're capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it”

Lou Holtz

We are in the Relationshipping Business!

2010-04-12T18:50:00.000-07:00

They may forget what you said but they will never forget how you made them feel...

The Trust Edge: What Top Leaders Have & 8 Pillars to Build It

2010-04-05T08:51:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Carol Cruzen for sending this to our team!

By David Horsager, The Trust Edge, Minneapolis: Leaf River Publishing, 2009

Horsager provides practical insights and many well researched stories and examples in The Trust Edge to encourage both individuals and organizations to increase their impact and success by becoming more trusted. Through clear and engaging writing and storytelling Horsager shows that as trust increases within an organization so does morale, retention, productivity, innovation, and loyalty.
The Trust Edge is composed of five sections: the case for trust, the eight pillars of trust, transforming trust, deep trust in a flat world, and courageous trust. In the second section, Horsager describes the foundational elements of trust in terms of eight pillars:

Pillar One: Clarity - "For the trusted leader, clarity starts with honesty" (p. 47). According to Horsager, there are three important but distinct components of clarity: vision and purpose, expectations and communication, and daily tasks.

Pillar Two: Compassion - To help leaders show that they care about people around them, four actions fitting the acronym "LAWS" (listen, appreciate, wake up, and serve others) are described with several practical suggestions for each action.

Pillar Three: Character - The concept of character is explored through two aspects: integrity and morality. Horsager encourages developing accountability in order to foster integrity.

Pillar Four: Competency - As competency drives trust, successful leaders humbly assume the role of learners and grow through mentoring relationships.

Pillar Five: Commitment - "Passion is the essential ingredient for commitment" (p. 157), and commitment requires leaders to sacrifice and take responsibility.

Pillar Six: Connection - Horsager emphasizes that connection is fostered through finding common ground through conversation and asking good questions. Developing magnetic and transparent qualities also goes a long way to building connection in contrast to complaining and gossip.

Pillar Seven: Contribution - "You must deliver results to be trusted" (p. 216). In order to consistently increase effectiveness in the workplace, Horsager describes ten practical strategies that range from email efficiency to decision making and planning meaningful meetings.

Pillar Eight: Consistency - If consistency is lacking, the other pillars that build trust will not stand.

The third section on transforming trust deals with two chapters that focus on extending trust to others and rebuilding trust after it has been broken. In the fourth section of deep trust in a flat world, Horsager discusses cross-cultural interaction and points out that when diversity increases, leaders need to work extra hard to build trust since research shows that diversity tends to undermine trust. In the chapter, Trust in the Online Age, fifteen helpful suggestions are given to develop a trusted online presence.
The Trust Edge is written in an engaging and motivating style with explanatory figures and pertinent quotations along with many short stories and illustrations based on Horsager's broad experience and thorough research. Each chapter includes a page of highlights that make it easy for a reader to identify or revisit the main points. Four to eight reflection or discussion questions are also provided at the end of each chapter giving an opportunity to internalize and apply key principles and insights. The book's extensive reference and index sections make it a significant resource for further in-depth studies of trust and leadership.
I would recommend this book as a practical guide for personnel to improve the working environment and impact we have with our coworkers and partner organizations as well as our personal and family lives. It was a challenge to me and a stimulus to grow as I thought about how to apply the principles presented in The Trust Edge.
For a copy of The Trust Edge, or information about further training, resources, and the Trust Edge Coaching program, visit: www.TheTrustEdge.com.

Reviewed by Jason Parks

Do you want to succeed?

2010-03-15T19:04:00.001-07:00

What is difficult for some people is not difficult for others and the difference is in their attitude. Everything is possible when you believe in yourself and when you blindly believe that it can be done, when you have a burning desire and a stubborn and persistent attitude to succeed.

- Eduardo Dominguez

From Ben Johnson

2010-03-01T18:54:00.000-08:00

A very few men are wise by their own counsel or learned by their own teaching, for he that was only taught by himself had a fool for his master.

SUCCESS IS CLOSER THAN YOU THINK

2010-02-25T14:31:00.000-08:00

Every situation, properly perceived, becomes an opportunity.
But you have to act on them if you're going to be successful.

Distant pastures always look greener than those close at hand, but real opportunities are right where you are.
You must simply take advantage of them when they appear.
You can start where you are at any time.

Success is all around you.
It's not in your environment, it's not in luck or chance, or in the help of others.
Success is in yourself alone.

You don't need more strength or more ability or greater opportunity.
What you need is to use what you have.
Learn to seize good fortune, for it is always around you.

You must go to success, it doesn't come to you.
Open your own doors to opportunity.

What is real love?

2010-02-15T18:36:00.000-08:00

That deliberate act of giving one's self to another so that the other person constantly receives enjoyment. Love's richest reward comes when the object of love responds to the gift.

~ Craig Massey

Riding or Run Over?

2010-02-08T19:31:00.000-08:00

Even though you are on the right track you will get run over if you just sit there
~Anonymous

Planned Neglect

2010-01-11T07:34:00.000-08:00

Someone is reported to have asked a concert violinist in New York's Carnegie Hall how she became so skilled. She said it was by "planned neglect". She planned to neglect everything that was not related to her goal.
What is your goal? More time in your Bible, spending time with the family, building a successful business, paying off debt?
Some less important things in your life could stand some planned neglect so that you might give yourself to achieving your goals.

~ WORDS TO LIVE BY~

2010-01-07T12:32:00.000-08:00

Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light and where there is sadness, joy.
Grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are raised to eternal life.

-St. Francis of Assisi

Happy New Year!

2010-01-04T16:56:00.000-08:00

Wow! Can you believe that it's 2010?? How time flies!
How will you make 2010 the best year yet?

Here are some ideas and great quotes...

If you want milk you don't sit in the middle of a field with hope that a cow backs up into you!
Success doesn't come to you, you go to it!
Yesterday's failure was yesterday

So what will you do to change tomorrow!
God bless and Happy New Year!!!

C.S. Lewis on Real Life Interruptions

2009-12-28T08:48:00.001-08:00

"The great thing, if one can, is to stop regarding all the unpleasant things as interruptions of one’s “own,” or “real” life. The truth is of course that what one calls the interruptions are precisely one’s real life—the life God is sending one day by day; what one calls one’s “real life” is a phantom of one’s own imagination. This at least is what I see at moments of insight: but it’s hard to remember it all the time."

There are NO mistakes!

2009-12-23T08:33:00.001-08:00

By Robin Sharma

It's so easy to beat yourself up over mistakes you've made. So many amongst us live in the past rather than loving the present and building a brilliant future. Some people stay stuck for years over something they did or a failure they've experienced. Sad. A life is a terrible thing to waste.

But let me ask you a question: "is there really such a thing as a mistake?" First of all, no one tries to fail or mess things up. Every one of us wakes up in the morning, walks out into the world and does the best we can do based on what we know and the skills we have. But even more importantly, every so-called "mistake' is actually a rich source of learning. An opportunity to build more awareness and understanding and gain precious experience. Experience that will help us do, feel and be even better. So, just maybe, there are no mistakes. Just maybe what we could call failures are actually growth lessons in wolf's clothing. And just maybe the person who experiences the most wins.

Merry Christmas from the CEO Mom's!

2009-12-18T08:19:00.000-08:00

'Twas the week before Christmas, when all through the malls,
Moms were all shopping, but our Mission still calls.
Our promotion just rocks and our goals - they are there,
In hopes there will be many Advancements to share!

The children on vacation sleeping late in their beds,
Giving us mornings to focus -with our goals in our heads;
Our momentum is awesome, don't let it slow,
Just a couple more enrollments will make us all grow!

Let's spring to our feet, set appointments for tonight,
You'll be so very proud to end your year right!
We are so proud of our team and how we work together,
Just one more family helped will change their life
FOREVER!

MERRY CHRISTMAS ALL!

~written by Martha Blanchard

Motivation...

2009-12-17T07:36:00.000-08:00

“The whole idea of motivation is a trap. Forget motivation. Just do it. Exercise, lose weight, test your blood sugar, or whatever. Do it without motivation. And then, guess what? After you start doing the thing, that's when the motivation comes and makes it easy for you to keep on doing it.

~ John C. Maxwell

2009-10-28T13:42:00.001-07:00

Everything I need to know, I learned from Noah's Ark

There are a lot of truths in this little piece. I hope you enjoy it :-)

One - Don't miss the boat.

Two - Remember that we are all in the same boat.

Three - Plan ahead. It wasn't raining when Noah built the Ark.

Four - Stay fit. When you're 600 years old, someone may ask you to do something really big.

Five - Don't listen to critics; just get on with the job that needs to be done.

Six - Build your future on high ground.

Seven - For safety's sake, travel in pairs.

Eight - Speed isn't always an advantage. The snails were on board with the cheetahs.

Nine - When you're stressed, float a while.

Ten - Remember, the Ark was built by amateurs; the Titanic by professionals.

Have a great day!

2009-10-28T13:37:00.000-07:00

Laughter!!

Whoever said "Laughter is the best medicine” was right.

An integral part of total mind and body wellness requires you to tickle your funny bone. By laughing your way through life, you'll feel better. And who knows, you might be healthier, too!I recieved the following article, and just had to share, it just made my day!! Enjoy!

===
KIDS SAY THE DARNDEST THINGS!

WHAT IS THE RIGHT AGE TO GET MARRIED?
Twenty-three is the best age because you know the person FOREVER by then.
--Camille, age 10
No age is good to get married at. You Got to be a fool to get married.
--Freddie, age 6

HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHO TO MARRY?
You got to find somebody who likes the same stuff. Like, if you like sports, she should like it that you like sports, and she should keep the chips and dip coming.
--Alan, age 10
No person really decides before they Grow up who they're going to marry. God decides it all way before, and you get to find out later who you're stuck with.
--Kirsten, age 10

HOW CAN A STRANGER TELL IF TWO PEOPLE ARE MARRIED?
You might have to guess, based on whether they seem to be yelling at the same kids.
--Derrick, age 8

WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR MOM AND DAD HAVE IN COMMON?
Both don't want any more kids.
--Lori, age 8

WHAT DO MOST PEOPLE DO ON A DATE?
Dates are for having fun, and people should use them to get to know each other. Even boys have something to say if you listen long enough.
--Lynnette, age 8
On the first date, they just tell each other lies, and that usually gets them interested enough to go for a second date.
--Martin, age 10

WHAT WOULD YOU DO ON A FIRST DATE THAT WAS TURNING SOUR?
I'd run home and play dead. The next day I would call all the newspapers and make sure they wrote about me in all the dead columns.
--Craig, age 9

WHEN IS IT OKAY TO KISS SOMEONE?
When they're rich. --Pam, age 7
The law says you have to be eighteen, so I wouldn't want to mess with that.
--Curt, age 7
The rule goes like this: If you kiss someone, then you should marry them and have kids with them. It's the right thing to do.
--Howard, age 8

IS IT BETTER TO BE SINGLE OR MARRIED?
I don't know which is better, but I'll tell you one thing. I'm never going to have sex with my wife. I don't want to be all grossed out.
--Theodore, age 8
It's better for girls to be single but not for boys. Boys need someone to clean up after them.
--Anita, age 9

HOW WOULD THE WORLD BE DIFFERENT IF PEOPLE DIDN'T GET MARRIED?
There sure would be a lot of kids to explain, wouldn't there?
--Kelvin, age 8

====
"And the #1 Favorite is........"

HOW WOULD YOU MAKE A MARRIAGE WORK?
Tell your wife that she looks pretty, even if she looks like a truck.
--Ricky, age 10

2009-10-28T13:19:00.000-07:00

Inspiring Hearts ~ Changing Lives!

Hello All! I am so Excited to share this Blog with all of you! My main goal in life is to Change as many lives as I can, and help those believe in themselves by Inspiring them to Never Give Up! To ALWAYS reach for their dreams and don't ever let anyone or anything stop them from achieving their goals!

I truly believe our purpose in life is what and how much can we do for others, not how much we can do for our self. What is Amazing about that is that the more you give back you WILL get that much and more back to you! If you have a higher purpose, to change lives and inspire hearts there is no telling how much you can do!!!

I WANT and KNOW ANYONE can and WILL make their Dreams come true no matter what comes in their way! No matter what Obstacle, no matter what Wall, No matter what Fear... If you CHOOSE to KNOW that you will do it, that your dreams will come true, that you have anything and everything to change lives and reach your goals... YOU WILL!!!

Yes, anything in life that is worth anything, that brings you love, that brings you Success, that brings you your dreams will be work, will be effort, will be paying a price... but always remember either way you will be paying a price, just ask yourself this...

Do you want to Pay the Price for Failure?
Or Do you want to Pay the Price for Success?

I CHOOSE Success, what do you choose?

2009-10-28T13:17:00.000-07:00

Just when you think you can't

The Dance

In a Chinese modern dance competition on TV one very unique couple won one of the top prizes. The lady, in her 30's, was a dancer who had trained since she was a little girl. Later in life, she lost her entire left arm in an accident and fell into a state of depression for a few years.

Someone then asked her to coach a Children's dancing group. From that point on, she realized that she could not forget dancing. She still loved to dance and wanted to dance again. So, she started to do some of her old routines, but, having lost her arm, she had also lost her balance. It took a while before she could even make simple turns and spins without falling. Then she heard of a man in his 20s who had lost a leg in an accident. He had also fallen into the usual denial, depression and anger type of emotional roller coaster. But, she was determined to find him and persuade him to dance with her... He had never danced, and to dance with one leg....are you joking with me?? "No way!"

But, she didn't give up, and he reluctantly agreed thinking, "I have nothing else to do anyway." She started to teach him dancing. The two broke up a few times because he had no concept of using muscle, how to control his body, and knew none of the basic things about dancing. When she became frustrated and lost patience with him, he would walk out. Eventually, they came back together and started training seriously.

They hired a choreographer to design routines for them. She would fly high (held by him) with both arms (a sleeve for an arm) flying in the air. He could bend horizontally supported by one leg with her leaning on him, etc. In the competition, as you will see, they dance beautifully and they legitimately won the competition. When I watched this I completely forgot that she was missing an arm, and the guy with only one leg is really quite amazing!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SlRNNb9IGI4

2009-10-28T13:16:00.001-07:00

Stop and Remember

When you are tempted to stray off track, stop and take a moment to consider where you're going. Remember why you originally began traveling the path you're on. When the many distractions of life put you in danger of losing focus, stop and give yourself an opportunity to regain clarity. Remember the depth of passion with which you first started your journey.

When it seems that nothing is going your way, stop and make some time to adjust your perspective. Recall how far you've already come, and remind yourself that positive actions will indeed have positive, valuable results.

When you find that you've grown weary, stop and give yourself a real, refreshing, well-deserved break. Then you can jump back into the effort with a renewed vigor and sense of purpose.

When you feel that you've lost faith in the goodness of life, stop and look around you. Offer your genuine help to someone in need, and you'll find that your heart is soon being healed.

When you find yourself too caught up in the frustrations that surround you, stop and remember the treasures you value most deeply. And you'll reconnect to the incredible abundance that is your life.

2009-10-28T13:15:00.001-07:00

The Freedom to Choose When and Where We Work is PRICELESS!

The current economic situation is causing many to be out of work or fearing they may be out of work. As a result they are now looking at what other options may be out there for them. One thought is to consider if it's a good time to start a home based business. So many people only dream of working for themselves but sadly never take the plunge. When the security of a J. O. B. is gone or at risk, it is a good time to consider other options. This could be a great time to start your own home business if you are motivated and prepared to make it a success.
OnMomsTime

2009-10-28T13:13:00.000-07:00

Get out the "Clear Power" window cleaner....

That's right. Get out the window cleaner, it's time to wipe away the blurry smudgy lines that are blocking our crystal view of our bright future! You view your future through what you understand about today. What you understand about today, may not be accurate but it is based on what we learned yesterday. We were all "raised" to believe certain things. But who is to say that these things are 100% accurate? Do you have an opinion about something of which your friend has the direct opposite opinion? Who is right and who is wrong? Would you believe that it is possible for both of you to be right? If you believe that it is gross to eat snails, you probably weren't raised by a french woman.

What you believe predicts your behavior, which results in your action, which affirms your original belief. If you believe that you are a failure, you will probably have little faith in yourself, which means you will either not try or try halfheartedly, then you fail and guess what? You already knew you would. It's a viscous cycle. By the same token, a positive belief will have a positive outcome.

I was not raised to have the confidence of a super model (and I am assuming, here, that super models have a lot of confidence). However, I am a child of God and because of that I know this. "God did not give us a spirit of fear, but rather he gave us a spirit of power, love and self-discipline." (2 Timothy 1:7) What a freeing thought! So let's put an imaginary window up in front of us and write our beliefs on that window. What are your beliefs? Are they positive? Negative? A little of both? The answer is yes. Now, what if we could wipe those negative beliefs (historical inaccuracies) away like they were smudges on that window and write in their place a truth. You just changed the way you see the future. What are some of your beliefs today? Test them for accuracy and replace them with truths. Be Blessed ya'll!

2009-10-23T12:33:00.001-07:00

Tips for a Postive Mental Attitude

1. Smile
2. Laugh
3. Greet people courteously
4. Be enthusiastic
5. Dream. Engage in ‘Imagineering’. Set a goal. Aim high.
6. Act. Work your plan. Don’t be an ‘Excusiologists’.
7. Be single minded in your purpose.
8. Love your work.
9. Be focused at all times. Be dedicated, disciplined and regular in your work.
10. Show commitment.
11. Strive for excellence. Set your own benchmark.
12.‘Sharpen the saw, ‘Polish the brass’ everyday.
13. Be humble and open- minded. Always wear your ‘white belt’.
14. Be open to change. Don’t be afraid of taking risks.
15. Don’t be judgmental. Forgive and forget.
16. Develop a loving attitude to all around you.
17. Accept adversity and disappointments. Overcome them and emerge stronger.
18. Cultivate a working philosophy of life: Turn every experience, ‘good’ or ‘bad’, into a
‘learning’ experience.
19. Be your own critic. Strive for improvement. Be a life-long ardent student of life.
20. Live each day as though it were your last.
21. Lead. The five key *facets of leadership are..... Focus, Authenticity, Courage, Empathy, Timing.
22. Remember, we are not human beings having a spiritual experience; we are spiritual beings having a human experience.