Welcome to Flo's Business & Fun Blog...
Today's article is about wanting to change the world! I find that many people has visions to change things. I myself would like to change many things to improve what is going on with today's society! Do You want to change things?? Then take a moment to read Michael's article about changing the world...
Quote of the Day
Be the change you want to see in the world.
- Mahatma Gandhi -
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Before You Go Out to Change the World,
Be Sure You Put Your House in Order
by - Michael Angier , founder and CIO
www.SuccessNet.org
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
I run into a number of people who tell me they want to make a lasting difference in the world.
Some of them have grandiose plans on how they'll change the world. Others don't have any idea how they will make a big impact on the world--they just know that they will.
It's a worthy goal, and I certainly don't want to throw cold water on anybody's dream.
But I find that many of these people, who have such a grand vision of things, have lives in disorder. They have things close at hand that will prevent them from doing the big things. Oftentimes, their financial house, their physical house and/or their personal relationships are in great disorder.
For me, I know that I wasn't able to make much of an impact on the world at large until I was able to get my own life handled. I had to become master of small things before I could master big things.
One of my favorite quotes was written by a monk in 1100.
"When I was a young man, I wanted to change the world. I found it was difficult to change the world, so I tried to change my nation. When I found I couldn't change the nation, I began to focus on my town. I couldn't change the town and as an older man, I tried to change my family.
Now, as an old man, I realize the only thing I can change is myself, and suddenly I realize that if long ago I had changed myself, I could have made an impact on my family. My family and I could have made an impact on our town. Their impact could have changed the nation and I could indeed have changed the world."
Action Point
For those of us who want to make a difference in the world, it's important we remember what Bucky Fuller said, "Think globally, but act locally."
Take care of things close at hand, and you'll be in a much better position to make a profound difference on humanity.
Related Article:
Top Ten Things to Think About If You Want to Change the World
SuccessNet.org/articles/angier-TTchangetheworld.htm
-=-
Copyright Michael Angier & Success Networks International.
Used with Permission.
Michael Angier is the founder and president of SuccessNet. Their mission is to inform, inspire and empower people to be their best--personally and professionally.
Download their free eBooklet, 10 ESSENTIAL KEYS TO PERSONAL EFFECTIVENESS from www.SuccessNet.org/keys.htm or by sending a blank email to keys@SuccessNet.org.
More free subscriptions, books and SuccessMark Cards are available at www.SuccessNet.org.
-=-
Have yourself a Super Wednesday!
Apr 12, 2006
Apr 11, 2006
Got "Blacklisted?"
Welcome to Flo's Business & Fun Blog...
Today's article is about your email address got "blacklisted" by your ISP! Recently I've been having problems with my ISP to deliver some emails. I use Outlook Express so I decided to create new folders then set a "message rules" for each newsletter I want delivered. Now I receive my emails into their own folder and it's working out great and it looks neater!
If You find your email messages don't get through, Jim is sharing some tips that should help You, read more below...
Quote of the Day
Only those who will risk going to far can possibly find out how far one can go.
- T.S. Eliot -
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Is Your Email Address "Blacklisted?"
- by Jim Edwards
©Jim Edwards - All Rights reserved
www.TheNetReporter.com
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
A lady emailed me yesterday very upset over the fact that her friend's Internet Service Provider (ISP) wasn't delivering important email messages.
This lack of delivery caused a real problem for the two of them with ruined plans, missed appointments, and just plain inconvenience.
If you don't use email, this might not sounds like a "big deal."
But this problem of non-delivery has dramatically affected the way businesses use email and is now about to reach epidemic proportions for consumers using email.
To put things into perspective, imagine if every time you dialed a friend's phone number you had no idea whether it would ring or not.
Now imagine how frustrated you would feel over time if you kept dialing the same number and it never rang for you, but others could get through and your friend's phone number never changed.
That's exactly how you'll feel when your personal emails start getting blocked for seemingly no reason.
The problem of legitimate email messages not getting through stems from the uncontrolled and unstoppable onslaught of spam that currently grips the Internet with seemingly no end in sight.
The fact that viruses can now "spoof" email addresses and make it look like someone sent a virus to thousands of people doesn't help matters either.
In an effort to cut down on spam, ISP's implement a number of counter-measures, including: text filters, spam databases, and IP blocking.
If your email message doesn't get delivered, most of the time it means you inadvertently got caught in an ISP's "defense system."
If you ever find your email messages don't get through, or if you'd like to head off problems before they occur, the following tips should help.
Encourage all your email contacts to "whitelist" your email address in their email program.
Just like you can say which email addresses you don't want to get messages from, you can specify a list of email addresses you always want accept.
In Yahoo or Hotmail you can set up your filters to accept email messages from a certain source regardless of the subject line or content of the message.
It takes a little patience to set up, but it pays big dividends by not losing important messages.
With Outlook and Outlook Express, you can set up message rules to always accept messages from certain senders.
If you send messages to people who use AOL, try this technique. Get them to add you to their address book "safelist" or "approved senders."
This helps AOL identify that the message recipient "knows" you and has a higher likelihood of actually wanting to receive your message.
Email AOL tech support for help on this if you encounter a problem.
If filtering and "white" listing don't work, then your friend needs to contact their ISP to sort out the problem.
Their ISP can certainly figure out why messages don't get through, but it may take some concerted encouragement to get the ISP's customer service to take the time to investigate the cause.
-=-
Jim Edwards is a syndicated newspaper columnist and the co-author of an amazing new ebook that will teach you how to use free articles to quickly drive thousands of targeted visitors to your website or affiliate links...
Need MORE TRAFFIC to your website or affiliate links? "Turn Words Into Traffic" reveals the secrets for driving Thousands of NEW visitors to your website or affiliate links... without spending a dime on advertising!
Click Here> Write Money Making Ezine Articles FAST!
-=-
Have yourself a Super Tuesday!
Today's article is about your email address got "blacklisted" by your ISP! Recently I've been having problems with my ISP to deliver some emails. I use Outlook Express so I decided to create new folders then set a "message rules" for each newsletter I want delivered. Now I receive my emails into their own folder and it's working out great and it looks neater!
If You find your email messages don't get through, Jim is sharing some tips that should help You, read more below...
Quote of the Day
Only those who will risk going to far can possibly find out how far one can go.
- T.S. Eliot -
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Is Your Email Address "Blacklisted?"
- by Jim Edwards
©Jim Edwards - All Rights reserved
www.TheNetReporter.com
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
A lady emailed me yesterday very upset over the fact that her friend's Internet Service Provider (ISP) wasn't delivering important email messages.
This lack of delivery caused a real problem for the two of them with ruined plans, missed appointments, and just plain inconvenience.
If you don't use email, this might not sounds like a "big deal."
But this problem of non-delivery has dramatically affected the way businesses use email and is now about to reach epidemic proportions for consumers using email.
To put things into perspective, imagine if every time you dialed a friend's phone number you had no idea whether it would ring or not.
Now imagine how frustrated you would feel over time if you kept dialing the same number and it never rang for you, but others could get through and your friend's phone number never changed.
That's exactly how you'll feel when your personal emails start getting blocked for seemingly no reason.
The problem of legitimate email messages not getting through stems from the uncontrolled and unstoppable onslaught of spam that currently grips the Internet with seemingly no end in sight.
The fact that viruses can now "spoof" email addresses and make it look like someone sent a virus to thousands of people doesn't help matters either.
In an effort to cut down on spam, ISP's implement a number of counter-measures, including: text filters, spam databases, and IP blocking.
If your email message doesn't get delivered, most of the time it means you inadvertently got caught in an ISP's "defense system."
If you ever find your email messages don't get through, or if you'd like to head off problems before they occur, the following tips should help.
Encourage all your email contacts to "whitelist" your email address in their email program.
Just like you can say which email addresses you don't want to get messages from, you can specify a list of email addresses you always want accept.
In Yahoo or Hotmail you can set up your filters to accept email messages from a certain source regardless of the subject line or content of the message.
It takes a little patience to set up, but it pays big dividends by not losing important messages.
With Outlook and Outlook Express, you can set up message rules to always accept messages from certain senders.
If you send messages to people who use AOL, try this technique. Get them to add you to their address book "safelist" or "approved senders."
This helps AOL identify that the message recipient "knows" you and has a higher likelihood of actually wanting to receive your message.
Email AOL tech support for help on this if you encounter a problem.
If filtering and "white" listing don't work, then your friend needs to contact their ISP to sort out the problem.
Their ISP can certainly figure out why messages don't get through, but it may take some concerted encouragement to get the ISP's customer service to take the time to investigate the cause.
-=-
Jim Edwards is a syndicated newspaper columnist and the co-author of an amazing new ebook that will teach you how to use free articles to quickly drive thousands of targeted visitors to your website or affiliate links...
Need MORE TRAFFIC to your website or affiliate links? "Turn Words Into Traffic" reveals the secrets for driving Thousands of NEW visitors to your website or affiliate links... without spending a dime on advertising!
Click Here> Write Money Making Ezine Articles FAST!
-=-
Have yourself a Super Tuesday!
Apr 10, 2006
The Sticky Issue...
Welcome to Flo's Business & Fun Blog...
Today's article is about the sticky issue of simply deciding on a schedule for your e-zine and sticking to it! Who says You need to write in-depth articles? Alexandria is sharing a few great tips to help You, she has some fantastic tips that I myself will apply, read more below...
Daily Thought
"Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, are also remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so."
- Douglas Adams -
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
The Sticky Issue of E-zine Schedules
by Alexandria K. Brown,
“The E-zine Queen”
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
While many new e-zine publishers are anxious about developing good content for their e-zines, many of them seem to have more trouble simply deciding on a schedule and sticking to it!
It's smart to tame the schedule beast right from the start. Here are a few tips to help you.
1. Realistically consider how much time you want to spend on your e-zine.
For your beginning stages, plan on at least five hours to develop each issue if you're developing your own content. This includes time for researching, writing, formatting, proofreading, and publishing. And this estimate is for an e-zine featuring only one article. If you're going to feature more than one article, plan on making more time, or publish articles by guest authors.
2. Start with a conservative schedule.
When you're planning your e-zine, you'll probably be so excited and brimming with ideas that you want to publish as frequently as possible. Stop! Your enthusiasm is admirable, but start off monthly for now. You can always increase the frequency later, when you're sure you can handle it.
I excitedly began my first e-zine several years ago as a weekly gig, then immediately dropped back to monthly once I caught myself moaning and groaning whenever I was scheduled to write it. Now that I have support staff, I've increased my schedule to biweekly (every two weeks).
3. Even if you can stand it, don't publish daily.
Yep, that's right. You want to be on your prospects' minds, but not in their faces every day. We all get SO much e-mail as it is! Even if you write a phenomenal missive, it's best to leave your readers wanting a bit more.
I was recently on the list of a very good daily e-zine, but I just couldn't keep up with reading it every day. I felt extremely guilty watching the issues build up unread in my e-mail inbox, so I finally canceled my subscription. If you want your e-zine to be joyfully anticipated and well read, I recommend publishing no more than once or twice a week.
4. Pick the best day for your readers ... and you
Many sales experts say that people are most receptive to hearing from marketers on Tuesdays. So why not have your e-zine arrive in your readers' e-mail inboxes then? Other good days are Wednesdays and Thursdays, according to other sales pros. However, I ignore all this and publish on Fridays, simply because it's my favorite day. ; )
5. Once you've set your schedule, stick to it!
Setting a schedule suggests to your readers that you're organized and can meet deadlines. No matter how busy you are, sending out your e-zine at random looks flaky and unprofessional.
Now, we're all human and take vacations, get sick, and get plain busy. So what do you do when you just CAN'T get that new issue out? Do a rerun. Choose a past issue from more than six months ago that you got great feedback on. Republish it with a little intro that says something like, "Hey folks, right now I'm sipping drinks on the beach in Bali, so by popular request, here's a rerun of one of our best articles. We'll be back next week with fresh, insightful content!" Of course, only say something like that if you are actually on vacation — people do understand that you take time off.
Otherwise, never share that you're behind schedule or too busy to write your next issue — that would tell your readers that they come last on your list. If you must, stretch the truth a bit, and say you're at a conference, traveling, etc.
6. Try to have one or two issues completed in advance that can be sent out at a moment's notice.
This is great for those times when an emergency strikes or you're too swamped to write a new issue. The next time you get a few ideas at once (and don't they seem to come in multiples?), get psyched up and whip out a few at once. You can always edit them later — just get the ideas out of your head and onto your screen.
(E-zine Queen Secret Tip: Need a little extra inspiration? Try whipping up a fresh margarita — works for me, every time! Just be sure to do an extra proofread later on. ; ))
7. For a low-maintenance e-zine, tip well!
Who says you need to write in-depth articles? Everyone's time is short, so readers LOVE quick tips. Tips are easy to put together when you're close to deadline, also meaning you'll be more likely to stay on schedule. So if you're tight on time, publish simple monthly or weekly tips instead of detailed articles.
© 2000-2006 Alexandria K. Brown. All rights reserved.
-=-
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Alexandria K. Brown, “The E-zine Queen,” is author of the award-winning manual, “Boost Business With Your Own E-zine.” To learn more about her book and sign up for more FREE tips like these, visit her site at www.EzineQueen.com.
-=-
Have yourself a Super Monday!
Today's article is about the sticky issue of simply deciding on a schedule for your e-zine and sticking to it! Who says You need to write in-depth articles? Alexandria is sharing a few great tips to help You, she has some fantastic tips that I myself will apply, read more below...
Daily Thought
"Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, are also remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so."
- Douglas Adams -
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
The Sticky Issue of E-zine Schedules
by Alexandria K. Brown,
“The E-zine Queen”
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
While many new e-zine publishers are anxious about developing good content for their e-zines, many of them seem to have more trouble simply deciding on a schedule and sticking to it!
It's smart to tame the schedule beast right from the start. Here are a few tips to help you.
1. Realistically consider how much time you want to spend on your e-zine.
For your beginning stages, plan on at least five hours to develop each issue if you're developing your own content. This includes time for researching, writing, formatting, proofreading, and publishing. And this estimate is for an e-zine featuring only one article. If you're going to feature more than one article, plan on making more time, or publish articles by guest authors.
2. Start with a conservative schedule.
When you're planning your e-zine, you'll probably be so excited and brimming with ideas that you want to publish as frequently as possible. Stop! Your enthusiasm is admirable, but start off monthly for now. You can always increase the frequency later, when you're sure you can handle it.
I excitedly began my first e-zine several years ago as a weekly gig, then immediately dropped back to monthly once I caught myself moaning and groaning whenever I was scheduled to write it. Now that I have support staff, I've increased my schedule to biweekly (every two weeks).
3. Even if you can stand it, don't publish daily.
Yep, that's right. You want to be on your prospects' minds, but not in their faces every day. We all get SO much e-mail as it is! Even if you write a phenomenal missive, it's best to leave your readers wanting a bit more.
I was recently on the list of a very good daily e-zine, but I just couldn't keep up with reading it every day. I felt extremely guilty watching the issues build up unread in my e-mail inbox, so I finally canceled my subscription. If you want your e-zine to be joyfully anticipated and well read, I recommend publishing no more than once or twice a week.
4. Pick the best day for your readers ... and you
Many sales experts say that people are most receptive to hearing from marketers on Tuesdays. So why not have your e-zine arrive in your readers' e-mail inboxes then? Other good days are Wednesdays and Thursdays, according to other sales pros. However, I ignore all this and publish on Fridays, simply because it's my favorite day. ; )
5. Once you've set your schedule, stick to it!
Setting a schedule suggests to your readers that you're organized and can meet deadlines. No matter how busy you are, sending out your e-zine at random looks flaky and unprofessional.
Now, we're all human and take vacations, get sick, and get plain busy. So what do you do when you just CAN'T get that new issue out? Do a rerun. Choose a past issue from more than six months ago that you got great feedback on. Republish it with a little intro that says something like, "Hey folks, right now I'm sipping drinks on the beach in Bali, so by popular request, here's a rerun of one of our best articles. We'll be back next week with fresh, insightful content!" Of course, only say something like that if you are actually on vacation — people do understand that you take time off.
Otherwise, never share that you're behind schedule or too busy to write your next issue — that would tell your readers that they come last on your list. If you must, stretch the truth a bit, and say you're at a conference, traveling, etc.
6. Try to have one or two issues completed in advance that can be sent out at a moment's notice.
This is great for those times when an emergency strikes or you're too swamped to write a new issue. The next time you get a few ideas at once (and don't they seem to come in multiples?), get psyched up and whip out a few at once. You can always edit them later — just get the ideas out of your head and onto your screen.
(E-zine Queen Secret Tip: Need a little extra inspiration? Try whipping up a fresh margarita — works for me, every time! Just be sure to do an extra proofread later on. ; ))
7. For a low-maintenance e-zine, tip well!
Who says you need to write in-depth articles? Everyone's time is short, so readers LOVE quick tips. Tips are easy to put together when you're close to deadline, also meaning you'll be more likely to stay on schedule. So if you're tight on time, publish simple monthly or weekly tips instead of detailed articles.
© 2000-2006 Alexandria K. Brown. All rights reserved.
-=-
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Alexandria K. Brown, “The E-zine Queen,” is author of the award-winning manual, “Boost Business With Your Own E-zine.” To learn more about her book and sign up for more FREE tips like these, visit her site at www.EzineQueen.com.
-=-
Have yourself a Super Monday!
Apr 9, 2006
Microsoft Loss Lawsuit
Welcome to Flo's Business & Fun Blog
Palm Sunday today! Hope your day is starting off beautifully and that your enjoying the weekend! You'll hear more about this over the next few days, but it's important to keep things in perspective.
Today's article is about how Microsoft's loss in a recent software patent battle. This could affect your website and minisite's functionality when Microsoft does their update next Tuesday, April 11th.
Will Your Website "Break" April 11th? In their update intended for April 11th, Microsoft will disable / modify some of the functionality in its Internet Explorer Web browers. This will affect "ActiveX" controls for rich and dynamic media such as streaming audio and video.
Before You get caught up in the hype, read Jim's article below...
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Microsoft Loses Patent Lawsuit
- by Jim Edwards
© Jim Edwards - All Rights reserved
www.TheNetReporter.com
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
One of the top news stories this week that got virtually no popular press involves the judgment against Microsoft by a small company with a big software patent.
University of California and Eolas Technologies, Inc. hold a patent which Microsoft, according to several judges, violated with its popular Internet Explorer Web browser.
Without going into painful technical detail, the patent involves the "ActiveX" technology enabling Web browsers to display both web pages and content such as streaming audio, Flash, QuickTime video and other "rich" or "dynamic" content.
Despite heated input by the Internet community to invalidate Eolas' patent because of its broad nature, Microsoft lost every appeal and effort to get the patent nullified.
Bottom line: Microsoft faced two choices. First, they could pay the patent owner and keep things moving along, business as usual (much the way Blackberry did recently when a judge found them guilty of patent infringement).
Second choice: Microsoft could avoid future licensing fees by changing their IE browser and removing the offending code.
Which do you think they chose? Ding-ding-ding!
You guessed it, Microsoft chose to avoid paying millions more by simply removing the offending code.
Unfortunately, that decision means a bit of trouble for a few million web designers who use Flash, streaming movies, and more.
Ultimately, the change to IE may force visitors to sites with rich content to click on an object to enable it before they can interact with it.
Not a huge deal. However, time will tell what ultimately happens and the actual impact on sites running rich content.
But before everyone starts screaming that "The sky is falling" and "our websites are broken," let me ask you a question.
Do you really think that companies like Macromedia (makers of Flash) and sites like Google Video will let a few changes in Internet Explorer put them out of business?
I don't think so!
If anything, this change will force companies to step up to the plate and discover ways to serve dynamic content that does not depend on ActiveX.
Sure, it will mean some pain for both content creators and users in the short term, but in the end I honestly believe that, through innovation, we will all end up with a better solution than what currently exists.
In other news today...
** Hollywood Goes Online **
Six major movie studios recently announced their intentions to start selling new-release movies via Internet download from the site MovieLink.com.
But before you jump for joy at watching "Brokeback Mountain" on your pc, understand a couple of facts.
You can't burn the movie to DVD, and the downloadable films carry a price tag of around $15-30, a price comparable or more than a physical DVD you can purchase at Wal-Mart.
As a rabid DVD consumer and enthusiastic computer user (with six in my home office alone), I can tell you right up front, there is no way in @#$%* I'll pay 20 bucks for a movie I can't "veg" out with in front of the TV.
Are they insane?
Until it gets to the point where you can download a new-release movie, burn it to DVD or put it on your iPod, downloadable flicks will remain, at best, a novelty.
-=-
Jim Edwards is a syndicated newspaper columnist and the creator of an amazing course that will teach you step-by-step and click-by-click how to finally create your own money-making mini-sites...
"Finally! A Quick and Easy Way For YOU to Painlessly Set Up Your OWN Moneymaking 'Mini' Websites... Without Being a Computer Geek, Buying Expensive Software, or Paying Outrageous Fees To A Webmaster!"
Click Here => Money-Making Mini Sites
-=-
Have yourself a Super Sunday!
Palm Sunday today! Hope your day is starting off beautifully and that your enjoying the weekend! You'll hear more about this over the next few days, but it's important to keep things in perspective.
Today's article is about how Microsoft's loss in a recent software patent battle. This could affect your website and minisite's functionality when Microsoft does their update next Tuesday, April 11th.
Will Your Website "Break" April 11th? In their update intended for April 11th, Microsoft will disable / modify some of the functionality in its Internet Explorer Web browers. This will affect "ActiveX" controls for rich and dynamic media such as streaming audio and video.
Before You get caught up in the hype, read Jim's article below...
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Microsoft Loses Patent Lawsuit
- by Jim Edwards
© Jim Edwards - All Rights reserved
www.TheNetReporter.com
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
One of the top news stories this week that got virtually no popular press involves the judgment against Microsoft by a small company with a big software patent.
University of California and Eolas Technologies, Inc. hold a patent which Microsoft, according to several judges, violated with its popular Internet Explorer Web browser.
Without going into painful technical detail, the patent involves the "ActiveX" technology enabling Web browsers to display both web pages and content such as streaming audio, Flash, QuickTime video and other "rich" or "dynamic" content.
Despite heated input by the Internet community to invalidate Eolas' patent because of its broad nature, Microsoft lost every appeal and effort to get the patent nullified.
Bottom line: Microsoft faced two choices. First, they could pay the patent owner and keep things moving along, business as usual (much the way Blackberry did recently when a judge found them guilty of patent infringement).
Second choice: Microsoft could avoid future licensing fees by changing their IE browser and removing the offending code.
Which do you think they chose? Ding-ding-ding!
You guessed it, Microsoft chose to avoid paying millions more by simply removing the offending code.
Unfortunately, that decision means a bit of trouble for a few million web designers who use Flash, streaming movies, and more.
Ultimately, the change to IE may force visitors to sites with rich content to click on an object to enable it before they can interact with it.
Not a huge deal. However, time will tell what ultimately happens and the actual impact on sites running rich content.
But before everyone starts screaming that "The sky is falling" and "our websites are broken," let me ask you a question.
Do you really think that companies like Macromedia (makers of Flash) and sites like Google Video will let a few changes in Internet Explorer put them out of business?
I don't think so!
If anything, this change will force companies to step up to the plate and discover ways to serve dynamic content that does not depend on ActiveX.
Sure, it will mean some pain for both content creators and users in the short term, but in the end I honestly believe that, through innovation, we will all end up with a better solution than what currently exists.
In other news today...
** Hollywood Goes Online **
Six major movie studios recently announced their intentions to start selling new-release movies via Internet download from the site MovieLink.com.
But before you jump for joy at watching "Brokeback Mountain" on your pc, understand a couple of facts.
You can't burn the movie to DVD, and the downloadable films carry a price tag of around $15-30, a price comparable or more than a physical DVD you can purchase at Wal-Mart.
As a rabid DVD consumer and enthusiastic computer user (with six in my home office alone), I can tell you right up front, there is no way in @#$%* I'll pay 20 bucks for a movie I can't "veg" out with in front of the TV.
Are they insane?
Until it gets to the point where you can download a new-release movie, burn it to DVD or put it on your iPod, downloadable flicks will remain, at best, a novelty.
-=-
Jim Edwards is a syndicated newspaper columnist and the creator of an amazing course that will teach you step-by-step and click-by-click how to finally create your own money-making mini-sites...
"Finally! A Quick and Easy Way For YOU to Painlessly Set Up Your OWN Moneymaking 'Mini' Websites... Without Being a Computer Geek, Buying Expensive Software, or Paying Outrageous Fees To A Webmaster!"
Click Here => Money-Making Mini Sites
-=-
Have yourself a Super Sunday!
Apr 7, 2006
Power of Patience
Welcome to Flo's Business & Fun Blog
Hope you're having a super day, and getting ready for a fantastic weekend! Patience has POWER within it, for Success. Stay within that power. How fitting is this article in your lives? Consider to apply it and follow it in all aspects of your life. Read more below...
Daily Thought
"Experience is simply the name we give our mistakes."
- Oscar Wilde -
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
MLM Success Network Marketing Secrets
- The MLM Power of Patience -
by Doug Firebaugh
© Doug Firebaugh - All Rights reserved
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
"Persistence is needed, but Patience is a MUST." Ben Johnson - 5 Billion Dollar Producer.
There are many MLM Secrets out in the industry that can make or break your Network Marketing Success. You know that, and I know that. We strive daily to make the right moves, and to do the right things that will create Success and the start of momentum.
Many times, we get into the actions of MLM, and things start slowing down, or even getting stopped up. The FLOW of Success seems so distant and unreal.
"Will this EVER happen," you think?
"Am I wasting my time?" you ask.
"Is this REALLY going to work?" you cry!
"Who am I trying to kid? I will never be successful!"
Then, you have a choice to make. You can neither take minimum wage advice, or Billion Dollar advice. Both have their value. One has minimum value, and the other has EXTREME Value.
We all have a tendency to listen to minimum wage advice, as that is how we grew up, and embraced the function of life. Living life on the minimums is what we do and that is all.
But there are those few, who through the Eyes of Disgust, make a DECISION to SUCCEED-no matter what. To become WEALTHY- no matter what.
And they do.
Wanna know the REAL secret to becoming a Network Marketing FireStarter?
A 5 BILLION Dollar producer (you read that right-5 billion) told me this years ago over breakfast. He was eating oatmeal one morning at at a conference. It took me while to get up the guts and to go over and invite myself to sit down. I had been in the business for about 9 months. He had been in for about 20 years.
When asked what the secret was to this business, without even looking up, he said one powerful word that rang in my ears, and echoed in my heart. It was sage wisdom from a powerful industry legend.
"Patience." he said. Then he went back to his oatmeal.
Smiling and with a gentle spirit about him, he explained further: "It is NOT going to happen overnight, and it is going to require some time to learn and gather experience. If you are not getting the results you want, be patient. You are exactly where you need to be in the growth process. Don't leave the process of Success. Stay there, and grow into Success."
You are exactly where you need to be in the growth process as well.
Patience has POWER within it, for Success. Stay within that power.
Blessings...Doug
PassionFire Intl
© 2006/ All Rights Reserved
-=-
Doug Firebaugh is one of the top MLM Network Marketing Trainers in the world. He spent 13 years fulltime in MLM and the last 7 years traveling the world training and speaking. He lives in Birrmingham Michigan, and you can receive a FREE subcription to his MLM Success HEAT training letter at: http://www.passionfire.com, doug@powerfire.com.
-=-
It's my day off tomorrow and I'm so looking forward to it.
Enjoy your coming weekend!
Hope you're having a super day, and getting ready for a fantastic weekend! Patience has POWER within it, for Success. Stay within that power. How fitting is this article in your lives? Consider to apply it and follow it in all aspects of your life. Read more below...
Daily Thought
"Experience is simply the name we give our mistakes."
- Oscar Wilde -
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
MLM Success Network Marketing Secrets
- The MLM Power of Patience -
by Doug Firebaugh
© Doug Firebaugh - All Rights reserved
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
"Persistence is needed, but Patience is a MUST." Ben Johnson - 5 Billion Dollar Producer.
There are many MLM Secrets out in the industry that can make or break your Network Marketing Success. You know that, and I know that. We strive daily to make the right moves, and to do the right things that will create Success and the start of momentum.
Many times, we get into the actions of MLM, and things start slowing down, or even getting stopped up. The FLOW of Success seems so distant and unreal.
"Will this EVER happen," you think?
"Am I wasting my time?" you ask.
"Is this REALLY going to work?" you cry!
"Who am I trying to kid? I will never be successful!"
Then, you have a choice to make. You can neither take minimum wage advice, or Billion Dollar advice. Both have their value. One has minimum value, and the other has EXTREME Value.
We all have a tendency to listen to minimum wage advice, as that is how we grew up, and embraced the function of life. Living life on the minimums is what we do and that is all.
But there are those few, who through the Eyes of Disgust, make a DECISION to SUCCEED-no matter what. To become WEALTHY- no matter what.
And they do.
Wanna know the REAL secret to becoming a Network Marketing FireStarter?
A 5 BILLION Dollar producer (you read that right-5 billion) told me this years ago over breakfast. He was eating oatmeal one morning at at a conference. It took me while to get up the guts and to go over and invite myself to sit down. I had been in the business for about 9 months. He had been in for about 20 years.
When asked what the secret was to this business, without even looking up, he said one powerful word that rang in my ears, and echoed in my heart. It was sage wisdom from a powerful industry legend.
"Patience." he said. Then he went back to his oatmeal.
Smiling and with a gentle spirit about him, he explained further: "It is NOT going to happen overnight, and it is going to require some time to learn and gather experience. If you are not getting the results you want, be patient. You are exactly where you need to be in the growth process. Don't leave the process of Success. Stay there, and grow into Success."
You are exactly where you need to be in the growth process as well.
Patience has POWER within it, for Success. Stay within that power.
Blessings...Doug
PassionFire Intl
© 2006/ All Rights Reserved
-=-
Doug Firebaugh is one of the top MLM Network Marketing Trainers in the world. He spent 13 years fulltime in MLM and the last 7 years traveling the world training and speaking. He lives in Birrmingham Michigan, and you can receive a FREE subcription to his MLM Success HEAT training letter at: http://www.passionfire.com, doug@powerfire.com.
-=-
It's my day off tomorrow and I'm so looking forward to it.
Enjoy your coming weekend!
Apr 6, 2006
From Text to HTML
Welcome to Flo's Business & Fun Blog
Good day, the sun is shinning brightly here and it feels so good. Today's article is about; should You upgrade from text to HTML for your e-zine or newsletter? I myself prefer HTML to text, it's much prettier and I also like that when I'm given the choice to my preference! Alexandria is sharing a closer look at text versus HTML and at the facts, read more below...
Daily Thought
"A life spent in making mistakes is not only more honorable but more useful than a life spent in doing nothing."
- George Bernard Shaw -
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Should You Upgrade Your E-zine From Text to HTML?
by Alexandria K. Brown, “The E-zine Queen”
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
A few years ago, when I first started seeing HTML e-zines in my inbox, I admit I was jealous. They were attractive, attention getting, snazzy. They made my text e-zines look boring.
But my mind fought the idea of upgrading my own. "My readers appreciate my e-zine for its content," I told myself. "They don't need some slick design to get their attention. They just want my information, straight up. Publishing in HTML won't make a difference."
I was wrong.
Well, I was right that my readers receive my e-zine for its content. After all, that's why they subscribed — for my concise, how-to articles.
But I was mistaken that a better "presentation" wouldn't make a difference.
After much deliberation, I decided to give HTML a whirl. I had my e-zine professionally designed in HTML, featuring my logo, colors, and photo.
And when I sent out my first HTML issue, I was blown away by the responses:
"Thank you! It's so much easier on the eyes."
"Your e-zine now gets my attention instantly, and makes me want to read it right away."
"This makes such an impact!"
"I get dozens of text e-zines that all look the same, and now yours stands out."
Now, I'm not saying that publishing in HTML is the answer for everyone. But you should definitely consider it. Let's take a closer look...
<< Text Versus HTML: Round One >>
First off, let's all agree that it's ridiculously easy to publish in text. That's a good thing.
If you're just beginning your e-zine and are a bit overwhelmed, text is a great place to start. You can then focus on developing great content and publishing on a regular basis, without worrying about HTML design and coding snafus.
Text also gives you complete freedom and flexibility — you can add new sections and delete others any time you feel like it, without having to redesign your entire e-zine.
But let's face it: There are hundreds of thousands of text e-zines out there that all look the same. I subscribe to 30+ text e-zines, and they all seem to lump together in my e-mail inbox.
The ones that catch my eye and make me read on — they're HTML.
<< Let's Look at the Facts >>
"Okay, okay," you say. "I know HTML e-zines look great. But do they get better results?"
I'll let these statistics answer that question:
* HTML e-zines are read MORE OFTEN than plain text e-zines.
* HTML e-zines have a higher CLICK-THROUGH rate. (That is, people are more likely to click on any links you provide to your site or sales offers.)
* HTML e-zines reinforce your BRAND by carrying the same look as your Web site and other marketing materials with your logo, colors, etc.
* HTML e-zines allow you to TRACK your readership by showing how many people on your list actually open each e-zine you send.
<< What You MUST Know If you Want to Publish in HTML >>
A year or two ago it just wasn't safe to publish in HTML, because the people on your list with older e-mail programs (about 20-30% of your readership) wouldn't be able to read it. These people would only see a bunch of gibberish code.
But now there's a technology that effortlessly jumps this hurdle: multi-part MIME. This protocol automatically displays the HTML version to your readers who can view HTML e-mail, and an automatic text backup to those who can't.
So if you want to make the jump to HTML, make sure any list service or list software you choose offers multi-part MIME technology. They may just call it "text backup" in their marketing copy.
It's also nice if you can offer your readers a choice in what they want to receive. Why? While I got dozens of compliments and thank-yous after switching to HTML, I also got a few people asking if they could still receive my e-zine in TEXT! Go figure... ;
(c) 2003 Alexandria K. Brown
-=-
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Alexandria K. Brown, “The E-zine Queen,” is author of the award-winning manual, “Boost Business With Your Own E-zine.” To learn more about her book and sign up for more FREE tips like these, visit her site at www.EzineQueen.com.
-=-
Have yourself a Super Thursday!
Good day, the sun is shinning brightly here and it feels so good. Today's article is about; should You upgrade from text to HTML for your e-zine or newsletter? I myself prefer HTML to text, it's much prettier and I also like that when I'm given the choice to my preference! Alexandria is sharing a closer look at text versus HTML and at the facts, read more below...
Daily Thought
"A life spent in making mistakes is not only more honorable but more useful than a life spent in doing nothing."
- George Bernard Shaw -
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Should You Upgrade Your E-zine From Text to HTML?
by Alexandria K. Brown, “The E-zine Queen”
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
A few years ago, when I first started seeing HTML e-zines in my inbox, I admit I was jealous. They were attractive, attention getting, snazzy. They made my text e-zines look boring.
But my mind fought the idea of upgrading my own. "My readers appreciate my e-zine for its content," I told myself. "They don't need some slick design to get their attention. They just want my information, straight up. Publishing in HTML won't make a difference."
I was wrong.
Well, I was right that my readers receive my e-zine for its content. After all, that's why they subscribed — for my concise, how-to articles.
But I was mistaken that a better "presentation" wouldn't make a difference.
After much deliberation, I decided to give HTML a whirl. I had my e-zine professionally designed in HTML, featuring my logo, colors, and photo.
And when I sent out my first HTML issue, I was blown away by the responses:
"Thank you! It's so much easier on the eyes."
"Your e-zine now gets my attention instantly, and makes me want to read it right away."
"This makes such an impact!"
"I get dozens of text e-zines that all look the same, and now yours stands out."
Now, I'm not saying that publishing in HTML is the answer for everyone. But you should definitely consider it. Let's take a closer look...
<< Text Versus HTML: Round One >>
First off, let's all agree that it's ridiculously easy to publish in text. That's a good thing.
If you're just beginning your e-zine and are a bit overwhelmed, text is a great place to start. You can then focus on developing great content and publishing on a regular basis, without worrying about HTML design and coding snafus.
Text also gives you complete freedom and flexibility — you can add new sections and delete others any time you feel like it, without having to redesign your entire e-zine.
But let's face it: There are hundreds of thousands of text e-zines out there that all look the same. I subscribe to 30+ text e-zines, and they all seem to lump together in my e-mail inbox.
The ones that catch my eye and make me read on — they're HTML.
<< Let's Look at the Facts >>
"Okay, okay," you say. "I know HTML e-zines look great. But do they get better results?"
I'll let these statistics answer that question:
* HTML e-zines are read MORE OFTEN than plain text e-zines.
* HTML e-zines have a higher CLICK-THROUGH rate. (That is, people are more likely to click on any links you provide to your site or sales offers.)
* HTML e-zines reinforce your BRAND by carrying the same look as your Web site and other marketing materials with your logo, colors, etc.
* HTML e-zines allow you to TRACK your readership by showing how many people on your list actually open each e-zine you send.
<< What You MUST Know If you Want to Publish in HTML >>
A year or two ago it just wasn't safe to publish in HTML, because the people on your list with older e-mail programs (about 20-30% of your readership) wouldn't be able to read it. These people would only see a bunch of gibberish code.
But now there's a technology that effortlessly jumps this hurdle: multi-part MIME. This protocol automatically displays the HTML version to your readers who can view HTML e-mail, and an automatic text backup to those who can't.
So if you want to make the jump to HTML, make sure any list service or list software you choose offers multi-part MIME technology. They may just call it "text backup" in their marketing copy.
It's also nice if you can offer your readers a choice in what they want to receive. Why? While I got dozens of compliments and thank-yous after switching to HTML, I also got a few people asking if they could still receive my e-zine in TEXT! Go figure... ;
(c) 2003 Alexandria K. Brown
-=-
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Alexandria K. Brown, “The E-zine Queen,” is author of the award-winning manual, “Boost Business With Your Own E-zine.” To learn more about her book and sign up for more FREE tips like these, visit her site at www.EzineQueen.com.
-=-
Have yourself a Super Thursday!
Apr 5, 2006
You'd be surprised !!!
Welcome to Flo's Business & Fun Blog
Good day, I hope your day has started off beautifully! Today's article is about how you'd be surprised how much you're leaving on the table with your business. Michael Angier with some thoughts on how we sometimes work too much in our business and not enough on our business. Read more below...
Quote of the Day
Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn't learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn't learn a little, at least we didn't get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn't die; so, let us all be thankful.
~ Buddha ~
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
How Much Are You Leaving on the Table?
by - Michael Angier , founder and CIO
www.SuccessNet.org
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
I’m surprised how many business owners and managers don’t know the real meaning of the term “Opportunity Cost.” And many of those who DO know what it means rarely factor it into their decision making process.
No one likes to lose money. And we all want to be as efficient and effective as we can with our resources—specially time.
But what we often don’t see is the income and value we leave on the table when we take one action over another.
Let’s say a business has extra land that could be sold or leased. If the land is leased, the opportunity cost is some other thing that could be done with it. Instead of leasing the land, one could sell it and invest the capital into a new product line. In this case, the Opportunity Cost (OC) is the forgone opportunity to create the new product line.
All too often, we take on projects and commit resources without considering the actual and eventual costs involved. We have to look at the big picture, make good decisions and not just react to things that come our way.
The word “decide” is from the Old French word decidere. It literally means to cut off. When we choose, we're not only choosing FOR something, we're also choosing NOT to do something else.
We live in a world of amazing opportunity. We can do anything we want; but we can’t do EVERYTHING we want. We must choose carefully because whatever we pursue takes over some of our resources. And these resources may not be available for other opportunities.
The ninth pillar of a World Class Business is stewardship. And it's incumbent upon us to be good stewards of all our resources. Assessing the OC will help us do that.
Action Point
When considering a new venture, client or project, be sure to invest the time to look at what your decision will exclude. What is the opportunity cost—the OTHER ventures, clients or projects you're cutting off when you decide.
It’s not always easy to determine, but if we don’t even look at it, we will always leave money on the table.
“In all affairs it's a healthy thing now and then to hang a question mark on the things you have long taken for granted.”
— Bertrand Russell, author and mathematician —
-=-=-
Copyright Michael Angier & Success Networks International.
Used with Permission.
Michael Angier is the founder and president of SuccessNet. Their mission is to inform, inspire and empower people to be their best--personally and professionally.
Download their free eBooklet, 10 ESSENTIAL KEYS TO PERSONAL EFFECTIVENESS from www.SuccessNet.org/keys.htm or by sending a blank email to keys@SuccessNet.org.
More free subscriptions, books and SuccessMark Cards are available at www.SuccessNet.org.
-=-=-
Have yourself a Super Wednesday!
Good day, I hope your day has started off beautifully! Today's article is about how you'd be surprised how much you're leaving on the table with your business. Michael Angier with some thoughts on how we sometimes work too much in our business and not enough on our business. Read more below...
Quote of the Day
Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn't learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn't learn a little, at least we didn't get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn't die; so, let us all be thankful.
~ Buddha ~
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
How Much Are You Leaving on the Table?
by - Michael Angier , founder and CIO
www.SuccessNet.org
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
I’m surprised how many business owners and managers don’t know the real meaning of the term “Opportunity Cost.” And many of those who DO know what it means rarely factor it into their decision making process.
No one likes to lose money. And we all want to be as efficient and effective as we can with our resources—specially time.
But what we often don’t see is the income and value we leave on the table when we take one action over another.
Let’s say a business has extra land that could be sold or leased. If the land is leased, the opportunity cost is some other thing that could be done with it. Instead of leasing the land, one could sell it and invest the capital into a new product line. In this case, the Opportunity Cost (OC) is the forgone opportunity to create the new product line.
All too often, we take on projects and commit resources without considering the actual and eventual costs involved. We have to look at the big picture, make good decisions and not just react to things that come our way.
The word “decide” is from the Old French word decidere. It literally means to cut off. When we choose, we're not only choosing FOR something, we're also choosing NOT to do something else.
We live in a world of amazing opportunity. We can do anything we want; but we can’t do EVERYTHING we want. We must choose carefully because whatever we pursue takes over some of our resources. And these resources may not be available for other opportunities.
The ninth pillar of a World Class Business is stewardship. And it's incumbent upon us to be good stewards of all our resources. Assessing the OC will help us do that.
Action Point
When considering a new venture, client or project, be sure to invest the time to look at what your decision will exclude. What is the opportunity cost—the OTHER ventures, clients or projects you're cutting off when you decide.
It’s not always easy to determine, but if we don’t even look at it, we will always leave money on the table.
“In all affairs it's a healthy thing now and then to hang a question mark on the things you have long taken for granted.”
— Bertrand Russell, author and mathematician —
-=-=-
Copyright Michael Angier & Success Networks International.
Used with Permission.
Michael Angier is the founder and president of SuccessNet. Their mission is to inform, inspire and empower people to be their best--personally and professionally.
Download their free eBooklet, 10 ESSENTIAL KEYS TO PERSONAL EFFECTIVENESS from www.SuccessNet.org/keys.htm or by sending a blank email to keys@SuccessNet.org.
More free subscriptions, books and SuccessMark Cards are available at www.SuccessNet.org.
-=-=-
Have yourself a Super Wednesday!
Apr 4, 2006
Follow-Ups...
Welcome to Flo's Business & Fun Blog
Hope your day is starting off beautifully! Today's article is about "follow-ups by using autoresponders". Follow-ups can become very confusing if You have new inquiries each day and You will have to keep track which follow-ups were sent to which groups.
Richard's article shares information about autoresponders and where to get some excellent free software which allows You to do this. Read more below...
Quote of the Day
"Remember that what You believe will depend very much on what You are."
- Noah Porter -
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Follow-Ups With Autoresponders
- by Richard Rigoe
© Richard Rigoe - All Rights reserved
TheWebsEYE.com
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Anyone who gets involved in marketing products on the internet will know that follow-up is VERY VERY important. Most sales occur after the 3rd, 4th, or 5th follow up, and doing this manually can become very time consuming.
If your site suddenly gets a high ranking in the search engines or you put out an advert, you will have to be prepared to deal with the traffic and to reply to your inquiries.
Now you will need to follow up 3 or 4 or even more times in most cases before a prospect becomes a customer. It makes sense to use different emails in each follow up, and each time describe some extra advantages of your product that you have left out in previous emails. This can become very confusing if you have new inquiries each day. You will have to send each of your follow-up emails to a different group. You will have to keep track of which follow-ups were sent to which groups.
Some excellent free software which allows you to do this is Aureate Group Mail. It allows you to personalize your messages by merging your emails with your recipients names. You have to add the names and addresses to your groups, but after this, it can send out your message to everyone in a particular group, and filter out certain addresses if you want. This can be useful if you want to avoid sending a message to those who may have already received it in a previous mailing.
However even with this software there is still quite a lot of work to be done. Email addresses have to collected and added to your mailing groups, and you have to keep logs of who has received a particular message. You also have to make your own record of which messages have been sent and to who so as not to send the same message to the same group twice. If your follow-ups have to be done at specified intervals after your initial inquiry, you have to make sure you remember to run your mail program on those days.
The answer is to use autoresponders to do your follow-ups, and leave a minimum of work for you to do once a prospect has become a customer. An autoresponder allows you to set up your follow-ups to go out at various intervals after the initial inquiry. You can set different messages up on the autoresponder and specify when each message should be sent after receiving the inquiry.
It is often a good idea to set up two or more autoresponders to handle the initial inquiry. The first autoresponder will be in reply to your ad, and will give some details about your product or service. It will also ask the recipient to reply to a second autoresponder if s/he wants more information. The second autoresponder can include some advantages that you only hinted at in the first reply, and then follow up with the remaining messages. This has aroused your prospects' interest and is part of the sales process.
In one of your follow up messages you will need to make a call for action. If you don't ask your prospects to buy, the chances are they won't. One of the best ways to do this is to let them know that for a limited time they will receive a certain discount or that the offer will only be available at a certain price for a limited period.
If your business revolves around sending and receiving a lot of email, autoresponders are an essential tool.
1) They drastically reduce the amount of work.
2) They reduce the possibility of making mistakes sending out the wrong reply or to the wrong address.
3) They do not rely on a person being at work at a certain time to send out email.
4) They allow you to make follow-ups efficiently.
5) They give you more time to concentrate on promotion and marketing.
If you are hosting your website on a full-service web host, the chances are they will provide you with an autoresponder. However you don't need a website to have an autoresponder. You can use an autoresponder service. If your business needs more than one autoresponder or autoresponders that send out more than one reply at intervals, we have listed some good services here.
Autoresponders have already become an essential marketing tool, and their use is likely to increase as more and more businesses automate.
-=-
Article by Richard Igoe, creator of the free 5-day "Website Success Course By Email" and owner of TheWebsEYE.com - a source of website design, promotion and internet marketing knowledge.
-=-
Have a Super Tuesday!
Hope your day is starting off beautifully! Today's article is about "follow-ups by using autoresponders". Follow-ups can become very confusing if You have new inquiries each day and You will have to keep track which follow-ups were sent to which groups.
Richard's article shares information about autoresponders and where to get some excellent free software which allows You to do this. Read more below...
Quote of the Day
"Remember that what You believe will depend very much on what You are."
- Noah Porter -
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Follow-Ups With Autoresponders
- by Richard Rigoe
© Richard Rigoe - All Rights reserved
TheWebsEYE.com
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Anyone who gets involved in marketing products on the internet will know that follow-up is VERY VERY important. Most sales occur after the 3rd, 4th, or 5th follow up, and doing this manually can become very time consuming.
If your site suddenly gets a high ranking in the search engines or you put out an advert, you will have to be prepared to deal with the traffic and to reply to your inquiries.
Now you will need to follow up 3 or 4 or even more times in most cases before a prospect becomes a customer. It makes sense to use different emails in each follow up, and each time describe some extra advantages of your product that you have left out in previous emails. This can become very confusing if you have new inquiries each day. You will have to send each of your follow-up emails to a different group. You will have to keep track of which follow-ups were sent to which groups.
Some excellent free software which allows you to do this is Aureate Group Mail. It allows you to personalize your messages by merging your emails with your recipients names. You have to add the names and addresses to your groups, but after this, it can send out your message to everyone in a particular group, and filter out certain addresses if you want. This can be useful if you want to avoid sending a message to those who may have already received it in a previous mailing.
However even with this software there is still quite a lot of work to be done. Email addresses have to collected and added to your mailing groups, and you have to keep logs of who has received a particular message. You also have to make your own record of which messages have been sent and to who so as not to send the same message to the same group twice. If your follow-ups have to be done at specified intervals after your initial inquiry, you have to make sure you remember to run your mail program on those days.
The answer is to use autoresponders to do your follow-ups, and leave a minimum of work for you to do once a prospect has become a customer. An autoresponder allows you to set up your follow-ups to go out at various intervals after the initial inquiry. You can set different messages up on the autoresponder and specify when each message should be sent after receiving the inquiry.
It is often a good idea to set up two or more autoresponders to handle the initial inquiry. The first autoresponder will be in reply to your ad, and will give some details about your product or service. It will also ask the recipient to reply to a second autoresponder if s/he wants more information. The second autoresponder can include some advantages that you only hinted at in the first reply, and then follow up with the remaining messages. This has aroused your prospects' interest and is part of the sales process.
In one of your follow up messages you will need to make a call for action. If you don't ask your prospects to buy, the chances are they won't. One of the best ways to do this is to let them know that for a limited time they will receive a certain discount or that the offer will only be available at a certain price for a limited period.
If your business revolves around sending and receiving a lot of email, autoresponders are an essential tool.
1) They drastically reduce the amount of work.
2) They reduce the possibility of making mistakes sending out the wrong reply or to the wrong address.
3) They do not rely on a person being at work at a certain time to send out email.
4) They allow you to make follow-ups efficiently.
5) They give you more time to concentrate on promotion and marketing.
If you are hosting your website on a full-service web host, the chances are they will provide you with an autoresponder. However you don't need a website to have an autoresponder. You can use an autoresponder service. If your business needs more than one autoresponder or autoresponders that send out more than one reply at intervals, we have listed some good services here.
Autoresponders have already become an essential marketing tool, and their use is likely to increase as more and more businesses automate.
-=-
Article by Richard Igoe, creator of the free 5-day "Website Success Course By Email" and owner of TheWebsEYE.com - a source of website design, promotion and internet marketing knowledge.
-=-
Have a Super Tuesday!
Apr 3, 2006
I Gotta Get FOCUSED!
Welcome to Flo's Business & Fun Blog
Hope your day is starting off beautifully and that your weekend was great! Today's article is about being focused or unfocused in your business. Is it the home business of your dreams or is it more of a hopeful frustration? Brian is sharing the kind of focus that is needed to run a successful business, read more below...
Daily Thought
"Work for something because it is good, not just because it stands a chance to succeed."
~ Vaclav Havel ~
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
"I Gotta Get FOCUSED!"
by Brian Schaeffer
© All Rights Reserved
HTWFH eZine Editor
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Are you working long hours everyday on your business, but you don't seem to accomplish much?
Oh sure, you can tell anyone what you've spent your time on!
You're in there every single day, religiously creating marketing projects, answering email, helping customers, making new contacts and generally doing all the things good business owners do!
Do you have a lot of fantastic ideas, many of which are in the process of translating into some dynamite projects?
Really. You've got a GREAT idea, nothing ever like it before. You're going to make a killing in sales! And about half way through, you come up with another GREAT idea. You start to enthusiastically pursue it! Whoa. Wait a minute. What if I...
...and few of them are ever actually completed.
Are you realizing the home business you dreamed of, or is it more of a hopeful frustration?
If this sounds familiar - and most of us can claim it at least once in awhile - then you might be the victim of an unfocused, undisciplined mind. (No If you're suffering from this, you can attest to the wrack and ruin it's bringing to your business. A disaster!
In business, an unfocused mind is akin to trying to vaguely hunt a Rocky Mountain Ram!
Bear with me on this for a minute.
Can you smell the pine on the wind and the grasses at your feet? Can you picture the rugged terrain?
There he is! Your target. How magnificent and inspiring! This is the animal which had you up at three in the morning, sneaking over miles of treacherous ground.
You see him. He doesn't sense you. You slowly lift your rifle, aim carefully, click off the safety, breathe out, settle your aim and gently start to squeeze the trigger.
BUT NO! What's that? A better target!
An eight-point buck! Wow! Oh, you always wanted one. You shift your aim and ...
What was that tawny flash? A cougar. Stalking the buck.
Oh man, oh man, oh man! A cougar!
Ram. Buck. Cat.
No, you are here to get a ram, so ram is what it'll be. You shift back to the ram, but he's bounding over the ridge!
Quick!
Take the shot!
Phuuuuuuuuut. Whoops.
You had grabbed your son's BB gun instead!
The little round shot bounces and skips off the rocks forty feet away. It's going so slowly, you can actually watch it fly through the air as it hits and bounces, hits and bounces.
Kind of like your heart. And it goes lower and lower with each bounce and skip... and comes to a stop.
[Okay, okay. I'm finished with my wild west, New Mexico hunting scenario!]
Unfocused business is precisely like that.
The height of elation! The distraction of invading choices. The deep loss of unaccomplished intentions.
Does this sound familiar too? Especially when seen through the lense of the disappointing results of all the hard work and effort you've put into your business?
Don't despair! There is a remedy!
One of the key traits of successful entrepreneurs that has been consistently identified through multiple surveys is the ability to focus the mind and carry a project through to completion without allowing distractions.
In fact, focus is also one of the main points to basic training in the military. The generals want focus in their troops so that their side can win no matter what gets thrown at them.
Now, some see this as a one-minedness or harshness, but the reality is that this kind of mind-set gets things done! In addition, once learned and mastered, focus can be turned on and off like a lightswitch!
No, focus is not the result of an Abbott & Costello Frankensteinian brain transplant!
This very same characteristic is a learned ability and applies to all business owners whether their enterprise is large or small.
The kind of focus that is needed to run a successful business entails being able to start and accomplish a myriad of smaller tasks, aligning them to complete larger endeavors, and coordinating those into a finished product.
Successful focus is a matter of planning, deliberate behavior and extensive practice. (I know, I know; many of us would rather watch the Abbott & Costello movies!)
Sure, it's hard at first. Yes, it's work, and dang difficult work for some of us!
BUT, the alternative to developing focus in your business is more of the same sad consequences. More changeless, disappointing, frustrating results. More of the unvarying, unsatisfying lack of sales.
There are some analogies to be made with managing a home based business. (Oh, oh, here comes that hunting thing again!)
First of all, while hunting, there are times when our hunter was focused... walking across difficult ground, being aware of surroundings and aiming the rifle, but notice that it is momentary focus; just long enough to accomplish some small task. In business, focusing on little tasks alone does not a sales make!
Second, if the hunter gets distracted and takes his eye off his target, he generally ends up with nothing. Distraction is one of the biggest headaches for a home business owner. Most of us have other obligations in addition to our work - kids, spouses, phone calls, housework, etc. There are also business distractions. Emails, paperwork, etc. It is sooooo easy to get wrapped up in little distractions! Yes, our family is important, and yes, we must make time for them and make them our top prority, but they need to know when you're working and unavailable. Yes, email is important, as is our business paperwork, but as the Bible states, "There is a time for everything...."
The best answer to distractions is scheduling. Make one, accommodate everything necessary and set priorities. Then stick to it!
Third, all the preparation in the world won't do one any good unless it's the correct kind of preparation. Wrong rifle. Whoops.
Make sure the proper components, tools and information are in place before starting an activity.
I was speaking with one of our town's public school custodians recently, and he was complaining that tasks took so long because he had to go get this other tool, run and fetch that, find this... while he was in the middle of it all. I suggested that he take a few minutes, think through his activity, noting what he might need to accomplish it, and then gather all his tools and supplies before he started. It's simple, but a certain time saver and frustration buster! He's a happier man now because he's doing just that!
In business, especially a home based business, preparation is the key to a successful accomplishment whether writing an email campaign, putting together the next great package, designing a kicking advertisment, or participating in some joint venture. Knowing what you're going to do and how you're going to do it before starting gives a clear road map which, when faithfully followed, leads to a rewarding conclusion.
That's focus!
-=-
Brian Schaeffer is an author, educator and publisher of the How To Work From Home eZine. You can visit him at his websites: http://www.HowToWorkFromHome.Info, http://www.WellnessShop.com or http://www.GreatGiveAways.Info; or you can email him at: Brian@HowToWorkFromHome.Info.
-=-
Have yourself a Super Monday!
Hope your day is starting off beautifully and that your weekend was great! Today's article is about being focused or unfocused in your business. Is it the home business of your dreams or is it more of a hopeful frustration? Brian is sharing the kind of focus that is needed to run a successful business, read more below...
Daily Thought
"Work for something because it is good, not just because it stands a chance to succeed."
~ Vaclav Havel ~
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
"I Gotta Get FOCUSED!"
by Brian Schaeffer
© All Rights Reserved
HTWFH eZine Editor
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Are you working long hours everyday on your business, but you don't seem to accomplish much?
Oh sure, you can tell anyone what you've spent your time on!
You're in there every single day, religiously creating marketing projects, answering email, helping customers, making new contacts and generally doing all the things good business owners do!
Do you have a lot of fantastic ideas, many of which are in the process of translating into some dynamite projects?
Really. You've got a GREAT idea, nothing ever like it before. You're going to make a killing in sales! And about half way through, you come up with another GREAT idea. You start to enthusiastically pursue it! Whoa. Wait a minute. What if I...
...and few of them are ever actually completed.
Are you realizing the home business you dreamed of, or is it more of a hopeful frustration?
If this sounds familiar - and most of us can claim it at least once in awhile - then you might be the victim of an unfocused, undisciplined mind. (No If you're suffering from this, you can attest to the wrack and ruin it's bringing to your business. A disaster!
In business, an unfocused mind is akin to trying to vaguely hunt a Rocky Mountain Ram!
Bear with me on this for a minute.
Can you smell the pine on the wind and the grasses at your feet? Can you picture the rugged terrain?
There he is! Your target. How magnificent and inspiring! This is the animal which had you up at three in the morning, sneaking over miles of treacherous ground.
You see him. He doesn't sense you. You slowly lift your rifle, aim carefully, click off the safety, breathe out, settle your aim and gently start to squeeze the trigger.
BUT NO! What's that? A better target!
An eight-point buck! Wow! Oh, you always wanted one. You shift your aim and ...
What was that tawny flash? A cougar. Stalking the buck.
Oh man, oh man, oh man! A cougar!
Ram. Buck. Cat.
No, you are here to get a ram, so ram is what it'll be. You shift back to the ram, but he's bounding over the ridge!
Quick!
Take the shot!
Phuuuuuuuuut. Whoops.
You had grabbed your son's BB gun instead!
The little round shot bounces and skips off the rocks forty feet away. It's going so slowly, you can actually watch it fly through the air as it hits and bounces, hits and bounces.
Kind of like your heart. And it goes lower and lower with each bounce and skip... and comes to a stop.
[Okay, okay. I'm finished with my wild west, New Mexico hunting scenario!]
Unfocused business is precisely like that.
The height of elation! The distraction of invading choices. The deep loss of unaccomplished intentions.
Does this sound familiar too? Especially when seen through the lense of the disappointing results of all the hard work and effort you've put into your business?
Don't despair! There is a remedy!
One of the key traits of successful entrepreneurs that has been consistently identified through multiple surveys is the ability to focus the mind and carry a project through to completion without allowing distractions.
In fact, focus is also one of the main points to basic training in the military. The generals want focus in their troops so that their side can win no matter what gets thrown at them.
Now, some see this as a one-minedness or harshness, but the reality is that this kind of mind-set gets things done! In addition, once learned and mastered, focus can be turned on and off like a lightswitch!
No, focus is not the result of an Abbott & Costello Frankensteinian brain transplant!
This very same characteristic is a learned ability and applies to all business owners whether their enterprise is large or small.
The kind of focus that is needed to run a successful business entails being able to start and accomplish a myriad of smaller tasks, aligning them to complete larger endeavors, and coordinating those into a finished product.
Successful focus is a matter of planning, deliberate behavior and extensive practice. (I know, I know; many of us would rather watch the Abbott & Costello movies!)
Sure, it's hard at first. Yes, it's work, and dang difficult work for some of us!
BUT, the alternative to developing focus in your business is more of the same sad consequences. More changeless, disappointing, frustrating results. More of the unvarying, unsatisfying lack of sales.
There are some analogies to be made with managing a home based business. (Oh, oh, here comes that hunting thing again!)
First of all, while hunting, there are times when our hunter was focused... walking across difficult ground, being aware of surroundings and aiming the rifle, but notice that it is momentary focus; just long enough to accomplish some small task. In business, focusing on little tasks alone does not a sales make!
Second, if the hunter gets distracted and takes his eye off his target, he generally ends up with nothing. Distraction is one of the biggest headaches for a home business owner. Most of us have other obligations in addition to our work - kids, spouses, phone calls, housework, etc. There are also business distractions. Emails, paperwork, etc. It is sooooo easy to get wrapped up in little distractions! Yes, our family is important, and yes, we must make time for them and make them our top prority, but they need to know when you're working and unavailable. Yes, email is important, as is our business paperwork, but as the Bible states, "There is a time for everything...."
The best answer to distractions is scheduling. Make one, accommodate everything necessary and set priorities. Then stick to it!
Third, all the preparation in the world won't do one any good unless it's the correct kind of preparation. Wrong rifle. Whoops.
Make sure the proper components, tools and information are in place before starting an activity.
I was speaking with one of our town's public school custodians recently, and he was complaining that tasks took so long because he had to go get this other tool, run and fetch that, find this... while he was in the middle of it all. I suggested that he take a few minutes, think through his activity, noting what he might need to accomplish it, and then gather all his tools and supplies before he started. It's simple, but a certain time saver and frustration buster! He's a happier man now because he's doing just that!
In business, especially a home based business, preparation is the key to a successful accomplishment whether writing an email campaign, putting together the next great package, designing a kicking advertisment, or participating in some joint venture. Knowing what you're going to do and how you're going to do it before starting gives a clear road map which, when faithfully followed, leads to a rewarding conclusion.
That's focus!
-=-
Brian Schaeffer is an author, educator and publisher of the How To Work From Home eZine. You can visit him at his websites: http://www.HowToWorkFromHome.Info, http://www.WellnessShop.com or http://www.GreatGiveAways.Info; or you can email him at: Brian@HowToWorkFromHome.Info.
-=-
Have yourself a Super Monday!
Apr 2, 2006
Success To Failure...
Welcome to Flo's Business & Fun Blog
Hope your day is starting off beautifully and that you're enjoying this fine Sunday! Today's article is about success into failure and "Why", "What" and "How". David Cameron Gikandi is going to analyze the steps that people unconsciously take to get from success into failure, read more below...
Daily Thought
"Self-trust is the first secret of success."
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson ~
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
How Not To Go From Success to Failure,
Riches to Rags
by David Cameron Gikandi
www.CreateYourWealthToday.com
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
The riches to rags story is as old as the hills. It happens to corporations, countries, communities, families and individuals. One day you are up, the next day down. It may be short term or long term. And we have well established names for these states: broke, poor, bankrupt, and so on. This story is so common that it has been woven into our economics and legal systems. That is not important. What is important is this: why does it happen, what is the real cause, and how does one not get into it?
We are now going to analyze the steps that people unconsciously take to get from success into failure. As we do so, you will see how simple they really are, and at first you may be tempted to dismiss this analysis, as it does appear to be very simple. But consider what you read here as a whole and you will see the mechanics better once you take it all in.
All things in our lives arise from our thoughts. It therefore serves us well to observe the thought pattern that leads to failure. It starts off as an unrecognizable creep unless you are aware of its mechanics, and swells into a mental panic that seems to take over your life. We now have scientific, psychological and spiritual evidence that shows us that we become what we thing about, believingly. Our thoughts create our next experience, our next moment.
Quantum physicists have proven beyond a doubt that the material world is fully dependent on its observers. They have proven that all matter is made of energy, and this energy 'arranges' itself into the matter we see based on the expectations of the observer. In other words, it is our intentions, attention and observations that 'collapse' this energy into matter. This is not scientific speculation any more. Nobel Prize winning scientists have proven this without a shred of doubt. All our religions, all of them, tell us that what we believe we become.
If you analyze any time you have ever personally gone down the road to some sort of 'failure' in your finances, relationships or health, you will notice that the road always had a particular chain reaction. Stop reading now and think of a particular instance when you did go through some sort of 'failure' in the past. Do you have one in mind? Ok, now trace its beginning to its end and you will see that it had the following trend:
Stage One: First, you were OK, before the 'failure' started to happen. You did not even have your attention to the possibility of this failure happening. It may be something that may have popped in your mind before, but you did not particularly have it in your constant attention at all.
Stage Two: Then, something made you start paying attention to the possibility of failure, of a 'bad thing' happening. For example, assuming it is a marketing failure or a business failure, you may have seen a newspaper article saying something about the economy going into recession, or you may have missed a payment on a bill, or a particular bit of marketing you put out did not return the amount of results you initially 'hoped' for. Not expected, but hoped.
Stage Three: You observed this one instance of 'failure' or 'bad news' and you somehow hooked onto it. Something in your mind said 'Wow, this is bad. I am afraid of it; I hope it doesn't become worse.' Or something to that effect. At this point, it is still a minor idea in your mind. But notice here what happened. You saw something out there in the world. You looked at the world asking 'what is your truth'. You looked at the world for evidence of truth. Think about that for a second. People are used to looking at the world to get their definition of truth, and whatever they see out there they accept it as truth. Ok, so you looked outside and you saw this small failure. You accepted it as a truth and a possibility that may happen to you. You took it in. This is where the downhill trip all starts. Remember, the world becomes from our thoughts, our beliefs. That is why positive thinking works, why faith works, and so on. The external world is a reflection of our internal state. When you change, it changes. We now have solid scientific evidence of this fact.
Stage Four: The world does not know who you are. It only reflects upon who you are. Failure now starts to pick up speed when you look more and more upon the world asking 'who am I, what is my truth' as you always do unconsciously, and then accept whatever it says. So now the small failure you observed and accepted as truth sets off some more thoughts of failure possibilities. So you think, 'Gee, I hope this next bit of marketing I do doesn't fail' and so on. But what are you doing then? You are declaring internally that you have no control, that you are under the mercy of little things, and you are on the side of failure, hoping to succeed. So you do the marketing, and because the world reflects you, it most likely doesn't work out as you hoped. You are always telling the world who you are and it is always exactly reflecting that. If you come from a standpoint of failure, it will prove you right, and vice versa. We are the sum total of our thoughts, and so is each of our worldly experiences.
Stage Five: You observe this new failure and because now there is more failure, you go into panic. You believe it more and think more and more that you will really mess up. And because you think of it so often, with so much worry, the failures in your world happen more and more. And you look upon them and accept them more and more. This chain reaction goes until your mind is out of control, in a panic and you feel as if you are in a daydream, a web of thoughts and emotions all tangled up. But do you see how you got there, and how easy it is to get out?
The world does not know who you are; it only manifests what you are. Do you see this little vicious cycle? You are the cause, and therefore you are the evidence. But when you believe you are not, you look upon the effect and let it determine your cause. And because it came from your cause, it will mirror what you feared was true, and you will think it is true, so you will cause even more harm unknowingly, and the cycle continues.
This is what will free you: do the opposite. Instead of accepting the 'failure' you see in front of you as truth, simply choose not to accept it. Remember, it is only there because you brought it there at some level. You may not have been conscious and aware that you were doing it. It cannot be without you empowering it to be. It is now merely asking you, 'what next, boss?' And whatever you say, it will do. Yet you ask it what the truth is, and accept its answer as truth. Its answer is the answer that you have given to it. By your acceptance and reaction to it, you empower it even more. And as you react, it moves to match your reaction. And because it moves and you observe the change as having matched what you feared, you accept the change as truth and just for you. Simply stop this. You are the truth of your world. You never have to accept external truths. You have a choice.
Now that you know that our world patterns itself on our thoughts and beliefs, you can take back the power you gave away to your fears.
At first it may be hard to change the way you think, from a partly conscious way to a fully conscious and directed way, ignoring any 'truth and evidence' offered to you by the physical world. But know it works and you can do it, and with practice it will soon become normal to you and everything will flow. Haven't you ever noticed how the most successful people today all did what everybody said was 'impossible'? They stood against the 'evidence' and declared their own truth, and the universe moved with them. It cannot fail to move. If you are in a tight spot, remember that this spot is not the truth - it is just a reflection of what you hold to be true in your mind and heart.
Free your mind and heart, holding them free no matter what, and your external will miraculously change. Cause and effect are instantaneous, time only coming between them to the extent of your clarity and certainty.
-=-
Article written by David Cameron Gikandi for even greater insights into your quest for wealth and financial liberty and ability, go here: www.CreateYourWealthToday.com
-=-
Hope You enjoyed April FOOL's day yesterday where everyone laughed, especially the person whom the joke was played on.
Have yourself a Super Sunday!
Hope your day is starting off beautifully and that you're enjoying this fine Sunday! Today's article is about success into failure and "Why", "What" and "How". David Cameron Gikandi is going to analyze the steps that people unconsciously take to get from success into failure, read more below...
Daily Thought
"Self-trust is the first secret of success."
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson ~
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
How Not To Go From Success to Failure,
Riches to Rags
by David Cameron Gikandi
www.CreateYourWealthToday.com
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
The riches to rags story is as old as the hills. It happens to corporations, countries, communities, families and individuals. One day you are up, the next day down. It may be short term or long term. And we have well established names for these states: broke, poor, bankrupt, and so on. This story is so common that it has been woven into our economics and legal systems. That is not important. What is important is this: why does it happen, what is the real cause, and how does one not get into it?
We are now going to analyze the steps that people unconsciously take to get from success into failure. As we do so, you will see how simple they really are, and at first you may be tempted to dismiss this analysis, as it does appear to be very simple. But consider what you read here as a whole and you will see the mechanics better once you take it all in.
All things in our lives arise from our thoughts. It therefore serves us well to observe the thought pattern that leads to failure. It starts off as an unrecognizable creep unless you are aware of its mechanics, and swells into a mental panic that seems to take over your life. We now have scientific, psychological and spiritual evidence that shows us that we become what we thing about, believingly. Our thoughts create our next experience, our next moment.
Quantum physicists have proven beyond a doubt that the material world is fully dependent on its observers. They have proven that all matter is made of energy, and this energy 'arranges' itself into the matter we see based on the expectations of the observer. In other words, it is our intentions, attention and observations that 'collapse' this energy into matter. This is not scientific speculation any more. Nobel Prize winning scientists have proven this without a shred of doubt. All our religions, all of them, tell us that what we believe we become.
If you analyze any time you have ever personally gone down the road to some sort of 'failure' in your finances, relationships or health, you will notice that the road always had a particular chain reaction. Stop reading now and think of a particular instance when you did go through some sort of 'failure' in the past. Do you have one in mind? Ok, now trace its beginning to its end and you will see that it had the following trend:
Stage One: First, you were OK, before the 'failure' started to happen. You did not even have your attention to the possibility of this failure happening. It may be something that may have popped in your mind before, but you did not particularly have it in your constant attention at all.
Stage Two: Then, something made you start paying attention to the possibility of failure, of a 'bad thing' happening. For example, assuming it is a marketing failure or a business failure, you may have seen a newspaper article saying something about the economy going into recession, or you may have missed a payment on a bill, or a particular bit of marketing you put out did not return the amount of results you initially 'hoped' for. Not expected, but hoped.
Stage Three: You observed this one instance of 'failure' or 'bad news' and you somehow hooked onto it. Something in your mind said 'Wow, this is bad. I am afraid of it; I hope it doesn't become worse.' Or something to that effect. At this point, it is still a minor idea in your mind. But notice here what happened. You saw something out there in the world. You looked at the world asking 'what is your truth'. You looked at the world for evidence of truth. Think about that for a second. People are used to looking at the world to get their definition of truth, and whatever they see out there they accept it as truth. Ok, so you looked outside and you saw this small failure. You accepted it as a truth and a possibility that may happen to you. You took it in. This is where the downhill trip all starts. Remember, the world becomes from our thoughts, our beliefs. That is why positive thinking works, why faith works, and so on. The external world is a reflection of our internal state. When you change, it changes. We now have solid scientific evidence of this fact.
Stage Four: The world does not know who you are. It only reflects upon who you are. Failure now starts to pick up speed when you look more and more upon the world asking 'who am I, what is my truth' as you always do unconsciously, and then accept whatever it says. So now the small failure you observed and accepted as truth sets off some more thoughts of failure possibilities. So you think, 'Gee, I hope this next bit of marketing I do doesn't fail' and so on. But what are you doing then? You are declaring internally that you have no control, that you are under the mercy of little things, and you are on the side of failure, hoping to succeed. So you do the marketing, and because the world reflects you, it most likely doesn't work out as you hoped. You are always telling the world who you are and it is always exactly reflecting that. If you come from a standpoint of failure, it will prove you right, and vice versa. We are the sum total of our thoughts, and so is each of our worldly experiences.
Stage Five: You observe this new failure and because now there is more failure, you go into panic. You believe it more and think more and more that you will really mess up. And because you think of it so often, with so much worry, the failures in your world happen more and more. And you look upon them and accept them more and more. This chain reaction goes until your mind is out of control, in a panic and you feel as if you are in a daydream, a web of thoughts and emotions all tangled up. But do you see how you got there, and how easy it is to get out?
The world does not know who you are; it only manifests what you are. Do you see this little vicious cycle? You are the cause, and therefore you are the evidence. But when you believe you are not, you look upon the effect and let it determine your cause. And because it came from your cause, it will mirror what you feared was true, and you will think it is true, so you will cause even more harm unknowingly, and the cycle continues.
This is what will free you: do the opposite. Instead of accepting the 'failure' you see in front of you as truth, simply choose not to accept it. Remember, it is only there because you brought it there at some level. You may not have been conscious and aware that you were doing it. It cannot be without you empowering it to be. It is now merely asking you, 'what next, boss?' And whatever you say, it will do. Yet you ask it what the truth is, and accept its answer as truth. Its answer is the answer that you have given to it. By your acceptance and reaction to it, you empower it even more. And as you react, it moves to match your reaction. And because it moves and you observe the change as having matched what you feared, you accept the change as truth and just for you. Simply stop this. You are the truth of your world. You never have to accept external truths. You have a choice.
Now that you know that our world patterns itself on our thoughts and beliefs, you can take back the power you gave away to your fears.
At first it may be hard to change the way you think, from a partly conscious way to a fully conscious and directed way, ignoring any 'truth and evidence' offered to you by the physical world. But know it works and you can do it, and with practice it will soon become normal to you and everything will flow. Haven't you ever noticed how the most successful people today all did what everybody said was 'impossible'? They stood against the 'evidence' and declared their own truth, and the universe moved with them. It cannot fail to move. If you are in a tight spot, remember that this spot is not the truth - it is just a reflection of what you hold to be true in your mind and heart.
Free your mind and heart, holding them free no matter what, and your external will miraculously change. Cause and effect are instantaneous, time only coming between them to the extent of your clarity and certainty.
-=-
Article written by David Cameron Gikandi for even greater insights into your quest for wealth and financial liberty and ability, go here: www.CreateYourWealthToday.com
-=-
Hope You enjoyed April FOOL's day yesterday where everyone laughed, especially the person whom the joke was played on.
Have yourself a Super Sunday!
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