Be Proud by Gidget Giardino

BE PROUD of even the smallest accomplishments. They are the building blocks to greatness. And, YOU ARE GREAT!

If every day you did one thing, just one thing to improve yourself or build your business, at the end of the week you'll be amazed. Keep achieving these little mini goals and by the end of the month your be thrilled to see how far you've gone. Imagine where you'll be, how grand your life is at the end of the year!  

Now, I know all about making new year resolutions that never get off the ground. I used to be one of those people. It all boiled down to discipline. Taking the extra few minutes each and every day to actually do the things you know you need to do in order to have a better life, or having the willpower to quit doing the self destructive habits you have. Because you are afraid you can't shake them isn't going to make them go away, and it certainly isn't going to improve your life.

Take it one day at a time. If something is truly important to you, you will make it part of your daily routine to improve. It isn't as hard as it seems. You just have to take a deep breath every morning and live your life the way you know you need to.

 

BE PROUD of your positive improvements. Even if they seem small. All your accomplishments add up to greatness. And, you ARE great!

Grow. Grow. GROW. by Gidget Giardino

Since I was a florist for more than 25 years, it probably goes without saying, I love growing things.

A daily task was to care for our many plants. This is said to be therapeutic, and I believe it is. There is something very calming about cultivating the growth of a plant.

Each kind of plant needs different care. Some want constant attention, while others get "sick" if you fiddle with them too much. The key is to figure out what each needs and then only do what you KNOW will be best. Don't give too much water if the plant prefers to be dry. Don't let it scorch in the sun if it must have shade.  You don't necessarily have to baby it. Just respect its needs.

If you take the above into consideration and apply the thinking to your business you will find that people are a lot like plants. Treat each person with the care and respect they need and do not do more than necessary. We've all heard of the term "over-kill."

Your Home-Based business will "thrive" when you learn, and apply, the above.

Article by Gidget Giardino

You Know What They Say About Death and Taxes by Gidget Giardino

I don't know about you, but it makes me mad as hell to wake up each day and hear that our country is in such financial turmoil. Today's headlines on the "Tax Cut Compromise" was enough to make me puke.

Under this proposal, the single working people with below $20,000 in earnings and married couples below $40,000 will be worse off.  Basically the "working poor" (I hate that BTW) will loose money because Obama's proposal is to substitute a Social Security payroll tax cut for the Making Work Pay credit. In this scenario, our single working-class will no longer receive the $400 they are accustomed to and the married will not receive the $800, by the time you do the math.  

However, the rich will do really well. A worker earning $106,800 (max. amount of income subject to Social Security tax) stands to save $2,136 in payroll taxes. Double that for married couples making over $100,000.

Now, do you really think the rich will stimulate the economy with their extra dough? Maybe some, but not nearly as much as the low-income working families would with their measly $400. All this does is drive a bigger wedge between the rich and the poor, financially speaking.

How do you get out of the jam? Simple. Make more money.

I know, you're rolling your eyes and snorting at my last statement. But, think about it. It is the solution to that  problem, as well as many others. On my blog you will find articles with basic steps to follow in order to be successful in making more money. Stay tuned. And, BE PREPARED to take action.

Article by Gidget Giardino

Improve Your Business

Stay Ahead Of The Curve

by “Independent Executive” Chuck Boyce

It’s often difficult for entrepreneurs and business owners to look beyond the hectic day-to-day pace of their business responsibilities.  Time is at a premium; and so are money and resources.
Any small business coach or executive business coach, however, will tell you that not looking past today can cost you plenty tomorrow.

There’s an old saying:  “Stay ahead of the curve.”  Translation?  Keep your eyes open for change before it happens – so you’ve already thought through how you’re going to make critical adjustments before it’s too late.

Here are a few suggestions on how you can stay ahead of the curve, no matter what your business is:

• SCHEDULE IT AND SET IT IN STONE

Many smart entrepreneurs will carve out a few hours every week (Friday afternoons, when everything is winding down, are often popular) to review their business operation from a “Big Picture” perspective.  This requires a certain objectivity and distance to do correctly.  If you do put this into practice, always make sure you end each session with some “Action Points” to apply to your business that will help it react to current marketplace conditions.

• GET OUT OF YOUR BUSINESS BUBBLE

Everyone wants to think there’s nowhere to go but up in their particular business category.  When they associate with others in the same industry, there’s often a little bit of groupthink going on – everyone reinforces each other’s optimism. Let’s recall a few years ago when the entire financial community bet everything that real estate prices would never, ever take a substantial drop.  To avoid the echo chamber, seek out other opinions from those in other industries on how they view your business sector – and if they feel it’s headed for growth or rough times.

• DO YOUR RESEARCH

In case you weren’t aware, the internet isn’t just for shopping or playing games – it’s also the most amazing source of information in the history of mankind.  It’s easy to find reputable sites that analyze current business trends, as well as suggesting new ways of both saving money and making it.   If you don’t already seek out this kind of valuable (and generally free) business advice, put it on your to-do list.

Doing your research also involves attending seminars and trade shows where you can network as well as catch up on cutting-edge trends.  The more you expose yourself to, the more well-rounded you are in terms of running your business.  That ultimately makes you quick with the right response whenever business conditions change or a new opportunity crops up.

Santa Mail

Make Wishes Come True

You can help Santa grant special wishes this holiday season just by writing him a letter.

This year you can bring a smile to the face of a child with a life-threatening medical condition by writing a letter to Santa. Go into any Macy's store before December 25th and write a letter to Santa at the Believe Station or drop off a stamped letter addressed to Santa. For each letter mailed at Macy's, the famous department store will donate a dollar, up to $1 million, to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. You can download a template at www.macys.com/believe or write one of your own.

Macy's Believe Campaign is inspired by The New York Sun's famous "Yes, Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus" editorial from 1897, in reply to a little girl's question about Santa's existence. "Yes, Virginia", an animated television special about this heartwarming holiday story, is now available as a DVD and a children's book. 10% of the purchase price of those sold at Macy's will also be donated to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. 

Christmas is a time to be joyful and spread peace and love to all. So, this holiday season, while you are rushing around preparing for your own special festivities, stop by Macy's Believe Station and write a letter to Santa. Every dollar counts.

Beautiful Trees

TREES... 

 (by Joyce - 1886-1918) Kilmer

 I think that I shall never see 
A poem lovely as a tree. 
A tree whose hungry mouth is prest 
Against the earth's sweet flowing breast; 
A tree that looks at God all day, 
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;   
A tree that may in Summer wear 
A nest of robins in her hair; 
Upon whose bosom snow has lain; 
Who intimately lives with rain.   
Poems are made by fools like me, 
But only God can make a tree... 

Are You Happy?

The Head Games of Happiness
by Darren Hardy

What makes you happy… really?

That’s a serious question… maybe one of the most important questions of your life. But did you know most people can’t answer it correctly?

In his book Stumbling on Happiness, Harvard professor Dan Gilbert explains that most of us think we know what makes us happy, but typically we are wrong.

I have found there are three major traps in which you might be unknowingly making yourself unhappy.

The first unhappiness trap is postponing happiness. The “when I (fill in the blank), I will be happy” syndrome. The reality is that happiness isn’t something to be acquired in the future. You are either happy now or not; “then” never arrives. Living and striving for “then” results in a constant state of unhappiness. Now is the only time you have to be happy. If you can’t be happy now, you most certainly will not be happy later.
The second unhappiness trap is we spend our lives trying to make other people happy, which can make us very unhappy. Many times we are living a life we didn’t even choose ourselves. We might have simply, and unconsciously, started pursuing the idea of happiness programmed by our parents, peers, societal culture, or the examples given to us by Hollywood or commercialism. Whose idea of success are you living out?
Third unhappiness trap is contrast. For the most part happiness is really an illusion. In other words, you make up the idea of whether you are happy or not. And you really only know how to judge something by comparing it to something else. Typically this means comparing yourself to other people. This is dangerous business because there will always be reference points that will cause you to be unhappy.

The bottom line is this, happiness is not derived from the outside, it is only derived from within. Happiness is a state of mind. And you can continually choose to be happy.

Here is the best way I know to live in happiness—live in gratitude. When you focus on all you have and all that you are, right now, that is where happiness is born. Once it is born now you can nurture it further by discovering those other experiences that bring you increased joy, happiness and exhilaration.

http://www.darenhardy.success.com/

Eco-Friendly Holiday Tips by Gidget Giardino

Tips for an Eco-Friendly Holiday

It's hard to believe, but according to Robert Lilienfeld, co-author of the book, "Use Less Stuff: Environmental Solutions for Who We Really Are," between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day, Americans throw away a million extra tons of garbage each week. During the season of giving, it sure seems like we're taking a lot from Mother Nature. Here are some suggestions of ways to go green this holiday season, and you just might save some green in the meantime.

Start with your gift giving. You may not have ever thought about it before, but some gifts are certainly more eco-friendly than others. Giving an experience, like tickets to a ballgame or an art exhibit, create much less waste than complicated toys and gadgets. And some of the best gifts can be homemade like cookies and cakes, or having guests over for a full home-cooked meal.

As you do begin warping up those presents for family and friends, consider recycling gift wrap. You can easily reuse gift bags, tissue paper, bows and even wrapping paper. For gift wrapping alternatives, think about using reusable items like scarves, handkerchiefs or bandanas.  
If you need to ship your presents this year, avoid Styrofoam packing peanuts and try the biodegradable kind instead. You can also use crumpled up newspaper, or even dry, popped popcorn (insert a note inside the box letting the receiver know that they can later treat birds to it).

For many folks, the holidays just wouldn't be the same without a live, fragrant Christmas tree. As you search for that perfect tree, keep in mind that if you purchase a tree from a tree farm you're not damaging forests. Artificial trees are also a good choice since they are reused every year and that saves on the gas you would spend driving to the tree farms.

To ignite your family with holiday cheer, be sure to purchase Christmas lights made with light-emitting diodes, or LEDs. According to one U.S. Department of Energy study, if all families replaced their conventional holiday light strings with LEDs, at least two billion kilowatt-hours of electricity could be saved in a month. The savings alone would be enough to power 200,000 homes for a year.

Once you've chosen your tree, get creative with the decorations. Give it your family's personal touch by decorating it with memorabilia such as a child's first shoe. Cookie cutters, pinecones, stuffed animals and toys, and miniature toy cars work just as well.

And start the New Year off on the right foot try treecycling. By recycling your fresh tree you can make a huge difference in reducing holiday waste. Instead of ending up in a landfill, Christmas trees can be ground into wood chips and be reused as mulch gardens, or to prevent erosion. If you visit Earth911.com, you can search your zip code to find the nearest Christmas tree recycling center near you. Written by Tara Darby

Choose The Right Company For Success

Janet Callaway, my mentor, has a way with words, as well as, being tremendously successful in NWM. This article completely describes what you need to succeed in this industry.

6 Keys to Success by Janet Callaway

Today let's explore 6 key points in finding a company that is “built to last.” After all, if you are going to invest your time and effort to build for the future, you want to know that company will still be around in the future to pay you that residual income you earned.

Though it might seem odd, I am going to list these 6 keys in reverse order. In other words, I am going to start with the Least important first which may surprise you.

1. Product. What, you say; how can that possibly be the least important? You're thinking if I had a great product to market, a product that really “Worked,” I would be rich because everyone would want it and would keep using it. While your logic sounds well, logical, unfortunately the reality is something else. People use great products, get better, feel better, look better or whatever better, and then they quit taking the products. Why? Because they are better! People forget about prevention and following consistent routines for optimum results. Life happens and people “forget” how they were before or they choose to spend their money elsewhere. A great product does not guarantee longevity of a company nor success for the individual distributor.

2. Compensation. No way. If the compensation plan is good, the program/the plan will work and “I'll get rich!” Sounds good, however, once again that old reality is quite different. Many compensation plans are designed to only last a “short” time rather than the long haul. Still others “work” when there are a modest number of distributors and simply fall apart when the distributor force grows larger. The bane of the network marketing industry is compensation plans that keep changing because they were not well designed in the beginning. The good news/bad news is that it is not about the Compensation plan because people have made tons of money with truly terrible Compensation plans. Go figure.

3. Tools. What on earth do you mean by “Tools.” Tools are what you use to deliver the information to your prospective business partners. They are critically important. This quote by Archimedes best describes the power of good tools: "Give me a lever long enough and a place to stand, and I will move the world." 
    
4. Systems. Newcomers to the Network Marketing industry often don't recognize the importance of a system. Because most of us are used to having to do it by ourselves, we forget that Network Marketing is about the power of leverage as Archimedes so well stated. You not only use Tools in a system, you also use people. In a good company, there is a step-by-step system that anyone can follow. If people do follow the System, they experience success because they have people helping them each step of the way as well as the Tools that do the work for them.
   
   
5. Coaches. This is probably starting to make sense to you now. You now have a Product to market, a Compensation plan to pay you as well as Tools and a System to follow. Your Coach helps to put it together for you and keep you on target so that you achieve your goals. Any successful athlete, musician, or person who excels at a craft/trade/art has or had a coach. In most instances, its multiple and continuing coaches. Recognizing the importance of coach, we celebrate great coaches like the late Coach John Wooden of UCLA. Work with a coach, a mentor and you will succeed. Attempt to do it all on your own and, most likely, you will fail.
   
   
6. Owners. Simply put, if the owners lack integrity and the ability to lead, the Company will fail. The Owners are the ones who write your royalty checks both today and into the future. Make sure that they have a track record of success and integrity. Your future depends on it.

Choose wisely. Let me know if I can help in any way. Would love to hear your thoughts on these 6 Key Points.

Business or Hobby ? by Gidget Giardino

Unless somebody is making the phone ring or the customers come through the door, it's not a business. It's just a very expensive hobby.


Depending on what kind of business you are in the activities you need to do in order to bring the customers to you daily varies. Traditional business may need more advertising, direct mail campaignes, radio scripts, etc. But, if you Work From Home you need to stay in touch via internet, the phone, or both. 


A Home-Based Business does not usually require a large start-up cost. You should not have to take out a sales ad in the newspaper or spend your cash on advertising campaignes. However, you will need to choose the right company and get a mentor.


The things you need to look for in choosing the right company are:
1. The Owners must have integrity and a solid success record.
2. A Mentor who will keep you on target and help you achieve your goals.
3. A step-by-step System that anyone can follow.
4. Tools to deliver the information professionally without delay. 
5. Generous and fair Compensation plan designed to last.
6. Highly consumable Products that work.

Tomorrow I will post details on the above six necessary things you need to choose a Successful Company.