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A large percentage of ingredients in bath & body care are transdermal. Overtime, those ingredients will enter into the bloodstream. What's In It? Series is a 5-week series informing you of the ingredients used in our recipes. Helping women (and their families) to live good, feel good, and smell good wholesomely.

Week 1- Rice Bran Oil (INCI: Oryza Sativa)

Originating in the Japanese culture, rice bran oil is suitable for healthy cooking methods. The American Heart Association recommends rice bran oil, because of its ability to lower LDL cholesterol.

Why We Use It: continue reading...

It is no secret that more and more often, travelers are opting for resort-like vacations. Falling in this category of vacations are cruises in which all are included and resorts in the Caribbean such as Sandals where everything is included. More and more often, Las Vegas hotels are falling into this new category of vacation. In the gambling capital of the world, there are many establishments that have always featured accommodations and casino entertainment under one roof. Frequently, the casino occupies the ground floor of the building and the upper stories are reserved for guest rooms. This format has been around for a while, but it recently has become more and more desirable for tourists.

A lot of tourists are looking for the total price tag for their vacation. Everyone knows that all the daily expenses while on vacation almost always end up adding up to more than you had calculated during your planning stages. Las Vegas hotels are not the cheapest in the U.S., and if you add the amount of money one frequently spends on gambling while there and the cost of food each day, you have already got yourself quite a pricey vacation.

The allure of the all-inclusive vacation is that you know exactly what the total cost will be before beginning the actual vacation. The total price of an all-inclusive vacation seems staggering at first. But if you compare with a vacation taken la carte, when you add up all of the individual costs, it is usually the case that travelers end up spending more when they take these vacations instead of choosing an all-inclusive resort.

The allure of this newer type of vacation has not escaped the best Las Vegas hotels, and a lot of casino resorts are now offering vacation packages that include lodging costs, the costs of meals that are eaten within the resort complex, and, in some cases, gambling activities. Of course, travelers wishing to spend more than the pre-determined amount on gambling can simply use money from their own pockets to continue gambling once the set amount from their vacation package has run out.

Especially for travelers traveling with their spouses or with their families, the all-inclusive vacation is a great way to make sure that all the costs are covered, and, perhaps even more important, a great way to avoid fighting about money during the vacation. Many travelers do not consider the possibility of arguments while on vacation when they are planning their trip, but many families tend to disagree when it comes to how to spend their hard-earned dollars.

While Las Vegas hotels can take a fair portion of your family's vacation budget, you can find affordable ones that provide the amenities you want, or splurge on those that provide your meals and entertainment during your stay. Visit the website of Farrah's Exclusive Travels, LLC at http://www.farrahsexclusivetravels.com today for all of your travel needs.

I am a virtual assistant and I help people update their Twitter and garner more likes for their fan page. If you need help booking more guests on your radio show or need help updating your twitter page, etc, let me know. My rates are like flea market prices. The best way you can reach me is Hdspivey@hotmail.com. :-)

-Hannah

It’s November, and that means Thanksgiving is right around the corner. During this month, many people think about all the good they have in their lives and the things they have to be thankful for. Of course, I believe it’s important to have an attitude of gratitude 365 days a year, and creating a gratitude journal is a great place to start with this. Here are four ways having one can benefit you:

1. A gratitude journal helps you keep things in perspective. It allows you to see that no matter how bad things may be right now, they could be worse, so you always have something to be thankful for.
2. It encourages you to begin looking for the positive throughout your day.
3. A gratitude journal puts you in a positive mood. After a while, you begin to see all the good you have in your life — big and small.
4. It helps you to not take the little things for granted. You’ll have those days when nothing seems to be going right, and you can’t seem to think of anything to be thankful for. That’s when you dig deep, and think about the fact that you have breath in your body, some food, clothing, shelter, a family, etc. — the things you usually forget about because they’re always there.

How do you create a gratitude journal?

It’s simple! Just get a notebook or journal, and every night, write down three to five things that you’re grateful for. Try to think of something that happened during that day that you can be thankful for, like getting a new client or hearing from a friend you haven’t talked to in a while. You can also write about things you’re grateful for in general, like life, health and family. That’s it! (Easy, right?). Get started with your gratitude journal today, and remember:

Whatever our individual troubles and challenges may be, it’s important to pause every now and then to appreciate all that we have, on every level. - Shakti

 

For more articles like this, visit my blog, For Colored Gurls.

Everyone who has a child or a close relative in college in knows just how hard it can be to find accommodations in a the city for special weekends. Graduation weekend is a particularly big problem, but other weekends witness the same problem, such as move-in weekend as well as various homecomings and parent's weekends. At these times, big city hotels come at a premium price and usually are the only ones available.

Sometimes it is not even possible to find lodging that has any rooms available. Parents and others going to Boston for one of these weekends are encouraged to find and book their accommodations with plenty of time to spare. Waiting too long will either mean staying in a hotel located miles and miles away or staying within a city but in a room that leaves much to be desired.

U.S. colleges and universities publish their yearly schedules long before the weekend events are upon the students and parents. Theoretically, giving this much time in advance before an actual event should allow everyone plenty of time to secure accommodations, but a lot of people traveling to see their loved ones graduate wait until the last minute to look for places to stay.

Boston hotels are frequently overbooked on these special weekends, because there are simply so many schools within the city and in nearby Cambridge as well. The colleges and universities are not limited to the city proper, but are sprawled out over the greater metropolitan area. Weekends in May leave parents and students haggard at a time when everyone should be celebrating the accomplishments of earning a degree.

Although there are often problems in finding accommodations, there are quite a number of lodgings in the greater metropolitan area. However, because Boston hotels are spread out all over the metropolitan area, it is useful to consider and decide on the neighborhood where you want to spend the most time prior to beginning your accommodations search. Location is important in an area as large as this. Of course, travelers want their rooms to be suitable, but it is also important to find accommodations within a close distance to where you will be spending your days and evenings while in the city.

Frequently talked about as a small city, the home of Boston University, Boston College, Emerson College, and Harvard University is anything but quaint. Although the subway and bus system within the city and surroundings are quite developed, that does not mean that you will want to spend an hour each morning getting to your son or daughter's school. Like any other major city, the traffic here is just about unbearable, especially during the morning and evening commutes and during special occasion events such as baseball games and graduations of large universities.

Farrah's Exclusive Travels, LLC, Travel Specialists can help you find affordable, convenient hotels for your son or daughter's special weekend anywhere in or outside the US. Visit Farrah's Exclusive Travels, LLC website at http://www.farrahsexclusivetravels.com to get started on your trip.

GPS is looking for People Who Prosper OR anyone that is successful, considers themselves successful, or on their way to success!

We are looking to feature and introduce people who are up and coming in their business or already there! PeopleWhoProsper.com is a place that features business owners and shares their stories with someone who just might be able to relate. Believe it or not, sometimes it helps to stay motivated when you hear other people's stories, and this is our goal: Not only to feature successful prosperous people, but to help keep others MOTIVATED.

So, WHAT ARE YOU SCARED OF? We want you to tell US about YOU. It's easy for anyone to be a fan of your website, blog, Facebook page, or twitter. But PeopleWhoProsper.com is a place for you to challenge yourself and put yourself out there. We give you a chance to brag about yourself! Because let's face it, if you can't talk about you, then who else will? Tell us about your business and services and how long you've been in business. Why did you decide to go into business for yourself? We want to hear your story.

I am challenging you today to step out and tell others about you! Here's all you have to do: Email with subject line PeopleWhoProsper to tamara@garrisonprosperitysolutions.com. Include your business name, website and a synopsis of "your story". After getting in touch with you, you will be sent a series of questions about yourself, your business and/or services. After you return the answered questions, you will then be featured on GarrisonProsperitySolutions.com and PeopleWhoProsper.com getting exposure to over 1,000 visitors.

So, take the first step today and tell us about yourself! You never know who will need to hear your story OR need your services!

Deuteronomy 8:18: But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.

• Want advice from from real entrepreneurs who've been where you are?
• Need inspiration to get started or keep moving forward in your business?

If so, I think you'll love this! I'm so happy to announce that in February 2013, I'll be launching a magazine, exclusively for women entrepreneurs called flyy, female & fabulous! This publication is dedicated to profiling a variety of women entrepreneurs who encourage and motivate women who aspire to become entrepreneurs and those interested in growing their businesses.

Available in both digital and print formats, our mission is to inspire, motivate and encourage aspiring and current women entrepreneurs. To learn more about flyy, female & fabulous, please visit our website, and check us out on Facebook! :-)

There are many tourists who decide to come to beautiful California every year. What is interesting, though, is that there seems to be a hierarchy of cities that puts L.A. and San Francisco at the top of the desired-destinations list, leaving the rest of beautiful California by the wayside. On the one hand, this is unfortunate because the rest of California is sunny too, but, on the other hand, this hierarchy leaves other, less popular cities better able to be explored by tourists.

For example, there are special deals that are frequently offered for San Diego hotels, because travelers are looking for accommodations less often in this city than in other areas of California. This means that the lodgings often lower their prices here in the less-frequently visited cities.

Of course, price is not the only factor when it comes to choosing San Diego hotels. Customers should get as much information as possible about each accommodation through the Internet so that they can decide which place is perfect for their needs. The best travel websites are ones that keep a rich amount of information about each lodging on their website. In addition to the price of a room and the address of the place, you should be able to find an abundance of information ranging from area attractions to the features of the hotel. It is only when all of this information is available that each traveler can choose the location that best suits their unique travel needs.

San Diego hotels near the famous zoo are some of the most popular in the region. Families traveling with children may want to check out the accommodations listings that are near the zoo in order to minimize travel time to and from the zoo. Parents traveling with small children know just how long an hour in the car, sitting in traffic, can seem!

If you are looking for accommodations that are close to a certain attraction, you can often find establishments that are close to those locations by searching online. If the travel website does not give you the information of distance to landmark, you can simply use a mapping website to plot the estimated time and route between each of the establishments you are considering and the attractions of your choice. In this way, every traveler can find accommodations that are in ideal locations.

Farrah's Exclusive Travels, LLC and it's Expert Travel Specialists is ready to help you plan your next Dream vacation. Visit our website today at http://www.farrahsexclusivetravels.com

EnVoi represents the "Whole~Woman"  We are an online boutique with service provisions and beauty & Wellness products.

Take a peek...EnVoi Boutique

Visit our Wellness site...EnVoi WellnessEnVoi Boutique

EnVoi represents the "Whole~Woman"  We are an online boutique with service provisions and beauty & Wellness products.

Take a peek...EnVoi Boutique

Visit our Wellness site...EnVoi WellnessEnVoi Boutique

What is truth?

What is true to one person may not be true to another.

What is truth?

Our minds are unique

We process thoughts according to our own knowledge.

Are there really three (3) sides to every story?

Or are there many more depending on the story being told?

As I said before, I have always been labeled as “too nice”.  I try to believe the best in everyone, I try to trust everyone, I try to see the good side of every situation, I don’t ever hold a grudge or judge anyone.  This is the way my mind works.  This is who I am.

If I am told something from someone I love, I believe them.  When my husband told me, on our marriage night, that I did not ever have to flinch again because he would always protect me and he would not ever hurt me….I believed him.  When he told me our fairytale marriage was real….I believed him. When he told me I could believe in him….I believed him.  When he told me he loved me “Like the White Light”….I believed him.  I stored all his loving words in my mind.  Somehow they helped to balance out all the negative words that had been said to me in my past.   

When he told me, shortly after we were married, that he would not ever cheat on me unless it was with someone much better than me….I believed him.  When he told me stories of his past and the “bad” things he did….I believed him.  When he told me “no black man would ever want me, except to use me until there was nothing left to use”….I believed him.  When he called me names and pointed out all the things I did wrong…I believed him.  When he told me all he had to do was call “his boys” and they would be here…. I believed him.  When he told me I better be prepared because he always took care of business when least expected…. I believed him.  When he told me he wouldn’t just get me…he would get my whole family because he didn’t leave witness’…. I believed him.  When he told me he would burn my house down…I believed him.  As he started to tell me more and more “negative” things, his previous statements started to appear to be lies.  The words he said now reinforced all the negative things that I had heard all my life.

I believed him, because I had no reason not to.

Our marriage was based on the Bible and our mutual beliefs.  He reminded me what the Bible said about being in a marriage.  I was to submit to my husband.  I was to forgive 7 x’s7 times.  The husband was the head of the wife.  We were to become one flesh.  He reminded me of our vows.  Till death do us part, for better or for worse, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer.  He knew how my mind would process these reminders.

My mind processed what I knew from my past and what was now my present. As I mentioned in a previous post, I believe the effects of childhood bullying can lead to how a person feels about themselves and can lead to adult abuse both for the abuser and the abused.

His words were like daggers to my mind.  His actions were even worse.  I remember one time when he got mad at me (for what I don’t remember)…any way, I was sitting on our bed and he started yelling at me and calling me names then said he would burn our room down with me in it.  As I sat on the bed he put his cigarette lighter to the mattress and it caught on fire.  I was so scared but I couldn’t let it show.  I sat there and prayed that God would take me quickly.  By his reactions, I think he surprised himself because he tried to put the fire out as it spread faster and faster.  He did get it out but the memory would stay burning in my mind for years.  It reminded me that I should not ever take for granted anything he said or any of the threats he made. 

He kept me humiliated and feeling like I was a disgrace by his actions and words.  It became a regular ritual for me to come home from work and him make me take my undergarments off so he could inspect them to be sure I hadn’t cheated on him.  He would also “inspect” my private parts for the same reason.  I felt so humiliated because he would then tell me I stink or that my body somehow resembled that of a “w (word)”. On one hand my mind knew that what he said was not true…the things he did were not right, on the other hand my mind was so numb I couldn’t think straight because I was too busy trying to think of how to keep things calm.

 My mind told me to run…and so I tried, only to be brought back.  My mind told me to be scared and yet I had to try to hide my fright.  My mind told me that I had no one to turn to and I was stuck.  My mind told me I was some sort of bad person, although I couldn’t figure out how or what to do, to be the person he wanted.  My mind told me that my life didn’t matter; the only important thing was to protect my children.  My mind told me if I wanted to be loved by the person I loved, I had to be the person he wanted me to be and since I couldn’t be that person, no matter how hard I tried, it would be best if I was no longer.

Your Mind can play tricks on you

These tricks can either protect you or harm you

Believe in yourself

Trust in yourself

Love yourself

It is easier said than do

P.E.A.S Magazine November 2012 Edition

Thank You:

Jill Starishevsky-Prosecutor New York

Joy Stevenson-Catch Them Young Inc.

Yasmine Arrington-scholarCHIPS, M.A.D.(Making A Difference Recipient) Black Girls Rock

Gaetane Borders (Peas In Their Pods President)-Parenting Corner

Sharon Fox - Peas Magazine Food Editor

Ressurrection Graves-Child Abuse Advocate

Pat Holmes-Monthly Treat

Nicki Sanders-Teen ToolKit

Paula Whitebear-Burton-Encouragement

Peas In Their Pods

At the end of the day most women entrepreneurs really just want to know three simple things: how to start up, how to get customers and how they did it; how other women have built successful businesses, work for themselves and are living the dream you desire to create.
If these are your top three questions, the good news is that you can find the answers inside our 2013 Power Circle Conference.  The bad news, is this event isn't for everyone. It's different.

I'm not interested in creating a super conference where you have to compete with thousands of attendees to get ten seconds with an expert.

This event is for 30 (at most 45) serious women entrepreneurs who want three full days inside my power circle with experienced business professionals excited about sharing their secrets and collaborating with like-minded individuals. Pre-registration has ended, which means the clock is ticking. Seats are going now, so register today to secure yours.
A wise woman by the name of Valerie Daniels once told me, "Chiefs walk with Chiefs." And to that point, I spent last night reading an article all about BET co-founder Bob Johnson, who shared among other things a list of all the powerful partnerships he has made to build BET and to expand into new businesses for the future. As I say in the power circle, the success of your business depends on the company you keep and the women in my circle are ready to keep you in good company!
Start 2013 surrounded by the kind of people who can help you turn passion and purpose into profit and prosperity. Go to bit.ly/powercircle

Both career women and those in business have faced many obstacles in past decades and unfortunately, still today. Women in the workforce have battled glass ceilings, unequal pay for equal production and undeserved stereotypical barriers. As business prototypes have changed with the advent and growth of the internet, so have the unique issues encountered by women in business. Below are five of these challenges and solutions to overcome and achieve success.

Challenge 1: Lack of Cash Flow

Even the most brilliant business plan will fail without sufficient cash flow. Simply put, cash flow can be loosely defined as "cash in" (as generated by revenue) and "cash out" (to pay the expenses incurred to achieve "cash in." Inadequate cash flow can stifle a business into failure.

Let’s just get real… your creditors, employees or suppliers don’t care about your cash flow woes. They want to be paid in a timely manner!

Solution:To simplify this problem, as well as correct it, look at all facets of the balance sheet and income statement. Is there a lag time between the time you have to pay your creditors, suppliers and employees and when you collect from your customers? If so, you must pinpoint the problem areas and take necessary steps to correct them.

Four quick solutions to manage your cash flow:

• Consider factoring. In factoring, a business owner sells accounts receivable at a discount to a third-party funding source that pays invoices immediately. Chris Lehres, a loan officer for Versant Funding says, “A wide range of companies in a multitude of industries, including some with a negative net worth, that are losing money, and often even companies in Chapter 11 Bankruptcy are eligible for factoring services.”
• Open a line of credit. A line of credit is a standard service provided by many banks and credit unions that serve small businesses. Your banker can best discuss the benefits of a business line of credit.
• Offer several payment options to your clients, such as Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) or pay pal.
• Track your receivables. Have a collection process in place so that you have a protocol to handle aging invoices.

Challenge 2: Undefined Niche

To Niche or Not to Niche…that is the question. What is a niche? A niche business is one that targets a very specific group of people with specific shared interest. A business with an undefined niche is like a ship sailing in shallow water.

By creating a niche business allows you to market to your ideal clients. For example, if you were a behavioral psychologist targeting teens, you would market your services in places where parents are likely to find out about you; such as advertising in parent magazines, providing resources to local middle and high schools or joining organizations geared towards parents.

Solution:By understanding who and where your ideal customers are; it is easy to craft a marketing plan to target them. Here are three easy ways to target your potential clients:

• Improve your website’s SEO with specific key words
• Generate exposure locally and virtually with professional speaking, seminars or publishing a book or articles.
• Craft a clear message that speak at the heart of your customer

Challenge 3: Not Understanding the Power of Referral Marketing

For years, the mantra for success in marketing was "cold calling." Today, we know that cold calling is ineffectual, especially when compared to referral marketing. Referral marketing is promoting your business thru referrals and word of mouth networking to more effectively gain sales.

When comparing referral marketing to cold calling, think of it as sowing grass seed. It is much easier to grow grass from seeds if you know how fertile the ground is. You can scatter a handful of seeds over a wide area of dirt and some of it may, or may not, take root.

Solution: Find others with whom to network and collaborate to gain sales. For instance, if your business sells cars, you might collaborate with a local automobile service company with the result that the purchase of a car includes a certificate for a free oil change from the car servicing business. Both businesses benefit and just increased the likelihood for repeat business.

Challenge 4: No Social Media Plan

Random tweets and meandering Facebook posts will result in a lot of time devoted to zero results. Before making another useless post, sit down with pen and paper and make a list of what you want to achieve from social media. To which social media do you belong? What are some social media marketing strategies that you have noticed from other companies? What do you have that will offer value? You may find that your company is spread a little too thin across the social media spectrum. Quality truly is superior to quantity in this respect.

Solution: Create a social media marketing plan and stay the long haul. Establishing a strong presence can be a very time consuming process. It is unwise to expect your list of fans, followers or subscribers to grow overnight.

Challenge 5: No Strategic Plan (after 3 years in business)

Without a strategic plan, a business can become stagnant in the mire of what is immediately going on, rather than focusing on long-term goals. Successful businesses recognize the critical need for strategic planning and it is an ongoing process - it is never finished.

Solution:An effective strategic planning process allows small businesses to take control of their future and stay focused on the essential areas that will result in sustained periods of growth and success. Here are six tips to help you in the planning process:

• Assess the Current Business Environment
• Focus on Important (SWOT) Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats
• Define (or Redefine) the Company’s Mission and Goals
• Start with An End In Mind
• Establish Mini Milestones
• Plan for Follow Through

If starting your strategic plan seems a little intimidating, download your FREE ‘Strategic Planning Strategy Worksheet.’

As you can see, there are many hurdles that can cause women to fail in business; nevertheless, many solutions to prevent failure from happening. These are my top 5 challenges; what other challenges do you think women face today?

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE? YOU MAY AS LONG AS THE BLURB BELOW IS INCLUDED:

Sylvia Browder is a small business consultant, trainer and author. She is founder of National Association Women on the Rise, a virtual community for aspiring and established women entrepreneurs. For the past 6 years, she has worked as Project Director of the Women's Business Center; and served as an online volunteer SCORE counselor since 2004. For FREE weekly articles go to Sylvia Browder's Blog for Women Entrepreneurs, http://www.sylviabrowder.com.

Introducing Trish Nolen, owner of Becoming products.  In 2009, Trish was laid off and found herself searching for her calling and purpose in life. In doing so, she began to live a healthy and organic life, also wearing her hair naturally (no chemicals or dyes). When using products for her hair she discovered she did not like the results and began creating her own products using ingredients from her kitchen. She began sharing the hair products with friends and family, eventually realizing she had created her own hair product line.  Trish has already began to get orders for her products, offering hair yogurt and conditioner.  Trish shares more about her story, hair care products and what motivates her in her interview. Enjoy! 

1. Tell me your story. What were you doing before you started your own business?

I hail from the tiny town of Hanford, Ca. I am a single mom of two beautiful children, a boy and a girl.
I have struggled to provide for them over the years working jobs here and there, but never really having enough. I have had to collect money from welfare at times, been on unemployment, and so on and so forth. I believe it was in the summer of 2009, after being laid off, that I realized that I needed a major change. I begin to search for God, which led me to seek out my purpose. I realized that I was very interested in natural health, organic living, and things of this nature. It was now the summer of 2010, and I decided to no longer relax my hair and go natural. I dove into the natural communities, loving my sistas who were paving the way. I learned that I could create my own products in my own kitchen that worked better for my hair than a lot of products in the local beauty stores, and the best part was that my products didn’t have harsh chemicals. I was amazed, and I became illuminated. I had found a passion and soon realized that others were searching for natural affordable products as well. This is how my business was birthed.

2. What made you want to start a business and what is your mission?

My mission now is to educate others. First, to embrace our God-given hair, and also to honor our temples with a healthy and whole lifestyle. I love creating a product that is natural, that will enhance hair and skin, without jeopardizing our health with harsh chemicals.

3. What inspires you? What keeps you motivated daily to keep growing your business?

My children have been my inspiration. They depend on me, and I know that I must keep going, even when it gets tough.  I want to make sure that I provide for them a life of prosperity, not a life of poverty. 

4. Do you have a mentor? Who is it and why? Do you believe it's important to have one?

God placed an amazing man in my life in 2008. He has mentored me. He freely gives me business advice, corrects me, encourages me, and challenges me to be better daily. His name is Antranik, and I am very blessed to have him on my team. I honor him. It is very important to have a mentor. This person has already made the mistakes and if you embrace them, they add much value and insight to your dreams. 

5. What would you tell someone who wants to get involved in your line of business but doesn't know how to get started?

My advice for anyone who wants to pursue a business in the natural hair product line would be to always put God first, obtain information, study people's wants and needs, and ask plenty of questions. 

6. What advice would you give to someone with an entrepreneurial spirit?  

Is to first know that your desires are heaven-sent, embrace your passion, and step out on faith and go for it. If you do your best, God always does the rest. Mistakes will be made, but never give up. Create a dream team with talented people, humble yourself, and always honor those who have gone before you and paved the way.

I want to thank Trish for sharing her story and business with us. She is a fine example of  how believing in yourself can help achieve anything. For more info on "Becoming" visit http://www.etsy.com/shop/Intensions. You can also visit Trish’s website at http://www.becomingnatural.weebly.com.  

____________________________________________________________________________________

Be someone’s motivation and tell us your story! To be featured on PeopleWhoProsper.com email Tamara@garrisonprosperitysolutions.com. Put PEOPLEWHOPROSPER in the subject line and share a little about yourself.

In its infancy, the lawmakers in the United States of America only granted the right to vote to a privileged few.  Males of European descent who had wealth were the only ones allowed to elect government representatives.  It took nearly two hundred years for the country to grow up and realize that a true democracy required that all of its citizens have the right to vote.  The Voting Rights Act of 1965 guarantees that right; that all people, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender or financial status, have the right to choose their elected officials.

Today, there are those who seek new restrictions.  State voter ID laws are touted as a means to thwart voter fraud, when, in reality they are guises designed to limit participation by the disenfranchised.

It is imperative that you exercise your right to vote before someone decides you don’t deserve it.  To vote is to honor the legacy of all of those who fought and died for this right for all people.  Your right to vote is one of the most valuable rights you have.  Never take it for granted.

GET SOME EXERCISE TODAY…EXERCISE YOUR RIGHT TO VOTE

http://www.soulvisiontv.com/VOTEPage.htm

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This past week, so many people suffered from a superstorm that was born out of water, sand and wind.  Sandy's latest stats spoke of killing an overall 161 people, including 92 in the United States (source: CNN, Nov. 2, 2012).

The aftermath of this storm has left literally hundreds of thousands of people without fuel, food, electricity, and prized possessions.

This storm was a heartbreak and one of the biggest ever in the loss of lives and finance.

And many of us felt the pain and the wrath of it even from many miles away.

Maybe you have felt loss and pain because of  storms in your business - one day you're riding high, enjoying the fruits of your labor and out of nowhere it seems, you're left scraping the bottom of your budget, feeling desperation about your business model, facing naysayers who tell you to give up, unable to attract paying clients.  These personal storms can take a heavy toll on you.

But there are lessons we can learn from the recovery following this devastating storm called Sandy. Lessons we can apply to life and our businesses, especially in times of loss.

Lesson 1 -  You Are Not Alone

In the aftermath of a huge storm like this, it's easy to feel separated from the rest of the world.  People feel isolated, like no one but their small community knows what's going on.  Survivors of Hurricane Katrina and the Joplin, Missouri tornado spoke of the anger and sadness, and how alone they felt.

Victim Eileen Romero spoke of this to CNN, "I didn't even realize that we were being covered 24 hours a day," she said. "It was only months later that I comprehended that New Orleans was on TV all the time, that people cared so much about it."

When you are facing devastation in your business and in your life, you may be surprised that people care.  They want you to be successful.  They want you to get back on your feet.  Reach out through mediums like networking communities, social media, friends and family.  You don't have to share all the specifics; say what you're comfortable saying and let others help and encourage you.

Lesson 2 - Focus On What's Important

In times of tragedy, remember what's important.  I was listening to an interview with a family who talked about how they lost so much.  But they weren't looking for their laptops or jewelry in the wreckage; they were trying to find other loved ones, making sure they all had food, that they could be transported to safe lodging.

In business, you may find yourself falling back on familiar things like putting time and money into a website, when you could be making sure you have groceries for the month.  Take inventory of what's happening and where to focus your time and money when going through a business crisis. Focus on the priorities for survival until you can get back on your feet.

Lesson 3 - Recovery Won't Happen Overnight

Even after the worst of the storm itself was over, many Sandy victims still await rescue. Although some electricity was restored, backup batteries and generators for cellphone towers have been running out of juice.  It's going to take some time to get back to stability.

When you have suffered a loss in your business, it won't "fix" itself overnight.  Remember there is a process to recovery and just because you don't see things turning around after making two or three efforts, it doesn't mean it's time to give up.  A colleague of mine talks about how it took her 3 years to get back on her feet after her small business went bankrupt.  It was not easy, but her perseverance paid off.

Hold onto your vision - keep it steady, and know that it may not be time to give up on your dream just yet.  Even if you have to find temporary employment in a different field, even if you feel your previous business model has failed, it doesn't mean you should give up your idea completely.

Do what you need to survive first, surround yourself with encouragement and support, and dust yourself off to plan for the next life adventure.

“Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars.” - Khalil Gibran, Artist, Poet, Writer (1883-1931)

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About the Author: Tanya Smith is a creative business strategist and coach specializing in showing independent service providers how to simplify, save time & stand out with simple strategies that engage more quality leads and clients. Her company Be Promotable provides fresh actionable strategies and virtual resources to promote business owners as power players in their market. Get free tools to simplify and stand out online at:www.tanyasmithonline.com

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Moving Your Business from Potential to Profitability in 2013

Entrepreneurs – as you think about your business plan for 2013, consider the following questions:

• Did your gross receipts exceed the level of effort and resources put in the business in 2012? (This answer indicates whether you have a business, per IRS standards, or just a hobby)
• Are you aware of the substantial changes in your industry that will impact your business next year? (This includes new technologies, new competitors, new laws, etc.)
• If Business Growth is one of your goals for 2013, have you already figured out what will be the “RIGHT” type of growth? (i.e. not just more clients, but the clients with whom you will have continuous sales next year)
• If you are a Coach or Speaker, what “new” insights, services or products do you plan to bring to your clients or audiences next year? (In other words, what will make you stand apart from all the others in your field?)

As a solo entrepreneur or a small business owner, you may have the “potential” to make millions, but if you have not mapped out a strategy for addressing issues such as the ones listed above, increasing your profitability in 2013 is unlikely. Your business plan outlines your business structure, but a solid strategy is the bridge to get you to your destination.

As entrepreneurs, we must relentlessly pursue our highest level of potential in business. Utilizing our full potential empowers us to serve the world with our unique gifts and talents, while being compensated accordingly for doing so. I believe that every entrepreneur should strive for extraordinary success. If you know the precise destination in which you’d like to take your company, then you have a definite target for which to aim.

First, let’s look at why you need a strategy and not just a business plan:

• Business plans are essential to have, but they are used primarily to start a business, obtain funding, or direct ongoing operations
• A strategic plan is used to provide focus, direction and action in order to move your business from where it is now to where you want to go
• A strategic plan is critical for prioritizing your three most valuable, but limited resources (time, talent and capital) to grow the revenue and increase the return on investment
• A strategic plan focuses on building a sustainable competitive advantage and is futuristic in nature

Strategy helps you make clear and conscious choices about the direction of your company in relation to what’s happening in the dynamic business environment. Armed with strategic knowledge, you’re in a much better position to respond proactively to a changing environment.

Second, let’s review some of the fine points and benefits of small business strategy:

• To establish a unique value proposition as compared to your competitors
• To enable you to do the RIGHT things at the RIGHT time
• To identify the tradeoffs and clarify what you should not do
• To focus on activities that fit together and reinforce each other
• To execute your business plan in a way that provides distinct and tailored value to customers

Third, strategic planning is the most effective way to “position” your solo venture or small business for success and profitability. Positioning helps you align your business activities with the goals that you have set and it helps differentiate your products and services from others in the mind of the consumer. If you think positioning your business strategically is an easy task, consider the following senarios:

• The owner of a local bakery wants to remain small and local, but needs to increase profits. How should the owner adjust and align all business activities, including operations, inventory, marketing and customer service in order to achieve these goals in 2013?
• A clothing designer wants to position her business to grow into a much bigger regional or national company in 2013. In what way would she need to adjust operations and inventory to cater to a broader client base? How will the owner develop the distribution channels needed to achieve this goal? How much will she need to invest initially – before profits?
• A Health & Wellness Coach has been planning to launch a new suite of wellness products in 2013. She just found out that another contender in the market is also launching a similar suite of products with a sophisticated online portal at a much lower rate. The competitor is also positioning themselves to become a player in the healthcare exchange market in 2014. How should this Coach adjust her go-to-market strategy?

These are actal strategy senarios from three of my current clients. As you can see, developing a profitable and competitive strategy is much more complex than just putting together a business plan. You have to know the direction you want your company or solo venture to take, understand how to position yourself, and align the various elements of your enterprise with that directional goal. This avoids wasting time and effort on activities that don't add to your bottom line.

I realize that it’s not easy, so I want to help you develop a solid Game Plan for your business in 2013. Because I want you to succeed, you don’t have to work through this process alone. Joined by two other phenomenal business coaches (Chloe Taylor Brown and Cheryl Budden Earls), we have scheduled two workshops in an effort to coach and train you in the development of your “2013 Strategic Play Book”!

Follow the link below to find out more about the Strategic Coaching Workshops that I'll be offering in December, with Chloe Taylor Brown and Cheryl Budden Earls! Armed with the right strategy, you can Rock 2013 and drastically increase your profitability!

Click Here To Get Started with the 2013 Small Business Prosperity Challenge Today: www.moniquestoner.com/2013-prosperity-challenge. It's totally FREE & there's no obligation.

Also, for additional 2013 Business Planning Tips, read my Five Steps to Business Success in 2013 article - http://www.moniquestoner.com/five-steps-to-business-success-in-2013/