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Beneath the Ice: Ice diving emerges as one of last great scuba adventures

Posted by Debrah on May 18, 2008 at 8:41pm

By MARK SCHOOFSMay 10, 2008; Page W1The White Sea, RussiaEvery winter, hordes of divers head to the congested, overdeveloped scuba-diving destinations of the Caribbean and the Red Sea. But there's a less-traversed option: Fly to Moscow, take the railroad 27 hours north, and drive two hours along snow-covered dirt roads to a village almost on the Arctic Circle, along an inlet of the White Sea. Then, take a snowmobile to a small black triangle cut into the ice.Ice diving is one of the last great scuba adventures. WSJ's Mark Schoofs ice dives in the White Sea in Northern Russia and gives a peek into an underwater world full of sea creatures.Ice diving is one of the last grand scuba adventures. Popular destinations include Antarctica, Newfoundland and certain lakes in the Austrian Alps. One of the best -- and least known -- is Russia's White Sea.There, diaphanous, rainbow-tinged comb jellies (like jellyfish without the tentacles) float by. On rocks lie starfish and related brittle stars of every description. There are ophiuras, whose thin, spidery legs are striped wine-red and cream-white, and there are glittering, ruby-red crossasters with stubby legs, each tipped with delicate, filament tentacles. Luxuriant forests of large round anemones, each one ivory or pink-orange, look like some 1960s hallucinogenic art installation. Among them live multicolored sponges and algae, colonies of barnacles and tiny neon-lavender skeleton crabs. Wolf fish hide in crevasses. On the sea bed billow acres of low-growing kelp, whose undulation is as mesmerizing as a Bach fugue.Above it all is the ice, almost alive, filtering sunlight into varying shades of emerald and gold. When one finally ascends back up through the ice hole, or maina, one literally ascends into light.Marine life in the White Sea is so rich partly because cold water holds more oxygen than warm water, and in winter, the water is below freezing, about 30 degrees Fahrenheit. That means divers need gear -- lots of it. A dry suit, unlike the more common wet suit, is mandatory. With a zipper derived from a NASA design, and a seal on the neck, it keeps the body perfectly dry.On my recent seven-day diving trip here with a Russian company, I wore three layers under a dry suit: a union suit made of polypropylene to wick away sweat, thick fleece long johns, and an even thicker Thinsulate-insulated undergarment that looks like a snowsuit. I wore two pairs of socks and Thinsulate booties, plus chemical toe warmers that react with air to generate heat. I used them on my hands, too, where I wore three layers of gloves under rubber outer gloves.My head was in two neoprene hoods, a thin one underneath a thick one that tucked into a collar to protect my neck. A mask covered the skin around my nose and eyes. Only my lips, which held the mouthpiece connecting me to the air supply, were exposed directly to the cold water. Lips have such good blood flow that they don't go numb but merely tingle upon entry.Donning all this gear, plus fins, tank, and the lead weights that help a diver sink, takes about half an hour. We suited up in mobile huts on skis, where gas heaters made me feel like a mummy working out in a sauna. Slipping into the cold water was a relief.But the cold harbors danger. Valves can freeze, either blasting a diver with free-flowing air or shutting off the air supply altogether. Every air tank for ice diving has two valves, not the standard one for warm-water diving, and the mouthpiece valve has a freeze-resistant design. Even so, I encountered an emergency. I wore a vest that inflated and deflated to control buoyancy, and a valve on it froze open, ballooning the vest and sending me straight up. I was pinned against the ice, unable to swim freely, with the air in my tank rapidly flowing out. The safety of the terrestrial world was less than a foot away but walled off by impenetrable ice.This is the second danger of ice diving: To ascend to the surface, one must return to the ice hole. Out of air and wearing close to 100 pounds of gear, even 25 yards underwater can be a long, even lethal distance. Each diver is secured to a rope connected to two other people: a buddy in the water and a tender on the surface. My buddy saw my trouble and gave the emergency signal: Four yanks of the rope, and our tender hauled us in. We skated along the ice's underside, a sensation so fun and beautiful that I forgot the danger. Up on top, our tender doused the valve with hot water from a thermos, and we resumed our dive.Living so intimately with ice, one realizes it is anything but static. A brilliant sun shone during the first two days. But then a heavy snow fell, and when we went to the maina, the water seemed to have risen, forming a puddle on the ice. The weight of the snow had pushed the ice down, forcing water up through the hole. On another day, we were diving when a storm roared in. Our guides, concerned that large waves on the open sea would create surges capable of cracking the ice, decided we would leave.Even without storms, the tides rise and fall more than six feet, so the ice at the shore continually cracks, refreezes and cracks again. Underneath, the constant friction sculpts the ice into breathtaking forms through which light streams as if through a kaleidoscope.Topside, the muted light of a snowstorm or a sunset brings forth the full range of color in arctic ice: every conceivable variation of white and grey and a softly iridescent blue that seems to emanate from deep within. At night, the wind sweeps stretches of ice clean of snow, and they gleam obsidian black. The underside of the ice is bubbled like a sponge, and in many of the holes live tiny crustaceans. Blow scuba bubbles, and they fall out like living rain.Two former marine biologists, Dmitri Orlov and Mikhail Safonov, founded the outfit that organized this expedition, the RuDive Group, which offers world-wide scuba tours. In 1996, after the Soviet Union crumbled and science funding dried up, Mr. Safonov and Mr. Orlov began offering diving lessons, and in 1998 they began taking customers to the White Sea.Five years ago, they opened their own diving center there, with comfortable wooden chalets offering accommodations from hostel-style dorms with shared baths to private rooms. Meals are hearty, often featuring local smoked fish, fresh vegetables and fruit and preserves made from local berries.About seven years ago, Mr. Safonov recalls, a woman ice-diving with a predecessor company he and his partner founded and ran died in a Moscow lake at a depth of about 10 feet. The exact circumstances weren't clear, but spurred largely by the event, RuDive now requires all customers to have ice-diving certification from the Professional Association of Diving Instructors. Customers can get ice-diving certification at the start of their trip. RuDive has added to the standard training to enhance safety.In 1999, Mr. Safonov participated in what is believed to be the first successful scuba expedition to the North Pole. The ice there forms underwater "castles," he says, and the water is as clear as air. Last month, he returned from RuDive's fifth successful polar diving trip. The cost: $40,000 per person.RuDive's White Sea center has two captive beluga whales, owned by a Russian aquarium and held in a netted sea pen. The one-ton males circled in swift arabesques, then came straight at me, playfully biting my leg and fins the way a dog would. It was amazing fun, but the experience had traces of the amusement park. It was an escape from reality, not an immersion in it.By contrast, the maina, its black water a portal between worlds, feels exhilaratingly real. When a snowstorm transforms the topside into a swirl of white, it's the perfect moment to slip into a winter of anemones and comb jellies and luminous green-gold ice.Article courtesy of WSJ.com

June Is Marketing Success Month

Posted by Tammy Freeman on May 18, 2008 at 7:07pm

Join us this June for an awesome month full of information to help you achieve marketing success!Brand University: The Marketing Success Conference for Women Entrepreneurs has something for everyone! Starting at just $29.95 you can learn about the following topics:REGISTER AT WWW.MARKETINGSUCCESS2008.EVENTBRITE.COMYou - The Superstar!Using New Media and Social Networking Strategies To Build Your Most Important Brand - YOU!Cynthia de Lorenzi, Founder Success In The City andCEO of the Patriot GroupThe Solopreneurs Guide To Strategic Marketing:(MBA Not Required)!Tammy Freeman, The Lifestyle EntrepreneurFounder and CEO, Synergi Group, LLCDo It Yourself MarketingKirsten FullerFounder and Editor-in-Chief, Reservations MagazineSelf-Publishing Secrets:Stop Making Excuses and Publish Your Book Now!Sanyika Calloway Boyce, The Financial Fitness CoachClient Building 101: Know Your Niche!Francina Harrison, The Career EngineerHow To Tell Your StoryAfter The Elevator PitchRebekah Pierce, Average Girl Magazine, LLCOne Hour Marketing Plan BootcampNikki Woods, Full Circle MarketingDirect Mail BasicsGail Diggs, GCD Writing and MarketingCreating Newsworthy Press ReleasesJill Watkins, Write On Target Communications, LLCBuild A PR MachineCinnamon Bowser, Nail TaxiHarnessing the Power of Television PublicitySanyika Calloway Boyce, The Financial Fitness CoachPre-Conference Teleseminar Topics:(Even if you can't make the conference, you can get access to these great teleseminars!)How To Increase Sales ThroughPower PartnershipsDenise Trifiletti - Women's CommunityIt's Not Who YOU Know ButWho KNOWS YOU!Francina Harrison, The Career EngineerPassion Marketing:Wear Your Heart On Your SleeveTo Generate Bigger and More Sales!Tammy Freeman, The Information BrokerFounder and CEO, Synergi Group, LLC8 Key Ingredients To BuildCustomer LoyaltyNikki Woods, Full Circle MarketingYou've Built Your Website, Now What?Gail Diggs, GCD Writing and MarketingCreating Powerful and Compelling TaglinesJill Watkins, Write On Target Communications, LLCAttend Brand University Marketing Success Conference For Women Entrepreneurs...Your Business Will Never Be The Same!REGISTER AT WWW.MARKETINGSUCCESS2008.EVENTBRITE.COM

BlackHairopedia.com - My New Website - A Black Hair Directory

Posted by LaShanda Henry on May 18, 2008 at 9:30am

Blackhairopedia.com Black Hair Web Directory featuring Black Hair, Beauty, Body and SkinCare Websites, Products, Blogs, Books, Magazines, and more.http://blackhairopedia.com Blackhairopedia.com is still new. Right now I am working on adding websites to the directory. My goal is to create one big portal for anyone and everyone looking for the best black hair sites. This way you don't have to search endlessly to find great sites, and wonderful products. In addition to hair websites, Blackhairopedia will also feature sites dedicated to Body & Skincare products, Fashion, Style, and Beauty Blogs. More updates to follow - www.blackhairopedia.com -lhenry Link to us on myspace- http://www.myspace.com/blackhairopedia

Indie Confidential: Prepare For 5 Indie Business Pitfalls

Posted by Donna Maria Coles Johnson on May 18, 2008 at 3:58am

What You Don't Know Could Hurt YouThis post is about the stuff most people don't talk about because it hits too close to home. But I don't want you to be caught like a deer in the headlights as you grow your business, so I'm telling you the real deal on some of the most personal issues you will encounter if you are successful in your business.These things apply to just about any business, but they are especially important to prepare for if you are Indie, meaning you are not only running a business but also managing a home and trying to have a fulfilling personal life at the same time. Like any girlfriend worth her salt, I'm going to tell you like it is. If you don't know already, it's not all sweetness and light, as some would have you believe.1. You Will Have to Say "No" to Your Kids For the Sake of Your BusinessYesterday, I posted about how great it is to be available to my kids as I also run my business. That is true, and everyone says that. But the part I saved for this post is also true: I tell my kids "no" a lot. If I was at a full-time job, someone else would be telling them "no" a lot. I'm glad it's me, but the fact is that, because I'm here all the time, they ask me for a lot of things they can't have. All the time.For example: As I wrote this post at 1:30pm EST, my 6-year old daughter came into my office and asked if she could take a bubble bath. Right now. If I was not here, she'd be with with a baby sitter and she wouldn't even ask the question. Following the advice I always give her to ask for what she wants out of life, she asks to take a bath, even though she knows the answer is going to be no.So, as great as it sounds to always be around, get ready to be the bad guy a lot.2. Your Spouse or Significant Other May Not Support YouOK, I know your spouse or significant other is wonderful and I'm not hating on them. But I have seen this more than once so I have to tell you the real deal. Once your business starts making money, you may find yourself making more money than your spouse. Many spouses can handle this with no problem, seeing as it means they will benefit from your success too.But many will also become a little on the jealous side. They may become a bit defensive as they see you raking in more cash than you did last year, while they are still making the same amount of money, and having to stretch each dollar further in this weakening economy.How do you respond? Don't get bogged down in their perception of your success. It's their problem, not yours. If you feel as though you are fulfilling your God-given calling in life with your business, then don't compromise that for anyone. It may mean having to change the dynamic of your relationship. So be prepared. Always walk blameless before the people you love, but be careful not to compromise your principles in order to accommodate their warped perceptions of your success.3. You May Gain WeightThese days, the success of your business hinges significantly on your ability to use technology. In order to use technology, you have to be still, at least for a period of time. You can't be doing an aerobics class at the same time you are programming your new shopping cart, updating your website, figuring out how to use Twitter, tweaking your business plan or writing your next book.Try to get some exercise. Don't be like me and wait until so many years into your business before deciding to shape up.See? I told you I would tell you the real deal, from experience. I'm a no holds barred kind of Indie.4. Haters Will AboundIf you are financially successful, the haters will come. Sometimes, they don't mean to hate, they are just unable to handle your success in the face of their lack of it. There's nothing you can do in advance to handle this. Just be prepared for it and understand that it may mean that your interaction with some people may have to change. Always surround yourself with cheerleaders. Non-cheerleaders should be fired from your inner circle.If you find that some haters are family members (and you most likely will), well, I guess you can't fire them. But you can minimize their adverse impact on you and your business. How you do that depends on the hater and whether they are willing to change with you. If they are not, be prepared for a tough road.5. You Will Not Have Enough MoneyIt would be great if, as you make more money each year, you also had enough money each year to expand your business exactly as you desire. Alas, this will hardly ever be the case. If you have not experienced this yet, you just haven't been in business long enough.For this reason, it is critical that you adopt a frugal mentality. Watch every penny and don't let go of a cent unless you have to in order to provide quality products and services to your customers. This is the only way to keep more of the money you make.So what do you think?Am I touching any nerves? Have you found these things to be true? Or am I way off base? Would love to know your experiences too.For more of my "real deal" Indie Business tips, subscribe to my blog today.Related PostsBoots and Hard Hat RequiredFamily Second, Yet Still First

You Can't Build Trust Online If...

Posted by Jim Neusom on May 16, 2008 at 3:41pm

Greetings Family,(Contact Information At Bottom Of Page)It's your friendly neighborhood "Digital Drummer" again (smile)The advice below came from a good friend of mine and Digital Drummer, Chris Curtis of Tech Talk Philly (900AM WURD).Chris is good people and through her website WBO (Web Business Ownership), she helps small business owners on the web, make educated decisions about doing business on the Net.By trade, Chris is a triple-threat web developer (web design, web programming, Internet marketing) and an Internet business consultant who proactively assists business owners in shedding their fears and inhibitions about competing in the global marketplace.If you want to learn from one of the best in the industry on how to build, manage and grow a profitable web business, you'll do well to contact her about your project. Think I'm joking...check out www.webbusinessownership.com and see for yourselfRemember, We Must Share The Knowledge (Network)...To Share The Dollars!!!Peace and Gods Blessings,Jim Neusom***************(Advertisement)*********************Need some great ideas for corporate or personal gift-giving?Then go to City Lights Software(http://www.citylightssoftware.com )and see some of the most unique afrocentric gifts available online!We Deliver ONLINE - Direct To Your Desktop for just $14.95Please take the time to purchase one our afrocentric screen savers TODAY!Don't Just Talk the Talk...Let Your Dollars Walk the WalkIf you have any problems with purchasing online contact me direct at sales@citylightssoftware.com or call (213) 944-4176******************************************************You Can't Build Trust Online If...By Chris Curtis1. You have no web site.MySpace, LinkedIn and Facebook profiles are appropriate for the audiences for which they are intended, but when you're doing business online, YOU MUST have a decent web site."If you cannot afford one, one can be appointed to you by any decent web professional. "2. You're using FREEMAIL.You might know it as Gmail, Yahoo, MSN or whatever other free email address you can attain. There's even some pretty cool ones out there. There's a time to be professional, and a time to relax. If you're doing business online - serious business - and not some side gig for extra dough, you can't expect that people will trust you do what you do if you don't have the whole package.3. Your web site looks a mess.My greatest petpeeve on the world wide web. When your web site is a mess, its perceived that so is your business. If you're going to have a site, at least put some muscle into it and try to make us believe that you're worth a customers' time.A quick visit to www.webpagesthatsuck.com might give you some idea if yours sucks or not!4. You don't look believable...People say all kinds of things to get attention, and to build business. Testimonials, articles, press releases, audio, videos and other things that can establish your credibility can help your customers feel safe about doing business online with you. If you don't have any - take the time to make some, or clearly you may need to work on your marketing plan.5. You don't show and/or tell...Online, its easy to be anybody you want to be. Having a picture up there shows that you're willing to connect with the people who come to your site, and having a bio or a short blurb about yourself lets people know where your head is. You don't necessarily need both. Either will do.6. You don't clearly define your product, service or self....A few cryptic lines about whatever it is that you want your customers to buy into just won't do. If you are passionate about your 'thing', you need to make sure that there's enough information for a reasonable person to make a decision about what you'd like them to do online - WITHOUT having them go to another site for more information. Once you send them away, they might not come back.FYI - I went to a site the other day of a seemingly reputable organization. They wanted a $100/yr membership fee and I was all ready to sign up until I realized that they had NO phone number listed on the site, NO pictures of officials or members, and all the email addresses were listed next to names with no explanation of who these people were.Needless to say, I didn't sign up, but I hear they do a lot for the community. Whose business are you missing out on?There's lots more, so all the Internet Business Professionals and Web Pros out there, please add to the list! These things are SO important.- CC***************(Advertisement)*********************Looking For More Exposure, Want To Help A Good Cause, Need Money???Come on over to www.freshfaces2u.com and register to win $10,000 dollars CASH!At Fresh Faces2u it's NOT about how you look...But Who You Are!Join us in our mission to change the image of women in the mediaSign Up Today At Fresh Faces2u.com**********************************This Online Journal was brought to you by InterServe Networks. Feel Free To Forward To Your Network Of Online FriendsWe Practice Responsible E-Commerce Marketing and Privacy Policies. We do not indulge in or encourage Spamming. We never send unsolicited emails. You are receiving this message as part of our opt-in subscriber mailing list or you are a member of an affiliated newsgroup.For comments or suggestions please contact us at the following;Jim Neusom (jneusom@yahoo.com)Executive Director/PublisherInterServe Networks/City Lights Software, Inc.www.citylightssoftware.comwww.freshfaces2u.comwww.myspace.com/jimneusomwww.myspace.com/freshfaces2uTo subscribe to our opt-in mailing list simply send an email to; The_City_Lights_Reporter-subscribe@yahoogroups.com ( on Myspace go to http://blog.myspace.com/jimneusom )

The New Family Business

Posted by Donna Maria Coles Johnson on May 16, 2008 at 2:30pm

Nine Reasons Why Home-Based Business Ownership Works For ParentsSo you’re a parent, or thinking about becoming one. No matter what your background or walk of life, you are probably dealing with the question of combining parenting with holding down a job outside the home. If you ponder these things, you are not alone. I wondered the same things as a new bride in 2000.My husband and I wanted a family, yet his job as a camera man on ABC's Nightline required him to work from late in the afternoon to long past midnight. I worked like crazy from morning until after the dinner hour at a Washington, DC law firm. We had a fantastic combined income, yet we knew that it would be impossible to have a child with our schedules and the stress caused by our jobs.I took action by starting a business from home. For the first year, I worked part-time for $500 a month at a small law firm while my husband covered all of our bills, so I could transition out of financial heaven. I delivered our first child in October 2001, and by January 2002, I was sitting in my home office nursing my baby while drafting up my next online newsletter. (Here's one of the more humorous editions, published a few months after she was born.)It's not always easy to simultaneously work from home and manage the home too, but then, parenting is never easy. And neither is making a living. But when you work and parent from the same location, the two tasks are combined in a way that makes it sensible to do both.Here are 7 reasons home-based business ownership can work for you and your family.1. Your Heart In Your HomeIf you're like me, you know that parenthood is not just something we do to populate the world or create little clones of ourselves. Parenthood is a calling. An irresistible leaning that leads to a commitment of your time, talent and resources to accomplish a specific goal.If you are called to parenting, then you want to do everything you can do pursue that calling as successfully as possible. Home-based business ownership allows you to earn a living in a way that acknowledges and facilitates your ability to put your home first.2. AvailabilityWhen you have children, especially when they are young, being at home allows you to put their needs first, not only emotionally but also physically. That's impossible when you are someplace else all day. It's hard to put your home first when you're sitting in rush hour traffic thinking about how someone else is curling up with your infant or watching your toddler take her first steps.3. FlexibilityLets face it, parenting requires flexibility. One minute, everyone is healthy and the next, sniffles abound -- and at midnight no less! Parenting requires you to turn around on a dime, go with the flow and change plans quickly. If you have to check in with a boss and a few co-workers every time your child has a fever or your spouse goes away on a business trip, it's hard to be flexible.Having a business at home allows you to create your schedule based on the needs of everyone in the family, not worrying about the schedule of those outside your home.4. Environmental BenefitsWorking at home facilitates an environmentally friendly lifestyle. Reducing your automobile emissions is a great way to start living a more earth-friendly lifestyle, yet people who work outside the home usually have no control over the distance between home and work. It can take up to an hour during rush hour to travel a distance that would otherwise take 15 or 20 minutes. Being at home for work eliminates your contribution to the toxins caused by so many cars on the road. It also shows your children how your choices are actually helping to care for the environment.5. Economic BenefitsIf you don't drive as much, you save money on gas -- and who doesn't need to do that these days? You also save money in other ways: dry cleaning, suits, fast food and more. Plus, the tax benefits to a family with a business that takes the deductions it is entitled to are too many to name.6. Unlimited Personal PotentialWhen you control the pace of your career advancement, the sky is the limit. Take Indie Beauty Network member Lela Barker, owner of Bella Lucce in South Carolina, for example. Six years ago, she was a single mom with no job and no place to live. She moved into her mother's basement with her daughters and started whipping up sugar scrub.Recently, corporate revenues passed the million dollar mark. The growth has caused her to move production to a facility, but she's still close to both home and her daughter's schools. Lela travels the globe working with some of the world's most luxurious spas and hotel chains to develop upscale products. She schedules everything around her children and husband. Her potential as a business woman is unlimited, yet her heart remains in her home first. This sets an excellent example for her girls and for other young people watching her success.7. Entrepreneurial and Life EducationThis morning, before my husband took our 4-year old son went to school, my son and I took a look at the family business bank statement. I showed him the "plus" and "minus" signs so he could see for himself the connection between money coming in and money going out, and how that translates into food on the dinner table and additional Spiderman paraphernalia.He doesn't understand the details, but he gets the gist of it: mom and dad work together to generate the cash needed to provide for him and his sister. This is just a small sampling of how we use our business to teach our kids crucial life skills they will need in the future.8. RelationalLet's face it, keeping a marriage together is a challenge. When you work with your spouse, the challenges are compounded. Not only do you have to make things work personally, you also have to make them work professionally. When your marriage and your profession are interdependent upon one another in this way, special mountains need to be climbed.But as Indie Beauty Network member Maggie Hanus of a Wild Soap Bar in Texas says, "The family that grinds together also binds together."I have found this to be true, as the business gives me and my husband one more significant reason to work out any personal differences we may have (and we do have them), and this benefits everyone.9. FunIt's fun to work from home and make a living at the same time! We make up our own days. Sometimes, we just get up and go swimming or for a walk. We can pack up the Blackberry or laptop (or not ...) and take the day off at the zoo or to another fun location. We can work all night and play all day if we want to.I sometimes have neighbors, some of whom also work from home, over during the day for a meal. It's a fun way to socialize that doesn't happen in too many neighborhoods any more.What about you?Are you a parent who works from home? How is it working for you? Tips to offer? Or maybe you're a parent trying to figure out how you can make the transition I did, so you can enjoy the benefits of working from home and owning your own brand too. Let me know if you're out there! If there's enough of you, I'll put together a free seminar just for you!

PRODUCT REVIEW: HairZing accessories

Posted by Leanne on May 16, 2008 at 2:12am

I want to thank the folks at Hairzing for this wonderful product. The Hair Zing is the cutest and most sophisticated way to style a wash n' go on relaxed hair. It makes early morning styling so easy and I don't have to fiddle with fifty-million clips, pins and elastics. All in one. But, what makes this accessory so remarkable is the love sent around the world in every HairZing made and purchased.It took me all of five minutes to style my hair with this doodad. Put one comb into your hair and stretch the other to the opposite side for a secure hold that lasts all day. No stray ends, and no frizzing out of the tough resin bands. Perfect for protective styling. You can wear HairZing with braids and twists, thick and curly or thin and straight, short or long hair.Team Zing helps established business around the world for women who need them. These women weave every bead into the strong bands connected to every comb and are paid equal wages so they can help provide for their families in their homes or villages. Every item purchased from the Massai collection supports a Kenyan woman across the ocean in Africa, giving her the support she needs to make her own money without interference.In China,mothers need jobs that don't require them to live in dormitories of factories and miss the most precious moments of their young children's lives. HairZing allots this, by paying them for an activity that can be done right in their home as the little ones hover nearby. Safe and secure.

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The System that Impoverished You can never Empower You!

Posted by Beverly Fisher2007 on May 15, 2008 at 11:11pm

The information shared below is to get you to think seriously about your Foundation.( THE BODY)We're living in an exceedingly fast pace world and not taking time to stop and exhale.The first System describes what we are putting into our body and what we are allowing to destroy it.The second System describes what we should be putting into our body to give us a better quality of life.Which System will You Live Under?The Impoverishing System:Simple steps to an Unhealthy Life1. Fast Foods, Processed foods and "white" foods.2. No internal cleanse thus toxic build up.3. Internal toxic environment which diseases grow.4. Drugs to address outward symptoms.5. Side effects from the drugs.6. More drugs to address the side effects.7. Surgeries8. Early death or lack of optimum health.The Empowering System:Simple steps to a Healthy Life1. The Body Foundation to balance the body.2. The Freedom Cleanse.3. Drink 1/2 of your body weight in ounces of purified water.4. Walking.5. Specific mineral (s) in combination with the Body Foundation for a specific condition.6. Minimize meat consumption.7. Maintain proper rest.8. Less processed food and mor fruits and raw vegetables.To find out more about the products mentioned go to:www.waterdivine.com/hfisher click BodyWellness, sign guest book, look and listen to a presentation.You may also call our BodyWellness Hotline 24/7 (618) 355-8303Click Option 2 thru Option 7Contact BeverlyFisher2007 at specann62@gmail.com

Why I wrote "I Need Therapy"

Posted by glenda wallace Greenidge-Blake on May 15, 2008 at 10:30pm

I wanted to take this opportunity to introduce myself, tell you a little bit about why I'm here, and why after many years of writing, I decided to venture into writing about relationships.Relationship topics are always popular because relationship problems will always exist. Most of us have experienced the hurt, and anguish of a broken heart, but it happens every day. And at many stages in my life, I too have experienced it, but after five marriages and 18 marriage proposals, I have gained the knowledge of certain key elements to maintaining a healthy, happy and fulfilling relationship.I decided to write “I Need Therapy” because at some point in a woman’s life we’ve all silently made this statement, whether we admit it or not.When some of you experience problems within your relationships, you run out and buy our books, or sit at home watching Dr. Phil hoping that you will learn the key to fixing all of your problems. Believe me, I’m not pointing fingers, I used to be that person.I, like most of you, have had my heart broken more times than I can count. I can vividly remember a time back in my early twenties, when a man I was dating told me that he didn't want me anymore. To me, this was unimaginable and it hurt like hell . . . how in the hell could he not want me!From that point, it seemed like the more he showed me that he didn’t want me, the more determined I was to make him love me.I had to learn a hard lesson. I had to learn to love MYSELF and recognize my worth! And once I did, I developed a different attitude toward this man. I realized that he didn’t deserve me.When I learned this powerful lesson, I stopped calling him, hounding him, driving past his apartment or place of business. I stopped my obsessive behavior, because ladies, you know we can develop obsessive behavior. But when I stopped . . . the roles reversed. He started ringing my phone off the hook, driving past my house and coming into my place of business with the pretense of conducting business.He couldn’t understand how he had lost his hold over me. Ladies, sometimes we too freely give up control to a man.There are certain things in life that we can’t change. We can’t change a man, change his mind or his way of thinking.The only thing that you have control over is YOU! You can change your behavior and your way of thinking.I am so happy to know that this book has helped so many women. I receive emails every day from women who say how “I Need Therapy” has literally changed their lives. I also receive emails from men who say that they found the book to be “on point” and helpful in understanding what women want from their relationships.It gives me such pleasure to know that this book that I poured so much of myself into, is actually serving the purpose in which it was written.Fix your relationship problems by starting with YOU!!! I Need Therapy . . . available everywhere books are sold! Or click the link below to go to my order page.
click here to order your copy
Click on the link below to read more interesting blogs posted by Glenda Wallace
click here for additional blogs!

Poetry Contest!

Posted by Dominique on May 15, 2008 at 8:56pm

From A Writers POV will be celebrating it's One Year Anniversay in July 2008! We are working to have a big edition in July. We have started a contest for poem writers. We encourage all writers to check out the details and sign up. We are only allowing 4 people to sign up. So check out the details and see if you or a friend might be interested!http://fromawriterspov.webs.comMay 2008 Articles:http://www.creativewritings-designs.com/tmp/We look forward to hear from you soon!From A Writers POV

Caribbean Cruise Destinations & Ports of Call

Posted by Teresa on May 15, 2008 at 3:59pm

Trying to decide where to explore on your cruise? Let Professional Travel Guide help with that decision with their extensive destination guides.Explore Caribbean cruise destinations with Professional Travel GuideAlways some of the most popular itineraries, trips to the Caribbean have something for everyone. From lounging on some of the most beautiful beaches in the world to snorkeling with the vast array of fish in the sea to just enjoying the sunset on one of the hundreds of ships that cruise the region, the Caribbean is a cruise destination not to be missed.Ships large and small port throughout the region, offering first-timers or experienced cruisers plenty of possibilities. With so many to choose from, let Professional Travel Guide help you narrow the field. Our extensive information on cruise ports, ships and lines will help you decide where to travel. The only question that will remain is when you'll book your next journey.The warmth of the Caribbean awaitsThere's something for everyone in the Caribbean, especially if that something involves warm weather, white sand beaches and clear blue waters. Whether making your way to the eastern, western or southern part of this tropical locale, you are sure to find plenty to do and see.Cruise ships mostly depart from the southern United States and head on their journeys to either one of three regions -- the Eastern Caribbean, the Western Caribbean or the Southern Caribbean.If you're looking for a cruise area with more shopping and beaches and less time on your cruise ship, then the eastern Caribbean might be for you. With more opportunities for shore excursions that are geared to beach or water activities and the islands' relatively close proximity to each other, cruisers heading to the eastern Caribbean will have more time for their pursuits of leisure.If you want to enjoy the warm Caribbean weather on your ship rather than at port, then head west into the Caribbean, even into the Gulf of Mexico, for your itinerary. But don't be fooled; shore activities are more varied because of their mainland locales.With exotic locations and beautiful beaches, the southern Caribbean is making a comeback. Each of these islands offers something different; from relaxing spas to eco-tourism opportunities to diving and snorkeling, the southern Caribbean has it all.Bahamma Cruise Destinations and Ports of Call;

Cruise Guide for BahamasThe white sand beaches and brilliant turquoise waters of the Bahamas didn’t tempt Christopher Columbus to stay long when he first landed in the New World. But modern travelers have discovered these beautiful islands, with their clear water, cooling tradewinds and abundant marine life.Today’s treasures include excellent fishing, golf and watersports, with accommodations that range from swank hotels at world-class resorts to secluded coves.Those making landfall in the islands can choose from several distinct experiences. Visitors looking for the standard resort amenities should head to Nassau (on New Providence Island) or Freeport and Lucaya (on Grand Bahama Island).Splashy Nassau, the biggest city and main port, is awash in pink colonial buildings, bustling street markets, five-star resorts and opulent casinos. In Freeport and Lucaya, the Bahamas' second-largest port, options range from frolicking with dolphins to perusing duty-free goods in ample shopping complexes.Those more interested in deserted beaches, sailing and a generally slower pace will want to visit some of the many Out Islands, most of which are thinly populated or uninhabited.LocationThe Bahamas' main cruise port is in Nassau at Prince George Wharf near Rawson Square, a short stroll from downtown attractions such as the Straw Market, the Pirates of Nassau museum and the shopping on Bay Street. The huge dock is big enough to accommodate as many as a dozen of the largest cruise ships. The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism Information Center at the wharf provides maps and touring advice. Also located there is Festival Place, an indoor shopping arcade catering to cruise-ship crowds with local crafts, food, a tour desk where guided walking tours can be arranged, post office, phones and Internet access. Horse-drawn cabs also depart there for guided tours of colonial Nassau. Taxis park near the end of the dock; you can take one to nearby Paradise Island for about US$5.On Grand Bahama Island, the renovated Lucayan Harbour Cruise Facility is located in Freeport Harbor and can accommodate a pair of large cruise ships. The facility has retail and entertainment facilities as well as taxi service. Phone 350-8000.Shore ExcursionsParadise Island is probably the most popular shore excursion among cruise passengers arriving in Nassau; many make a beeline to the Atlantis resort to try their luck at the lavish casino or make a day of the fun-filled waterpark. Cruise lines typically offer an excursion to The Dig, a mock exploration of the lost city of Atlantis featuring the largest outdoor aquarium in the world. Other popular excursions include Dolphin Encounters, an interactive "swim with the dolphins" experience located on Blue Lagoon Island 3 mi/5 km from Nassau; the interactive Pirates of Nassau museum; snorkeling and scuba diving out of Stuart Cove; and visits to historic Fort Charlotte and the iconic Governor's House in downtown Nassau. Cruise ships also will inevitably offer a rum cruise out of Nassau.On Grand Bahama, typical shore excursions include shopping tours to Port Lucaya Marketplace, a visit to Lucayan National Park, nature trips to Rand Memorial Nature Centre and Parrot Jungle's Garden of the Groves, and interactions with dolphins at Dolphin Encounters.Excursions change frequently and vary by cruise line, so check before you go.Bermuda Cruise Destinations and Ports of Call;

Cruise Guide for BermudaIt’s the colors that visitors to Bermuda see—not just of sky and sea, but also of sand, trees, shrubs and flowers: The beaches are creamy white flecked with pink, the trees are a variety of lush greens, pink oleander lines the roadsides, and riotous vines tumble over limestone walls. Even the houses are colorful—pastel walls topped by stepped, white roofs. When the wind blows, Bermuda’s shores are washed with white-topped, cool-green waves, warmed by the Gulf Stream.There’s history, too. Bermuda was a landfall for Confederate blockade runners during the American Civil War. And some think that an offshore storm in the early 1600s may have inspired Shakespeare’s The Tempest.Add to this a variety of land and water activities (including cricket and afternoon tea), sailing (the biennial Newport-to-Bermuda race first came into port in 1906), excellent restaurants, no cars (but you can rent scooters), reliable sunshine, and excellent shopping buys on European goods.LocationHamilton, the main cruise-ship port, lies in the middle of Bermuda. Cruise ships dock along Front Street, which runs next to the water. Two ships can tie up at a time. There is a cruise terminal at the waterfront, which has public phones, restrooms and a tourist information booth. The city's many sights and shops are within a short walk of Front Street.As many as three cruise ships can tie up at St. George's. There are cruise terminals at the docks, which have public phones, restrooms and a tourist information booth. All of the shops and points of interest are within walking distance—making this a great port for sightseers.Larger cruise ships usually anchor in the Great Sound, the large bay in western Bermuda, or tie up at the Royal Naval Dockyard at the northwestern end of Bermuda. The towering stone buildings that were once part of the early-19th-century British naval installation have been renovated into shops and restaurants. There's a maritime museum and a lagoon, where you can swim with the dolphins. The dock—opposite the main Dockyard buildings—can accommodate one cruise ship at a time. Phones, restrooms and a tourist information table are located on the dock. The ships that anchor in the Great Sound often tender their passengers to the Dockyard in smaller craft.Shore ExcursionsConsider signing up for the excursions offered by your ship. They may not be the least expensive way to see the islands, but you won't have to waste your limited time making arrangements—and you won't have to worry about missing the ship. Shore excursions—and their prices—vary from cruise line to cruise line. Typical tours on Bermuda include exploring Hamilton, St. George's or St. David's Island; visiting National Trust historic sites; snorkeling or helmet diving around coral reefs; playing a round of golf; taking a half-day fishing excursion; or cruising around the islands. Check with your ship's shore-excursion staff or your travel agent for additional information.Eastern Carribean Cruise Destinations and Ports of Call;

Cruise Guide for St Thomas, US Virgin IslandsLively St. Thomas is the duty-free mall of the Caribbean (take along your credit cards and an oversized shopping bag). Aside from nearly 400 duty-free shops and boutiques that sell everything you could possibly want to buy, you'll find spirited nightspots, good restaurants and luxury resorts around St. Thomas' main city and port, Charlotte Amalie (pronounced ah-MAHL-yeh).St. Thomas is the most developed of the U.S. Virgin Islands—in fact, it's one of the most developed in the entire Caribbean. Steep green hills run across the middle of the island, and beautiful beaches ring its shores. Hotels, villas, resorts, small inns and private residences, each on their own piece of paradise, mix with public and commercial structures. Consequently, traffic has become a major problem on St. Thomas.LocationPretty Charlotte Amalie is the busiest port of call in the Caribbean. Cruise ships can tie up at either the West Indian Company Dock at Havensight (2 mi/3 km across the harbor, east of town) or at Crown Bay (1.5 mi/2.4 km west of town). Some of the larger ships anchor in St. Thomas Harbor and tender their passengers in smaller boats to downtown Charlotte Amalie. There's a tourist information center in Havensight (open for ships in port) and another office across from Vendor's Plaza in Charlotte Amalie (open Monday-Saturday 8:30 am-4:30 pm). There are plenty of restaurants within walking distance of all port facilities, as well as access to public phones and the Internet.Shore ExcursionsConsider signing up for the excursions offered by your ship. They may not be the least-expensive way to see the island, but you won't have to waste your limited time making arrangements yourself—and you won't have to worry about missing the ship. Shore excursions—and their prices—vary from cruise line to cruise line. They may include sightseeing in Charlotte Amalie or more active adventures such as biking on the island, scuba tours or helicopter rides over the islands. Check with your ship's shore-excursion staff or your travel agent for additional information.Southern Carribean Cruise Destinations and Ports of Call;Cruise Guide for Aruba

Aruba is among the livelier, more developed islands in the Netherlands Antilles region, with high-rise resorts, great restaurants, glitzy casinos and great shopping, all in a setting of white-sand beaches and crystal blue water.There’s plenty to do, too: sunbathing, world-class windsurfing and waterskiing by day, and discos, cabarets, dinner shows and high-stakes gambling at night.Don’t look for natural attractions, though. Aruba’s sparse vegetation—cacti and aloe vera—and brawny trade winds make it seem more like desert than tropical island. It is, however, outside the hurricane belt, and its reliable weather makes it a favorite choice for honeymoons.LocationAruba's port is at Oranjestad, on the southern coast of the island. Cruise ships tie up at the Aruba Port Authority cruise terminal, which is on L.G. Smith Boulevard (one of the city's main streets). Passengers are greeted with music and by welcome hosts from the Aruba Cruise Tourism Authority (http://www.arubabycruise.com), who hand out booklets called Aruba For You, specially designed for cruise passengers. Inside is complete information on tours, shops, dining, discount coupons and more. The cruise terminal has handicapped-accessible restrooms, stores to purchase stamps, mail cards and other items, and public phones.However, all this could change if the government follows through with plans to replace the current cruise facility with a modern and luxurious cruise terminal, part of a mixed-use project that would include new residences, an artificial island and a marina in downtown Oranjestad. Two piers will allow five to six regular-size ships or four mega-ships to dock simultaneously, with no tendering. The cargo area will become the site for a private yacht marina and condos. These plans are still all on the drawing board, however.Passengers with prearranged taxis, rental cars or tours are met inside the terminal lounge. Desks for those activities are set up outside on the dock for immediate bookings. From the terminal, it's a three-minute walk across the street to a major three-story shopping mall—and a second mall is one block down the street. Several beaches are not too far from town and can be reached by taxi or bus.Shore ExcursionsConsider signing up for the excursions offered by your ship. They may not be the least-expensive way to see the island, but you won't have to waste your limited time making arrangements yourself—and you won't have to worry about missing the ship. Shore excursions—and their prices—vary from cruise line to cruise line. Typical shore excursions offered may include an island tour of Oranjestad and other sites, and you can choose how to get around—by bus or Jeep, by snorkeling, scuba or sailing tours or, for those who don't want to get wet, glass-bottomed boat or submarine.Western Carribean Cruise Guide for Cayman Island;

Cruise Guide for Cayman IslandsIf you've ever had the urge to see beneath the sea, you'll enjoy the Caymans. The underwater scenery is full of exotic fish, coral reefs, even the occasional stingray. The water is warm, clear and often calm—and there are plenty of places to dive or snorkel.Of the three islands that make up the Caymans, Grand Cayman is the largest and the center of the tourism industry. The heavy influx of visitors has had a homogenizing effect on that island, which is also a center for offshore banking. The other islands, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman, get fewer visitors.LocationOf the three islands, Grand Cayman is the only one with the capacity to host cruise ships. At present, ships still anchor outside the harbor west of George Town, but a US$17.5 million port facility—just 1,312 ft/400 m north of the current Port Authority dock—opened in 2006. The facility, with a 200-ft/60-m pier, can dock one or two cruise ships, and all passengers filter through a self-contained facility with immigration, tourist information, shops, restaurants, restrooms and a taxi dispatch center. Discussions about building another pier are under way, since on any given day there can be up to six cruise ships in the harbor and some passengers still need to be tendered to the terminal. In rough weather, ships may anchor off the island's southern coast and tender passengers to Spotts, which lies about 4 mi/6 km from George Town. (Cruise ships are banned from anchoring in Spotts Bay.) Taxis or buses then transport passengers to George Town for shopping and to the various attractions.The main tourist information office is at the Regatta Office Park, Leeward 2, West Bay Road (opposite the Westin Hotel). It's open Monday-Friday 8:30 am-5 pm. Phone 345-949-0623. There is also a small information booth at the cruise ship terminal.

May Tasteful Tidbits

Posted by Kimberlee Stevenson on May 15, 2008 at 3:14pm

What's New?Remember When: Returning Favorites5 mystery products will be coming back for a brief visit next month. They will be available from June 1st-July 31st. Stay tuned to see if any of your favorite past Tastefully Simple products will be available for purchase.FREE gifts for your purchases!!!If you purchase $50.00 in products you will get a free Summer Entertaining Recipes Booklet. If you purchase $75.00 worth of products you will get a free dessert of your choice.Product SpotlightsSambra Sangria Slush Drink Mix $9.99*Limited-time product. Available only through September 7, 2008. Simply add your favorite red wine and water! Keep frozen for a warm weather treat anytime. For easy and elegant entertaining, serve with crackers, French bread, Brie cheese and grapes. Makes about 9 (8 oz.) servings.Ingredients Needed: 22 (750ml) bottles red wine or sparklng grape juice1½ cups warm water13.5 oz. bucket (382g)Mango Breeze Margarita Mix $9.99*Limited-time product. Available only through September 7, 2008. Ready to party? Simply add water and tequila! Freeze and scoop into glasses; then garnish with fresh fruit or mint leaves. Makes about 9 (8 oz.) servings.Ingredients Needed: 214 oz. (1¾ cups) tequila6 cups warm waterTIP: For maiden margaritas, just add 4 cups water, pour over ice and enjoy. (Do not freeze.)13.5 oz. bucket (382g)Recipe CornerCrab-Pesto Stuffed MushroomsIngredients4 Tbsp. Dried Tomato & Garlic Pesto Mix7 Tbsp. olive oil, divided4 Tbsp. water4 Tbsp. grated Parmesan cheese, divided1 lb. large mushrooms3/4 cup dried breadcrumbs , divided1 cup crabmeatDirectionsCombine Dried Tomato & Garlic Pesto Mix with 3 tablespoons olive oil, water and 3 tablespoons Parmesan cheese; set aside. Clean and stem mushrooms; mince stems. Combine prepared Dried Tomato & Garlic Pesto Mix with 1/4 cup breadcrumbs. Heat remaining oil in skillet; sauté mushroom stems. Add 1/4 cup breadcrumbs and pesto mixture. Remove from heat; add crabmeat. Stuff mushroom caps with crabmeat mixture; top with remaining breadcrumbs and cheese. Bake at 350° for 20 minutes. Makes 3-4 servings.Host a Tastefully Simple party in June – celebrate our birthday, and you get the presents!Have a $500 party: get all of our Remember When: Returning Favorites products!Have a $900 party: get our Simply Magnificent™ gift trunk!Have a $1300 party: get the Remember When: Returning Favorites and Simply Magnificent!And in honor of Tastefully Simple's 13th birthday: We'll draw 13 parties per week per region. If you answer the phone, "Happy Birthday, Tastefully Simple," you'll receive $113 in Tastefully Simple products!Party TypesThere are many different ways you can have a Tastefully Simple party:* In home taste-testing party*Gourmet-to-Go ( at work or networking group)*Catalog Party/Online Party (you can host a party without even leaving your computer, invite everybody in your address book)*Fundraisers (schools, organizations, sports teams)Do you need a catalog?Simply reply to this email with your mailing address and I will send you one.Refer a friend and get FREE food!If you refer a friend and they place an order of $25.00 or more you will receive a FREE Bountiful Beer Bread. If your friend hosts a party with me you will receive a $20.00 gift certificate.

Your Money Mindset: Is It Making or Breaking Your Business?

Posted by Donna Maria Coles Johnson on May 15, 2008 at 11:58am

A Frugal Mindset Is Money In the BankFor Indies, financial success is about stretching every penny to cover as much as possible, both on the home front and the business front. Frugal principles are not complicated, but because they intersect with our emotional connection to money, they can be difficult to implement.Growing up, my parents taught me very little about money. In my years as a corporate attorney, money flowed freely from my employer's account to mine, and then on to fabulous vacations, expensive dinners out, trendy clothes and extravagant gifts. Until I became a small business owner, I was never really concerned with the fact that, at some point, money actually runs out.Fast forward to 2000, when I started this business and officially enrolled in my first semester at the School of Financial Hard Knocks. Since then, I have taken small steps every year to keep more of the money I make. I do this by minimizing credit card use, couponing like nobody's business and keeping track of every penny.Every time I get a dollar, I do one of four specific things with it: spend it, save it, invest it or donate it. Whatever I do, I have to fit it into one of those categories and I am very intentional about doing so. I make it a point to improve my financial habits every day so I never return to my oblivious days of spending without thinking.Since I work with lots of people who are trying to make a success of small business, but who have not developed a frugal mindset, I turned to personal financial representative and fellow Indie Chris Buford to tell me 3 things Indie Business owners must do in order to turn from their spendthrift ways.1. Squeeze Out Every Tax Deduction. Chris says that the corporate tax rate is one of the highest tax rates there is, considering that income, property and capital gains are all heavily taxed. "The best way to offset these taxes is to squeeze out every possible business deduction you can find," say Chris.My accountant, Robin Herrick, CPA, PA, agrees. She makes sure every single business expense is properly identified and accounted for. In this way, not even a small deduction slips through the cracks.2. Ditch "Extra Money" Thinking. It's human nature to think that, when we come into some unexpected cash, it's "extra money," and we are free to run out and spend it on some short term fulfillment. This mindset is encouraged by the messages we get daily now, to take our tax rebate checks to the nearest department or home improvement store and spend spend spend.Chris says that's a decidedly bad idea. "Whether it's a stimulus check or a tax refund, any unexpected cash should be used to get a long term return, either by investing the money or using it to pay down debt." This is especially true if the money is a tax refund. "It's already your money, which the government kept all year long and interest free," he says. Debt directly inhibits the creation of wealth, says Chris, so it's especially important to eliminate it.3. Cut Costs. With fuel and food costs rising, people are spending less. "This means that small business owners must cut back without compromising the integrity of goods and services," says Chris.Of course saving wherever and whenever you can should be the goal all year every year, not just in a down economy. "Outsourcing things you don't have to do yourself, cutting down on overnight shipments, cutting down on hours of operation and anything to save resources must be implemented," says Chris.So there you have it, a sort of Indie Business Mantra. Every day, repeat after me.What are my tax deductions today?There's no such thing as "extra money."How can I accomplish this goal for less?What about you?Do you have some savvy small business financial advice to offer, or a money mantra that works for you? If so, please share it in the comments section below.About ChrisChris Buford is a personal financial representative with Allstate. He is a husband, father of 3 and seasoned real estate investor who helps families and small businesses expand their personal and business portfolios by implementing specific strategies to achieve their financial goals.For more small business money tips, subscribe to Indie Business Blog today.Related PostsThe Best Credit CardFive Ways to Recession-Proof Your BusinessAsk Not What the Economy Can Do For You

The Wealth Mindset

Posted by Alecia D. on May 15, 2008 at 10:36am

Greetings Ladies!One of the most common areas that people express dissatisfaction to me is the area of finances. It seems that more and more in these times of recession, black women are feeling "left out" of the circle of wealth. The idea of wealth seems elusive to so many people and in turn causes frustration and feelings of anxiety. While it is normal to want to live a life of abundance, what is becoming less blank is the willingness to develop the mindset of abundance. Too many times, we feel that wealth simply falls into the laps of a few lucky people and that we have no influence on whether or not we are one of the chosen few. This idea could not be further from the truth.In a recent article by Elon Bomani, she clarifys the true interpretation of wealth- "Wealth is the idea of having more than enough. It is an abundance of tangible and intangible assets. You can have a wealth of health, a wealth of knowledge and a wealth of material goods. Accumulating wealth in one area of your life has a domino effect of creating wealth in all other areas of your life according to the law of cause and effect. In other words, within you are all the resources you need, mental, emotional, physical and spiritual to manifest worth in your life." If we accept this definition, we are essentially taking responsibilty and ownership for our own ability to produce wealth.Some of the ways that Bomani advocates producing wealth into our lives and creating a wealth mindset, are thinking wealthy, speaking wealthy and associating with wealthy people. She goes on to say that "by doing so, you will manifest a wealthy outcome. It truly is that simple." I couldn't agree more. Ask yourself the following questions -What is my interpretation of what wealthy people think? If you aren't sure, do some research. Who are the top three people that you admire for their wealth and success? What are their thoughts? What are the daily words I am speaking about wealth in my own life and the lives of others? Are your words mostly negative? How can you turn those words around into positive statements? Who are the people that I surround myself with? Are you taking financial/business advise from broke people?It is important that we begin to realize exactly how important our thoughts are in creating and maintaining a wealthy and abundant lifestyle. The Universe will only give back to us that in which we put fort

119 Ways To Promote Your Business Offline

Posted by Afiya on May 15, 2008 at 6:15am

saw this posted on another forum and though this would helpful here also!#1. Take a small zip close baggie (snack sizes work well) and include the following in it:Your Business Card, Business Oppty Mini Flyer, a Piece of Candy such as hard candy or a lollipop, mini flyer of current host specials, discount coupon (optional) etc.Hand these out to the bank tellers, retail cashiers, at your kids sport events, every where you go!#2. When I stay at hotels & motels I leave a mini catalog, my business card & discount coupon and the mini coin canister for the maid! I put her tip inside the mini coin canister! I have gotten 3 orders by doing this!Be creative when you leave tips for Hotel Maids, Waitresses, Waiters, Hair Dressers, etc. Don't just hand them your business card, make it memorable!You can also buy cute little beaded change purses at your local dollar discount store!#3. Print out flyers with your contact info (not your personal address), your website address & email address along with any current specials you are offering.Then contact local area mobile home park offices, apartment complex rental offices, housing developements etc and ask them if you can leave fliers in their office or hang on their tennants doors. Give the office employees a free gift or discount on their personal orders.#4. Contact local area bridal supply stores, bridal gown stores, caterers, tux rental centers, wedding dj's etc. Ask them if you can leave your business cards & fliers about the great (Company Name) Bridal Gift Registry for them to give to their customers.Offer store owners a free gift or a personal discount for helping you spread the word about your business.#5. Daycare Centers! They are excellent to contact and leave business cards and/or fliers at!I print out a flyer of just a few items from our Tupperware Childrens line and I attach my business card & a discount coupon. I get alot of orders by doing this!So whatever company you represent, find some items that cater to children or to moms and make up a flier!#6. Alot of churches hold a Spring and Fall Fest! Contact them about getting a table or a booth. Alot of times this will cost you under $15.00 for a space!Make sure you take products with you along with business oppty fliers, plenty of catalogs, business cards etc.Do a contest drawing at these types of events. Make up entry blanks that gather the customers info so that you can initiate contact with them again!#7. Join your local area chamber of commerce! They are always holding local business events that you can participate in.#8. College Campuses! Dorms & Housing Students are always looking to spend money! Alot of college students are also looking for an extra income so target them with the Business Oppty too!Drop off fliers and business cards to the College Student Center! They usually have bulletin boards, tables and other things where you can leave your information at for FREE!#9. Contact your local area Welcome Wagon or Welcome to the Neighborhood Group! Ask them about you leaving mini catalogs, fliers, business cards, discount coupons, freebie mini gifts, etc with them.They are always looking for additional items to place in their Welcome Bags!#10. Contact your local area hospitals and ask for Human Resources Dept. The Majority of hospitals hand out New Mommy Diaper Bags filled with products, samples and other stuff for New Moms who just had a baby!It's FREE for you to add in your information! I have gotten party hosts, new customers and new recruits by participating in these types of programs.#11. Contact your local medical offices, particularly Gynecology and OB Offices and Pediatric Offices and inquire about you leaving information with them.This is a way for you to target Parents of Children with both the home party oppty, the business oppty and new customer sales.#12. Donate a Product to your local area Radio Station, they have numerous contests and they are always looking for sponsors!Your donation can be written off as a tax deduction plus you will get FREE Advertising & Business Exposure for your donation!#13. Donate a Product to your local area Bingo Halls! They are always looking for sponsors of their Bingo Prizes! Bingo is BIG in alot of areas!#14. Call your Chamber of Commerce and find out about Local Area Job Fairs. Get a booth and set up info about the fabulous business oppty!#15. Call your Local Area Colleges and find out when their next job/employment fair is. Alot of times you can get a booth or table for less than $35 and you will get alot of GREAT new recruit leads by participating in events like these.#16. Contact local area car dealerships. I have 2 in my local area that hand out a small packet that I made up for FREE to their customers who come in to take a free test drive!#17. Target your local area gyms! You can get a table space for $20 or less in most cases! Make sure you have 3-5 products on display, plenty of catalogs, business cards and fliers.#18. Network with others in your community who are in home business. Find out what events and activities that they participate in. They are usually "in the know" and can help you get started in networking in your community.#19. Contact Companies in your area to see if you can come in and set up a table in the employee lounge or cafeteria for a employee shopping break! These days alot of companies will allow you to do this if you ask them!#20. Does your local area tv cable company have a local information channel? Inquire about advertising! These ads will reach thousands of potential buyers for you! I recommend you only use your website address for these types of advertising and not your personal at home address.#21. Contact local small companies and shops to see if you can offer an exclusive discounts or freebie gift to their employees. Companies are always looking for a way to "treat" their employees to specials from the local surrounding community.#22. Small Home Town Newspapers! I dont get too good of a response when I do big newspaper city ads, however... when I target small town newspapers I usally get a great response. I even had them let me place an ad on their wedding and engagement announcements page which I advertised the Bridal Gift Registry.So if you are going to do any type of newspaper advertising, inquire about getting your ads on specific pages in the newspaper that targets the group of people most likely to buy from you.#23. Get a low cost outdoor banner printed up with your business information on it. You can usually get them done for $55 or less depending on who makes it.You can have these outdoor banners displayed at outdoor music/concert events, outdoor childrens sporting events, outdoor adult sport events, outdoor neighborhood block parties, outdoor community events, carnivals, fairs, etc.#24. Take your business on the road during nice weather. Contact local area parks & community centers to see what their schedule of events are and inquire about setting up a booth or table.This is a great way to network & market your business to those in your community.#25. Community Clipper Coupon Packs & Sales Flyer Mailings. These days alot of communities have mailings such as these, contact them and see how you can participate and advertise your business.#26. Contact small local area businesses such as hair salons, massage parlors, boutiques, banks etc.See if you can set up a table for 1 week with 3 of your best selling products on it along with some catalogs, fliers, coupons and your business card. Keep a basket on the table for any customer orders which you can follow up on after you return back to pick up your display. Offer the store owner or manager a free gift for allowing you to do this.You can also offer to donate a prize for a contest if they let you display the prize donated & get a copy of the contestants entry blanks after the promotion closes.#27. Contact local area pizza shops, diners, deli's and coffee bagel shops to ask them about advertising on their paper placemats! Customers do read those ads!#28. Contact local area restaurants, bars and clubs and see about advertising on their paper beverage coasters!#29. Local Television Stations are always holding on-air contests & website contests for their viewers, contact them about you donating a prize or gift certificate to sponsor one of their contests! Great business exposure for you!#30. Attend Local Area holiday shopping events. Customers who are ready to spend holiday shopping money turn out for these events by the thousands! You can usually get a booth for less than $50.00 so they are economical to participate in!#31. Hold a local area community Block Party at your home or local community center! Families are always looking for something to do during the nice weather seasons!Optional: Attend your neighborhood block party and set up a table with your product offerings or samples. Get out there in your community and get your business seen!#32. Get your business listed in your cities telephone book yellow pages! Alot of them also have a coupon section too!#33. You can take this phone book advertising one step further by finding out what company makes the plastic vinyl phone book covers which have local business ads on them and get your business added to it!#34. Get your business information printed up on pencils and hand them out to local colleges and technical schools for them to hand out to their adult students! This keeps your business information in front of them! (make sure you only donate them to schools with adult students).#35. Get a vehicle banner made for your automobile. I recommend the vinyl window clings or vinyl cling ones that stick to your automobile but dont scratch or remove the paint. You can easily remove them when washing your vehicle!#36. If your city has a travel guide that tourists request, contact that business and find out how you can advertise in it too!#37. Local City Maps! These days even city maps have advertising on them! You can usually get a small business ad printed on them for an economical price. Don't advertise your personal location. If you dont have a business location then advertise your website address or email address.#38. Contact local area hotels, motels and bed & breakfast inns and ask them if you can do up a Lobby Basket and leave it in their Lobby.What is a Lobby Basket? You make up little packs of info about your business & products and put them into the Lobby Basket for their patrons to take.They usually have a pamphlet wall or area too with pamplets from local area attractions etc. If they dont have a lobby basket area, inquire about leaving your business info in their pamphlet area.#39. Get your business info printed up on balloons! This is very economical to do! You then distribute them to local community centers, sporting events and other types of places where parents book their childrens birthday parties!These balloons can be displayed at the birthday party giving you business exposure. You can usually get them done for .3-.8 cents each. Your business name & website address is all you need on them!#40. Find a few other self employeed business owners in your community and team up! You can all sponsor a local parade float, parade clowns etc. Make up signs with your business info imprinted on them so that you can receive some great business exposure during the parade!#41. Get some T-shirts printed up with your business information on it (both front & back sides) and hand them out to some friends, family and co-workers and ask them to wear them out and about in the community. This is their FREE gift for helping you to spread the word about your business!Optional: Get ball caps printed up with your business info!#42. Get some canvas tote bags printed up with your business information printed on it. Find a few ladies who are very active in your community and ask them to use your tote bag and give it to them for FREE under the agreement that they will use it every time they go out in the community for errands & events!#43. Get a license plate made up for your vehicle! If you have your normal license plate on the back of your car, put your business named one on the front of the car!You can get one with just your business name on it for about $20-$30 per plate!#44. Wear a business name tag every time you go out into your community! Get a Catchy Slogan printed on it such as:A. Ask me about (your company name) Products!B. I work from home, you can too!C. Earn some FREE when you party with me!#45. Local Area Magazines! Does your city publish a City Magazine? If so, contact them about advertising or if they hold contests for their readers offer to donate a product or service for their contest!#46. Check out your local area State Fairs & Community Carnivals, there are always alot of them going on during seasonal weather.Ask about getting a booth or table & set it up with your business information! People love to shop at Fairs & Carnivals and they are looking to spend money!#47. Get some Business Card Magnets printed up and hand them out every where you go! Have your friends & family pass them out too!People are more apt to keep a magnetic business card compared to a regular one which gets shoved into a drawer or wallet. By having a magnetized card, your business is kept in front of the potential customer/client.#48. When you give gifts to family, friends, neighbors, co-workers etc. make sure you give them gifts from your own company! This allows other people to see & touch your gift meaning FREE business exposure for you! (plus, you bought the gift from yourself so you are saving money!)#49. Invite your spouses co-workers over to your home for a little mingling party! Serve some refreshments or do a cookout BBQ and make sure you have a table set up with some product displays!If you sell kitchen or food products, make sure you use them!#50. Do a neighborhood childrens shopping party!I do this before Christmas and again before Mother's Day. I invite the neighborhood kids to come by and shop for gifts for their parents and loved ones. They enjoy shopping on their own and parents enjoy a small break from the children!To make this successful make sure the products you are offering are economical, I try to keep them under $25.00 each with most being around $10.00 each. Have a table set up with some inexpensive crafting supplies and let the children make their own greeting cards to go with the gifts they have purchased or have a gift wrapping table set up so they can personally wrap their gifts!#51. Do a joint party with another consultant in a non-competing business. Partying with a friend is always fun! You can hold it at one hosts home, your home or at a local community center. Invite every one you know and have others help you spread the word. Hang up fliers at local centers & businesses too!#52. Put an AD in the back of local high school yearbooks! You can usually get these ads for around $20.00 which makes it affordable advertising for you!#53. Put an AD for your business in local Athletic Sport Programs! You can find these at the High School Level, Minor League Level and at Professional Sporting Events!#54. Contact Local Churches & Religous Groups and see if you can place an AD in their weekly church bulletins & program guides!#55. Do you have a local Community Play House? If so, get your business ad placed in their play programs! You can usually get ads in them for less than $25.00#56. Co-Sponsor a Local Youth Athletic Group! Baseball teams, softball teams, cheerleading squads, gymnastic squads and swim teams, etc. are always looking for sponsors!Co-Sponsoring a team will help get your business noticed in your local area!#57. Get a Yard Sign! If you have a home business consider getting a Yard Sign printed up and proudly display it in your front yard!#58. Does your neighborhood hold local Meet & Greets? If so, make sure you go out and attend them! Get to know your fellow community members!#59. Donate a Raffle Drawing Prize to a Non-Profit Group or Charity in your local community! They are always looking for prize donations for their charitable raffles.Note: Make sure you get a receipt for tax purposes!#60. Do you have a Online Business & Website? Consider getting some computer mouse pads printed up with your website address & business name on them! This will keep your website & business in front of them every time they sign online! This encourages them to check out your website often for new products, updates & features!#61. Local Bus Stops & Bus Sheds! Have you noticed that alot of them have local business advertising on them? Call up the company and see how much it would cost you to advertise there too!#62. Does your local area grocery store allow advertisers to place business ads on the back of their cash register receipts? If so, contact them about getting your business ad on there too!#63. Local baby expo's and baby events/contests! Set up a booth or table with your business info! These events are always very popular and a great way for you to reach new customers!#64. Watch your local newspaper for Wedding, Engagement and New Baby Annoucements! Make a list and then go to:www.searchbug.comto try to track down addresses. You can mail off your business info to them announcing your business, bridal gift registry, baby gift registry, etc.#65. Stamp your business info to the outside of all outgoing postal mail! Include your business card on the inside. Do this for personal mail, business mail and for paying your bills!#66. Contact your local Fire & Ambulance companies and see if you can set up a table at their next BBQ Event or fundraiser event.#67. Contact LOCAL Assisted Living Centers for Senior Citizens (this is different then a nursing home!) and see if you can come in & offer a shopping oppty. to their Senior Residents! Seniors can NOT get out like they used too so they appreciate being able to shop from home and the majority of them don't own computers & if they do, they are not extremely computer savvy...so offer a one on one shopping experience with them! They also appreciate the adult company!#68. Are there local small summer concerts held in your local parks? We have them here during the summer months! Ask about advertising options during these community events!#69. BUY little boxes of Smartie ™ Candies! Put your Business info on one side & on the front side slap on a label that says "Be a Smartie, Earn FREE (Your Company Name) w/a Party!" Hand them out every where you go!#70. Make up candy packs with your business info attached to them and hand out to the Halloween Trick or Treaters!#71. Exchange Business Cards, Fliers or Coupons with another Home Party Consultant in a NON-Competing Business and place her filler in your bags & outgoing packages & have her do the same for you! Sort of "scratching each others backs".#72. The PUBLIC Library! I go in there often and see all kinds of local advertisements for businesses there! See if you can leave a catalog & a few business cards!#73. Do a CATALOG SWAP with another party plan consultant (NON competing business). See if she will swap a few catalogs with you. You hand out a few of her catalogs at the END of your party and have her do the same! Hand them out as guests are LEAVING the party!#74. I have a friend & fellow network member who prints out for me...mint books...she prints a pretty graphic on it, along with my business info...they look like matchbooks and inside is a piece of peppermint hard candy! They are inexpensive too! I think I paid $8.00 for 40+ of them! She includes the candy too! I can refer her to you if you want to try those! Tell Tonya that Shelly sent ya!www.bboopsworld.com/#75. Do a PARTY SWAP with a Consultant in another HOME party business! (NON-COMPETING!) Tell her if she holds a (Your Company) Party for you.....you will hold a XYZ Party for her!#76. Ask about getting your info printed onto golf tee's and golf balls & then donate them to a local golf course or mini golf course!#77. FOAM DRINK COZIES, the foam thingie you wrap around a cold beverage can! See if you can get some of those with your business info on them & hand them out at local sporting events!#78. Indoor Concert Arena's. Have you attended a concert lately? Tons of advertising by local and national merchants at concerts! Check into doing some advertising!#79. Children LOVE Stickers! Buy a slew of stickers with your business name on them....hand them out! Chances are that the kid's parents will see the stickers too!#80. Temporary Employment Agencies...again drop off packets of info about Your Business Oppty to them. The Economy is sluggish in alot of the areas in the USA...ask Temp. Employment Agencies to refer some clients to you who may be interested in a (Your Company Name) Home Business!!! You could offer the staff a discount or free gift for referrals.#81. Print up some flyers and get permission from local shopping centers to see if you can leave them on car windshields! Always ASK permission first!#82. Does your community print up FREE Renters Guides, House Buying Guides Etc? (you can usually find them for FREE at your local supermarket). If so, contact them about placing your business ad inside one!#83. Got a local ice cream man who drives around in his ice cream truck throughout your community? Talk to him about passing out flyers or letting you add a logo onto his truck via a vinyl cling logo banner!#84. Do a web search for you local county, local township and surrounding areas. I found tons of websites for my area with FREE online business directories which I was able to get my website listed in. They also have offline ADS that you can advertise in too! A great way to also find out about upcoming local community events to participate in!#85. Are there any professional moving companies in your area? If so, contact them! They usually give out new business packet info to their customers/clients to welcome them to their new home. See about adding your business information to their "New Move" Packs!#86. Local small town radio stations that are usually found on the AM frequency usually offer very low-cost local area advertising on their small radio station. A great way to get your business info out to those in your local community.#87. Get your business information printed out onto paper text book covers! You can make them yourself! Donate them to local area adult technical schools and colleges!#88. Is there a local business in your area holding a upcoming Grand Opening? If so, contact them! Alot of times they are giving away freebies to the first few hundred customers plus they do heavy advertising announcing their Grand Opening. This is a GREAT way for you to capitalize on that!#89. Get your business info printed up on inexpensive bookmarks! Then give them to local area colleges, adult technical schools, book reading groups, libraries etc. You can usually print up your own bookmarks with your business info on them for less than .8 cents each! This will keep your business info infront of those avid book readers! They are also great to give away for FREE with customer orders!#90. Put your Business Knowledge to Work! Offer to teach classes to adults!Examples: If you are with a kitchen/cooking company offer to teach adults to cook! They are always looking for fast & easy ways to prepare healthy meals!If you are a scrapbooking consultant, offer to teach a class to new moms on how to scrapbook new baby pages!If you are a Bath/Body/Spa consultant offer to teach pampering classes to women & moms!You can find adult programs by contacting: Local Community Centers, Local Civic Groups and alot of High Schools & Community Colleges offer evening classes to adults. (continuing education).This generates leads & sales and only takes a short amount of time!#91. Put the word out to your friends, family & co-workers that you offer freebies to party go'ers. What do I mean?Well, people who are holding baby showers, bridal showers, birthday parties, anniversary parties etc. contact me about my freebies. They make up party goodie bags and are always looking for things to stuff them with. Depending on what type of party it is depends on what I donate!I print out pretty bookmarks, recipe cards, candy wrappers, gift bag tags, shopping lists, chore lists etc. with pretty designs on them along with my business info. I also attach a coupon. I keep my cost down to .15 cents per person. An inexpensive way to reach new potential customers.#92. Print out your own Re-ordering labels! If you sell consumable goods (foods, spices, soaps, bath products, cosmetics etc) make sure you stick on a small re-ordering info sticker with your business info on it so that your customer can easily locate your information for placing reorders! This is also important to do considering some customers purchase items from you to give as a gift, this way the person who received the gift will also know how to contact you and will become a potential new customer for you!#93. Establish a Referral program for your business and print out referral coupons! Offer established customers a free little gift or personal discount if they refer a new customer to you! I like to give out 3 Referral Coupons to every new customer I get so that they know they will be rewarded for referring new customers to me.Established customers are more apt to refer new customers to you if they know they will be rewarded for that referral. Verbal referral programs don't work well, so print up referral coupons or referral promotion cards to hand out to your established customers. I also like to put a "referral reward" sticker in all of my Tupperware catalogs. You can also add a sticker to the backs of your business cards.#94. Print out Coloring Pages with a small section on them advertising your business and donate them to local area restaurants, daycares etc. I was able to find 4pc. crayon sets for ONLY .05 cents a box which I also donated along with the printed out coloring pages! Parents hang them on the front of their refrigerators after the children are done coloring them which keeps your business in front of the parent daily! Cost: About .03 cents for printed out coloring page with your business info located some where on it and .05 cents for the mini box of crayons.Try to find a design that relates to your business for the best effect.#95. Contact your local area Girl Scouts, 4-H Club and other youth groups. Talk to them about you coming in to do a project with the youth's in the group. You can also talk to them about your business fundraiser program if you offer one. During the summer time there are alot of youth camps throughout the community. You can also find youth camps through local churches. Some are seasonal and some are year long programs. The YMCA is also a great resource!For Example: If you are a Kitchen Consultant, come in and teach the youth how to cook or about kitchen safety. If you sell pet products, go in and talk about grooming a pet. If you sell candles, go in and make some mini candles or teach them how to decorate them for gifts. Be creative!#96. If you are crafty with your computer you can print out tea bag wrappers with a pretty design on them along with your business information. I purchased a few boxes of individually wrapped tea bags and then put my printed business tea bag wrapper over it. You can hand them out throughout your community.I like donating them to: Assisted Living Centers, Senior Community Centers, Daycare Centers (to be given to the parents & teachers), School Teacher Lounges, Employee Break Rooms etc.Example of Cost: .03 cents for a printed color wraper and about .03-.05 cents per tea bag.#97 Make sure you leave info about Your Business on your answering machine or voice mail message! Not everyone who phones you knows that you sell or represent a particular company! (especially those pesky bill collectors & telemarketers).#98 Take your outdated catalogs and randomly mail or distribute them thru-out your neighborhood! Make sure you stamp it OUTDATED and provide contact info for yourself so they can contact you if interested to get a current catalog!#99 Get Business Themed Banking Checks! Your bank checks pass thru tons of hands that could become potential customers or party hosts! If possible get your email address or website URL preprinted onto them! I also suggest using preprinted postal address labels too! (try to get checks that have pictures of some of the products you sell on them or at the very least make sure some where on the check it says: Tupperware Consultant, Avon Rep, and so forth.)#100. Get your business info printed onto matchbooks! Donate the matchbooks to candle shops, smoke shops, clubs etc. to help get your business name out in your community!#101. Consider getting some inexpensive mini desk-top sized calendars printed up with your business information on them and hand out to local office workplaces! A great way to keep your business information in front of a potential or repeat customer/client.#102. Take the above idea a step further. Get your business info printed up on pencils, pens, mini note pads, tab stickers and so forth. Contact local office style businesses and donate a few "business" supplies to them!When you go to the doctors or dentists office you see a slew of these types of things from various companies all over the office, so you can do the same thing by donating them to office-style businesses.#103. Contact local groups in your own community. These can be hobby groups, collector groups, new moms, new parents, neighborhood watch groups and so forth.See what their coming up activites will be and offer a fundraiser opportunity to them or offer a party or to teach a class to them. Better yet, get involved in a group as a participient. The more you get out there in your community and make contacts the better your business will be.#104. Local Holiday Events! Does your area hold a childrens christmas party, easter egg hunt, halloween party, etc? If so, get involved! You can donate candy or other holiday items and get yourself some business exposure, besides they are always alot of fun to participate in!#105. Get your business info printed up on some Lanyards and distribute them to local office place environments for employees to use to keep their keys on or give as freebies to your current established customers etc.#106. Get your business info printed up on some employee id tag holders! Hand them out to office environments that have alot of employees to get your business info seen by lots of people!#107. Contact some local small shops in your area. Offer to sponsor a drawing box & prize. Make sure you have an attractive drawing box and have the prize on display. Alot of small shops have in-shop (in-store) drawings that are sponsored by other local merchants. You should also have on hand a few catalogs and a stack of business cards. This is a great way to get business exposure and to collect leads.Make sure your entry form states:Name, phone number and email addressplus a section for:____ more info about hostessing a party____ more info about the consultant opportunity____ request a free catalog____ please subscribe me to your online newsletter#108. Draft up a business press release. Submit it to your local newspapers, local magazines, tv stations and radio stations. Offer to be a guest on one of their live or recorded shows.#109. Do you get alot of magazines to your home? If so, after reading them, print up some labels on your computer that say "Compliments of __________________" and donate them to local doctors offices, dentist offices, local hospitals, libraries, community centers, senior centers, etc. Make sure your label includes your business name & information.#110. Draft up some mini tip booklets, recipe booklets or craft project booklets. Make sure you label them as "Courtesy of ________________" and donate them to local daycare centers, salons, civic and community groups, etc. You can print them out on your home computer inexpensively.#111. If you can afford this idea, its a great one! Remember those little rubbery type of change purses with the key ring attached to them that advertisers use to put their name and advertising info onto them? Well, they are popular again! I got one from our local bank! If you can afford it or co-op it with another consultant that would be a great idea to hand out to BIG office environments where employees carry around alot of change for vending machines, parking meters etc.#112. If your company has a fundraising program the best way to promote it is to locate local area fundraisers. What do I mean? When local groups hold bake sales, sub sales, chicken BBQ's, car washes etc....go visit them and offer them a company fundraiser pack with all of the important fundraising information, catalog and a contact sheet & business card.#113. Contact your local area Home Owners Association. See if you can drop off flyers, catalogs and business cards promoting your business to them or set up a free contest giveaway basket in their offices to promote your business and products.#114. Do you attend alot of outdoor sporting events & concerts? Have you seen those afghan throws that you can get personalized? Instead of getting a family name & date imprinted on one...get your business name on it! I have one that has my website address & my business name. Since we attend alot of outdoor sporting events in the fall, I take it out with me and wrap around myself on the bleachers! Everyone sitting around me gets to see my business info! I even lend it out to friends & family when they attend outdoor events!#115. Take the idea above one step further. Do you spend alot of time out at the neighborhood pool or at the beach? Get your business info printed up on beach towels & beach blankets! You can also get your biz info printed up on a beach umbrella...better yet, get yourself a rain umbrella with your biz info printed on it!#116. Does your city/town have a local taxi cab company? If so, call them up! I recently donated 35 of my mini catalogs to a taxi company who placed one in the back seat magazine holder of 35 of their cars. Since that time, I have gotten 1 new consultant and 2 new customers!Some bus companies will also accept them so check those out too! People are always looking for something to read!#117. When you travel take numerous catalogs, flyers, business cards etc. with you when you pack for your trip. Make up a separate tote bag just for these items. Leave you catalogs, flyers and business cards ever where you go while on your trip.ie. back of train seats, back of airplane seats, hotel lobbies, restaurants, sporting events, etc...where-ever. This is a great way to target non-local customers and interest in your business.#118. Contact other work at home business people and small business owners in your community. It's more economical for a group of you to share costs on community advertisements and mailings.#119. If you have advertising on your vehicle, see if getting a business card holder for your vehicle would be a fit (www.cardcaddie.ca)

Please Check Out My Black is Beautiful

Posted by Darshall Banks on May 15, 2008 at 4:47am

Kudos to Procter & Gamble for celebrating and connecting with African-American women . "My Black is Beautiful" is an opportunity to open the dialogue and positively affect the portrayal of African American women today. This is a movement by, for and about black women."My Black is Beautiful "celebrates the diverse collective beauty of African American women and encourages black women to define and promote their own beauty standard – one that is an authentic reflection of their indomitable spirit. ""Recognizing that beauty and self-confidence are intrinsically linked, My Black is Beautiful is designed to ignite and support a sustained national conversation by, for and about black women; the way they are reflected in popular culture and serve as the catalyst for a movement that affects positive change." from the http://www.myblackisbeautiful.com/

International Business Card Group

Posted by Solutions Now! Radio on May 15, 2008 at 2:34am

Hello and thank you for your interest in the International Business Card Group. This community is to generate a networking opportunity for business owners and people who want to promote themselves.How this works:1. Send me some business or contact cards. No more than 100.Send business cards to:Solutions Now! Radioc/o Solutions Now! Group, Inc.8005 Aber Road, Suite 1100Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 151472. I will then send 5 cards out until the cards are gone.3. Once you receive business cards, your job is to pass out four of the cards along to others (retain one for yourself).4. Send more cards to me to get back on the list and the cycle repeats.Participate now!

B-to-B Database

Posted by Solutions Now! Radio on May 15, 2008 at 2:30am

Hi Everyone,Just a shout out to those business owners (or starting business owners) on the list who own and operate businesses in the Greater Pittsburgh area to be part of the Solutions Now! Group database. This is an initiative of the International Business Card Group. The focus of the database is to compile a networking opportunity for the Southwest PA area. This a B-to-B database. There is no cost for participation and participation is completely voluntary. The for-cost database will be available for distribution in January of 2009.Eligible businesses are:Non-profit organizations and/or for-profit businessesSmall, medium and large businessesStarting, new and established businessesHeadquartered and/or operating in Greater Pittsburgh/Southwestern PA/Southeast Ohio/West Virginia and Maryland PanhandleInterested parties can participate by emailing database@solutionsnowgroup.org with the following information by October 31, 2008:Contact SalutationContact NameCompany NameContact TitleCompany Address (street, city, state, zip)Contact PhoneContact FaxContact EmailCompany WebsiteBusiness CategoryBusiness Description (250 words or less)You can email info@solutionsnowgroup.org if you have questions. Feel free to forward.--Sincerely,Candice L. MasonDirector of Communications, Solutions Now! GroupHostess, Solutions Now! RadioTelephone/Fax: 1 (888) 851-9035eMail: solutionsradio@aol.comWebsite: http://blogtalkradio.com/solutions_now_radioMySpace: http://myspace.com/solutions_nowLinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/candicelmason

Sale! I love great sales don't you ?

Posted by Amber Williams on May 15, 2008 at 1:16am

My online accessories boutique Always Accessorize is having a sale !All handbags,wallets, and rings are on sale !www.alwaysaccessorize.comLove,Amber

I NEED A WEBSITE!!

Posted by Rochele Jones on May 15, 2008 at 12:52am

HELLO EVERY1,I'M NEW TO THIS BUT. I WOULD LOVE TO GET SOME FEEDBACK ON WEBSITES WHO HAS THE BEST PRICES ALONG WITH QUALITY WORK..

Note: this page contains paid content.

Note: this page contains paid content.

Note: this page contains paid content.

Note: this page contains paid content.