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Hiding From Our Greatness

Posted by Cherri Walston on May 31, 2009 at 1:56am

I am often struck by the number of people who have extraordinary gifts and talents, but are afraid to expose them to the world. How many extremely talented people do you know who are hiding their greatness? All of us have something unique and special to offer. Oftentimes we hold back and only scratch the surface of what we could be. All of the symptoms of hiding are really the same in each of us. It’s either something in our past, an incident that we felt shut the door to a promising future, or an erroneous message that we gave too much “air-time” to. Many of you may be in a job or career that stifles your greatness. But for some unconscious reason, you have chosen to sit quietly and hope for the best. Or maybe you have this great idea for a business and you’ve done all the ‘leg work’ to get it going — but fail to launch.Remember as kids when you used to play the game ‘hide and go seek.’ The person hiding went to great lengths to be inconspicuous (ducking, dodging and shifting places) to be safe and not found. However, the “seeker” takes great pride in their ability to launch into action. The challenge to find what was hidden created adrenaline that lead them on a path to endless possibilities and discoveries — their greatness. Think about it. It takes more effort to hide and stay small than to come out of hiding and do the work.I had a problem with ‘failure to launch’ in the workplace before I made the transition to explore my greatness. I clung to the safe positions. You know, the ones that kept you hidden in a cubicle, never challenging your intellect, never requiring you to present an idea/project: the one’s that pigeonhole you. The moment I made the transition to come out of hiding and step into a career that harnessed my greatness (helping other’s realize their greatness), it changed my life in ways I never imagined.Hiding BehaviorsEver wonder why your career or entrepreneurial venture seemed to ‘fail to launch’ to what you desired it to be? The real truth is your behavior(s). These are behaviors you may or may not be consciously aware of. But if you really dig deep enough you will discover that you haven’t been much of a “seeker” in exercising your greatness. What you have been communicating and actually doing is playing “peek-a-boo” with yourself. Instead of putting yourself out there and getting known in the workplace/marketplace, you do a little here and a little there. I’m speaking to those who never seem to feel they are ready and to those who hide behind fear.Here’s what hiding behaviors might look like:· The Perpetual Student – “I’m almost there, I need more training, seminars, etc.” Always preparing, never doing.· The Marketing/Branding Wimp – “ I’ll do a little and leave the rest to chance.”· The ScaredyCat – “I don’t want to be in their face.” Doesn’t want to seem aggressive.· The Procrastinator – “ I’ll do it tomorrow.” Waits till the last minute, next week, next month, next year…· The She Who Would Be Everything – “I can do it all.” Wants to do everything, never committing to one thing and doing it well.Reasons We HideWe are afraid of all sorts of things. If you ask most people what they are afraid of they’ll tell you, “nothing really.” But if you engage them in thoughtful conversation, you’ll really find out the truth. Some fears may seem trivial to others, but very real to the person who is experiencing them. We hide our greatness for many reasons. Reasons that keep us on the launching pad so long that we lose our flame for what we once hoped for: a promotion, career change, competitive salary, thriving business, and much more. So why aren’t we being our greatest selves?Some of those reasons may be…1. Fear of becoming big and powerful in the world.2. Fearing we might fail and how that is going to look to our colleagues, friends, family.3. Afraid of being found out – we aren’t as smart as we appear to be.4. Fear of looking or sounding stupid.5. Listening to a spouse or family member(s) that may not be supportive.6. Fear that our success will take us far from our comfort zone.7. Fear of money (management, bad decisions).8. Fear of making powerful connections and having influence.9. Fear of what will people think? How will they treat me?10. Holding on to old worn out messages from the past.Ask yourself this question: “What is it costing me to stay hidden in my career, business?”If you are ready to say, “Here I AM” to the world and need help doing so, contact me for a complimentary coaching session.Make the transition to greatness easier: check out my Free Special Report on, “Six Steps To Moving The Mountains In Your Life”.

7 Steps to Successful Article Marketing

Posted by LaTosha Johnson on May 31, 2009 at 12:47am

Entrepreneurs are always looking for cheap ways to market their brand. Well you can not get any cheaper then article marketing! Article marketing is a subtle way companies can gain exposure for their business by writing articles that provide information about news and trends occurring within their industries. It is a cost effective form of promoting your products and services because it does not require you to spend money and it enables you to build a relationship with your readers. Companies that incorporate article marketing into their marketing campaigns will demonstrate their expertise within their industry while simultaneously attracting new customers.For example, if I am a hair stylist I could write an article about what products people should use to have healthy hair. When your readers are seeking services within your industry (i.e. hair); your company name will be a part of their evoked set because of the articles you have shared with them. If you plan on incorporating article marketing into your marketing campaign you have to produce quality content (emphasis added on quality). Therefore, if your goal is to have people remember your company based upon your articles, remember to keep the following points in mind:1. Pick a topic that will interest your readers. Obviously this topic should be related to your industry in order to resonate with your audience. Your readers want information that they will be able to apply to their own business. Therefore, you need to put yourself in the shoes of your readers. Think about questions that your readers are seeking to have answered. The ability and the degree to which you answer these questions will determine how much your readers value your expertise, so choose your topic with care and stick to what you know.2. Why is your article different? Chances are your topic has already been written about by someone else . Therefore, you need to choose an angle that has very little to no coverage. You can get a lot of ideas of the various viewpoints people have regarding your topic by visiting forums within your industry, blogs, etc.3. Get backup. Once you have identified the angle you want to take for your article, seek out sources whose opinions will further reiterate the angle you are trying to convey regarding your topic. Not sure where to find your sources? Head on over to Help A Reporter Out. The title of this website is pretty self explanatory. It is a website where sources help journalists complete their articles. Those writing the articles get the sources they need and those who are sources are able to gain notoriety in their respective industries.4. Mind your SEO. Article marketing is an excellent way to optimize your website. Take this opportunity to think of keywords that your readers will use in order to find your article. It is imperative that you take some time to think about this step because the key words you choose will decide whether people are even able to find the article you have written.5. Write on. You picked your topic, you got your back up and are minding your SEO so now it is time to write. The first thing I recommend doing is choosing a title. I know some people like to choose a title after they write their article, but I find choosing a title first helps me to stay focused on what the article is supposed to be about (It is up to you in how you choose to proceed). When choosing a title make sure it will grab your readers attention and uses your keywords (remember mind your SEO). While you are writing your article, make sure you do not lose focus of your angle. There is nothing worse than for your readers to feel like they wasted time reading your article because they felt it was incoherent.6. Tell them who you are. An author box should be at the end of all your articles. This is your “elevator pitch” on paper. Tell your readers who you are, what your represent and where they can contact you for more information. This is your chance to subtly self promote your company.7. All done. Now what? You have written your masterpiece and now you need to share it with the world. You need to submit your articles to as many industry specific websites, article directories, blogs, etc. However, you need to alter each version you send to these websites in order to avoid sending duplicate content (i.e. use different words that do not take away from the point of the article).Article marketing is not difficult, but it can be time consuming. My next post will share how you can receive all the benefits of article marketing without you doing any writing at all (in case you’re wondering you did read that last sentence right!).

New This Month on From A Writers POV

Posted by Dominique on May 30, 2009 at 11:33pm

I hope that you will be celebrating with us this month. We have published 20 issues of From A Writers POV!!!!In honor of the 20 Celebrations, we are running an event this month. "The Best Synopsis" Each week this month, we will feature a new writer and their synopsis. YOU get the opportunity to vote for each writer. Your votes will determine the winner at the end of the month.This Week we are featuring: Cynthia Brooks. Vote for her synopsis here: www.fromawriterspov.webs.comNew This WeekNew Weekly Feature by: Charles Johnsonhttp://fromawriterspov.webs.com/apps/blog/New Inspirational Writing by Theresa Haskinshttp://fromawriterspov.webs.com/thisweeksinspiration.htmNew This MonthNew Articles www.fromawriterspovarticles.webs.comFeatured Article: http://fromawriterspov.webs.com/featuredarticle.htmNew Business Ad & Interview with Katrina Kimble:http://fromawriterspov.webs.com/businessadofthemonth.htmAdvertise Your Event:http://fromawriterspov.webs.com/authorswritersevents.htmBecome a Monthly Article Writer:http://fromawriterspov.webs.com/monthlysubmissions.htmBecome a sponsor:http://fromawriterspov.webs.com/becomeasponsor.htmBe a Guest Article Writer:http://fromawriterspov.webs.com/guestarticleform.htm---------------------------Don't forget!Log in today and update your page. From A Writers POV will be looking for it's favorite authors and we will need your information up-to-date. So if you are a member of this website and our ning network, log in to both websites and update your pages. Your name could end up on our list!--------------------------Do you have a writers question? Looking for advice and tips on a writing subject you have not seen yet? Contact me and I'll answer it at The POV Lounge for you!http://fromawriterspov.webs.com/yourrequests.htm

Looking for Monthly Article Writers on Various Topics

Posted by Dominique on May 30, 2009 at 11:30pm

From A Writers POV is looking to sign up articles writers for our magazine. We are looking for dedicated writers to become apart of our POV family to submit articles on various topics.. If you are interested in submitting articles please read our guidelines carefully here.http://fromawriterspov.webs.com/monthlysubmissions.htm

Advertise your Event!

Posted by Dominique on May 30, 2009 at 11:29pm

Do you have a book signing, release party, speaking engagement or some type of event coming up? If so, From A Writers POV wants to do an interview & ad with you about your event. This feature is only $10 for your ad & interview. Your ad & interview will be on our magazine for one full edition for the month you choose. You must have an event going on in the month you choose.http://fromawriterspov.webs.com/authorswritersevents.htm

PiPe DrEaMs

Posted by Ms. Felecia on May 30, 2009 at 10:54pm

S-H-E-M-A Gurls Blog TimesSmile…It’s The Sweetest Emotion~ You’ll never amount to anything!~ That idea is silly!~ Do you really think YOUR capable of that?Blessings and Great success to all….Where do I begin to tell the story…So many stories so many times, It was when I moved to Cleveland, Ohio and my children were told not to come to live with me because I wouldn’t become nothing of importance,yet they did not know the LOVE my children had for me and the LOVE I had for them…..Love Conquers. I was told I have great writing skills and many talents, and I wrote a true book, I written poetry, and songs… yes, many talents I shared, yet many haters…who cared… It was the Dean of Cleveland State College who promised opportunity to me , So stepping out on my dream ….. I moved to Cleveland with everything,but my 2 daughters,my son came with me, when I got to Cleveland, It was if she never knew me at all. I met with her on campus and she didn’t have nothing to offer me,after using some of my writings in a show presentations, I knew that door wouldn’t open for me. Nevertheless I was determine to find my way. I starting cleaning rooms,houses,buildings,and eventually I slept in those rooms with my son for a place to stay…months later my cleaning work had lead me into a position that would change my life. I am Blessed by the Best….I became a sub-contractor for ALPHA Tub and Tile, I moved into my own apartment in Cleveland heights with my children and maintain a better life for myself and my 3 children…….Praise God…so many times…The lord keeps on making a way!!!By msfelecia on May 20, 2009http://www.shemagurls.info/2009/05/16/pipe-dreams/comment-page-1/#comment-62

WE NEED SECURITY

Posted by Ms. Felecia on May 30, 2009 at 10:52pm

Have you secured your computer? I secured my computer after having to face so may challenges. It was November 2007, I realized learning how to use the computer to promote my business online wasn’t the only challenges I had to face. Has your computer ever froze up? Have you had someone to steal your information online or overcharge you for service that was unsatisfactory?Are you still facing these types of challenges? Mr. Marvin Fredlaw, someone I had met while promoting Coastal Vacation Lifetime travel packages, in the neighborhood. Mr. Fredlaw was visiting in the city of Lima, Ohio he was looking to expand his business. After i spoke about my business to nearby neighbors, Mr. Fredlaw, asked, if I needed a web page or my computer serviced? I replied, I don’t need nobody ripping me off!!Mr. Fredlaw, spoke with humble words and shared more about his business which allowed me to believe, He is a man of integrity.It was 2 hours later Mr. Fredlaw was at my door to service my computer. He repaired and secured many issue concerning my computer and upgraded my internet services. He introduce me to new sites online with the Ning network and he offered reasonable prices and provided satisfactory work. He has shown me to be a man of integrity and a man who Loves the Lord. He is certified and license, and he has a zealous spirit for his work, that I don’t see among many people. I thank God for his people and how we are a help to those who help themselves. Mr Fredlaw has worked among the church and hospital communities servicing computers as well as private business.How secure is your Computer??http://Take time to learn more about Mr. Marvin Fredlaw, a man of integrity and willing to share his wisdom, meet him and become secure online with your business.Follow the links above and Be Blessed by the Best….God Bless!!

Find out how to earn points just for joining and inviting Black people to shop, network and socialize.

Posted by Darlene on May 30, 2009 at 8:02pm

Have you heard of the Ebony experiment? A Black couple has dedicated the next year to try to spend with Black businesses as much as possible. They have a sign outside of their home that is a rolling total of dollars they have spent with Black businesses. I think that is a wonderful idea and a stellar effort. Now if we could just get 39,999,998 other Black people to do the same.Did you know that there are only a few completely Black owned and operated networking sites online today? Most have been started by other ethnic groups because they saw the value in our collective $900+ Billion dollars? Or others are Black Owned Groups located within websites owned by other ethnic groups. Come join me in supporting this new venture which already has a base of over 22,000 positive Black people and businesses and let's change our own economy starting right now!I am so honored to be a part of a Black owned and operated company that is taking social networking, Black business networking and Black shopping by combining them together to help promote & support more Black businesses around the world. This is a free online community for every positive Black person who wants to support Black businesses. So to reward their efforts, every person who joins the site earns points, every time they purchase they earn points, every time they get someone else to join they also earn points. So this creates a viral effect that we expect to change the way Black consumers support Black Businesses.This site will have all of the features of Facebook, Twitter, MySpace and more! So how would you like to be sitting on top of a social network of hundreds or thousands of Black consumers and earning points on every item they purchase and every person they invite to the network that you can redeem to purchase from Black Businesses? Visit www.blackbusinessnetwork.com/TeamDollar right now and sign up for your free account. If you were already a general member of TAG Team, just use that login info. My goal is to get 1,000 people signed up for their free account within the next 30 days. I have joined many groups that you have invited me to; I’m just asking you to do the same for me this one time.Darlene RobinsonEmail: mauddarlene.robinson@yahoo.comCell: 407-283-5163

We are looking for article writers! Contact us about it today!

Posted by Dominique on May 29, 2009 at 11:30pm

My magazine From A Writers POV is looking for article writers. We are looking for writers that give tips and advice for writers and authors as well as business owners.If you would like to submit an article today and have you and your article be featured in an interview on our blog, The POV Lounge, check out more details here: http://fromawriterspov.webs.com/guestarticleform.htmWe look forward to hearing from you!God Bless,Dominique

Etiquette and Ethics – How Do They Compare In Your Social Networking?

Posted by Marjorie Janczak on May 29, 2009 at 8:56pm

I have for some time been studying the conversations on some of the social networks I belong to and have noticed the buzz about building relationships first when you are joining these social media for business.That is so true and great advice yet what I see is that some people do not stop to think about whether their relationship building is ethical and with the proper etiquette.So my question is – How far will you go to build a relationship to benefit your business?Will you be “the gentleman criminal” like Al Capone with all finesse yet a sociopath or Dr Gregory House of the “House” TV series with great ethics yet no manners and etiquette at all?I can help you here, why not be the likes of Dr Kofi Annan whose manners and etiquette are spot on and in addition has sound ethical principles.Now before I continue, I will like to state some facts and definitions here:1.The basic principles of etiquette is to do things the right way and..2.Ethics is basically doing the right thingCertainly there are those who will exhibit impeccable etiquette meanwhile they have no ethics what so ever at all. Possibly that works well with their goal but I will wonder for how long.On the other hand, you will, and I see a lot of people with great ethics yet they have no idea of proper etiquette at all.This makes them to send the wrong signals to people they meet for the first time and they miss out on a lot of opportunities.Their first impressions just puts others off and they most of the time really do not get the chance to proof themselves otherwise.Others also do have the charm and grace yet do not have good ethics at all to support it.However, I want to mention that although proper etiquette and ethics are at an all time low now, there are still those who practice both and do reap the juicy rewards that comes with both proper etiquette and good ethics.No matter how you see this, I will like to state that both ethics and etiquette work hand in hand to create a man or woman of integrity, repute and good image in any circumstance or media.You cannot be a person of great polish and yet deep inside your ethics are clothed in question marks. That to me is a criminal in disguise.Also no matter how good hearten you may be and you keep doing the right thing, not have some polish, in my opinion does not do you any good because you keep sending the wrong messages that, deep inside, are really not true and will only take a patient and enduring person to discover the true you after a while.Unfortunately, the world today is not that patient and is moving so fast that people simply do not have the time to wait and see.Remember that people judge you by what they first see and as they accept you in their company, they then start to study your principles.No matter what media it may be, being on any social media for business and not having good etiquette and ethics is a big minus that you must do your best to change.No matter how long you try to play the good person without being truly authentic will eventually come to light.So whether you are starting a new business or you are a veteran, stick to good ethics and practice proper etiquette.With these two you will never go wrong and you will build the appropriate relationships and reputation and will build your business for long term gains.

The Gospel View

Posted by Denise Bethune on May 29, 2009 at 7:15pm

Testimony of a Born Again Thug

Posted by Michelle Diane on May 29, 2009 at 7:00pm

He was tall, barely tan and at forty-five, his thick wavy hair already gleamed like new chrome. Old Spice tickled my nose when he held me close; it is still the sexiest scent I know. Even then my parents weren’t particularly fond of me. I was the source of their mutual resentment, the “accident” that forced them into violent union. But, until that moment, I’d felt safe; until that moment, I was his Mike and I knew my uncle loved me.I’d been to the doctor that afternoon. Of course, I don’t remember why, but I remember getting a, “this won’t hurt a bit,” shot. Uncle stopped by to check on me, but too soon his attention was focused on momma. Like any self-respecting three year old, I wasn’t having him giving away my attention. So, moaning, I climbed off the couch, limped over to him at the dining room table and tried to tell him the shot she said wouldn’t hurt did. He laughed at me; when I protested and reached for him, he scolded me. My beloved uncle sent me back to the couch with a swat; then he and the woman who regularly reminded me I was a mistake shared a long, loud laugh at the little faker. Never since have I felt so shamed or betrayed.Fast forward ten years, I don’t remember what the yelling was about, by the time I was thirteen all the screaming and tears kind of ran together. I remember momma had this skinny beige belt she used to whip me with. She was standing in her bedroom door lecturing me and popping that belt when time stopped and the world went dark. “I wish I’d had the courage to abort you.” She yelled that a back alley abortion, after my sister was born, nearly cost her her life, and only her fear of reliving that experience or worse forced her to bring me into the world. “I wish I made a different decision. I wish I’d never brought you here.” Those words, the fear that they would someday come flying out of my mouth and murder some innocent child, deeply colored my decision to abort my own children,“You little bitch.” I heard daddy yell just before my head hit the wall so hard the plaster cracked. He was shaking me by my throat, swearing he’d kill me when I passed out, thinking he had.Daddy beat up everybody in the house; there was no protection and nobody was safe. Whenever he was done venting his rage, he’d tell whoever he’d left in a broken heap, “If you don’t like it, you can get out.” My mother and siblings not only stayed but they groveled and scraped to please him. Me? I wanted him to be crystal I didn’t like it and I left. Years of being molested by my dad taught me that my body had the power to make men do things. After that beating, I put my knowledge to practical test and talked a Navy man I knew into sending for me. The night I landed in San Diego was the night I lost my virginity. It was painful and bloody, but it was alright, because he said he loved me. I was fourteen. Next morning he left me sleeping and went to work; I awakened to police bursting through the motel room door. The manager, who’d let them in, stood there gawking, as they hand-cuffed me, still naked in a bloody bed. A cop told me my navy man had called. Later, when I got the chance to ask him why, he told me my cherry was worth the price of a plane ticket, but better I went to jail then him. The promiscuity began then and there; in that moment I knew daddy was right – the only thing about me that was any good at all was the little hole between my legs.My daddy used to tell me that I was such a worthless bitch I wouldn’t even make a good whore.I broke away from my dad’s house just to find myself living with a bigger, angrier brute. He beat me so regularly nobody needed a calendar. Michelle’s eye is black; Michelle’s in the emergency room it must be Sunday. I left him the day I finally realized one of us was going to die; on that day I was pretty sure it wasn’t going to be me. I picked up my then two year old daughter and walked out the door. He reached over my head, snatched her from my arms and told me if I turned around he’d kill me. Not wanting my child to watch one of her parents die at the hand of the other, I pilled my t-shirt over my head, flung it backward into his face, told him he could have everything I had but my car keys and ran. By the time he regrouped to chase me, the car door was locked and the engine running; he claimed I ran over his foot when I took off.Over the years I’ve been beaten, raped and kidnapped at gunpoint. My momma, who’d been watching my oldest daughter while I worked and struggled to grow up, stole her. She had me declared unfit and served me with papers, on my job, that immediately terminated all access to my baby. I hired a lawyer who’d been a long time “friend”; I found out some years later my parents paid him to botch the case.Discovering that stealing my children had been a carefully laid plan destroyed whoever I had been. It was the first time I was confronted with I set before you life and death. Choose…even in the depths of that dark insanity, I had enough sense to know if the teacher gives you the answer, take it. From that day to this I’ve been fighting to break the cycles and stay the generational curses. Twenty-one years later, here I sit telling horror stories to you.It’s that hell fire and pain that makes me do what I do. Not because those who were “supposed” to love me most betrayed me and left me for dead, but because, by grace, I’m still here.Folks who have no experiential knowledge of hell are generally of one of two mindsets. They either believe it’s an inescapable forever sentence or that escape is merely a simple decision away. Though I’ve met many who seem irrevocably stuck, I know there is a road out. And like you I’ve heard the tales of those whose life turned one hundred and eighty degrees with just a touch, but I’ve never met anyone who was Enoched out of the fire. It’s a bloody, sweaty, painful process that demands more from you than you think is with-in your capability to survive. Cool water is respite afforded the warrior who desires it above even life.Nearly fifty years ago I told God that I didn’t know what the truth was, but I knew the folks around me were lying to me. I told God I’d do anything he wanted me to do, if he would just show me Truth. For all ya’ll that don’t know, be very careful what you ask of Divinity, and more careful still what you promise. That which you ask you will receive and you are accountable for your word and all you are given.Ya’ll know I don’t allow no preaching in the pages of Not Ur Momma’s News; that’s because I see too often the names Jesus and Allah are hurled with the same divisive venom as house saggin and field saggin. So, I hope ya’ll will forgive or excuse me as needs be, but I’m gonna take a little momma license up in here and show ya’ll my heart.See me and God we got this thing; it’s my Daddy and my Momma I’m talking about. Yin Yang, if you need a picture. This ain’t no pulpit, ceremonial relationship either and I’m not talking to you about something I read somewhere. I know who held/holds my hand. I know who so often picked me up and protected me from the worst of the flames. God has many names, many faces spanning myriad centuries and cultures. And I know all of those names describe and refer to the God whose name is above all names, to the God, my God, whose name is simply…Love.My mom and dad told me they planned to name me Gloria Blanche after my grandmothers. I always thought it was a very kool name, but my Dad and my Mom had other plans. For reasons the earthly pair could never quite explain, the named me Michelle Diane. It means Warrior Angel, Hunter Goddess ya’ll and I am my Parent’s daughter.I am here, NUMN is here because I have lived, survived and largely overcome nearly every kind of pain imaginable. I failed at or destroyed everything I touched; I can write tomes on how to muck stuff up. I am here because in a moment of abject darkness, Love whispered to me.Ya’ll, I could have been, should have been dead. I’ve looked down the barrel of five different guns, and no, I wasn’t cleaning them. I could have, should have been under the jail, but Love got me out of a money case that might have cost me twenty-five years. I coulda/shoulda been in a mental institution; ya’ll read the history. I coulda/shouda had A.I.D.S.; I won’t count the lovers if you won’t. But Love…Can I talk to ya’ll just a little about Love?I’d seen, lived a whole lot of miracles, but none of them really registered until that afternoon I realized Love, despite of all I’d been and been through, Love covered every ugly thing I’d ever done. Love loved me without judgment or condition, Love loved me.I love you like that, no matter who you are or where you’ve been, because more than anything I want you to see my Mom and Dad whenever you see me. Let’s not get it twisted. I ain’t sistah super spiritual and I need a dictionary to even spell perfect. I get mad and tired, lazy and moody. Sometimes I pump a whole lot of arrogant hoping nobody will notice I’m overflowing with fear. I come to give freely what has been given me, a simple and abiding love.The other day Belinda and I were working on the business plan and the question arose, “What qualifies you to lead?” Messed my head up and I couldn’t come up with an answer. Until that moment, I hadn’t stopped to consider whether I possessed the expertise to publish NUMN and TBBU or organize a community micro-funding plan. I was just merrily and rather haphazardly doing what I do. I had to stop and think; you’re reading where the process led. Bear with me just a little longer please. I want to share a little about the middle with you. I know you’re getting tired of me talking, because I’m getting writer’s cramp.Anyway, in short, my qualifications are thus: Ten years on staff journalism experience as an investigative reporter and copy editor and thirty plus years experience as a freelancer. I am an award winning, Tony Robbins and Brian Tracy trained, sales professional, with over seven years, ranked in the top twenty percent, experience. And with a partner, owned and operated one of the most successful Adult Entertainment businesses in South West Florida – legally – with a business license and paid taxes, mine anyway, and without drama or arrest, for six years. We were averaging a couple grand a night and I admit I did ask my dad once if that made me a good enough whore for him. Lord knows he wasn’t turning down any of the money.There you have it ya’ll. I suffered; so I recognize pain when I see it. If I can make it even a little easier for someone else than it was for me, I’m there. I know what it is to be in a pit so deep and dark you begin to question if light is a mere figment of imagination. I’ve fondled many a razor blade ya’ll, but I know the way to the light, because I’ve walked the road. Perhaps my pain can/will show another that there is more than hope, there’s a way out.I know the roots of the horrors that once shattered me are largely the roots, the curses pervading and fragmenting African America to this day. The rape my great-grandmother likely endured is the same rape my mother endured. The same rape that made her indifferent when she knew my dad was molesting me. The frustrated rage that caused papa to beat her for what the massa had done to her is the same festering psychosis that fueled daddy’s violence and made my black eyes a time piece.My momma used to say, “The time has came and something definitely gotta be did.” I’m here to turn over the tables in the temples. I hear somebody singing, “Waiting, waiting, waiting on the world to change.” I came to break up choir practice; just stopped by to tell ya’ll, waiting ain’t fixin to change nothing. Barack Obama cannot and will not fix it. Must we be reminded so soon? Obama isn’t our savior, merely the public face of the force that is us. I’m here to tell you the days of waiting on them and somebody are over. We are them and you, you, you and me, we’re somebody. I hear to tell you yes we can, while everybody is focused on a suntanned version of the same old government posturing, yes we can create and secure economic autonomy. In scant two years, we raised 800 million dollars to buy the Oval Office; surely in these next four we can accumulate enough dollars to buy back our communities. I have a dream that one day little black boys and little white boys will truly come together on an equal playing field, because both are in complete control of their own destiny. Yes we can take advantage of the larger economic fiasco to free our entrepreneurial spirits to soar from the ashes. This country was built on the backs of our innovation and creativity, and it is with that same innovation and creativity we can and must claim what is rightfully ours, Yes we can stop begging for reparation and protesting in Jena and in front of Rent-a-Center like a spot on the evening news is gonna get us a little extra justice. America is reeling. The economy is in shambles; there’s a … Barack Obama in the White House and Stephen, oops Steele figure heading the GOP. The “silent majority” is freaking out; look at ‘em they’ve got Rush Limbaugh in charge. Al, Jesse, Tavis and the boys have been rendered as immaterial as they have been ineffectual. The old dichotomy is shattered; social chaos and general confusion abound. While the focus is on whether we are ready for a lesbian on the Supreme Court, I say the time has came to take a page out of that old book. No, not the Bible, Soledad Brother; the time is come for us to march on long ago given orders. Yes we are the masters of our fate and I say, right now, yes we can infiltrate and overtake.Reprinted by Permission of Not Ur Momma's News

Camp Destiny

Posted by Denise Bethune on May 29, 2009 at 6:06pm

MOST AFFORDABLE SUMMER CAMP in Orange County . Space is limited, don't delay!New Destiny Christian Center, Inc. 505 E. McCormick Road Apopka, Florida 32703 407-884-NDCC www.ndcc.tv

Whose D$%N (Yes...I Did!) Goals as These ANYWAY?!: INHERITED BELIEFS & INHERITED GOALS

Posted by THE CONFIDENCE ARCHITECT on May 29, 2009 at 5:30pm

(A Re-print from the May 2009 "ASPIRATION-INSPIRATION-EMPOWERMENT-MOTIVATION", The Bi-Weekly Ezine for Success Driven Women of Color)Whose D$%N (Yes... I did!) Goals are These ANYWAY?!by V. Ivana Foster, The Confidence ArchitectWherever there is an INHERITED BELIEF you will also find an INHERITED GOAL! (close your eyes and begin to think back now)Just because big sister, mama, and big brother stood behind the counter ready to take the next person's order at the nearest fast food chain DOES NOT mean that you have to do the same thing.Newsflash!!! INHERITED GOALS like INHERITED BELIEFS are OPTIONAL GIFTS!!!!!You have the optional of turning them down OR re-structuring them to fit into YOUR life design.To thine own self be true.When we attempt to walk in the path of someone else's steps, it doesn't quite feel real to us, The same goes for goals. It is easy for someone to add a new goal onto one of your goals and...it is quite easy for YOU to suddenly feel compel to follow that path (i.e. "oh...this is my mother's dream" or "Everyone in the family is a lawyer ..." or "All of my family/friends/associates are married/divorced/single..."). After a while you will not have a clue as to where the goal came from and worse yet....how you got it!!!.Family, friends, and even strangers can offer suggestions for achieving your goals but be sure that the goal still remains uniquely yours.Ask yourself a series of questions to ensure that the current goal(s) do, in fact, belong to YOU!:1. Do you desire to complete this goal?This is an important question. Without motivation for success you won't succeed. Sometimes what you perceive as laziness is a lack of motivation because the goal is in some way not really your idea in the first place.2. Can you define the goal?If a goal comes from your heart, your true desire, you can tell anyone and everyone something about it in just a few words and plenty of passion. Whatever question they ask, you can answer them with enthusiasm because it is a goal that you want to accomplish. When the details are fuzzy, the goal might not be your idea.3. Are you doing it for someone else?If you are preparing to become the next Ebony Beauty Queen because your sister, mother, grandmother, and the women 5 generations down held the title and you could truly care less about the title...then, that goal needs some thought followed by a real conversation with members of the family. You see...it is YOUR responsibility to explain YOUR definition of SUCCESS...First to yourself and then to others (if you so desire)!4. Are you focused?The goal seems to take a long time to complete. Before you let others jump to conclusions about your commitment, you take a look. Are you still committed to the goal? Why is the focus gone?It is not considered quitting when you drop a goal that you discover wasn't yours in the first place.There are NO Failures in Life... Just the RESULTS of Prior Actions........Changing the Actions....Changes the Results!If you DO NOT ACTIVELY choose and design your OWN life goals...someone or something will choose them for YOU!Your Life, Your Dreams, ...Your Responsibility!Listen to the universe, your heart, your soul, and your passion!Success!~Ivana, Life Coach to Success Driven Women of ColorWANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you cite this complete statement with it: Author, Certified Subconscious Restructuring(TM) Coach, Life Empowerment Coach and speaker; Ivana, 'The Confidence Architect publishes the informative, empowering, and motivating 'Aspiration-Inspiration-Empowerment-Motivation' Bi-Weekly EZine, with over 5,000 Success Driven Women of Color. If you're ready to leverage your life, accomplish your goals, and live INSIDE your purpose, passion and dreams; visit www.MyAspirationsDCS.com (for Individual Empowerment Coaching) and www.MyNorthStarLEP.com (for Platinum-Level Group Coaching ALWAYS 24.99 A Month) to receive your FREE introductory North Star LEP membership.Begin your FREE Subscription to 'ASPIRATION-INSPIRATION-EMPOWERMENT-MOTIVATION' to receive coaching and empowerment tips, techniques, and strategies (like the article above) directly in your inbox TODAY.

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'White Swan' Marketing, or How to Focus on What Works!

Posted by Rev. Dorothiea Roberts on May 29, 2009 at 5:04pm

'White Swan' Marketing, or How to Focus on What WorksCustomer Behavior, Marketing Plans, Marketing Strategy, Measurement, MetricsWhen the latest marketing answers fail to produce the results you expect, maybe it's time to start asking different questions.You don't need me to tell you that we're in a crisis of confidence: Consumers don't believe or act on the information we give them in the ways we'd hope, so we're losing faith in the strategies and tools we use to communicate with them. We're asked questions about sales, and we reply with answers about "engagement" and conversational "buzz."Budgets are down, expectations are up, and the proliferation of new solutions for "engaging" with consumers in conversations seems inversely proportional to results that our employers and clients can value. We believe that somehow, sometime, all those efforts will coalesce—the dots will connect—and yield stunning successes, just like those celebrated in case histories and magazine articles.I have news for you: We're chasing black swans. And if we keep doing it, we're doomed.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------What's a Black Swan?In his book The Black Swan: The Impact of the Highly Improbable (Random House, 2007), financial trader Nassim Nicholas Taleb elaborates on the conundrum of swan coloring: Although your experience may be that you've only ever seen white swans, that doesn't preclude the appearance of a black one. Once you've seen that black swan, you can work backwards to come up with an explanation for it...but you can't rely on the same variables producing another one in the same way or place, or at the same time again. You may not see another black swan for years, if ever.So missing the lessons of history doesn't mean you're going to repeat its mistakes, per se; you couldn't replicate them if you tried. The key variables that determine the outcomes of events, or the events themselves, are usually unpredicted:A tidbit of information that nobody knew was relevantAn insight that was unique or occurred in a unique moment in timeA chain of events that produced a novel outcomeScientific breakthroughs, terrorist attacks, and every surprising news story make perfect sense when studied retrospectively. But rarely, if ever, can they be forecast. More important, they can't be replicated, at least not with any certainty of the outcome.How is it that the reliability of our marketing plans often proves illusive, and our estimates of the likelihood of success reveal, in hindsight, to have been little better than misplaced hope? It's because we are obsessed with studying, copying, and praying for black swans.Relying on the UnreliableConventional wisdom suggests that experiences can be replicated. Great successes are achievable, but only if we understand the components involved. Missteps or failures, therefore, represent an imperfect understanding of those events. A strategic point missed or an executional detail botched—study and map such events, and plan your future actions accordingly.Black swan theory suggests that this planning approach is doomed, because you can never know exactly which element made the difference or how it made the difference. You certainly can't rely on duplicating the circumstances again. Tomorrow is going to be different from yesterday, by definition.For instance, in my book, Branding Only Works on Cattle, I explore the story of Buckminster Fuller, who died at a ripe old age after writing dozens of patents; winning accolades from world leaders; and making an impact on social theory, industrial design, and a host of other subjects. Yet what first brought him notoriety was a department-store PR guy who wanted someone who seemed "futuristic" to help market a furniture sale. Fuller's fame was a black-swan event.So skip how tough or unforgiving today's consumer might be. Don't blame our difficulties on the marketplace. We're doing ourselves a great disservice by inventing branding and marketing plans that can never come to fruition. We talk about strategies, but our estimates of the likelihood of success are just shy of wild guesses.Moving to Reasonable ExpectationsIf the real determinants of successes and failures are unpredictable, then marketers should redefine the terms and metrics used to quantify them.Recognizing that the best, most stellar brand-marketing success stories are the unreliable exceptions to the norm, we could go about identifying and quantifying more reasonable expectations. We should stop trying to produce black swans and instead focus on building marketing strategies and tactics based on the white ones.Let's call it "white-swan marketing." What might it mean for us?--------------------------------------------------------------------------------First, we'd choose to forgo aspirational goals—and relying on variables outside our control—and instead define guaranteed deliverables. I know it's probably anathema to your training, but there's some percentage of sales results that you can all but guarantee, isn't there? Maybe it's because you'll rely on current customers or pent-up demand among a specific consumer segment. Perhaps there's a transactional equation that has always worked for you through such a variety of different circumstances that it's effectively a truism. Your budget and plan should be based on delivering those results.Imagine using such a forecast as the basis for your goal setting: You could cast your campaign objectives using declarative verbs, not the subjunctive, and your promise to management (or to your client) wouldn't be a "what if" hope or intention but a tangibly real "and then" expectation. It might not be as sexy or large or quick as anybody would hope, but it would go far toward helping you define ROI on which everyone could depend.Second, reserve a small portion of your strategy and budget for gambling, for Hail Mary passes—actions that almost defy what the past might tell you to expect. In other words, designate your black swan goals (usually involving what were formerly your overall goals).Black swan goals are likely to be counterintuitive, as well as dependent on chance occurrences. So it could be great if some bloggers supported your product and did so-and-so. If consumers at XYZ stores did something, here's what it could prompt. Whatever the breakthrough, identify it as just that—a potential black swan—and state it in your plans with the appropriate caveats.In this way, you remove most of the uncontrollable downside variability inherent in your plans while maintaining exposure to the potential upside. You won't find yourself depending on a black swan to emerge, but you'll be ready if one does.Finally, whether you need to manage your white-swan delivery or be ready to respond to a black-swan event, you need to know what's going on.A white-swan marketing approach would give you a new set of criteria and metrics for your planning. No longer would you be content with measuring "awareness" or "clicks/visits." Rather, you'd instead look for proof points of movement—requests, votes, inputs, forwards, inquiries, complaints—toward your sales goals. Conversations would matter only insomuch that they yielded outcomes to other steps. You wouldn't plan to "introduce" or "educate" people as much as inspire and motivate them to do things.Your branding success would be measured by the behaviors of your target audiences, not simply by how often (or how creatively) you subjected them to your brilliant creative thinking.White-Swan MarketingThere's no rulebook for a white-swan approach to your marketing plans—no established orthodoxy, or thriving community of inspired vendors or theorists haggling to sell you the methodologies, philosophies, and software platforms needed to accomplish it.That's good news: It means there's nothing stopping you from applying the principles on your own, to your tactics and/or strategies, starting the moment you finish reading this article. Here are five steps you can take immediately:1. Rewrite your casesTake the latest, most "important" case you have been handed (or found) and upon which you want to model a project.Revise it based on two criteria: the activities that the business initiated that prompted a consumer response of some sort (a behavioral response, like a trial, vote, register, whatever, but not awareness), and things that occurred—most connections between activities—that were not under the control of the business (e.g., chance, opportunity).Assign a third, follow-on category (either a sorting or addition activity) that specifies the outcome(s) of the case, measured also in behaviors, not awareness.You'll immediately have a different perspective on the "what" of the case, and how it was delivered. You may see that you don't want to duplicate it, necessarily, or that the deliverables are altogether valuable to you.2. Assess the likelihood of successLook at your activities in each category, and estimate whether they'd happen again.Consider what had to occur—what were the levers, influences, causal connections—for things to happen.Take a risk and specify a percentage, effectively finishing the sentence "I think there's a ___% chance that this element would happen the way we want it."Assign a lower percentage for activities beyond your direct control (like people "finding" your site or a key blogger giving you the review you want, and readers taking some subsequent action, etc.).Be ruthlessly conservative; remember, you want to understand what you can all but guarantee, not just what you hope for.This step will help you better analyze the strengths and vulnerabilities of your current plans.3. Revise "shoulds" to "wills"This step is a tough one.Look at a current project, based on your understanding of your model case, and apply your success analysis to it (Step 2).Determine what it would take to make each deliverable all but unavoidable. In other words, edit "out" all the hope and blind faith you possess in things just "happening," and brainstorm (however strategically or creatively as necessary) how you'd go about making sure something happens. Obviously, if an activity remains subjunctively impaired, it should have a low success percentage, right?Ensure that the things that you can all but guarantee will happen are the core, most important, and highest-reward elements of your plan. If they're not, you probably have a strategic issue to resolve. At a minimum, you might discover several weaknesses or outright holes in your plans, and find ways to remedy them before you go to market.4. Reallocate dollars to certaintiesReassess your allocation of funds, and see whether you should (and can) put more money behind the things that you can all but guarantee will happen—and thus are likely the most important things to happen—and take money away from the gambles.Be ruthless, and challenge the program elements that you might otherwise love, and see them as building blocks: You need to affirm the basics, and the foundation, before you can even consider taking risks. In doing so, it's more than likely that you will see your budget skew toward pretty standard, basic activities that aren't all that sexy but will help ensure that your program succeeds.Think also about budgetary support outside your direct control, and use this exercise as a tool to talk to other departments (most notably Technology and Customer Service). Are they set up and ready to support your priorities? Now you have a basis to show them what they are and why they matter.5. Pick your black-swan betsNow comes the fun part!Specify some really wild gambles after you've recast your model and current project in terms of a white-swan strategy. Are those gambles some of the elements that had such a low likelihood of success that you wrote them out of your plans earlier on? Perhaps there are other pie-in-the-sky components that would be just amazing if they happened, even if they're about as predictable as a meteor strike.And that's the point of a black swan, really; you really don't know when, where, or how it will occur. You can make an educated guess, but that fantasy shouldn't be at the heart of your plans. It should be a welcome, marvelous surprise.Remind yourself that if and when one of those black swan events occurs—the blog post prompts a zillion replies or Oprah agrees to hand out your products to her studio audience—don't incorporate it into your case model for next time. About the only thing more unlikely than a black-swan event is the recurrence of one!* * *Again, the white-swan approach to your planning can be applied in bits and pieces or as an overall approach (as outlined above). The ultimate point is that you should consider getting into the business of guaranteeing results, not just throwing stuff into the cosmos and hoping that good things will happen. That's just a bad way to get work done, and it doesn't do your career any favors.Stop chasing black swans, and start delivering white ones.

Our Daily Motivation Friday May 29, 2009: Sweet Freedom

Posted by Rev. Dorothiea Roberts on May 29, 2009 at 4:30pm

Sweet freedomImagine being free from worry. Imagine being free from the grip of fear.Think of all that you could accomplish. Think of how much more energy and enthusiasm and creativity you would have.In fact, you can be free from the worries and fears. You can be free from them in an instant if you choose.For worry is your own creation. Fear is nothing more than a response you have chosen.Freedom is sweet, and energizing and powerful. Know that you can be free whenever you choose, and the fresh, empowering breeze of freedom begins to waft throughout your whole life.This is a beautiful day and you are magnificently blessed. Free yourself to experience the richness of it all.R. MarstonAnd Please Remember what we have been taught:"I Can Do All Things Through Christ Who Strengthens Me"Philippians 4:13Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you."Mark 11:22-24"For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."Romans 8:38-39God Bless You,

How to Create eBooks People Want to Buy

Posted by LaShanda Henry on May 29, 2009 at 4:00pm

The Problem: Slow eBook Sales When I first started self-publishing and creating eBooks, I was all mixed up. I wanted to sell what I wanted to sell, whether people wanted to buy it or not *lol*. My hubby had a lot more experience in the retail industry than I did, so he kept telling me, “You can’t sell that one LaShanda, you have to sell the one that People Want to buy.” Being the stubborn gal that I can sometimes be, I stuck to my guns and pitched the Books I wanted to sell, until I bought a vendor table at the Harlem Book fair and got the biggest shock of my life! The Solution: Create eBooks that People WANT or NEED to Buy At the time all I wanted to do was sell my educational guide for Black Parents and Students, but all everybody else wanted was my cute, children’s book! Of course you know the hubby gave me the “I told you so look!” And that’s when it hit me! Whether you are selling print books or eBooks, you have to sell what people want to buy, NOT what you want to sell. At the Harlem Book fair I realized that people wanted to buy my African American Children’s Book, that was the definitely the best seller of the bunch. On the flip side, online, people really want to buy my how-to eBooks for Entrepreneurs. Many entrepreneurs want and need to know what I know, which is why my eBook sales continue to increase every month. The Question: How do you increase your eBook Sales? If you really want to know how to create eBooks that sell, I suggest reading the one eBook that tells it all, “Desperate Buyers Only” by Alexis Dawes. I almost fell out of my chair when I saw that this eBook was $77, but I grit my teeth and bought it because I NEEDED to hear what Alexis had to say and honestly, my purchase is a testament to her point. When you cater to desperate buyers, people who have problems that you can really fix, they are the easiest people to sell to because Need and Desire trump price every time. Trust me when I say, simply knowing that you need to sell to desperate buyers, is not enough. In order to understand the system behind steady and increased eBook Sales, you have to read the book, “Desperate Buyers Only”. While you are reading, you feel like Alexis is taking you by the hand and giving you an all access, step by step understanding of how eBook Sales and Internet Marketing actually work. As soon as you start, on the very first page, Alexis jumps into the how and why of creating eBooks that sell. She breaks down how you can:

Find a Profitable Topic and a Target Audience who wants to Buy what You are Selling
She Details Her Own Sales Copy, so you can see how to write down your pitch
She goes over pricing and how you can charge big bucks for Free content
She shows you how to research your topic and really connect with your buyers
Plus her system can truly be applied to any Internet Marketing System, not just selling eBooks

If you seriously want to learn how to create eBooks and sell eBooks, this one is a must buy. The price ain’t pretty I know, but 3 eBook Sales at $20 a pop just about covers the cost. Plus it sets you up for more sales in the future. Here is the website link for Desperate Buyers Only eBook. Related Article by SistaSense: How to Create eBooks Online Additional Tip: Use E-Junkie for ebook delivery and your affiliate program. It all ties into PayPal (or other payment processors) and it’s only $5 a month.

E-junkie Shopping Cart and Digital Delivery

Ego extensions L.A. Offers 15% Discount On Lace Wigs For Chemotherapy Patients (805)426-5227

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The Diva Business Boutique

Posted by Karen on May 29, 2009 at 2:41pm

Gain Instant Access to Thousand online prospect Work Smart Not Hard

Posted by Rickey on May 29, 2009 at 6:59am

Gain Instant Access to Thousands of New Prospect. Work Smart Not HardHello Community,You know I advocate simplicity. This is program ( actually 2 ) that allow you to promote your primary programand get paid, when other promote their primary program. Regardless to what product/service you offer you must promote, constantly, and outside your warm contacts. Gain new prospects now!!!use this program to gain an instant list ( hotspot mailer )and use viral list ( click on link at top of page ) to get paid for contacts as you build your primary programhttp://www.viral-list.com/link/hotspot

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Note: this page contains paid content.