
World Wide Awakening Creates A Universal World

05/24/2011 11:44pm
We are in an evolutionary period, much like the Renaissance of old. Like the Renaissance, in fifteenth century Europe, we're seeing a humanistic revival. It is distinguished by vigorous activity of action that supports a transitional movement. The Millenium, or "New Age," speaks to individualty in thought, action, and behavior. Events in the Middle Ages set in motion a series of political, social, and intellectual transformations, and were the driver behind the Renaissance. Then as now, there is creative action taking place. You don't have to be a forecaster to know this is true. Your eyes and ears can tell...

Retaliated Against At Work for Doing What’s “Right?” Courts and Juries are Now on Your Side

05/24/2011 08:15pm
Important Intro Note: On May 27, 2008, the United States Supreme Court issued decisions in two related cases that raised this fundamental question: When Congress granted employees rights to fair employment practices, did Congress also mean to grant employees protections from retaliation from employers for exercising those rights? The Supreme Courts answer, to the surprise of many Court-watchers, was a resounding YES. It appears that, when it comes to the protection of fundamental, individual rights, very conservative and very liberal can sometimes mean the same thing.ACTUAL CASE HISTORY: Alexa, 49, was Managing Director, Human Resources, for a large magazine publishing firm...

Bringing the 'New' into the 'Now'

05/22/2011 05:48pm
Theres a lot of buzz about resolutions. According to the Encarta Dictionary: English (North America), resolution is defined as a firm decision to do something. Notice what it doesnt say. It doesnt say a firm decision to change something, but to do something. Traditionally, most take the idea of a resolution to mean change. Without question, there are many things we should all change. Im certain, if given the opportunity, most of us could roll out the scroll of all the things we would like to change. Not necessarily a bad thing, but is resolution the best way to do it?...

Do I Have to Forget to Forgive?

05/22/2011 05:28pm
Amnesia is impossible. Now what? Hurt feelings happen. Pain is a fact of life. Get used to it. It's not going anywhere. Create a strategy for dealing with it right now and spare yourself years and years of needless pain. The good news is hurt feelings are not fatal. You don't have to die from your pain. Pain doesn't have to be a lifestyle. Contentment and happiness can be made in spite of it. The real question is, are you willing to do what it takes to have contentment and happiness anyway? Maintaining a lasting relationship is impossible if you...

Why Ask Why?

05/22/2011 05:03pm
Does It Matter?In the great mental vacuum of psychobabble and matching talk shows, seems to be an endless string of people from failed relationships asking why. Why didnt I get my promised phone call? Why werent they where they said they were going to be? Why did they lie to me? Why did they cheat on me? Why, why, why, why!!! These pointless inquiries are usually followed by some mention of closure as if having closure somehow changes the end results. My question is why ask why? The fact is it makes no difference. Why people do what they do rarely...

Setting the Stage for a Potential Client

05/20/2011 05:11pm
All of us have been through the typical interview. You know the kind, where you sit across a table or desk and have 1-4 people asking you questions. You answer them as best as you can..... this is what will decide whether you get the job or not.You don't really have the opportunity to ask any 'real' questions... in fact, it's probably somewhat frowned upon.Well guess what... that's the old "employee mindset" type of situation... not a "business/marketing mindset" kind of situation.Let's jump forward to the present. You're a Virtual Assistant. A Professional. People come to you because they need your...

Clients Wanting and Needing More Specialized Services and Virtual Assistants Specializing

05/20/2011 04:11pm
In early 2008 we noticed a trend developing when it came to online based business owners who were looking for Virtual Assistants. Many needed help with the 'typical' types of services that VAs help with. But others wanted additional, more advanced support. The problem was not many VAs were trained, skilled and able to support these areas.Here are some of the specialty areas I'm referring to: affiliate management video and podcasting blog customizationShould you specialize? Depending on who your target market is should help you determine if and what you services you should offer.So thinking back to who your target market...

Why do we believe the Big Fat Lies about Internet Marketing?

05/18/2011 07:39pm
As you may know, I am on a MISSION to shine a great big TRUTH spotlight on all the Big Fat Lies youre most likely telling yourself about Internet Marketing right now.However, I can only do so much.I can tell you what the truth is. And you may even believe it. (In your head that is.)But then, come the darkest part of the night, youll wake up in a sweat. And youll be thinking: What if Michele is wrong? What if the reason why Im having so much trouble succeeding on the Internet really IS all about me?During the day its...

Marketing a Service Business with No Marketing Budget

05/18/2011 03:03pm
Marketing a service business will inquire an investment of your time and financial resources. What if you don't have a lot of money to spend on marketing? Now what? Does that mean you simply cannot market your service business and your only hope is waiting on the sidelines for someone to hire you? Not at all! Today is the day you learn that marketing a service business with a minimal budget is not only possible, it's easier than you think.One of the first steps in marketing a service business is to get your branding in place. Make sure your business name,...

Italian Craftsmanship: The Dying Art of Italian Woven Leather Bags

05/16/2011 09:54am
The use of fashionable handbags dates back for centuries. Catherine de Medici inadvertently pushed her home city of Florence to the forefront of the leather market when she arrived in Paris in the mid 1500s to marry the French King Henry II. She carried her dowry in seamlessly handcrafted leather boxes. However, the love affair with style as well as utility truly began in the late 1800 early 1900's with the change of hemlines, womens rights, and worldwide events. The European market responded quickly to this fashion request. Many important modern day designers made their debuts, and their...

Author Claims Natural Spaces Hold the Key to Better Lives and Richer Relationships

05/15/2011 03:51pm
Open-Air Parenting Book Wins Literary Award: Author Claims Natural Spaces Hold the Key to Better Lives and Richer Relationships 'Every Natural Fact: Five Seasons of Open-Air Parenting' wins the highest literary award in Outdoor Writing bestowed by the Council of Wisconsin Writers for its fusion of nature writing and parenting themes. Children spend less time in nature than ever before. Jenkins offers you a step by step look at the joys of wandering natural places. Go along. On May 14th 2011 the Council for Wisconsin Writers presented the Ellis / Henderson Award for Outdoor writing to Amy Lou Jenkins for her...

10 Questions You Need to Ask About Change Of Control Provisions

05/13/2011 09:35pm
ACTUAL CASE HISTORY: Thomas, 51, was the Chief Operating Officer of a New England-based manufacturer of electronic switches used primarily in the defense industry. He'd been recruited to the position three years earlier from a large defense contractor that was a large customer of the company. Though the company was publicly owned, with its shares traded on a major exchange, most of the company's stock rested in the hands of the grandchildren of the company's original founder.Prodded by the grandchildren, who felt their holdings were underachieving, the company's Board of Directors retained an investment banking firm to consider various "strategic alternatives."...

2 Ways Virtual Assistants Can Provide VALUE In the Area of ECommerce

05/10/2011 10:47pm
There are hundreds of ways a Virtual Assistant can provide value to his/her clients - for the purpose of this article, I'd like to focus on two simple ways a VA can provide value in the area of eCommerce.eCommerce is at the core of an online based business. It connects everything in the business together - from the website, to products, programs and services as well as to the blog, social media, affiliates, joint venture partners and more. Without eCommerce an online business would not exist.So when a Virtual Assistant can come in and take care of several pieces on their...

Writing For Positive emotional Health

05/10/2011 02:08pm
"Stop Momma, stop. I'm burning up, I'm on Fire". This was to be the title of my first book when I first decided to write it back in 1992. It refers to the episode when my mother had each of my four brothers hold a limb as I lay across her bed, and she proceeded to beat me 'till I urinated and defecated. At that point, she beat me even harder because I had now soiled her bed and linen. I was six or seven years old then.I said this WAS to have been the title, because, at the onset of...

The Long & Short of It ~ Long Copy Versus Short Copy

05/09/2011 04:31pm
Copy (the written part of any marketing material) is the secret to sales success. So, is long copy or short copy more effective? The answer is both are effective when well written. Publishers Clearinghouse wouldnt send out long sales letters if they didnt work and coincidentally, newspapers wouldnt sell small space ads if no results were seen. Bottom line, its the copy inside the ads that makes the difference.As a marketer its important to realize that there will be a difference of opinion from consumers regarding what is more effective (this mostly depends on where they are in the decision...