You CAN DO The Hokey-Pokey

     Wow, there's a term I haven't heard for a long time.  What's the Hokey-Pokey you ask?  Well, the Hokey-Pokey was a dance in the late __'s.  (You think I'm tellin'?)  I think this term might have a cousin in the magic field.  The term magicians use is Hocus-Pocus.  Presto-chango and the rabbit appeared.
     I have a feeling in this day and age we would all like to be able to do a little magic.  Not so much to make the rabbit appear, but to make our budgets stretch a little further than we've been able to accomplish.  In this last minute rush to end the Christmas holiday shoppping extravaganza, you might be possibly looking for a GPS unit, an iPod, a smart phone or some other consumer electronic gadget to stuff in someone's stocking.  Check out the some of the listings on this blog and you might be able to save some gas money.

Promotional Marketing In Today's Economy

  Every business knows that the key to success has to go through "marketing".  Marketing has been around since the dawn of time.  Can you  imagine the marketing pitch the Creator had to present to Adam just to remove one rib to bring about woman.  I wonder how many board meetings that took!!    As with the changes of time, marketing approaches have had to change to keep businesses viable.  In today's economy this has become an even more challenging endeavor for all gamuts of trade.  As we should all be aware of by now, all marketing is now entering the global world.  Whether the business is a small mom and pop organization or an already global company, the major marketing approaches will be on the internet.
Why??  This is the most cost effective form of presenting any business today.
    Number1 best-selling author, Mark Joyner, the man people call "the greatest marketing mind of our generation", has just released his new book which is not yet available at your local bookstore.  Instead you can download this book for FREE from this sight.  The title you need to look for is "Integration Marketing".  If you want to learn how to grow your business, this is an absolute must read.  And the "Integration Marketing Deal Board" you'll find there is one of the most powerful marketing resources on the internet.  Keep your business ahead of the game and use this opportunity.
  
   

What Inning Are We In Now?

   You know, I got to thinking about the very important role major league sports plays in our society.  The NFL is now in full swing, The NHL is just basically getting started, the NBA is preparing to roll out soon, and MLB is showcasing two of the finest baseball teams in the World Series.  What a great society we live in!!  We, speaking of this country collectively, really get involved with our major league sports.  And then, we have the college scene which encompasses the same sports and many more.  I love sports and I think they are great.  What a great psychological lift sports affords us.
     Remember, this country is 11.4 trillion dollars in debt, unemployment is at an all time high (and probably will go higher), and, again, the value of the dollar keeps dropping which naturally keeps the price of oil climbing.  Our lives are basically on hold or maybe a little in reverse.  If I were to compare the present US state of being to major league sports, might I suggest that we are in a 4th down situation with 96 yards to go; or the slap shot caught us in back of the head; or we are totally dribbling our future off the court; and it's the bottom of the ninth inning (we're behind 15 to 2) and the bottom of the batting order is up.
     Oh, excuse me, it's time to fire up the charcoal grill in the car port and do a little tailgating before I turn on my 13" TV (which doesn't receive a signal anymore).  So, I'll listen to the radio for my favorite team to do something to patch up this broken country.
    

Are You Up To The Challenge?

First of all, let me explain that this article is not about a specific challenge.  If that were the case, in the next sentence this post would be over.  No, this challenge is farther reaching than most people want to hear, accept or do anything about.  Complacency will have the biggest effect on the results of accepting the ability to do what should be done.  So where does this take us?
This leads us to this question, "What should I be doing to improve my personal life, social life, family life, community life and spiritual life?"  Is there one answer?   No, definitely not!!  The easy way out is to say you're happy with where you are and don't need to improve.  Guess what---WRONG answer!  Are you really saying you are the best you can be?  Wow, what a dissapointment that must be.  Look around you, do you ever wonder why some people, maybe colleagues of yours, family members, social acquaintences seem to be improving in their lives.  They have come to realize that they can never stop becoming better, more knowledgeable, more accepting, and more understanding. 
Funny thing, age is not a deterrent in this challenge.  This challenge is a life concept!!!  Anyone and all can make the most of their abilities and then some, but no one can stop trying and think they are the best.

An Honest Day's Pay For An Honest Days Work

You know, I haven't heard that phrase very much lately.  Of course, the operative word in that phrase is honest and  maybe that's why.  We seem to have become entangled in a web of "I'll take everything I can get and to hell with the rest".  The rest being the Jane or John Doe who diligently apply themselves to their jobs, their lives and their family.  Well, you say, that's everybody isn't it?  Individually speaking I would hope that to be true.  But let's take a look at the bigger picture, and I'm talking group picture.
Why are legal fees so exorbitant?  Why are medical bills out of sight?  Why are concert venues so expensive?  Why are major sports events so costly?  You can keep adding to this list if you wish.  I don't think there is a need to delve into the explanation or discussion of the posed questions.  The result goes back to one of the very basic answer "big" business, conglomerates and the like will give--it's the cost of doing business.  Well, maybe it's time to analyze your costs and how you arrived at doing business the way you do.  And like the small business person, mom and pop, individual owners who work daily to keep costs in line in order to keep themselves afloat, it is not an easy task. 
What it all boils down to is this.  The day of reckoning for those who use the 'hell with the rest'  approach  is on its way.  The rest is what this country was founded on and the rest have had enough!!

Ask Not What Your Country Can Do For You . . .

I know, I know, I'm paraphrasing a great leader.  But why not?  I am really beginning to think our government leaders have forgotten the essence of this famous spech.  It seems that today's leadership doesn"t want any part of the populace of our great country being involved in the "but ask what you can do for your country".  Have you noticed they don't ask--they tell!  Why and when this transition took place can be placed on either side of  the fence.  We are sort of back in the pre civil war vernacular when the term "mugwump" was applied to those with their 'mug' on one side of the fence and their 'wump' on the other. 

So how do we cope, get along with, accept or reject what faces us, the average Jane and Joe?  One thing is for sure, you are going to tighten your belt. (I hope I don't have to explain that.)  Maybe that isn't such a bad idea after all.  If we are forced to by less food (because we will be paying more for health care) maybe we won't need as much health care.  If we are forced to drive fewer miles (because we will be paying more for health care) maybe the oil price will drop even further.  If we are forced to become healthier (because we will be paying more for health care) maybe we won't need as much health care.  Whatever the outcome of that which lays before the American public, one thing is for sure.  You are going to have to figure out more ways to supplement your interpretation of success.

I Cannot Say Thank You Enough

In our ever more rapidly spinning world, especially the internet, I have often wondered what would happen to the terms sincerity, honesty and integrity. As we should all be aware of, by now, one has to be very careful of the emails one receives which might be loaded with false promises, free this or that (there is always a catch). and many other schemes which want to divest one of his/her money. This has become a world wide phenomena and one of the down falls of the WWW.  However, believe it or not, I have found new faith in the system.

This past week has been a mind boggling, head-in-a-whirl, which way is up kind of week for me. Through the internet and my affiliate marketing businesses I came in contact with two people, Kelley and Sindi, who have given me hope and direction to even further my ventures. I want to say THANK YOU to each of them for their sincerity, honesty, and integrity. Might you have someone you should give a pat on the back?

The American "Fearmobile"

You know, the past several years have really taken its toll on the American public.  There doesn't seem to be trust in anyone or anything anymore.  Our developing lack of trust is somewhat akin to a soapbox derby.  We were at the top of the hill when the race started, but as we progressed our wheels started coming off.  Not completely, but they are really wobbling.  So thus, we are now riding the "fearmobile".  Seeminly, every facet of our every day life is now being affected.  Just who or what do we trust?  Put this phrase, "Do I trust", before each of the following:  my government, my employer, my bank, my investment broker, my family, my spouse, my neighbor, me, etc.  I truly hope you can say "YES" to all of the previous.  So, then, why question an event in which the President of these United States wants to encourage and stress the importance of working hard to complete an education to the students in our schools?  Fear?  Fear of what?  What he is doing is what is NOT being done in our government, our work places, our financial institutions, our families, our neighborhoods, our personal lives, etc.  Woe be the society which does not strive to be the best it can be.

Is It Health Care Package OR Health Care Smackage????

"This is another fine mess you have gotten us into Ollie!"  I'll bet many of you don't remember that one!!!  A hint--Laurel and Hardy.  Probably still don't know, huh?  Oh well, it really doesn't matter.                         Can you believe the rhetoric that is flying both directions on this one?  Sort of shows us how our government handles "doing business".   What the bottom line is going to end up being is that health care is going to cost all of us MORE.  So maybe it's time we take a look at other directions that we can take individually to insure are lives are healthier.  No, I'm not suggesting any wild, out-of-the-ordinary approaches to your personal health.  However, there is a custom formulated nutritional supplement available to each and every person in this country that can make them healthier.  This, to me, is a much smarter approach to reducing personal health costs.  Check out Health and Wellness on this page.

A Word of Great Importance!

Wasn't it great to know what it took to reach the  great "American Dream"?  You would get an education, work for a very respectable company, achieve success in that company, and eventually retire with all the cares in your financial world behind you.  You would save, contribute to the company's retirement plan, possibly start your own personal retirement investment and do everything RIGHT.  I think this approach, with our present day economy, has now become a nightmare rather than a dream!!  A word of advice from the old adage, "Don't put all your eggs--and so on". 
The important word today is DIVERSIFY!  Yes, in order to make your dreams come true, you will now have to bring home the bacon by "diiversifying your income".  One source will not handle all.  Get ready to make some adjustments in your thinking.  Check your options and make your decisions early.

Were Your Eyes Wide Open?

Well mine were this morning when the front page of the paper (as did most newspapers across the country) informed social security recipients they were going to make less money for the next two years.  Wake up America!!!  We are all going to be making less money for many years to come.  Just think,
TARP, Cash for Clunkers, Government Motors, Government Banks, and all other government subsidized entities, will be paid for by "We The People". 
How do you overcome the above scenerio?  YOU start YOUR very own subsidy program!!!!  And may I suggest the following title: "Take Action or Remain Poorer".  What kind of actions might you take?  Check this blog page for some ideas.

Who Would Have Ever Thought

Do you want to go crazy in a short amount of time? The place and the locale is right under your nose. As a matter of fact, if you are reading this you are at the exact spot!!
Yes, you are on your computer, and you are either looking for information, something to buy, something to sell, something to give away (ha, ha), something for nothing, something to do, someplace to go, somebody to chat with, on the social networks, and on, and on ,and on. How in the name of blue blazes do you have time for anything else ?
Isn't it amazing. And yet, you still have time to go to work, pay bills, mow the lawn, feed the family, clean the house, (this is not a gender specific blog), take the kids wherever they need to go, be active in the community (your civic duty), help the neighbor, feed the pets, and try to rest somewhere in between all of this. You've been doing this for so long, it has just become normal routine. So where does this leave you?
Take A Vacation!!!!!