4 Online Business Tips from Santa Claus

santa with poncho_thumb

Is there anything we can learn about business from Santa? Absolutely. Here are 4 things you can learn from St. Nick about running a profitable business online. 1. Santa is the ultimate list building expert. List building for small business owners has been around for quite a while, actually since the 1800s. If a business had a database of prospects and customers, they could let them know when something was in stock or there were specials. Later, the rolodex became a great way to keep track of … [Read more...]

5 Reasons Why Social Networking is a Parent’s Best Friend

social networking & kid_sm

Social networking is my husband Jeff’s best friend. He feels like a super sleuth and as if he has a doorway into his sons private world. And with social networking, he does! It's only this recent generation of children who've really grown up with this. We certainly didn't have anything like Instant Messaging, texting, Facebook or Twitter. Heck, we didn’t even have internet! We all had to rely on old fashioned telephones, snail mail, actual conversations and smoke signals. OK, maybe not the … [Read more...]

Teaching Technology to the Older People in Your Life

old ladies texting_sm

So my grandmother is pretty old. I can't tell you exactly how old she is because she doesn't like to use numbers, but she's getting up there in age.   Even though she's doing great and is very healthy, it is a little bit more difficult since my grandfather died for her to feel like part of a community and to feel like she's always with people.   So I taught her how to text, and there's a lot of great reasons that you might want to teach the older people in your life how to text, like … [Read more...]

Friendship Goes Virtual. Why Technology Can Be Your New Best Friend.

I love my computer_sm

Before the internet, it was difficult if not impossible to have and maintain friendships that weren’t in your local area. You had to travel, have time to meet and connect with another person and you’ve got to make a plan to stay connected, like writing letters or long-distance phone calls. It wasn’t that convenient. Now, it’s easy to cultivate deep friendship bonds with people all over the world. Sometimes, these friendship bonds happen without you ever having met IRL (in real life). … [Read more...]

Social Media Marketing – 5 Somewhat Unusual Things You Can Find Using Social Media

unusual things you can find with social media

A lot has been made in the last couple of years about the waste of time and productivity that social media has introduced into our lives. At the same time, there are some amazing ways it has enhanced life and allowed people to find things they desperately want and need. Finding Kidneys – A 36 year old man needed a kidney. After his whole family found they were not a match. His wife created a Facebook page and found a perfect match in a 26 year old woman. Another man found his perfect match … [Read more...]

Entrepreneur’s Credo – What All Business Owners Want…

Entrepreneur's Credo

I was doing some research for a client's new listbuilding promotion and I came across Thomas Paine's Entrepreneur's Credo. It blew me away that something written so long ago still resonates with those of us with entrepreneurial blood running though our veins. Entrepreneur's Credo I do not choose to be a common man, It is my right to be uncommon … if I can, I seek opportunity … not security. I do not wish to be a kept citizen. Humbled and dulled by having the State look after me. I want to … [Read more...]

Do You Enjoy Being a Hater? 3 Tips to Help You Become a Lover…

love-hate

Lately, I’ve noticed a lot of hating. It seems like a lots of people really enjoy hating, being angry, complaining, disdaining, throwing rocks all over the web. And while I agree there are things that need changing in our society, some kind of action like volunteering is preferable to simply hating and spreading negative sentiment. And there's a lot of random hating going on for things that aren't worth it. Worse, there’s rabid hating for and about people who are successful. This kind of … [Read more...]

Marriage, Faith and Beautiful New Beginnings

Jeff and Maritza Wedding

On January 1, 2011 Jeff & I officially took the plunge and got married in a very small, immediate family only wedding... We all agreed it was the one of the most heartfelt weddings we've ever been a part of... And the easiest!   My Mom, Victoria (my adorable niece) and I whipped everything together in about a week. We got the pastor we wanted, the dress took about an hour and a half, the cake was rush ordered in 30 minutes, the flowers even less because I know the shop owner and just … [Read more...]

Independence Day – What Can You Be Free From Today..?

independance-day-freedom

It's Independence Day in the US... An important day to thank and appreciate all military personnel and people who help us stay free and safe. As a 1st generation American from parents who came from a country where things are not as easy... I know we are SO blessed to live in this amazing country where we can pretty much do whatever we want AND decide to reinvent ourselves whenever we choose. Is there something you can choose to free yourself from today? Maybe a past experience or … [Read more...]

Monday Morning Motivation – Hope

I love this video about finding Hope in all kinds of people, places and things... Where can you find Hope today or help someone else find it for themselves...? And on Memorial Day in the US, I think it's appropriate because that's what our veterans help us to have everyday... Thank you! … [Read more...]