5 Ways to Change Your Life - Words & Water

Many times in my life, I have heard, "Words have power!" But, practically, what does that mean to me and you?

A famous scientist named Masaru Emoto researched the power of words on water in his books, The Hidden Messages in Water, using loving or hateful words, spoken or written down, and peaceful or jarring music (words or melody) played to the water and observed with a powerful microscope. He could see that the crystalline structure of the water molecule was literally shaped by the words or sounds to be incredibly beautiful or fractured and damaged.

So what? Check out the below facts from http://www.waterinfo.org/resources/water-facts
WATER AND HUMANS - The human body is more than 60 percent water. Blood is 92 percent water, the brain and muscles are 75 percent water, and bones are about 22 percent water.

That means that the words and music you listen to AND TAKE IN are changing your molecules EVERY DAY, the structural composition of your entire body. They aren't just words. It isn't just music. So if you surround yourself with people and influences like positive books, CDs & DVDs and embrace those words, by the Law of Attraction, your possibilities in what you can be, do or have expand. And the opposite is also true. Be aware that the people who love you may speak words, intended to protect you, that see your history or their fears for you, instead of who you are and are becoming. The catch is that it isn't just what others say to you. The structural shift to your water molecules occurs even when you are talking to yourself, believing in or doubting yourself.

5 Ways to Change Your Life
* Be careful what you say to yourself and others
* Be careful who you listen to and whose words you accept and believe
* Surround yourself with positive people and guard yourself against negative ones
* Surround yourself with positive people, thoughts and music to change your own vibration
* A shift of vibration or attraction is only the beginning. By changing your molecular orientation at a basic level, the water in your body, with words and music, your ability to succeed in any enterprise goes up. Take ACTION in the direction of your dreams, knowing that you are going the right way

Upcoming Networking and Education Meetings

Don't walk, RUN and join Ilana's NYC Business Networking meetup group and Andrew Ran Wong's NY Entrepreneurs Business Network (NYEBN) meetup group at meetup.com for FREE. They have several great events every month that are worth attending at no or low cost. Moxiein the city.net is another that has lots of social events. Please look back to last week's listings and check out meetup.com yourself because this is certainly not comprehensive. There are over 2000 meetup events a week in NYC and lots in other parts of the country as well. At least, it is mind opening to take a look at all the possible connections to be made, business to be transacted and fun to be had. ENJOY!

NYC SMALL BUSINESS & ENTREPRENEUR NETWORKING RECEPTION
Madame X Lounge , 94 West Houston (btwn Thompson & La Guardia Pl) NYC
"I'll be helping to check people in"
COST: $10 prepaid by 12:00 Noon on November 11 or $15 cash/door.

Join The NYC Business Networking Group's upcoming networking event where you can mingle freely to meet as many other networkers as possible. We had 125 people prepaid for our October event and we average about 80 people at each networking opportunity. FREE RAFFLE GIVEAWAY: TICKETS TO OFF BROADWAY SHOW "Made in Heaven" at The Soho Playhouse. To purchase tickets call 212-352-3101 and mention code HHC.

FREE VIRTUAL BUSINESS SPEED NETWORKING: TALK TO 10 NEW CONTACTS IN 1 HOUR
The NYC Business Networking is going virtual, with speed networking for business professionals. We just hosted our launch event with 40 attendees.
FREE VIRTUAL LIVE SPEED NETWORKING - November 13, 2009 at 1:00pm
FREE VIRTUAL LIVE SPEED NETWORKING - November 18, 2009 at 6:30pm

Wait till you see how great it is to meet business professionals, without leaving your desk. Our virtual launch event happens over the phone, with a computer. In one hour, you'll talk live, 1-on-1 with 10-12 business professionals. (No webcam or program downloads necessary, REALLY). During the event, you'll be on the phone or skype and you'll each see a photo and bio of the other networker on the computer screen. You'll have about 4 minutes or so to network with each participant . After each matching, you're automatically switched to the next networker for an hour.

BONUS: No collecting business cards. After the event you'll be provided with contact details of all the people you networked with.

NYEBN "Small Is the New Big" Networking Reception
Thursday, November 12, 2009 6:00 PM
Broadway Comedy Club, 318 W 53rd St, New York NY 10019
Price: $5.00 in advance/$10.00 @ entry
You only have until November 12, 2009 6:00 PM to RSVP!

NYEBNers are going to Broadway Comedy Club! You may have heard about this place featuring stand-up comics from David Letterman, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, etc., but what you don't know perhaps is that they also have great networking venues. Let's keep it focused on the "Entrepreneur Topic". Please make sure you have a business, represent an industry, or at least have some entrepreneurial ideas to share with your fellow NYEBNers at this meeting.
6 - 7 pm: Open Networking
7 - 8 pm: 30-second Pitch Opportunities for Everybody
8 - 9:30 pm: Focused Networking

This New York Investing meetup below has great content on investing in the markets. Daryl Montgomery is VERY knowledgable. The people who attend are not very friendly so it is content-rich, not networking-friendly, in my opinion.

New York Investing Meetup
Thursday, November 12th at PS 41 (time: 6:45-8:45PM).

The overview of the markets will be given during the class. This class will add some new material in Technical Analysis and tie it together with previously taught material. If you missed any of the previous Technical Analysis classes you should certainly come to this one. This class will be the preparation necessary to attend the strategy sessions we plan on holding next year. These will be technical in nature with the goal of finding more good money making trades and avoiding losses. The market is likely to continue to have a number of major pitfalls and opportunities next year.

In the last class on Commodity Investing, I covered the gold breakout extensively and so far everything has gone as predicted. Gold touched it's breakout price of $1025. The breakout held. Gold just went to a new all time high (reaching $1099 on Wednesday). The stock market looks like it is trying to roll over and we will also discuss if the rally has come to an end. I plan on pointing out a new area for potential investing as well.
To sign up and pay ($20) for the class, please click on the link below:
https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=9173609

Daryl Montgomery - Organizer, New York Investing meetup
http://investing.meetup.com/21

Keeping Your Business in Business: Bookkeeping and Cash Flow Workshop
November 12, 2009, 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Capital One Bank, 273 E. 3rd Street, New York, NY 10009
RSVP: Call 917-338-9231 or e-mail internkc@seedco.org

November 12, 2009, 10:00am - 12:00pm
Capital One Bank, 161-01 Jamaica Ave, Queens, NY 11432
RSVP: Call 646-843-6510 or e-mail ezavala@seedco.org

Description: This workshop taught by professional CPAs will teach small businesses how to sharpen their bookkeeping techniques, as well as understand how to improve their cash flow.

I have not attended these but this looks like an interesting group with several various events. Check it out for yourself at http://joinnetworkplus.com
MONDAY, November 16: 150 Expected
CELEBRATING OUR 7TH YEAR GALA ANNIVERSARY
RSVP@joinnetworkplus.com: RSVP a MUST

Limited to 150 Attendees
Location/Date : Seabra's Rodizio : 1034 McCarter Highway, Newark, NJ
FREE parking: on site of Seabra's Rodizio upper & lower levels
(Seabra's is located near NJPAC, Bear Stadium and Route 280)
FREE (NO cover charge : INCLUDES APPETIZERS)

#1 New York Business Professionals & Entrepreneurs Meetup Business Networking Pitch
For more details: http://entrepreneur.meetup.com/766/calendar/11655052/
November 18, 2009, 7:00 PM
Mercer Conference Room, 1166 Avenue of The Americas Entrance on W 45th Street, 40th Fl, Rm 40, Sutton Place, NYC

HOW IT WILL WORK:
7:00-8:00 PM: Check in, Wine Reception & Informal Networking
8:00-8:30 PM: Each attendee will given 30 seconds to "pitch" their service/product
8:30-9:30 PM: Targeted networking

Sync up with business professionals to promote yourself and your business. Explore new business opportunities, make business contacts and form strategic partnerships with other successful professionals, entrepreneurs and business owners.
ADMISSION: $15 in advance, $20 at door-Prepay http://moxiemeetup2009.eventbrite.com
*Open Wine Bar *Soda, water and juice *Desserts, Cheeses served at 7pm

New York Enterprise Report
Web Tools to Tackle Top Small Business Challenges - Free Webinar
Wednesday, November 18, 2009, 2:00p - 3:00p
Register for free
Experts will show you how to use low-cost web applications to help you:
• Portray a larger company image
• Save time and money
• Get access to critical information and documents
• Better manage your business while on-the-go
Phone systems, email servers, fax machines, software...Who needs the headaches of managing office technology when you're trying to focus on your business? Today small businesses can use the same technology as big businesses do. This webinar will demonstrate specific tools and examples to help you run your business more effectively and efficiently.

Reserve your Webinar seat now at: gotomeeting.com/register/954290410

Want Big Things in Your Business?
Just Take Care of the Little Things and You’ll Skyrocket to the Big Things
Connecting to Greatness is Delighted to Announce Details for Our Next Networking/Learning Event
Wed, Nov 18th from 6:00 to 8:00 PM
90 Minutes of Relaxed Networking/30 Minute Presentation
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TO REGISTER, CLICK BELOW:
http://tinyurl.com/yk2tq33

"The difference between ‘ordinary’ and ‘extraordinary’ is that little extra." Former Dallas Cowboys Coach, Jimmy Johnson

What are some of the big things small business owners want?
How about...**More clients? **More Referrals? **A larger, more rewarding network?
If you don’t have these, or if you simply want more of them, it’s time to focus on the little things.

NYC Business Networking
2 FREE EMAIL MARKETING CLASSES WITH CONSTANT CONTACT
Thursday, November 19, 2009 8:00 AM & 11 AM
3 West Club, 3 West 51st St, New York NY 10001
You only have until November 18, 2009 8:00 AM to RSVP!

NYC Startup Weekend November 20-22 Meetup
The Cooper Union, Great Hall, 7 East 7th St, NYC
Who's hosting? Marc Nager

REGISTER HERE: We will bring in Speakers, Mentors, Advisors, Investors, Lawyers, and feed you all weekend! Come pitch your idea or join a team to make the next big thing! Cost: $75 - Register with code "sw20" for 20% off!

The event hours: Friday: 5pm-10pm; Sat: 9am-11pm; Sun: 9am-10pm
David Kidder CEO of Clickable will be speaking Friday Night! Don't miss him!

Moxieinthecity.net on Saturday, November 21, 2009 7:00 PM!
Art, Wine & Introductions - Art Exhibit & Wine Social
Saturday, November 21, 2009 7:00 PM
Foley Art Gallery, 547 W 27th Street, 5th fl btwn 10th and 11th Ave, NYC - RSVP Now

NYC Business Networking
NYC "PITCH PARTY": OUR BEST & MOST EFFECTIVE BUSINESS NETWORKING EVENT
November 24, 2009 at 6:30pm
New York Life Offices, Graybar Building, 420 Lexington Ave, 15th Floor, NYC
How to find us: "I will be welcoming everyone at the door when they arrive."
Price: $15.00 prepaid refund policy

NYC "Pitch Party" Business Networking Reception.
The Pitch is not a spectator sport and everyone participates to promote their own business. Each attendee will get a chance to promote themselves in a 30-second pitch to each of our 80+ attendees. Our members come from a diverse and broad range of backgrounds so connections made at our events encourage rich and rewarding conversations among participants.

COST: $15 prepaid till noon on 11/24 or $20 cash at the door (if space available).
6.30 - 7.00 PM: Registration & Informal Networking
7.00 - 7:45 PM: Everyone Participates in a 30 Second Business Pitch
7.45 - 8.30 PM: Formal Targeted Networking With Participants After The Pitch

For networks or education, there are lots of places to go, both in-person and virtually nationwide. The virtual Speed Networking Ilana is hosting is a fascinating example (FREE this month only, she told me). Please comment if you know of others that should be included. Tah dah and good night!

The Blindness of Corporate Cost Cutting - What Do You Think?

I keep hearing stories of employees in the same job for 10, 20, 30, 40 years being laid off. They thought they were safe - great at their work, well liked and vital to the team. At the top, some executive says cut $1,000,000 or more from your staff budget and suddenly none of the value that employee brings to the company matters. Fired, laid off, downsized, rightsized...

So what effect does that produce in the company? When long-term staff disappears, sometimes with little notice, it produces a seismic shift that shakes everything. Morale tanks and everyone gets afraid and/or angry. People start looking around for financial safety nets because there is no certainty. The continuity of projects and campaigns is damaged. Employees work more and more hours to pick up work that used to be covered by staff who are gone. Burn out increases and the work is done faster or less comprehensively by exhausted people. Quality diminishes and the corporate identity is damaged. Freelancers come in because the company does not have to pay health care for them. Good for me as a freelancer but... The advertising firm where I worked went from about 1500 people to about 500 and the effect on all of us was shocking. Trust is deteriorated and, when a company no longer seems to care about their employees, they begin to care less too.

And what effect does corporate cost cutting have on the economy? The economy is always either expanding or contracting. According to the National Bureau of Economic Research, since 1945, an average recession lasts 18-24 months and an average expansion lasts 5-6 years. Even more interesting, there is a lag time to their reporting because the Bureau makes their assessment publicly ONLY AFTER two quarters of GDP decrease (recession) or increase (expansion). There's an opportunity in that gap for prosperity. Companies are still not hiring, holding on to their reserves. Banks are still not loaning, causing businesses to purchase less inventory. Individuals and families are not spending because uncertainty in the job market means people are holding back money for emergencies, buying necessities instead of wants. Investors Business Daily has a category called the Consumer Confidence Index because people buy and sell stocks based on their trust in the company and product. The economy also grows on confidence and trust so when that's missing, we expand more slowly or not at all.

Obviously, this is simplistic and only barely touches on the why and how companies cut costs and their consequences. Of course, companies need to be fiscally responsible. What is striking for me is how disconnected upper management and accounting departments become from the staff executing the company's work. Cutting money costs without careful consideration does not take into account people costs, company costs and quality costs. The human suffering from all these layoffs and the high unemployment lives, in my opinion, primarily in the feeling of powerlessness, uncertainty and secrecy which makes it difficult for individuals to plan competently for their own financial security and prosperity.

OK, it's not fair but I'm throwing this out with no solutions really, only questions. What are your experiences, comments or questions about this topic? Do my observations jibe or differ with what you see?

Great Upcoming November NYC Networking & Business Meetings

Consider what you are looking for and find a group that matches that need. This listing of events demonstrates the rich variety of education, information, networking and fun available in NYC. I recommend www.meetup.com in any city as a start place to find great resources. NYC folks, many of these are meetings I attend monthly and I will not list those every month so make a note of meetings that appeal to you. Some are free and others have a nominal fee. Some require reservations or prepayment to attend. I have included the sources so please do your own research.

Monster NYC Job Fair (monster.com)
November 6, 2009 from 9am to 3pm
Marriott Marquis, 1535 Broadway, NYC
Register at monster.com (upload resume on site) or just show up

Sales Partners New York One-day Income Explosion Workshop
November 6, 2009 from 9am to 3pm - $297 except I have secured a special price of $97 and terms with ONEDAY code: Must register by Wed, November 4th at http://onedaytraining.eventbrite.com/
6-hour training on sales and building a team
1-hour one-on-one coaching with Ben & Dano of Sales Partners New York
Bring a colleague or friend with you
Get Little Voice Mastery book by Blair Singer, Rich Dad Advisor & business coach

Learn the # 1 Rule of Entrepreneurship
Know How to Make Millions Using Leverage
Have Complete Command and Understanding of the Marketing & Sales Process
Have A Bullet Proof Process For Identifying Your True Wants & How To Get Them
Learn Why Highest Energy Wins In Any Negotiation
Learn the Hidden Art of Negotiation:
The Ability to Handle Any Objection - Anytime, Anywhere, From Anyone
Have a 90-Day Cash Flow Explosion Plan To Implement Immediately
Receive an Exclusive Offer to Qualify For Our Wealth Warrior Program – the upsell

New York Entrepreneurs Business Network led by Andrew Ran Wong (Meetup.com)
November 4, 2009 from 9:15am to 1pm
Speaker Series 1: Skills You Need to Succeed in Your Business
Event Registration: $10/Person in advance or $20/Person at the door
Barnes & Noble, 3rd Floor, 1972 Broadway Ave, New York, NY 10023
How to find us "Find Us at the Registration Table"

November 12, 2009 at 6pm
NYEBN "Small Is the New Big" Networking Reception
$5.00 in advance/$10.00 @ entry
Broadway Comedy Club, 318 W 53rd St, New York, NY 10019

WS13 Viral Marketing Group led by Andrew Ran Wong (Meetup.com)
November 17, 2009 at 6:30pm
Almost Economically Viable with Personal Branding Guru, William Arruda
Price: $10.00 per person
Bongo West Village, 395 West St, New York, NY 10014

NYC BizNet Members led by Ilana (Meetup.com)
November 4, 2009 at 2pm
FREE WEBINAR ON "TWITTER FOR BUSINESS"
Online – register at https://www2.gotomeet...

November 11, 2009 at 6:30pm
NYC SMALL BUSINESS & ENTREPRENEUR NETWORKING RECEPTION
Madame X Lounge, 94 West Houston btwn Thompson & La Guardia Pl, NYC
This is a private home or office. "I'll be helping to check people in"

November 19, 2009 at 8am
2 FREE EMAIL MARKETING CLASSES WITH CONSTANT CONTACT
3 West Club, 3 West 51st St, NYC. This is a private home or office

Rich Dad Education - Launch Your Business
Two meetings a day, November 2-6, 2006
www.launchyourbusinessworkshop.com – Register for NY or NJ
How to raise capital for your business
Which business structure is right for you?
Powerful negotiating techniques
How to pay fewer taxes
Effective leadership styles
How to turn profits into more profits

GW Networking led by Phil Andrews & Georgia Woodbine
November 12, 2009 from 6:30-9:30pm
Admission $20.00 in advance or $25.00 at Door
Dallas BBQ, 27 W 72nd St, New York, NY 10023

The New York Small Business Breakfast Club (meetup.com)
October 29, 2009 at 7:30am (generally the 4th Thursday of every month)
$12 plus tip for breakfast
Chelsea Square Restaurant, 368 W 23rd St btwn 8th & 9th Ave, NYC

Savor the Success (www.savorthesuccess.com)
Tuesday, November 10 from 6:30pm to 9:00pm EST
Six Degrees of Separation NYC - TBD
Our popular Six Degrees of Separation events are fun, fresh, and focused events designed for the busy entrepreneur who doesn't have time to waste. Learn from a panel of experts and then connect through our Mastermind break-out groups where you get 7-8 minutes of the group "think-tanking" on YOUR behalf.

Savor the Success Holiday Party
Tuesday, December 8 from 7:30pm to 9:30pm EST NYC - TBD

Rich Dad NYC meetings led by Duane (www.RichDadNYC.com)
3rd Saturday of every month from 1-5pm usually
Monthly real estate investing meetings with education and assessment of deals
NY Junior High School 99, 410 E. 100th St (1st Ave btwn 99 & 100 St), Rm. 211, NYC

3rd Thursday of every month prior to Saturday meeting at 6pm
Cashflow 101 Game Night led by Al D
Sony Building, 550 Madison Ave (55th St), New York, NY 10022
Look for group in Public Atrium Area.hosted by Al D - visit NYC Cashflow for info

The REIA NYC Membership led by Ayeshah Lacey &Teresa Martin
November 7, 2009 – 9am to 5pm
Credit Education, Asset Protection & Networking
Member Price: $49.00 / Non-Members Price: $69.00
New York Marriott Marquis Times Square , 1535 Broadway, NYC
How to find us "I will be in the Gilbert Room with the big smile!!"

November 16, 2009 at 6:30pm
REIA NYC presents Short Sale & Marketing Workshop
Early Bird Price: Member: $69.00 / Non-Members: $99.00
Regular Price: Member: $89.00 / Non-Members: $119.00
TRAINING CENTER , 305 7TH AVE, 11TH FLOOR, NYC

November 19, 2009 at 6:30pm
REIA NYC - Mortgage Financing for Real Estate Investors
Early Bird Price: Member: $69.00 / Non-Members: $99.00
Regular Price: Member: $89.00 / Non-Members: $119.00
TRAINING CENTER , 305 7TH AVE, 11TH FLOOR, NYC

Barack Obama & the Nobel Peace Prize - a child's perspective

When I tutor or lead my book group at EHS, my biggest challenge is showing relevance. What does the material being taught at school have to do with the student's experiences in life so far? Why should they care?

One recent assignment had to do with Barack Obama's surprise win of the Nobel Peace Prize, why he won, what the committee's reasoning was for their choice and who else historically has won. The student has superb memorization ability, remembers what the article covers very well and can repeat it back easily. The article talked about how Barack Obama negotiates well to bridge differences between nations and has made a strong stand for the elimination of weapons of mass destruction.

The last question on the homework was whether he agreed or disagreed with the decision. I found his answer quite profound and utterly relevant to a young person's life. He said that Obama said that if kids are not doing well in school, it does not mean they are stupid but they need to study harder and put away the DS (electronic game). Apparently, the school showed the video of Obama's speech.

While it did not match the committee's reasons precisely for giving Obama the Nobel Peace Prize, clearly Obama reached children, or at least this one, when he gave that speech. I saw that Obama had bridged the gap between himself and this student (and any child will tell you that most adults don't listen well to children) with a powerful, actionable message. Even if you are struggling in school, you can learn if you work harder and avoid distractions.

I could take a lesson from what that student and Obama said myself at times. It's amazing how much I learn when I'm teaching these students because they see from such a different angle than I do, out of their own experiences. Wow!

On Working With Passion

"Work with all your intelligence and love. Work freely and rollickingly as though you were talking to a friend who loves you. Mentally (at least three or four times a day) thumb your nose at all the know-it-alls, jeerers, critics, doubters." by Brenda Ueland.

Any action has consequences. Working with everything we have in us or holding back... which are you and I doing today?

Missing a Human Face: the Juggernaut of Banks and Foreclosures

When the human element disappears from bank service departments with foreclosures rising, something needs to change.

When I lost all work for seven months, off and on, in 2009 and was relying on unemployment to pay my bills, there simply was not enough money so, right or wrong, I used some of the funds from the rents in the investment properties to supplement and fell behind on mortgages. Once I got another job, I began paying my mortgages with Sovereign again but, since everything was behind, I could only just keep up from where I already was... four months behind. I made two payments on both properties (4 mortgage payments) and I called to make sure that the bank would not send my account to foreclosure and never got a return call. I had sent a third set of two payments when I got notice from the bank's lawyer that they were pursuing foreclosure action. SURPRISE!

I called many times to plead my case and was told, "Sorry, nothing we can do... It has already gone to the lawyer. Apparently, there is no human override for the systems. I was advised to do a loan modification with the bank and tried to do it alone - filled out the papers, sent them in, incomplete, refused, ask again. Departments did not seem to interact with each other. For example, loan modification could not see that I was making payments, foreclosure did not know I was pursuing loan modification, although supposedly they were meant to be working as a team to resolve these kinds of situations... missing a human face.

In the meantime, the lawyer that the bank hired sent a process server to me to serve me with papers and to the duplexes with the paperwork to let the tenants know. OK, that is their right. However, this person told my tenants, all of them, that "You might as well get out now because you are going to be thrown out in a month." I have heard other investors report similar tactics. One friend successfully concluded a loan mod, sent back paperwork with a check, and his bank sold the property on the court house steps anyway. It did not sell so they bought it back for $100 and then notified him that they were forgiving the foreclosure entirely. CRAZY STUFF!

The tenants got scared and began withholding rent (totally understandable), making my already challenging financial situation worse. In the end, I was forced to evict two tenants and my best tenant left with no notice - 3 vacancies in two properties now bringing in $309/mo gross, instead of over $2000/mo. gross, going on three months. I think my property manager has filled those as of November 2009 - we shall see. Sovereign said the bank was not responsible except that they hired the lawyer who hired the process server who said this to the tenants and exacerbated the situation.

It seems counter-intuitive to me to refuse to deal in person with homeowners and investors who are actively trying to catch up. In addition, taking actions that make it likely that the bank will have to take back the house (decreasing their ability to lend), that the owner will short sale, walk away or even declare bankruptcy, makes no sense. My speculation is that the systems in place are insufficient to deal with the number of houses being taken back by the banks and human beings at the banks, trying to resolve difficult situations, are afraid themselves of losing their jobs if they intervene outside the bank system.

I think the people at the banks are probably doing their best but are overwhelmed by the volume of properties. I have hired a lawyer to stall the foreclosure in the courts, hired a loan modification expert to deal with the banks, all of which cost money that I could have been using on paying the mortgages. Also, since Sovereign was taken over by Banco Santander, my paperwork is now wrong and I need to resubmit. At the beginning, before Sovereign sent my case to the lawyer, I could have held steady and caught up once there was more work. Now, I just don't know because the bank's actions have made things worse. I am doing everything I can but may or may not be able to turn it around.

Did you know that the foreclosure process continues even while a loan modification application has been submitted so it is possible to lose the house while appealing the foreclosure, using the proper channels?
Did you know that a homeowner or investor can have someone short sale their property and, unless the bank forgives the balance in a letter, will be taxed on the difference by the IRS?
Did you know that banks must hold capital in reserve (I was told by a fellow investor it's a 10:1 ratio but have not been able to confirm that - does anyone know?) to cover the cost of taking back houses so that the more REOs they have in inventory, the less lending they can do?
Did you know that the adjustable rate mortgages (ARMs) on luxury homes are scheduled to accelerate in November 2009? What will that do to the banks' ability to lend money?
Did you know that many banks are simply not foreclosing because they can't afford to hold any more houses? In the meantime, perhaps the homeowner or investor has given up because they can't see a way to catch up in the current economic environment and move out. In or out, without the pride of ownership, the house will be vacant or more poorly taken care of because the owner already sees it as belonging to the bank, which benefits nobody.

Taken from www.responsiblelending.org site:
Projected new foreclosures in 2009 - 2,400,000
Projected homes lost through foreclosure over next four years - 8,100,000

Why do these numbers matter?
Foreclosure starts from 2007-2008 more than doubled from those in 2005-2006. For the entire nation, foreclosures in 2009 are expected to reach 2.4 million. This epidemic of home losses has a devastating impact on working families, and by depressing the housing market and increasing unemployment, also weakens the entire economy.

How were these numbers calculated?
This number is based on the annualized rate of foreclosure starts reported in the 3Q 2008 MBA National Delinquency Survey, adjusted to reflect the entire mortgage market (the MBA survey covers 80%).
Alabama - 17,471
Alaska - 1,702
Arkansas - 8,450
Arizona - 97,383
California - 380,324
Colorado - 31,479
Connecticut - 14,569
Delaware - 4,567
District of Columbia - 3,192
Florida - 348,743
Georgia - 72,358
Hawaii - 4,594
Idaho - 8,583
Illinois - 84,731
Indiana - 40,682
Iowa - 8,575
Kansas - 8,870
Kentucky - 14,883
Louisiana - 12,136
Maine - 5,636
Maryland - 40,537
Massachusets - 24,368
Michigan - 77,166
Minnesota - 34,641
Mississippi - 9,936
Missouri - 26,576
Montana - 2,105
Nebraska - 5,114
Nevada - 59,388
New Hampshire - 6,162
New Jersey - 49,838
New Mexico - 6,321
New York - 58,217
North Carolina - 38,328
North Dakota - 803
Ohio - 72,049
Oklahoma - 12,542
Oregon - 16,547
Pennsylvania - 42,141
Rhode Island - 7,247
South Carolina - 22,017
South Dakota - 1,379
Tennessee -27,744
Texas - 81,735
Utah - 13,425
Vermont - 6,162
Virginia - 40,155
Washington - 28,499
West Virginia - 4,087
Wisconsin - 20,620
Wyoming - 912

My fundamental question is how do we, as a nation, restore the human face to solving our nation's issues with foreclosures and unemployment? Clearly, the systems are broken and need to be fixed somehow. Together, we are resourceful. What can be done? In challenging times, the old rules must be renegotiated because they are insufficient to the needs of homeowners and investors and banks. Please comment with questions, ideas, thoughts...

Pet Peeves of an Out-of-Town Landlord

Real estate investing long distance was much harder than I expected in real life. I have known for a long time that being a real estate investor, business owner and entrepreneur was my chosen direction in life. In today's economy, it is essential for every individual and family to build a financial net for themselves because working for a company in a job is a potentially precarious situation. I have become a strong advocate for creating multiple streams of income.

I began learning about how to buy real estate in January 2007, reading, listening to CDs, going to boot camps, joining my local REIA and taking bus tours out to nearby markets to look at houses because the NYC market was so expensive. In August 2007, I bought my first investment property, a single family 3 BR, 1 BA house in North Philly, PA, in what turned out to be a war zone area. I bought my second duplex (1 BR, 1 1/2 BA & 4 BR, 1 1/2 BA) and third duplex (3 BR, 1 BA & 4 BR, 1 BA) properties in Syracuse, NY in October 2007 and Countrywide collapsed that month. It's called the school of hard knocks for a reason...

Pet Peeves
1) Acquiring an Effective Property Manager - deciding whether to choose a single person manager or a team; staying informed about tenants, houses and repairs in a timely way; getting accurate accounting of repairs and expenses for tax accounting, preferably beforehand; being overruled on direct orders; not being close enough to keep an eye on things myself; being told something has been completed only to find out it wasn't; getting rental payments; figuring out what systems I needed to put in place (communication, reporting, payments, invoicing, etc.).

Building a Power Team at a Distance - realtor(s), lawyer, property manager, appraiser, property inspector, handyman, painter, contractor, plumber, electrician, etc. Who do you ask for referrals when the property is outside your backyard?

Knowing the Neighborhoods You are Investing in - It's much harder to walk the neighborhood in the daytime, at night, when kids are getting out of school and weekends to see who lives there when the property is 2-6 hours away.

Knowing Who to Trust About What - Lacking confidence in my own competence in investing in Philadelphia and Syracuse, I trusted what others said when I did not know what questions I needed to be asking.

That said, I belong to a group of eight women entrepreneurs who are also real estate investors and, by sharing our real estate experiences, trials and tribulations at least twice a month, we help each other find solutions to our long-distance investing challenges. When it isn't you, the answers seem so clear... Ha ha!

Check Out These NYC In-Person and Online Meetings for Business Networking

I keep running into people who are actively networking and building businesses but don't know about all the incredible networks and information readily available to entrepreneurs, network and affiliate marketers, salespeople and business owners. Of course, there are also social, food, exercise, entertainment meetings and more. I look at the mission statement for content, agenda and to get a sense of the people participating and the numbers to see if it's worth my time - no less than eight confirmed is my usual criteria (meetup lists the number confirmed). I have been attending at least four meetings a week so I am getting good at assessing their usefulness for my purposes. I think about what I want to get out of the meeting before I agree to attend.

995 meetups on all topics within 10 miles of NYC this week
October 26-November 1, 2009 from www.meetup.com
October 26 at 6pm - EXCELLENT for community, content and networking
New York Entrepreneurs Business Network (NYEBN) run by Andrew Ran Wong - FREE
mad46 Rooftop Lounge (Roosevelt Hotel), Madison Ave & 46th St
"Find us at the registration table at the entry of Roosevelt Hotel"

November 4, 9:15am - Speaker Series 1: Skills You Need to Succeed in Your Business
November 12, 6pm - NYEBN "Small Is the New Big" Networking Reception
I Attend All Events Andrew Ran Wong Puts Together, If My Schedule Allows. Register at meetup.com for the group and you will get updates on events.

October 27 at 8:30am - EXCELLENT content on business building & upsell
CASH FLOW EXPLOSION hosted by SalesPartners New York (Ben) - FREE
11 Penn Plaza (FUSE Building) opposite Penn Station on 32nd Street & 7th Avenue
"Ask for SalesPartners New York at main lobby kiosk"

October 28 at 6pm - LOOKS INTERESTING
A Fast, Fun Way to Connect-Speed Networking for Business Professionals - $24
Wealth Advisory Group
355 Lexington Avenue - 9th Floor near Grand Central

October 28 at 7pm - GREAT for networking, more social
Business Networking Reception for Professionals by moxieinthecity - $15 in advance, $20 at the door
Mercer Conference Room, 1166 Avenue of The Americas
Entrance on West 45th Street - 40th FL, room 40 sutton place

October 28 at 7pm - LOOKS INTERESTING
The New York Affiliate Marketing October Meetup - FREE
New York Marriott Marquis, 1535 Broadway, 8th Floor Bar/Lounge

October 29 at 7:30am - GREAT for networking, community
The New York Small Business Breakfast Club October Meetup - $12+tip for breakfast
Chelsea Square Restaurant, 368 W 23rd St, Btwn 8th & 9th Ave, NY
"We'll be in the glass atrium facing 23rd Street"
I always attend these breakfast meetings

October 29, 7:30am-12pm
New York Enterprise Report - LOOKS INTERESTING
THE ULTIMATE SALES WORKSHOP: SMART SELLING WITH JACK DALY - $249
The Graduate Center, CUNY, 365 Fifth Ave (at 34th Street)

October 29 at 6:15pm - LOOKS INTERESTING
BizSpark. Entrepreneur Bootcamp. Avec Microsoft - FREE
Microsoft, 1290 Avenue of the Americas
"5th Floor, Studio 54 meeting room"

HEADS UP, the Learning Annex in NYC has gone to a monthly enrollment fee and is having a 14-day trial for FREE. Go check out the classes at www.LearningAnnex.com.

I have been attending grant and government funding workshops lately so I will put together some of those and the names and monthly schedule of meetings I ALWAYS attend shortly. Spread the wealth!

There are scores of FREE and inexpensive networking and business resources here in the Tri-state area. Do you know any more that you would recommend? If so, I would love to have you comment on the blog and say what the group is and why you like it.

The Unemployment Sinkhole and the Way Out

Unemployment rates by state for September 2009 from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Geographic Profile of Employment and Unemployment, highest to lowest, and population projections for 2010 from the U.S. Census Bureau, "Table A1:Interim Projections of the Total Population for the United States and States: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2030; published April 21, 2005.

Michigan - 15.3% - 10,429,000
Nevada - 13.3% - 2,691,000
Rhode Island - 13.0% - 1,117,000
California - 12.2% - 38,067,000
South Carolina - 11.6% - 4,447,000
Oregon - 11.5% - 3,791,000
District of Columbia - 11.4% - 530,000
Florida - 11.0% - 19,252,000
Kentucky - 10.9% - 4,265,000
North Carolina - 10.8% - 9,346,000
Alabama - 10.7% - 4,596,000
Illinois - 10.5% - 12,917,000
Tennessee - 10.5% - 6,231,000
Georgia - 10.1% - 9,589,000
Ohio - 10.1% - 11,576,000
Indiana - 10.0% - 6,392,000
New Jersey - 9.8% - 9,018,000
Missouri - 9.5% - 5,922,000
Massachusetts - 9.3% - 6,649,000
Washington - 9.3% - 6,542,000
Mississippi - 9.2% - 2,971,000
Arizona - 9.1% - 6,637,000
Idaho - 8.9% - 1,517,000
New York - 8.9% - 19,444,000
West Virginia - 8.9% - 1,829,000
Pennsylvania - 8.8% - 12,584,000
Maine - 8.5% - 1,357,000
Alaska - 8.4% - 694,000
Connecticut - 8.4% - 3,577,000
Delaware - 8.3% - 884,000
Wisconsin - 8.3% - 5,727,000
Texas - 8.2% - 24,649,000
New Mexico - 7.7% - 1,980,000
Louisiana - 7.4% - 4,613,000
Minnesota - 7.3% - 5,421,000
Hawaii - 7.2% - 1,341,000
Maryland - 7.2% - 5,905,000
New Hampshire - 7.2% - 1,386,000
Arkansas - 7.1% - 2,875,000
Colorado - 7.0% - 4,832,000
Kansas - 6.9% - 2,805,000
Wyoming - 6.8% - 520,000
Iowa - 6.7% - 3,010,000
Montana - 6.7% - 969,000
Oklahoma - 6.7% - 3,592,000
Virginia - 6.7% - 8,010,000
Vermont - 6.6% - 653,000
Utah - 6.2% - 2,595,000
Nebraska - 4.9% - 1,769,000
South Dakota - 4.8% - 786,000
North Dakota - 4.2% - 637,000

This blog from Atlanta Fed (http://macroblog.typepad.com/macroblog/) discusses some of the economic research and data involved which include permanent loss of jobs, giving existing employees more hours or hiring freelancers, no longer filing because they have run out of unemployment and tightening of lending from the banks which has put many small businesses out of business.

I myself have been out of work and drawing unemployment, off and on for seven months in 2009, and it has just run out so I have personal experience of this phenomenon. In the course of this time, I have fallen behind on bills, caught up when I got work, only to fall behind again when the work disappeared. I have lost my health insurance with Freelancers Union and cannot find enough work to requalify for eligibility for the group rate. I have become very familiar with payment plans. I am attempting to work with the bank that has placed two investment properties on preforeclosure status and that's a whole other horrific story for another moment. I have felt discouraged, ashamed, fearful and depressed. Looking at the numbers, I know I am not alone - that there are many others in similar situations.

My feeling is that, first of all, the unemployment numbers are much higher than portrayed and secondly, the biggest deterrent to the recovery of this economy is low morale and loss of self-esteem - in short, just giving up. I hear people complaining that Obama has not delivered on his promises but the problems are much bigger than any one man, even such an extraordinary one, can solve alone. In my opinion, this crisis provides an opportunity for people to step up and become self-reliant and financially independent. It is a time for us to build businesses, big and small, and pursue passions to make money for ourselves, to stand up individually and together, and be counted on to help solve the problems we face as a nation and a world. Together and united, our range of influence is vast.

Margaret Mead, the famous anthrolopogist said, "A small group of thoughtful people could change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."

Pace Yourself or Pick Up the Pace?

When somebody says, "Pace yourself," what exactly does that mean? Is it the opposite of "Pick up the Pace" or are you saying the same thing?

In a physical sense, it could be walking the length of your stride. Or walking the ley lines of the earth and feeling its rhythms. Or being true to yourself. In The Artist's Way, Julia Cameron encourages writing morning pages, three 8 1/2" x 11" sheets of whatever is in your head, without editing. She claims writing with the hand (not typing, not taping) rights the story you tell about your experiences and life. Perhaps pacing yourself does the same.

Pick up the pace feels like an external incentive, somebody else saying to move faster, going too slow. Who determines what is too slow, anyway? For example, I am 5'3" and my husband is 6'3" so if we match our pace, one of us is either shortening or lengthening our walk to accommodate the other. So that's either an aggravation or a dance, depending on perspective.

This morning as I headed for the subway, I passed a school where the students were walking for health. There were over 100 of them, probably kindergarten to fourth grade from the size of the students. Two-by-two, they headed out into the streets of East Harlem, carrying signs saying "We walk for health," and "We eat healthy." As I passed, I heard one of the teachers say to a child, "Feel the strength of your muscles," and the child answered, "I can feel them. My muscles feel strong."

I started thinking about how fundamentally oblivious I am most of the time to how extraordinary the functioning of my body, of any body, really is. And of how poorly I take care of it in how I exercise and/or eat healthy (or don't) or listen to the pacing of and connection to my spirit (or not) in the physical realm, what many call the mind/body/spirit connection. Watching those children helped me realize that my busy life often obscures important truths and my rushing to pick up the pace damages the serenity I must seek to pace myself. Breathe and walk.

Amazing Buying Power and Influence of Women

I just read an astounding book called, Why She Buys by Bridget Brennan that I highly recommend to any individual or business marketing solely to women OR seeking to add women to their market share.

Let me share with you statistics from Why She Buys (pages 36-40) about the percentage of direct buying power or influence that women in the US and globally have or will have on purchasing decisions in many industries.
Apparel: 65% of purchases made by women
Automotive: 52% of new vehicle purchases made by women; 80% influenced by women
Consumer Electronics: 45% of purchases made by women; 61% influenced by women
Health Care: 80% of family health care decisions made by women
Travel: 70% of decisions made by women
Insurance, Investments, Retirement: 90% of women participate in these decisions
Homes: 20% of purchases made by single women; 91% influenced by women
Wine: 55% of all purchases made by women
Gaming: 40% of players are women

WOW! Why She Buys is chock-full of insights on what women's purchasing power means for companies, advertising and marketing, trending information and real-life examples of campaigns that did and did not work. Two other interesting books you may enjoy are Blue Ocean Strategy and microtrends. What I can see and what is underneath what I see can make the difference between success and failure in my business, and in the shape of my branding. Exciting times to be an entrepreneur!

Connect, Disconnect or Both?

Does all the new technology connect or disconnect us or does it depend...?

I got on the subway this morning and saw no less than twenty-two Blackberrys, iPods, Gameboys, Kindles, electronic phones and organizers. Many people were listening to music - sometimes audibly from five feet away. My thought was, "setting themselves up for hearing loss later," and then I felt very old for even thinking it. People were watching movies, playing games and starting their day of work on these tiny devices. Fascinating! There was little interaction with anyone else on the subway car, like looking around, making faces at a fussy baby in a carriage. Disconnect. But many were savoring their activities. Connect.

Social media is much the same way. I babysat for my cousin's new baby this afternoon, just four months old and very sweet. He and his wife met on eHarmony, fell in love, married and have a beautiful little girl together. They would never have met because they don't move in the same circles but, through online dating, they connected in a profound way.

The world is now much smaller as we can reach people across the nation, in other countries, cultures and ethnic and religious traditions, etc. Since not understanding people who are different sometimes leads straight into anger or fear, the possibility in online conversations is to learn to appreciate the commonalities between people of all backgrounds. Families, Love, Work, Community, Beliefs and more. Connect. At the same time, if I spend all my time talking online on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter, and my computer interactions keep me from participating in my own life - Disconnect.

This Talking Tall blog has become a very profound connection vehicle for me to express curious thoughts, quirky reflections, passionate convictions, ongoing conversations. Connect. But I can spend hours here, lost in this new world, eagerly learning what I didn't know. Disconnect. Both...

Volunteering at EHS and Giving Back Time

Volunteering is, for me, a way of giving back to my community and my world in gratitude. It make my life richer along the way. I believe that giving money alone is great but not enough so I give of my money and my time. It keeps a balance and everything in perspective, whether my life is easy or hard in that moment. Today was NY CARES day when volunteers go into the schools and paint murals and clean up. I have also, from time to time, worked with Habitat for Humanity and even got my photo taken with Jimmy Carter at 135th Street once

EHS stands for the East Harlem School at Exodus House, an amazing middle school on 103rd Street with, in my unbiased opinion, extraordinary students. I have tutored there for 11 years and led book groups for the last 3 years, as well as acting as chaperone for trips and leading after-school programs periodically. EHS was started by my friend since high school, Ivan, and his brother. I went by to say, "Hi," and Ivan pulled me into their assembly where the students (ages 10-14) were learning about NGOs. I got a tour with two students and fell in love and the rest, as they say, is history.

To work with the students makes me think, how can I explain these ideas clearly? What is the key to helping this child learn? How can I make books come alive for them the way they do for me? What are they passionate about? And with math, which I am not excellent at, how do I teach the building blocks when it isn't easy for me either?! How can my experiences help them discover how to study, read and do their homework better? What makes their studies relevant to their lives and how can I communicate that? When I volunteer at EHS, my interaction with the students enriches all of us.

What is your passionate commitment in the world? I've never met anyone who could not think of some place or community where they really wanted to contribute when I asked them. For one IT guy, it was a computer lab. Volunteering takes time but it's also fun and rewarding. If you aren't already, try it for yourself and see.

Two Steps Forward, One Step Back

In building my business, I KNOW what to do to make it successful. The question is, am I doing those things, or am I making excuses about why not?

1) Set written goals - numbers for the business (USD$ amount in sales;# of customers/referrals/downline members, etc.). Make a specific plan to make them happen. Be clear on the tracking and financials. Act and correct, keeping goals in mind daily, weekly, monthly, yearly, etc. Assess plan periodically and make adjustments as needed.
2) Make sales - directly or in partnership with other entrepreneurs
3) Build a team - choose people with complementary skills and strengths
4) Be organized - consistently make new contacts, follow up and close; order work space, contacts and schedule for effective action
5) Set up efficient systems - be clear about roles, responsibilities and timelines for each individual and the team as a whole to accomplish stated business goals

Off the top of my head, these are fundamentals as I build my successful business. Yesterday morning, I went to a very good Sales Partners meeting. And last night I had a phenomenal evening of networking at a meetup on Fifth Avenue, put on by Andrew Ran Wong who organizes NYEBN. I met many interesting people in different industries who were open to taking a look at my business or to referring others they know to take a look. Perfect! I made over 21 great professional contacts who would be wonderful additions to my team and/or potential customers, if they like the business opportunity and/or savings (Cool Links on left - AP Flex Plus).

This morning, I was meant to attend a meetup at 7:15 am (NOT a morning person), doing a spotlight for my business in front of 8 other entrepreneurs. But this morning, I hit the snooze alarm three times and slept through the whole thing. Aaargh! So this morning I have excuses instead of results - so far. I am discovering that it takes fortitude to keep on going and discipline to shift my habits to consistent action. I have a choice now to either give up on today or continue to invite new team members and customers to take a look, despite the fact that nothing, so far, has gone as planned. And the only failure is giving up.

In Maine one morning, I was crossing a sand flats that the tide revealed when it went out. Usually I had to go the long way around on the granite rocks. I spied a tiny crab, perhaps an inch wide at the width of its shell. As my shadow fell on it, the crab backed a step away from the giant. Then, raising its claws, it advanced two steps towards me.

I need to remember, even on a day when I hit the snooze button too many times, that two steps forward, one step back is still being in action and moving ahead - in my business and in life.

Filling the Well

A feast for the senses... NYC Polish Day Parade on October 4, 2009. Julia Cameron uses the term, "filling the well," to mean going out of your way to see, touch, taste, smell, hear something outside of your normal routine. She claims, and I agree, that doing so stimulates the creative imagination to make us more hopeful, more vibrant, happier, healthier and more prosperous.

Below is what I observed, longing for a camera:
I saw a little boy with a bright yellow Honda motorcycle toy in his hand discover a REAL yellow Honda motorcycle. He got his photo taken, dazed and enchanted, sitting on the motorcycle, toy in hand, with the biker behind him. A realized dream...
A troupe of cheerleaders with brilliant flags, doing routines down Fifth Avenue, to Michael Jackson's "Thriller."
More Miss Polonias and Junior Miss Polonias than I ever knew existed, all in long white dresses, riding in convertibles, waving the Queen's wave and smiling from side to side.
Drummers, trumpeters, bands, choirs, some of which I thought were marvelous and others cacophonous... a matter of taste.
A boy with his face painted half red and half white, hair spiked up in a Mohawk. Did you know the colors of Poland were red and white? I didn't.
The marchers waiting to go on in a side street: some were already 'on,' others were clowning around, entirely indifferent to the whole scene or enjoying the parade before their march began.
Dancing doctors and nurses in front of a float.

The part I found most engaging was the sheer number and variety of people participating or watching, many in red and white clothing, ranging in age from infants to seniors. Even the teenagers got in on the action. The power of this diverse crowd expressing their enthusiastic pride in their Polish heritage was inspiring to me.

What did I learn? Passionate commitment to anything is compelling and it is important to my own happiness to look for what delights me in my daily life.

When Moods and Circumstances Collide

Moods are infectious, good or bad. Have you ever noticed that, not only can a mood color the entire day but it appears to shape the circumstances of that day? Yet they don't really. The circumstances can be exactly the same but how I interact with them varies.

In a good mood, I observe different things than I do in a bad mood. I am looking for people, events, circumstances, colors, smells, sights and tactile sensations that delight me. And I find them. Once, a stranger followed me ten blocks because I was wandering along singing to myself. He eventually stopped me and said, "Why are you singing?" I answered, "I'm happy." "Why?" he asked. "I just am. No reason." He left smiling himself and shaking his head.

In a bad mood, my head is down and I am seeing very little, except I am listening in my own head to a negative, self-doubting, blaming conversation about how badly the day has started, and how I expect it to continue that way. And, if I stay there, the day and its circumstances WILL unfold as I predicted and one thing after another will go wrong.

But how can I shift from a bad mood to a good mood? I have discovered a few actions that work for me. Listen to inspiring music or motivational CDs. Watch a great movie. Lift my head and look around. Walk or dance. Observe my husband painting. Read a book. Talk with my 97-year old grandfather about his life. Go to a book store or library and browse. Be in Maine. Play with my nephews and nieces. Hold a baby. Blog. Learn something new. Tutor or lead my book group at EHS. Sail. Visit with my family and friends. Travel. Do something, anything that makes me happy. The faster I notice and stop wallowing, begin striving up, the easier it is to get happy. Sometimes I try one thing after another, if I'm deep in a blue funk, until my mood shifts and I feel like the sun came out (it may have been out all the time) and I am joyful.

The power in observing that moods and circumstances interact and collide is that we control, to a degree, our own reality. Not the circumstances themselves but how we live into them. Then we have choices and are not powerless to define ourselves in our own lives.

Fail Faster

What a curious idea... "FAIL FASTER." I have heard the phrase many times in sales positions where it means to introduce whatever product or service I am selling to lots of people or companies in order to find the ones who want and/or need my offer. Let the rest go.

The temptation for me with a "yes" is to congratulate myself and rest, wait for the sale to complete. With a "no," I want to heal and step back to recover, stop. But Fail Faster means "yes" or "no" to keep on going, evaluate what went right or wrong in the meeting or on the call, correct and call or meet the next person. It might be more accurate to say, "Fail faster to close more sales, be successful sooner, make more money, earn time freedom." That is exciting and motivating!

Below are a bunch of inspiring quotes from famous people who experienced failures in their lives that I found in April 3, 2009 Million Blog:
Thomas Edison on the making of the light bulb, "I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work."
Albert Einstein, "Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new."
Walt Disney, "All the adversity I've had in my life, all my troubles and obstacles, have strengthened me... You may not realize it when it happens, but a kick in the teeth may be the best thing in the world for you."
Henry Ford, whose first two automobile companies failed, "Failure is only the opportunity to begin again, only this time more wisely."
Bill Gates, the richest man in the world, "Success is a lousy teacher. It seduces smart people into thinking they can't lose." and "It's fine to celebrate success but it is more important to heed the lessons of failure."
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, "I pay no attention whatever to anybody's praise or blame. I simply follow my own feelings."
Sir Winston Churchill, "Success is the ability to go from failure to failure without losing your enthusiasm."
Michael Jordan, "I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. Twenty-six times I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed."

Pretty amazing, don't you think? What I gather from this is to keep going with velocity and never give up if I am sure of my own destination. I learned to be careful whose opinion I listen to because perhaps I have a vision of a possibility they can't see. Every individual interprets life through their own filters. It requires courage to go through the failures to success because the passage is often marked by doubt, ridicule, shame, embarrassment, discouragement and despair, and is fundamentally made alone. Leaders don't travel in the pack but ahead of it... before the result is certain.

Unemployment & Freelance Uncertainty

When all your hard-won skills make no difference... It's the economy, the job market, the unemployment figures, the housing market, downsizing/rightsizing/layoffs, the budget, whatever.

I have worked steadily as a freelance proofreader and copy editor for over ten years. I have added to my skills as I saw markets shifting from legal and financial proofreading to publishing to medical copy editing. As an experienced freelancer, I keep my ear to the ground at all times wherever I am working and pay close attention to whether and where the company is gaining or losing clients, or outsourcing staff abroad. For me, that means added hours or cut hours.

For the most part, being a freelancer has suited me well until last year. I was paid well when I was working, worked steadily and had flexibility of time to study, tutor, travel, build a side business, buy investment properties. I liked it. Despite my skills, I have been out of work in the last year for seven months. My first reaction was disbelief that unemployment could happen to me, then panic when I discovered no jobs to be had, despite my best efforts. Even the temp agencies said they had never seen it so slow. Right now, I am in a job, already trying to figure out when it ends and what my next job will be. That's no way to live!

Multiple streams of income... as I work in my job for a bi-monthly paycheck, I am also building a small business (Cool Links: AP Flex Plus - saving money & earning extra income) with an exceptional team and I have investment properties in Syracuse. When the income from my business and real estate investments matches the income from my paycheck, I will quit my job and the income I make will be at least equal to the paycheck with no ceiling on the upside, except my own efforts.

Massive actions equal massive results in a cumulative effect... so I am acting...MASSIVELY. This uncomfortable year has been the perfect and urgent motivator to make change to my own circumstances, no excuses, permanent. ONWARD AND UPWARD!

When Urgent Hijacks Essential

Have you ever had a day neatly planned out to accomplish your specific and essential goals (work, family time, exercise, leisure, writing or reading, volunteerism, whatever) and you have eagerly begun BUT your phone or Blackberry/iPhone rings or texts you suddenly? EMERGENCY!

...and your perfect day is derailed.

What happened? Your child threw up in the lunchroom and needs to be picked up NOW. There's a leak in your bathroom floor, the tenant downstairs is complaining, the landlord is calling, the super needs to get in NOW. The sewer pipe in your 89-year-old investment duplex in Syracuse burst with the winter cold - call the plumber, call the property manager, reassure the tenant or put them up in a motel, fix it NOW. A diabetic family member is rushed to ICU, blood sugar crashed or soaring, get there NOW. A friend calls crying because they broke up with their boyfriend of four years, reassure them NOW. A colleague contacts you about an urgent project when you have 25 other top-priority projects on your desk already, get theirs done NOW.

Does any of this sound familiar? So what's the point? The issue is not the time it takes to take care of whatever has occurred. Life happens. It's inevitable. The problem is that it shatters our focus and distracts us from the underlying values, goals and dreams that were the foundation for our day's plans.

If you are anything like me, it's disappointing and discouraging to look at my essential to-do list for TODAY and have to move everything to TOMORROW. Tomorrow already has its own essential actions to be taken. Piling on Today's does not help.

What Can Be Done?
Evaluate your own priorities and values beforehand and act with those in mind. Otherwise, you will find yourself ricocheting around like a bb in a tin can to somebody else's urgent needs. Here are your options:

Act NOW
Delegate NOW
Negotiate NOW
Schedule Appointment NOW
Decline NOW

It does not always have to be YOU! But, if ACT NOW to address the emergency aligns with your fundamental values, goals and dreams, reschedule today's essential actions to a different day. Forgive yourself for not finishing everything and move on. Superman and Superwoman only exist in the movies and you are doing exactly what you are meant to do TODAY.

Dare to Be Bold, Make a Plan and Take the Risk

Time Management
"He who every morning plans the transactions of the day and follows out that plan carries a thread that will guide him through the labyrinth of the most busy life... But where no plan is laid, where the disposal of time is surrendered merely to the chance of incident, chaos will soon reign." by novelist, Victor Hugo.

Risk Evaluation
"How do you judge whether some activity is worth the risk? Do you base it on your fear? No, you should do some things that scare you. Should you base it on the probability of success? No, I don't think that's the answer either. Risk must be evaluated not by the fear it generates in you or the probability of your success, but by the value of the goal." by John C Maxwell in Failing Forward: Turning Mistakes into Stepping Stones for Success.

I have recently joined an A-Team (Accountability Team) with Todd Falcone for producing results in building my AP Flex Plus network marketing team (see Cool Links on left). As I have increased the number of contacts I am introducing daily to my business (whether they say 'Yes' or 'No' to the offer), I am getting more bold and brave in a lot of other areas at the same time. Previously, I would talk to a few people a week and then pin all my hopes on how those few might respond. Needless to say, that did not work very well.

I interact with more people each day. I ask for what I want directly and that is making all the difference. I do what I have not allowed myself to do for fear of disapproval or embarrassment and am more joyful. For example, I have written stories for many years and longed to read them aloud in public. Last night, for the very first time, I read my Maine short story, Swimming the Narrows... First at the Players Club in NYC in front of professional actors, comedians, musicians and poets. I shook for twenty minutes after I finished reading but I DID IT and you could have heard a pin drop while I read! I'm looking forward to stretching further and my next challenge. Scary and exciting!

So I dare you to act bravely and boldly in your own life, if you aren't already, and see what happens for you.

Easy Free Business Plan Template

I read a book by Scott Fox called e-Riches 2.0 that I thought was exceptional so this is a clip about creating a basic business plan from his blog at www.ScottFox.com. Enjoy!

My Easy 10 Question Free Business Plan Template by Scott Fox
Last week in my new Click Millionaires Forum, a member named Tony asked me for a free business plan template recommendation. My response? Most entrepreneurs spend way too much time on writing business plans. I’d rather see your creative energy invested in product development or marketing, things that will directly lead you to more revenue.

So I sat down and thought about all the business plans that I’ve written and seen over the years. I think that they all boil down to a few basic questions that apply to any startup business.

Here are my Top Ten questions I think are most important for you to answer when starting a new business. You can use these to focus your thinking and to impress potential partners or investors (like your spouse!). This basic business plan template doesn’t cover everything, but if you can answer these questions solidly, you are on your way. (Conversely, if you spend much time beyond answering these fundamental questions, your business planning process may be too much.)

Scott Fox’s Top Ten Business Plan Template Questions

1. Who is your target customer? Be specific.
2. How does your product or service solve a problem for them?
3. Will your solution to the problem be unique and valuable enough that these customers will pay you a good price for it?
4. How can you reach this target audience cost-effectively?
5. Will satisfied customers naturally tell others? If so, how can you encourage them to do so?
6. How much time and money can you afford to invest in this new business before you need to stop? (Set a time and money cut-off.)
7. What will it cost you to get started? Why? How can the Internet reduce those costs?
8. If you make conservative assumptions about the number of people who buy, and how much it costs you in both time and money to sell to them, can you make enough money to achieve your goals?
9. How can you differentiate yourself from the competition?
10. What are the 3 key assumptions you are making that are required for you to succeed? Are they reasonable and probable? If not, what could you do to change them?

Bonus Question: How can you systematize your new business so it takes proportionally less of your time as it grows but makes as much or more money? (Creating a business that will grow without you can lead to a true Click Millionaire lifestyle!)

[Note: These questions are for a solopreneur considering starting a new venture. If you are planning a larger venture or looking to raise money from investors, you’ll need to be a lot more thorough, especially with financial analysis.]

An Easy, Instant Business Plan!
If you can write just a couple of solid paragraphs answering each of these questions, you will be well on your way to creating a respectable business plan, as well as clarifying your own strategy. Don’t fall victim to “analysis paralysis” by over-indulging in business planning. I recommend emphasizing “doing” over “planning”. It pays the bills much better!

If You Want to Be Prosperous...

I came across this quote in a book I'm reading, Power Networking by Donna Fisher and Sandy Vilas and loved it so here goes...

"If you want to be prosperous for a year, grow grain.
If you want to be prosperous for ten years, grow trees.
If you want to be prosperous for a lifetime, grow people." Proverb

Fantastic! It set me to thinking about who I am grateful to for my own growth and nurturing and whose growth I have contributed to in my life. A moment of quiet, a matter for humbleness, a profound sense of gratitude and thankfulness.

How Are You Listening?

Two Choices
You are either listening to them, whether they are a home buyer, house seller or investor, your husband or wife, friend or colleague, or your boss, or you are listening to yourself.

Who they are and what they are concerned about drives what conversation and action happens next. If you are truly listening with focused attention to what they say (not just the surface words but all levels), you will know if the next step is a question, an offer or response in a negotiation, or a call to action. Also, most of us have so much going on that we are very distracted in our interactions with others. Having a conversation with someone who is paying attention only to you is compelling and seductive and stacks the deck in your favor in ANY negotiation.

If you are listening to yourself, what is the conversation you are having and where does that leave the person standing in front of you?
* Have you decided beforehand what is going to happen in the interaction? Usually, as I'm certain you have already observed, in our talks with ourselves, it ends badly.
* Are you answering your objections, as if you were in their position, or their objections?
* Are your responses colored by a history of success or failure and do you carry that history forward from one interaction to the next?
* Are your dreams and goals big enough to carry you past any and all experiences?
* Who are you listening to about you (those who believe in your capacity for greatness, whether already realized or not, or those who don't)?

Have you ever been at a cocktail party and the person you are talking with is looking over your shoulder for the next more important person? Or they just answered something you never said? As a contrast, have you ever been talking with someone, either professionally or personally, who was really listening to and interested in you? Intoxicating!

If you are making a choice about building a professional or personal relationship with an individual or company attentively listening to your concerns or one who is preoccupied with their own, who would you choose?

Listening well can close deals.

Shall We Dance?

I went to Tavern on the Green for a networking event but there were many fewer people there than were advertised. The DJ and music were good, the lanterns were lit, the topiary King Kong towered next to the bar and the dance floor was empty. My feet were tapping, my head was bobbing in rhythm to the music and I wanted to dance but I was alone. My husband was still at work. Surreptitiously, I looked past the close-knit tables of people, the two men talking by the bar, for a single man with fingers drumming to the beat on the bar or head moving in time. YES! I walked over and asked, "Do you want to dance?" "ABsolutely!" Mitch answered. Neither of us cared how we looked (graceful or awkward, sweaty, yup!) so we were free to dance to the music and have fun...

Life is like that. Just having the courage to ask for what I want can turn a good day into a fabulous one... And, when I get lucky (or study the signs to stack the odds), often the other person is of the same mindset.

How to Evaluate Your Network Marketing Company (Before You Join)

When you join a network marketing company, consider your purpose FIRST.
Will this network marketing opportunity be your part-time or your full-time business?
How much time and money are you willing to spend building your business and for how long?
What return on your investment (amount of money you expect to make) do you need for it to be worthwhile starting?

COMPANY
Does the company have a track record or is it a new launch?
If the company is an established company, it will have more credibility and provide a higher comfort level for your downline but, unless the company changes the comp plan or adds a new line of products to create new excitement about participating, growth will be much slower if you join later. Historically, early movers make the most. However, if a stable company innovates, its progress can be unstoppable because all the systems are already in place and functioning well and credibility is unquestionable.
If the company is a launch, its success and longevity is untested. It may or may not be around in a year, depending on whether the timing is right for the product or service, whether the idea and comp plan are sexy enough to excite interest, whether the company has enough capital to survive growing pains, and whether big network marketing players choose to jump in. That said, EVERY company begins with an idea and being positioned at the top in a successful launch company can be worth millions.

TEAM
Are your upline sponsor and team exceptional leaders?
Your odds of building a successful team of your own improve if they are. In addition to company marketing support (replicated Web site, teleconference calls, Webinars), a great upline can add supplemental calls, Webinars and local meetings). Network marketing stars can also identify the great opportunities more easily than the average person because of their previous experiences. Follow their lead.
Do you like and trust them as your partners in your business?
Determine what values and qualities you need in your partnership for it to work. Code of honor, trust, integrity, teamwork are a good start.
Have they made significant money in network marketing in the past?
If you want to make an extra $1,000, $5,000 or $10,000 a month extra in your business, you need to hang out with upline leaders who have done over $10,000 a month already in a previous network marketing business and can show you how. If you want to make millions, learn from millionaires and do what they do.

PRODUCT
Do you love and use the product or service?
If you are excited about a product or service from your own experiences, that energy is infectious to other people. You will be able to tell others how it helped you and how it could benefit them too. If your offer fits what they are looking for, they will follow you. If, on the other hand, you have no interest in the product, such as someone who doesn't wear makeup becoming an Avon distributor, why would anyone else?
Are you becoming a representative to build a part-time or full-time business with this particular company?
Manage your expectations of money earned and time spent. Network marketing is a people empowerment business at its best. Track your results ongoingly to see how you are doing on your written goals. Be aware nothing happens in a minute except failing. EVERYTHING has a learning curve and, probably, some discomfort to get past what you already know. Start climbing and give yourself a time frame when you will reassess your progress.
Are you becoming a representative to get discounts and to refer friends to the product or service?
Do not expect to make a lot of money if your purpose is primarily to get products or services you love more economically. Remember your own intentions. As a representative, you can choose to apply the effort to build a business as well later, if you like.

COMPENSATION PLAN
How much do you want to make with your business?
Set your financial goals at the beginning and make periodic assessments of your actions taken and results. If you don't define where you are going, you will have a hard time getting there.
What is the compensation plan and does its structure align with your goals?
Understand the compensation plan. There are lots and lots of possibilities (binary, matrix, straight line, profit-sharing, etc.). How do you make money on the front-end and on the back-end? Do you need to make money immediately, later or both? What do you need to do to be paid? Be sure you understand what results you need to accomplish to get to the money. Have someone in your upline explain the pay plan for the opportunity clearly.

PRICE
Is the price right for the value of the offer?
Value is inherently very subjective. To enroll a greater number of people, often the price is lower but the level of engagement in working the business may be less serious. At a higher price, perceived value also goes up. It also varies according to where you are (country, city, suburbs, economic background, neighborhood, ethnic diversity). The only important question is, "Will you pay that price?"

TIMING
Is the timing for the offer NOW?
Look around curiously. What do you observe happening in your town, city, state, country or world? If unemployment is high, income generation opportunities (good, bad & indifferent) will thrive. What problems does the network marketing company that you are evaluating address? For example, a number of network marketing companies have vitamins and supplements intended to address the diminishing nutritional value of the food we grow. What trends do you see in action and what trends can you speculate are coming? Getting ahead of the curve very slightly but not so far ahead that nobody else can see what you do is how to make a LOT of money.

EVALUATE your opportunity and TAKE ACTION - in or out!

The Power of Defining Questions - 3 Tips

Everybody looks for answers but it is questions that shape lives. What questions are you asking to direct your job/work/career, relationships, retirement, giving back, etc.? Good questions allow you to dance with life. Bad ones and you will probably be pushed around by it instead.

1) Should I Ask Narrow or Broad Questions?
a) Narrow questions are for choosing between two to three options you have already decided to pursue. For example, shall I take a position with Microsoft at 80K or Apple at 90K? If salary is the only issue, you will wind up working at Apple.
But what if you like the corporate culture better, or they offered stock options on top or you saw more upward mobility at Microsoft? What would you choose then?

b) Broad questions are for matching what you want to be, do and have in your life with ALL the possible choices.
For example, if you have been downsized from your job and decide to pursue dreams of building a business, you have to figure out your niche.
What industry suits you - accounting, finance, sales, computers, environment, real estate, etc.?
How much money do you want to make and how fast?
How much time are you willing to invest?
Do you have sufficient capital to launch your start-up, how much is required and how long before you see a return?
Who will your customers be - individuals or companies, domestic or international, online, offline or both, people-centric or technology-centric?
What do the market trends indicate about your chosen path?

2) How Can I Make the Most Effective Distinctions?
Ask yourself,
What did I enjoy most in my various jobs (industry, activities, teamwork, culture, finance, marketing, etc.) or relationships (funny, smart, rich, tall, interesting, cultured, whatever)? What did I like least?
Where do I spend my time? Look there for your passionate commitments.
Who do I like spending time with and what qualities must be present?
In the balance between time and money, what do I need and want?
Where will I live (city, country, suburbs, hot or cold, etc.)?
What kind of lifestyle is important to me and my family?
When my life is in balance, what does or should it look like?

3) How Do I Develop Rainmaker Skills?
In life, unless you are in a stable job (which, in this economy, is a precarious certainty), it just makes sense to learn how to generate income and be able to be self-reliant and self-sufficient. Life is unpredictable, just ask the Bernie Madoff victims or the rank-and-file at Lehman Brothers or the employees at Enron. Fortunately, there are so many ways to do that with new technologies. Here we go again... asking questions.
Am I outgoing and extroverted so sales and making presentations is easy?
Am I introverted but very comfortable with Web 2.0 technologies, Internet and affiliate business online?
Each choice has pros and cons. The extrovert may want a back office tech person who could be in-person or virtual. The introvert will probably want to team up with somebody who can make direct sales.
Once you have made the proper distinctions, what do you need to learn to maximize your ability to make money?

In St. Exupery's The Little Prince, the fox tells the little prince that he is unique in all the world. I believe that is true of each of us. We all have a choice to make - to live into our fullness or not, to fulfill our goals and dreams or not. If we choose to shrink back from who we can be and what we have to contribute in the world, nobody can take our place.
What dreams lie in you, expectantly waiting to be realized in action?

President Obama leadership, the economy & health care

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

What to Broadcast in Viral Videos

I have been thinking about this viral videos idea. The advantage and drawback for me is no pitching the businesses I am involved with. On the other hand, that opens up a world of possibilities so it frees me too.

There are topics I am passionate about and would like to speak about globally:
financial literacy
money and money attitudes
surviving unemployment whole
balance between work and family
finding serenity in any circumstance
social networking joys and frustrations
volunteerism - tutoring, painting, building
travel nationally and internationally
books - reading and writing
joyous self-expression
building business skills
job vs entrepreneur

Of course, I have no clue what I am doing but that never stopped me before. Ha!

Social Networking (Web 2.0) for an Over 40

This social networking stuff is fascinating to me but, as one of the almost-50 set, I have a significant disadvantage over, say, a 10-year-old. I'm not really joking when I say that. Like any learning, the earlier you start, the easier it is. So, as usual, I ran to find a book, e-Riches by Scott Fox which was published in 2009 (because 2008 is antique already) and read it cover to cover twice. Anyone who knows me will not find that to be surprising. Think about Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, MySpace, LinkedIn, Tagged... you get the idea. By the way, I LOVE YouTube, although my first few videos were done stretching my arm out as far as I could reach and filming, so my head was the size of a watermelon in the viewfinder. Ha! The other drawback was that people kept walking behind me to be helpful, right through my film. Aargh!

The really challenging thing is that each social networking site comes with mostly unwritten community rules on top of the site rules and what's a woman to do. It's a little like threading a boat between ledges through shark-infested waters. No intention to offend or get grounded or eaten but the waters are muddy sometimes. I enjoy this though because I am passionately committed to opening conversations on particular topics and all these technologies give small and large people a compelling (sometimes) voice to express views. I tend to like informative, uplifting, educational or entertaining material although the presentation does not have to be polished up. Mine isn't. I don't actually mind spam but I also watch commercials to see how people's thoughts are trending so I'm a little odd. What a marvelous time to be alive...

Think Like A Millionaire

Since I was a child, I wanted to be a multimillionaire philanthropist but I'm not there yet. So I began speaking, "I am a multimillionaire philanthropist" before going to sleep and when I get up. Then I wondered what multimillionaires do and what they have and visualized that too. By this time, as you can imagine, I was having a GREAT time! I could really see it all. Try it...

NYC Conspiracy of Beards & Leonard Cohen Fans

Come hear this San Francisco a capella group sing Leonard Cohen original arrangements this weekend 4/3-4/4. My brother, Tim, will be! there and lots of friends and fans. It will be a fantastic good time. Enjoy