Christianity and the Passover meal

What a beautiful celebration so intertwined with symbolism pointing back at the Messiah, Jesus Christ. We are privileged in the Los Angeles area if you can attend a Passover meal that has been put on by some Messianic Jews. Why the Messianic Jews you may be asking? The Messianic Jews believe that Jesus Christ is the Messiah and He has come to earth, walked as man, was crucified dead, buried and rose from the grave.


What is so amazing about this meal is all the symbolism that points back to the life of Christ. The Passover plate consists of the following elements:

• Marov: Bitter herbs (generally horseradish) to remember how bitter slavery was in Egypt

• Beitzah: A hardboiled egg to represent life and the hope of the rebuilding of the temple

• Karpas: Greens that represent spring and new life, which are dipped into salt water that represents the tears shed during slavery

• Zeroa: A shank bone that represents the sacrifice

• Haroseth: A fruit and nut mixture to remember the mortars used by the slaves in building Pharaoh’s temple/pyramids

• Matsah: Unleavened bread, because they needed something that would not sour during the journey in the wilderness. This is also known as the bread of affliction, the stripes symbolize the beating Jesus took for our sins from a cat of nine tails. The bread is broken during the meal (representing the crucifixion of Jesus) and a piece hidden (representing the burial of Jesus) for a child to discover (representing the resurrection).

• Arbakosot: The four cups of wine which symbolize the four verbs of redemption (Exodus 6:6-7)

This is an amazing meal to experience I know we are doing one this Tuesday at Generations Church in Sun City, California.

The other part of the celebration is the original Passover had to do with the plague from God on Pharaoh and his land for refusing to soften his heart to God’s demand to free his people. The plague was to take the life of the first born male except for the houses where the blood of a lamb was painted over the doorways, which today represents the blood of Jesus shed on the cross for you and me.

Enjoy the celebrations of this Holy week as we reflect on our Lord and Savior.

Meg Whitman and the entrepreneur

What an exciting year we are sitting on the cusp of a new Governor of California, and there is sure a buzz in the air about a certain woman candidate. California for the first time will have the opportunity to vote for a woman Governor, Meg Whitman CEO of eBay.


So for us here in Los Angeles what does this all mean? I know many are cringing at a woman for Governor, and yet our current Governor at a women’s conference in 2008 said we need more women in leadership roles. I look at Meg Whitman and see an amazing woman that built a drove one of the largest most profitable companies here in California. She maintained eBay in it’s location in California, she did not uproot it and run to another location when things got tough here, she stayed and fought with you and I. I see a woman with a business sense about her that surpasses any politician, a woman that is not afraid to make decisions. I see a woman that will not be afraid to stand up and say enough to those with agendas based on greed and destruction or those willing to give in to lobbyists lining their pockets.

I see this change as amazing for entrepreneurs and small businesses. Why? If Meg can run California like a business, which government is a business, we could see a huge turn around in our economy. I see Meg as someone that supports the entrepreneurial spirit at all levels. She is very much tuned into the needs and demands of our state, and is willing to go head to head with the “Politicians” to stand for what is right.

Now is the time as an entrepreneur to begin planning for the growth and positive change California will experience if she is to take office. It is time to begin putting a game plan together for expansion and growth in your business. Then plug into what Meg is doing, be a part of the conversations, speak up for your needs as an entrepreneur and be ready to take action. We are at a time in our society where we must begin that Plan B for our future, no more sitting on the side line with 100 excuses as to why you can’t move forward and begin taking action.

Let’s put it this way if Meg runs the government like she did eBay and we see the growth and life return to California will you be on the boat celebrating your success or on the side lines saying I wish I would have taken action. 2010 is the year of action for the entrepreneur, are you ready to engage?

Creating a business experience

The one thing I hear all the time here in Los Angeles is the various experiences people have had at restaurants, hotels and amusement parks. My friend Chris Bogan (chrisbogan.com) made a comment the other day about our clients having an experience with our businesses. Typically we all talk about customer service when it comes to business and perhaps creating an experience can be more powerful than plain ordinary customer service.


What if we began hearing our clients/customers talk about the experience they had doing business with us, perhaps this could be your golden key as a start up business to attract the attention. So how can you create an experience for your client? What does it mean to experience a business?


If a client was to experience your business they will walk away with the feeling of importance, they felt taken care of, they were not just a number. Imagine if you would walking into a day spa, the music is playing, candles lit, lighting just right and then a pleasant smile from your massage therapists. That is an experience. Now imagine walking into the same day spa with bright lights, the smell of moldy towels, hard rock music playing and the therapist says “have a seat I’ll get to you when I can”. These are both experiences, so which one would you prefer?

Now how can you create an experience for your clients? If your business is on-line the website should be attractive, professional and easy to navigate. Don’t make it all about getting their information or treating them like they have a dollar sign on their forehead. I suggest you apply E.I.I. to what you do; Educate, Inform and Invite. Give them a reason to keep doing business with you, what sets you apart.

If your business is a brick and mortar then be sure when they walk into your front door they are greeted pleasantly and sincerely. Create a pleasant experience with music, lighting, aromas and a clean shop that is well organized.

To close the experience be sure to thank your client by sending a personal note. I suggest a handwritten one you mail out, it sure is nice to get something other than a bill in the mail and the handwritten note today is a rarity, so time for you to shine and be remembered. One thing I know here in Los Angeles the fast pace often leads to lack of follow through, no experience and no connection with people. Be different, stand out from the crowd and create an experience they soon will not forget.

Hollywood and Christianity

All I can say is wow! To the headlines today in the entertainment sector, not to my surprise Lindsay Lohan is trying to represent herself as a Christ-like person or image of Christ on the cross. What is Hollywood coming to where they find it okay to mock or blaspheme God?

Why is society today willing to accept this as the norm and not speak out? Are we becoming so desensitized by what we see that when something totally tasteless as her portrayal we say nothing and many run out to see or buy the item of controversy?

We sat here the other day talking about how Christianity seems to be the easy target to mock. We don’t see people mocking other religions or faiths, when was the last time someone mocked a Mormon or a Muslim? Why is this, is it because most Christians keep quiet just as Jesus did as he was mocked by the Pharisee’s?

Why is it when in a conversation a Christian mentions the name of Jesus they are laughed at and shut down? If they use the word God it is acceptable because everyone worships some kind of god. And yet a “movie star” can seductively portray Jesus in a crucifixion pose just before the Holy celebrations related to Easter (the resurrection of Christ) and it is a hot topic of conversation, something is wrong here. I guess Lindsey could deny the representation, as she does most of her antics, however the crown of thorns on her head, sorry Lindsey you knew exactly what you were trying to portray.

As Christians we need to stand up and say enough, God tells us in the Bible if we are luke warm he will vomit you out of his mouth, time to get off the fence and speak up for things that are not glorifying to God instead of tolerating them and accepting them as the norm. You know one day Christ will return for His people and He will ask each of us either Why not or say Well done, what will you hear on judgment day.

God’s unconditional love

I was watching the news for the Los Angeles area the other day and was really struck by the stories and their negative spin. I know there are positive things happening in Los Angeles however all we see are the horrible things people are doing to each other from killing family members to destroying marriages. I had to shut off the news and turn on some positive worships music.


As I sat and thought about the difference in the lives of those individuals and the lives of those that are placing God in the drivers seat, one thing popped into my mind, God’s love is unconditional while man’s love generally has strings attached and if you cut or unravel a string all hell breaks loose.

The word unconditional means the love is there no matter what you do, what you say or what you think. God offers Agape love to His children. In Exodus 34:6 God says; "I am the LORD, I am the LORD, the merciful and gracious God. I am slow to anger and rich in unfailing love and faithfulness.”

What if God’s Agape love was embraced and shared by the world? What if we started caring about others more than ourselves? Would it change the violence, anger, hate and destruction this world has put into play by denying the existence and power of God in this country, in this state, in this city? Would the children have a better chance today?

Our country was founded on the foundation of God, life was simpler and hate was less abundant. You know they say if we forget our history we are bound to repeat it, we are repeating life like those in Sodom and Gomorrah. If you look at the book of Genesis Chapter 14 you can see the direction society went. We see so much of the same activity today in our modern day society. If we were to put God back into the center of everything perhaps the news and life around us would not be so negative.

Many people deny that God exists, many think they are a good person so they can go to heaven and yet others believe there are many paths to heaven we all just call them something different. If this is true why does God say in John 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

So bottom line I guess is making the choice what we believe and if we believe the Bible to be truth then perhaps we need to look into our hearts and ask the question: Do I show unconditional, Agape love to those around me? Do I reflect Jesus in my life, my words and my attitude? Pray today for the Lord to work in your heart, we all know it starts in our own hearts then radiates out to others.

Giving it to God verses giving it to the universe

Recently when scheduling a guest for my radio show I had a comment regarding God. I told the guest that I was excited to see that she brings the book of Titus to her business; it is the inspiration for her. Her response to me was I never know what to say to folks in Los Angeles with all the liberal Christians and new age thinkers, they usually do not focus on what God’s word says, as it is with no modifications.


This brought to mind an interesting question what is the difference between giving it to God and giving it to the universe? As there are many “Christians” claiming they give it to the universe not to God. After doing some research and asking some experts what they mean by giving it to the universe I have found that there is a huge difference between God and the universe.

The universe is considered a supreme being whatever you may call it, according to several experts. Sometimes you may call it God, Buddha, mother earth, etc.; it is just a name because all these paths lead to heaven. We also found local churches in the Los Angeles areas that on their website the pastor was asked do you teach from the bible and the response back was “It is used only as a reference However, the version that is used is a metaphysical, Gnostic-inspired edition translated and interpreted from the original Aramaic, rather than the Greek translation used in traditional Christian churches such as the King James version, or the Saint Gregory version used by the Catholic church. Services and classes we refer to the world’s scriptures and sacred texts, as well as the writings of ancient and contemporary mystics, teachers, sages, philosophers, pundits, scientists, and even the enlightened person next door!”

So to address the issue of many paths all leading to heaven; this writer has to say false!
According to God’s Word, the Bible:

• John 14:6 Jesus told him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.

• John 17:3 And this is the way to have eternal life--to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth.

Now to give it to God, by giving it to God we are surrendering our worries, cares and troubles to the creator of the heavens and the earth.

• Isaiah 40:28 “Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the LORD, The Creator of the ends of the earth, Neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable.”)

By giving it to the one who created each of us and loves each one of us unconditionally we get to receive comfort and rest.

• Matthew 11:28 says Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”

We have been given a free will by God to choose for ourselves what we will believe, we need to seek the truth and determine what we will live by. Giving it to God means you are giving your “it” to a living God not an inanimate object or someone dead that we have been told is the answer to all our burdens and desires. We have come to a time in this world where we need to stand up in boldness without fear for the truth the Bible brings forth.

• Mark 13:22 “For false messiahs and false prophets will rise up and perform miraculous signs and wonders so as to deceive, if possible, even God's chosen ones.”

Creating a successful RoadMap for 2010!

Launching into a new year is always exciting as we plan our resolutions and move forward with excitement. However, only 8% of those that make resolutions actually keep them, ouch! So how can you as a start-up business owner/entrepreneur plan for 2010 and stick to it or keep focused? It is really simple create your own RoadMap to success!


A RoadMap directs and guides you as you begin a journey, and it can be modified as the journey launches. Just like on a vacation you may map out one direction then stumble upon something amazing and make a detour. The same is for your business, you map out the direction you desire to head then modify it as new ideas or opportunities come in your path. Be sure however, the opportunities and ideas are in you plan of vision. Too many times we branch out all over the place because it sounded good in the moment.

Part of the RoadMap creation is to identify your niche or target market, which is your ideal client base. In 2010 the second step to this part is to micro-niche your target. Micro-niching is taking it one level deeper, for example, your target market/niche is coaching, and in 2010 you would get deeper and perhaps market to new entrepreneurs or medical professionals. Coaching is a great one to use for an example to go deeper with, how many Life Coaches are out there now? They are a dime a dozen, so how do you set your practice apart from the other Life Coaches? Micro-Niche! Select a specific group you want to specialize in and market to them. The biggest fear in doing this is you will loose business, not true you will actually increase your business because you are seeking out a specific type of client.

Another key to a successful RoadMap is to do it in your own handwriting; yes that means pen/pencil and paper. The reason for this is to take ownership in what you have written, to many times when we put it all on the computer it becomes very cold and impersonal. I find that many will even deny some of their goals because it is not in their handwriting so you can’t prove it (yes this really happens). Take ownership in your dreams and take control of your RoadMap and you will be amazed at what can happen to your business!

Christians and business is there a connection?

Recently on FaceBook there was a question posted regarding Christians and their postings. The writer asked if it was inappropriate for a Christian business owner to post scripture or even offer prayer on FaceBook, wasn’t that taking it too far? My response to her was “If we are willing to accept profanities and sexual content then why can’t we accept positive postings reflecting one’s faith?”

You see the problem today is that there are many Christian’s conducting business however, not many Christian businesses. What is the difference? A Christian that conducts business keeps it reveled that they are a Christian unless directly asked and in many cases it is not even evident that the business owner is a Christian based on the way the business is ran and their attitude/words/actions. A Christian business puts Christ first in all their activities.

According to Matthew 6:33, …”But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” Basically if we put God first in all we do He will bless and provide for us. So the question that can be asked at this point is, do you put God first in your business?

Sometimes I think we may be afraid to say we are a Christian in fear of chasing away potential business. However, I know for a fact that your clients/customers are looking for something more than all the hype and look/feel good stuff that was out there in 2009. They want honesty and integrity, which in most cases can be found in a Christian business. Keep in mind if they reject you because you are a Christian they are not rejecting you they are rejecting Christ.
Here is my challenge for each of us in 2010 as we step forward creating our RoadMaps and business plans may we each embrace Matthew 13:31-32; Here is another illustration Jesus used: "The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed planted in a field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but it becomes the largest of garden plants and grows into a tree where birds can come and find shelter in its branches." We never know whom we might touch by acting and living like a Christian in every aspect of our lives. Will you hear “Why not” or “Well done” when you stand before God?

Christmas and 1 Corinthians 13

As we all know 1 Corinthians 13 is the chapter in the Bible all about love, unconditional love. A friend of mine gave me this Christmas reflection yesterday and I thought it would be great to share this with you with only a few days left before we embrace all the celebrations that Christmas Day will hold for us. The author is unknown.

If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows,

Strands of twinkling lights and shiny balls,

But do not show love to my family,

I’m just a decorator.

I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies,

Preparing gourmet meals and arranging a beautifully

Adorned table at mealtime,

But do not show love to my family,

I’m just another cook.

If I work at the soup kitchen, sing carols in the nursing home

And then give all that I have to charity,

But do not show love to my family,

It profits me nothing.

If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes,

Attend a myriad of holiday parties,

And sing in the choir’s,

But do not focus on Christ,

I have missed the point.

Love stops the cooking to hug the child.

Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the husband.

Love is kind, though harried and tired.

Love doesn’t yell at the kids to get out of the way,

But is thankful they are there to be in the way.

Love doesn’t give only to those who are able to give in return

But rejoices in giving to those who can’t.

Love bears all things,

Believes all things,

Hopes all things,

Love never fails.

Video games will break,

Pearl necklaces will be lost,

Golf clubs will rust,

But giving the gift of love will endure.

Sometimes we all get lost in the hustle and bustle of life and Christmas, I pray that this year we may all take a little time to reflect on the greatest gift we were ever given. The gift of the Son, Jesus Christ which is so priceless and we sometimes regard it as spare change. Here is to a Christmas filled with Christ and His unconditional agape love for us! Merry Christmas!

A reason to celebrate.

With only a few days left till Christmas morning springs itself upon us with all the giggles, excitement and love; many may be trying to figure out how to get the enormous lists of toys the children are wanting. Isn’t it funny how when I was a kid we asked for one toy maybe two, for me usually a Barbie Doll and that was all. Today however the lists have almost become novels, like a recent Christmas movie that portrayed a child on Santa’s lap going on and on about what he wanted, even Santa was like are you done yet!


A friend of mine was sharing her heart at one of our women’s fellowships. Her family was a military family for many years so at Christmas they were always blessed with gifts for the kids, about 5 or 6 different toys and games each. Today her husband is no longer an active military service man so they are not getting the support they had when moving from base to base. However the children’s Christmas list is even longer today and the toys are now much more expensive with electronic gadgets and all. She was concerned about making the children happy like any mom would want for her kids, however they do not have the money to provide the same kind of Christmas the children had grown accustomed to in the past.

You see so many of us today are caught in the same situation as my friend, not enough money to fill the want list from our kids and families. The answer is really simple if we are willing to step back and celebrate Christmas for what it is meant to be, a celebration of the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

What if we changed our perspective and focused on the true meaning of this holiday? Nothing wrong with giving gifts, God gave us Jesus! The problem comes when we loose our focus on the true meaning of Christmas and turn it into primarily an overspending shopping spree to make people happy, for the moment. Then we try to figure out how to pay off all we have charged, causing stress and depression. What if we scaled back the worldly side of Christmas and enlarged our faith filled side?

During the challenges today in our economy with all the job and home losses we can still celebrate and rejoice this week. We can celebrate the amazing gift that our Father in heaven has given us, the gift of eternal life through His Son Jesus Christ. He knows where you are today and He knows your needs, maybe it is time to surrender ALL to Him to find room in your hearts to celebrate the gift God has given us.

We all have a reason to celebrate this amazing Christmas season, the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

Can you believe it we are rapidly approaching 2010? Are you a new entrepreneur or a seasoned one? Perhaps you are one of the thousands of Accidental Entrepreneurs of 2009. No matter the case it is time to seriously look at the approach you will have for the New Year. I know many are saying I am too busy to look at it now with Christmas and all. Let me tell you if you do not start planning it now you will not begin the process because something will always be a priority.

A friend of mine, perhaps you know him Chris Bogan (http://chrisbogan.com/), mentioned in his blog this week that his forecast is that we will see small businesses merging together. Taking what you are lacking in skill & resources and merge with an appropriate counterpart. So the question lies in your hands do you want to merge or stand out as the expert and go to source on your own? Something to think about, as many will flee to what they consider the safety net of a JOB, however let me remind you what happen this year that so called safety net yielded 600,000 average job losses per month…safety net?

Nothing happens overnight a business takes planning, structuring and sometime re-inventing to fit with the economy today and your passions. If you do not start that thought process now how can you launch anything except perhaps a football as you watch the games on New Years? It is crucial for you to take the time to sit down and plan for 2010, at least for the first 3 months of the year. Below are some great questions to ask yourself that my friend Adam Urbanski from The Marketing Mentors (http://themarketingmentors.com/) asked himself as he launched a very successful business:

1. WHAT do I want to accomplish?
2. WHY do I want to achieve it?
3. What BARRIERS stopped me from already achieving this goal?
4. What new SOLUTIONS and SKILLS do I need to acquire?
5. What specific ACTION STEPS do I need to take to achieve this goal?
6. What SUPPORT will I need?

I challenge you today to answer each of these questions in complete honesty so you can discover you next steps for 2010. Once you have your hearts desire then connect with an expert to help you stay on track, a Business Coach. Even those of us that are Business Coaches hire a coach to keep us on track. Invest in yourself and you will succeed!

Choosing the right business…Part 2

Choosing the right business…
Part 2 “Start your own business from scratch.”

Where do you begin when starting a business by scratch or your own ideas? The process may seem overwhelming however, once laid out it is a simple process.

There are a few questions to ask yourself when launching a business from scratch:

1. What am I passionate about? When we speak of passion it

means what to you absolutely love to do, think about during

the day and even dream about at night.
2. What have you been told you are really good at?
3. What are the needs in the community?
4. What would I call my business?
5. Do I provide a service or product?
6. What expenses are related to launching the business?
7. Do you need a place to store products?
8. What is the anticipated rate of return? (initial output of money compared to the income)
9. Do you have a support system?
10. Do you need licensing or permits?
11. Home office set-up or rent an office space?
12. What is my plan? (Your RoadMap, Goals, Business Plan)
13. How will I market my business?
14. Do I have enough reserves to survive until the business is profitable?

These are just a few solid questions you need to know the answer to in order to be successful. Most of the time you can launch your business from your home with the use of the internet therefore, start-up costs could be relatively small. Understand that starting a business does not mean you will instantly make thousands of dollars; businesses take time to grow and become profitable. Most businesses take up to 2 years to see a profit, so you must be prepared to cover the expenses until the business can sustain itself.

It is really crucial as you build your business you establish a presence on the internet. Research has shown that 73.9% of us utilize the internet to seek out products and services. It is not necessary to invest thousands of dollars into a website, the main things you want to be sure happen with the website are:

· You own it
· You can modify it
· You are ranking on Google or Yahoo searches (SEO)
· Cost can be $500 to $2,000 depending on the size

So what is holding you back now? You have the questions you need to know in order to launch the most amazing journey of your life; you just have to put it into play.

Choosing the right business…

Choosing the right business…
Part 1 “Choosing a direct sales business”

You are ready to launch into the journey of entrepreneurialism whether it is as an intentional or accidental entrepreneur, now what? How do you choose which business to start? There are so many options available for every person from cosmetics to insurance and beyond. The key is to research what is the best fit for you, what are you passionate about.

My suggestion to you is to create a pro and con list for each idea you have, explore both sides openly. There are businesses you can pay a couple of hundred dollars to start and have a full business plan ready for you or you can build one from your own ideas. Let’s explore some of the options available to you as a buy in business or direct sales business.

A direct sales business is easy to start and yet may be more challenging to generate an income that can sustain you and your family. The great part of a direct sales business is the structure is already established so you basically pay your start up fees and start running. Here are a few questions to ask yourself when considering a direct sales opportunity:

1) How much is the start up costs and what do I get for the money?
2) What kind of training and support do they offer you?
3) Were they pushy to get you to sing up, promising you will make thousands of dollars (if so
run away)?
4) Do you believe in the product you would be selling?
5) How many other representatives are in your marketing area?
6) What lifestyle (car, clothes, etc) does your recruiter have, most are not really making the

money they claim you can make?
7) Are you willing to recruit team members for residual income?
8) Is the product in demand today, does it meet a need?
9) Do you have a passion for the products and do you use them?
10)Do you have months of reserve money in the bank to sustain you while you build your

client lists?

These are a few good questions to ask before you jump into a direct sales business. There are some people that are really good at this type of business and others that are not a good fit to be a direct sales business owner. There are other sales businesses like real estate and insurance you may want to consider as well. These types of businesses require state licensing and in some cases the parent company will look at your credit and determine if you are a good candidate. For example, recently we found that Farmer’s Insurance will pull your credit and if you have any negative you will not be considered. We asked them why someone’s credit, especially today, would be such a factor. The response from an Inland Empire office was, “if you have poor credit you are not good enough to get the application approved.” My suggestion to you, do your homework and do not take anything personal!

Part 2 Start your own business from scratch.

It’s Your Life!

It’s Your Life!

25 Tips for the Entrepreneur that will keep you on the right path…

1) Take 30 minutes a day to move! Smile while you move it is the best natural anti-

depressant available (endurance, health, focus).
2) Take 10 minutes a day sit in silence; no phones, no computer (refreshes the mind).
3) Every morning before you step out of bed complete the following statement:
“My purpose today is ________________.”
4) Eat more foods that grow on plants and less foods made from the inside of commercial
plants.
5) Drink plenty of water, drink green tea, and eat fruit grown in local trees, wild Alaskan

salmon, spinach, carrots and almonds.
6) Try to make at least 3 people smile each day. Smiles are contagious so just smile at them

and they will smile back.
7) Don’t waste your energy on gossip, issues of the past, negative thoughts, things you can not

control. Focus on what you “DO” want, dream big!
8) Eat breakfast, lunch in peace and dinner with a friend or loved one in a chair leisurely.
9) Life is not fair, BUT it is still good.
10) Life is too short to be angry, stingy and/or greedy.
11) Try not to judge yourself! Find yourself to be your best ally not your worst enemy.
12) Make peace with your past, so it won’t spoil the present. It is over, next is ahead!
13) Don’t compare your life to that of others, you have no idea what their journey is about or

been.
14) You don’t have to win every argument, it is ok to disagree.
15) No one is in charge of your happiness except for you! Close your eyes and say I am the boss.
16) Frame any “disaster” with these words, “Five years from now will it matter?” Better yet

“One year from now will it matter”.
17) Forgive everyone for everything, unforgiveness only hurts you.
18) What other people think of you is none of your business, what you think of you is vital!
19) God helps, it is His plan. We just need to trust His bigger picture, know we are loved and

keep moving forward.
20) However good or bad a situation is; it will change. The one thing we can bet on is change will

happen, move with it!
21) Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick, your friends & family will. Keep in touch

and be social.
22) Envy is a waste of time. You already have everything you need.
23) Each night before you go to bed, complete the following statements: “I am thankful for

_____________.” “Today I accomplished _____________.” Stay in a mindset of

gratitude.
24) Remember, you are too blessed to be stressed.
25) Share this with everyone.

Enjoy Life!

Business 101: Should I blog as a business owner?

The word blog is a conflation of two words: Web and log. It contains in its four letters a concise and accurate self-description: it is a log of thoughts and writing posted publicly on the World Wide Web. Often times we are hearing the question of, Should I be blogging as a business owner? Why do I need to blog?

Yes, as a business owner you need to be blogging on a regular basis. The blogs do not have to be long; they may only be a couple of paragraphs long but loaded with great content. Then we hear how often do I have to blog? My suggestion to you is at least once a week and I will explain why in a minute. If you can set aside 15-20 minutes a day I would write something once a day, put the time allotment on your calendar as an appointment.

Now on to the why should I blog? Here are several reasons to blog:
*Sharing news and information
*Expressing yourself
*Being found on search engines
*Open dialogue with potential clients
*Become the expert in your niche
*Move your business forward
*Develop a following
*Get published
*Market
*Public Relations (free PR)
*Blogs are interactive
*Branding
*Customer Evangelists (clients that proclaim you as the expert)

We are always searching for new ways to get our name out there to the world and in the case of a start-up business you are looking for cost effective ways to get it done. Blogging is a free resource (in general, there are some paid sites if you must) and it takes a small portion of time to write something that would educate your potential client. The key to a successful blog that requests interaction is to end your blog with a question, challenge or call to action. This will prompt potential and loyal clients to respond and engage with you.

To start your blog go to a recognized site by Google or Yahoo such as http://blogger.com/ this way it is free, easy and recognized in major search engines. There are several themed or specialty sites you can go register on that will direct you to a specific target market. Mashable has a great article listing over 40 free blog host sites http://mashable.com/2007/08/06/free-blog-hosts/.

The challenge today is go register yourself a blog site, and write a paragraph a day. You will find it gets easier and it is a lot of fun to share your knowledge. Are you ready to launch this marketing tool into your business plan today?

Business 101: What is Social Media Marketing & Why do I need it?

SMM (Social Media Marketing) is a huge arena of amazing tools that seem to grow and expand every moment. SMM is the hottest new way to market yourself and gain the much desired exposure to potential new clients. The amazing part of using SMM is the cost factor, SMM is virtually free to utilize, and it takes you world wide in a matter of minutes. Who would not want that kind of exposure?

SMM appears in a variety of forms from social networking sites to viral marketing sites.

Some of the common social networking sites include:
FaceBook (http://www.facebook.com/)
Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/)
LinkedIn (http://www.linkedin.com/)
NING sites (http://www.ning.com/)

While the viral marketing sites are:
YouTube
Flickr
Google Video
JibJab
Kewego
Metacafe
Veoh

Then you have your Blog sites:
Blogger.com
WordPress
TypePad

The fourth area in the SMM platform is Internet Radio/Podcasts:
BlogTalkRadio
PodBean
Voice America Radio
iTunes
Podcast Alley

The final area we will touch on is Social Bookmarking or tagging:
http://www.digg.com/
http://www.delicious.com/
http://www.stumbleupon.com/
http://www.reddit.com/

Keep in mind I am only listing the top sites, there are many others that can be more specific to your niche market. The key is to begin to connect into each of these platforms offering advice, tips, quotes then the sale. Do not march into these social platforms with a hard sale, guaranteed they will “un-friend” or stop following you.

You want to utilize all of the various platforms for optimum exposure, do not find yourself sticking to one only or combining all together on one site. The key is exposure and linking on several sites, then you can upload/link your radio show & blog to your main website to drive more traffic to your home site, that is a whole different topic for later. To find out more and explore your options visit http://www.robinhardy.net/ or email at Robin@RobinHardy.net.

Business 101: What do I need to start my own?

Starting your own business today is much easier than it was say 10 years ago. It used to be all about physical location, in some case today it is still location. However, most of us can start a business right from the comfort of our living rooms. With the invention of the World Wide Web we can launch a business in our living room that reaches world wide!

So let’s jump into the basic essentials for creating your own business today:

1.) A great idea, something that will meet a need for the community. Something that you can

do better than others providing the same product or service.
2.) You have to really want to journey this direction, owning your own business is not a cake

walk or a get rich quick adventure. However, if you are ready this will be one of the most

amazing journey’s of your life.
3.) You have to create a RoadMap to keep you on the right path. This is like using your GPS to

take a vacation; it is much easier to get from point A to point B if you have directions. This

will allow you to enjoy the fruits of your labor quicker than a random direction with no

planning.
4.) You have to create a Business Plan with specific targets, keep in mind this plan can & most

likely will be modified as you move through the launch and growth of your business.
5.) You need a strong support system behind you. This support system can come in a variety

of packaging; hire a Business Building Coach, join a Master Mind Group, find a Mentor…

Keep in mind each one plays a specific role in your journey. The Business Coach is trained

and experienced in getting you where you want to go, while the Master Mind Group may

be more generic or what worked for them. Unfortunately, what works for one may not

always work for the next person.
6.) You must have a strong passion for the business you want to start. Don’t just jump at

everything or the first sales pitch you get, dig deep and see if you are passionate about the

business. If you are not passionate you will give up if you do not see instant income and

success. Those that pursue their passions make it work and stick to it in good & bad times.
7.) You need to count the cost, starting a business does not mean instant income. You have to

be prepared to survive for about 2 years while you are building. If you have a job do not

quit unless you can survive without that income.

It is so simple today to launch a business and the rewards are far beyond anything a job can provide, are you ready? Are you willing to commit?

Business 101: Is it really a good time to start a business?

I stand here to say it is a phenomenal time to start a business! Let’s take a look at history and the companies that said yes and launched a business during tough economic times. Did you know that 16 of the 30 companies that make up the Dow industrial average were started during a recession or depression? These include Procter & Gamble, Disney, Alcoa, McDonald's, General Electric, FedEx, Trader Joe’s and Johnson & Johnson.

Let's journey through history to 1973-1975; the United States had an unpopular president, in the middle of the Watergate scandal and at the tail end of an extremely costly war that had divided the country. We watched gas prices jump by nearly 50% in two years leaving consumer confidence at an all-time low. You would think it was a terrible time to begin a business, right?

Let’s take a look at a few of the companies started during this economic crisis of the 1970's: Supercuts, Chili’s, Cablevision, Industrial Light & Magic, Famous Amos Cookies, Oakley and a small company called Microsoft.

What makes it a good time to launch the next Intuit, Whole Foods, J. Crew, Costco, or Applebee's (all launched during recessions)? Here's what happens in bad economic times, disruption. Disruption means things change often quickly and dramatically. When change happens opportunities are created and entrepreneurs seize that opportunity that’s what makes them entrepreneurs.

So what sets them apart from the rest of the people? There are a few key points that lead to success during economic crisis, like today:

· Mind-Set
· Desire for Change
· Passion for Opportunity
· Strong Support System
· Defined RoadMap
· Great Idea

What has changed in the way business is done today?

· Weakened competitors. It's likely that many of your competitors are facing tough times,

tightening their belts, perhaps retiring or selling out. Many of the companies that have

been around for what seems forever are shutting their doors.
· Customers seek cost effective options. When times are good, customers are likely to stick

with the suppliers they're used to, even if they're a more expensive. Today, however,

customers are looking around for cost effective options to get the products and services

they need.
· Large Corporations cut back. Reducing their services, especially to the small business

owners, who might be great customers for you.
· Loyalties loosen. As competitors reduce services to customers, and as customers look

around for cost effective options, it means they're less likely to be loyal even to longtime

suppliers.

What is your role in this opportunity?

· Be the cost effective option. Target customers who use more expensive products &

services now.
· Market aggressively. As loyalties loosen, your competitors' customers are more willing to

look at other options. They will be looking for those that stand out as the solution to their

needs/problems.
· Think out of the Box. Come up with new ideas/solutions, especially more cost effective

ones, for customers' problems; they'll be in a more receptive mood.
· Present yourself as a consultant for large companies. You'll be more cost effective than the

in-house staff they're laying off and will bring new innovative ideas to increase their

profitability.

"A lot of businesses get started at bad times," said S. Andrew Starbird, the Acting Dean of the Leavey School of Business at Santa Clara University. "What they have in common is that they were innovative and served a particular need at the right time, the right place with the right product at the right price."

Why people will not build a business today, Reason #8 Self-Sabotage

Sabotage; as defined in the dictionary is any undermining of a cause...



"You can't do that!" "That's way too difficult!" "If you try, you'll probably just fail anyway." These statements sound as if they're coming from someone with a cruel mission to destroy self-confidence. Unfortunately, we can be the “someone” and our target can be our self.
Negative self-talk or sometimes called Monkey Chatter is something we have all probably engaged in at some time. When it rears its ugly head on a regular basis it, it can lead to self-sabotage, and can stop us and in some cases paralyze a person from achieving their goals and dreams. The worse part is we usually don't recognize what we are doing to ourselves. Instead, we attribute our lack of success to inadequacy or being unlucky. This mind-set will strengthen the negative messages we tell ourselves, and we get caught in a self-sabotaging cycle that can be very difficult to break.
A simple way to tell if you are sabotaging your self is when you grind to a halt while you're trying to achieve your goals, for no rational reason. When you feel like you are stuck in quick sand and the only way is down, or you tell yourself to quit you are not capable of success. The skill, ability and desire are there just seems as something is stopping you from moving forward. When you begin to feel that you can't do something you should be able to do, or have done before self-sabotage is at work.
Self-sabotage behavior can leave you feeling frustrated, discouraged, and trapped in a situation you desperately want to change. Self-sabotage behaviors are irrational and illogical, and they will destroy your self-esteem and self-confidence!
Everyone sabotages themselves from time to time. Unfortunately, sometimes we sabotage ourselves to the point of not being able to live the successful, happy life we really want to live.
Here are a few questions you can ask yourself (honestly) to determine if you might be self-sabotaging yourself:
· Is procrastination a regular part of your day?
· Do you have a difficult time getting motivated to do the things you really want to do?
· Did you tell yourself that this would be your year to succeed, but despite this promise to
yourself, you are still not living the life you truly want to live?
· Do your love relationships seem destined to fall apart?
· Do people often misunderstand your intentions?
· Do you feel as if people in your life are constantly criticizing you?
· Do you ever experience depression, anxiety or panic attacks, even when there is no logical
reason for them?
· Do you ever feel resentment or anger over not having more control over the events in your
life?
Self-sabotage behavior damages your self-esteem and causes you to lose confidence in yourself, which is reflected to those around you by your attitude, comments and non-verbal communications. Self-sabotage can create feelings of frustration, discouragement, resentment, anger and panic. Most significantly, it stops you from doing and having the things you really want to have in your life.
So, let’s explore some ways you can overcome self sabotage. You have to let go, trust in the flow of life and begin to trust yourself. Do not allow other peoples opinions of you dictate what you believe and never do something to make someone approve of you if it’s not the way you would normally act, it is impossible to please everyone all the time.
In life we have to choose our battles we will fight and sometimes the best way to handle a situation if someone let you down either forgive them and understand that’s just the way they are or move on from them. Our actions will either lead to outcomes or consequences, you control your own life and no one else is responsible for the situations you find yourself in. You can not blame everyone else for what happens to you, if you do you are only sabotaging yourself.
Don’t be so hard on yourself, life is about learning and growing not instantly having the answer for everything. Self-sabotage needs to be recognized and addressed if you plan on moving forward as a successful business owner, because sometimes it is just you & the little mouse in your pocket that is moving in the same direction. Cut yourself some slack and talk kindly to yourself like you would talk to a loving friend, you will be surprised at the results you will experience. You may find you really like yourself!

Why People Do Not Start a Business Today, Reason #7 Laziness!

We have exposed 6 of the most common reasons we have heard recently on why people will not start a business today, reason #7 is a very blunt one, laziness! The case of the why bothers, why should I do anything or who cares. Some people have tried to use every excuse under the moon to not do anything to change their position.

This mind-set is a very dangerous one, however in today’s economy a very common one. If we focus on the entire crisis around us we will become paralyzed and complacent. Lingering in this mind-set for too long can create a position of laziness, if you have sat around too long you will loose your desire to move forward. The other issue is those that are genuinely lazy and just do not want to do anything to better themselves or their families. The strange thing about this person is they are the ones always complaining that life is hard, life is bad, I never get a chance/break and on and on.

If we really want change in our life we must get out of the mind-set of laziness and move into action. Consider this transition just like working out at the gym; take little steps to big rewards. If you try to change instantaneously you will most likely give up as you become overwhelmed. If you are in a position of really wanting to make the change in your life and launch out of “The Lazy Mind-Set” here are a few steps you can take to begin the process of change in your life:

· Place notes to yourself on mirrors, wallet, drawers that say “I can do anything I set my

mind to do”, these are called affirmations and they do work!
· Hire a Life or Business Coach to help you set some goals and keep you on the right path.

They will also help you through this tough transition from laziness to proactive &

productive.
· Find a Master-Mind Group in your area that meets once a week
· Read books that will empower you like; Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki or Think &

Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill or Who Moved My Cheese by Spencer Johnson
· Journal your progress daily, including emotions & feelings
· Just start today, do not wait until tomorrow, for tomorrow never comes it is always today!

Congratulations on your decision to be proactive and remember you can do anything you set your mind to do!