“Some guys have all the luck,
Some guys have all the pain,
Some guys get all the breaks,
Some guys do nothing but complain.”

- Rod Stewart

Rod Stewart may have been complaining in this song, but he did get something right: some guys really do have all the luck, and some really do nothing but complain.

Source: GettyImages.com

There are people who seem to have been born lucky.  They know what they want, set out to get it, and somehow, everything falls into place.  Even if something goes wrong along the way, they still manage to land on their feet.

Some people, on the other hand, who just can’t seem to catch a break.  These are the people who believe that someday their luck will turn, and that someday, the “lucky ones” will run out of luck too.  Some of them will simply blame the stars – they believe they’re fated to be unlucky, and they can’t do anything about it.

In a strange way, the unlucky ones are right, or so says Drawk Kwast.  In his article Science of Luck on Small Business CEO Magazine, he explains that “The biggest reason you don’t have the life you want is because you are focused on what you aren’t getting. You see only your lack of luck. Successful people live life as they desire because they focus on what they are getting.”

The unlucky ones are unlucky because they believe they’re unlucky.  Makes sense, right?

Drawk shares the results of a study conducted by Richard Wiseman, a psychologist at the University of Hertfordshire.  In the study, he asked two groups of people, a “lucky” group and an “unlucky” one, to look through a newspaper and tell him how many photographs were in it.    On average, the lucky people had their answers in seconds, while the unlucky ones took two minutes.

Luck is about keeping your eyes open

The lucky ones saw a large message taking up half of the second page that said: “Stop counting. There are 43 photographs in this newspaper.”  The unlucky ones totally missed it and kept counting.

The key, as Drawk puts it is this: “It’s not about luck. It’s about keeping your eyes open.”  He goes on to say that he’s among the lucky ones, “not that I have better luck than other people; it’s that I can see things that others can’t.”  Drawk can identify opportunities for growth and success that many others can’t, and he also interacts with as many people as possible to create those opportunities.

Luck is about extending your hand

This idea is shared by other lucky people.  One of them is Tom McCarthy, whom I interviewed a few months back for a NOBS TALK on Increasing Your Luck.  Tom explains: “One of the things lucky people do that unlucky people tend not to do is they maximize the number of opportunities that come to them.”  By being outgoing, by introducing yourself to others, and by expanding your network, you create opportunities for yourself, and improve your luck.

Luck is about listening to your gut

Tom also shares that lucky people listen to their “lucky hunches,” while unlucky ones go against them.  If that doesn’t quite make sense, replace “lucky hunches” with gut or intuition.  You improve your luck by following your gut – it might not get it 100% right, but more often than not, your intuition will steer you in the right direction, and you’ll be happier for it.

Luck is about keeping a smile on your face

This brings us two the idea that lucky people are happier.  The idea seems so obvious – if things just seem to fall in place for you, of course you’ll be happy about that.  What most people don’t see, however, is that it works when you flip things around – happy people are luckier too.

J.D. Roth discusses this on Zen Habits in his article How to Make the Most Out of Luck in Your Career and Life.  “A person who leads a balanced life is happier, more relaxed, more open to new experiences,” J.D. Explains.  “If you maintain good relationships, pursue satisfying hobbies, go out of your way to help others, and continue to pursue personal growth, you will become a well-rounded person, just the sort that ‘luck’ favors.”

Michael Levy also discusses this briefly in his article The Five Principles for Prosperity. The first principle he shares is to Enjoy Everything.  Enthusiasm and exploration, he says, “leave the door open for future development.”

Drawk Kwast really sums it up well: “This has nothing to do with luck. It’s pure science.”  Luck is all about your attitude and your outlook.  It’s about opening your eyes, creating opportunities, following your gut, and maintaining a positive attitude.  The question now is this:

Will you create your own luck, or will you be one of those who do nothing but complain?

Good luck!

Ric

“There was never any fear for me, no fear of failure. If I miss a shot, so what?” ~ Michael Jordan   

We all know who “His Airness”, Michael Jordan is.   His contemporaries, mostly basketball legends themselves, defer to him as the “greatest basketball player of all time.”  His stats are stellar, his scores off the roof, his name is in the Hall of Fame.  As I gleaned from his words above, Jordan rose to the top because he played with NO FEAR.  He played to hone his skills, played to master his craft, played to enjoy the game. With his refusal to let fear breed in his heart and mind, he played to become the best. 

I’m not simply talking about basketball. I’m talking about the fear that we carry in our hearts and in our heads, the fear that stops us from being happy, or talented, or gorgeous, or successful. Fear is a debilitating emotion, it can be paralyzing.  For some of us, this is the barrier that hold us back from becoming successful, from realizing potentials of great heights – what we can do and where we can go.   

Helene Rothschild, intuitive counselor, speaker and author, challenges us to overcome our fears in Dare To Reach Your Goals: 7 Major Keys to Success in Small Business CEO Magazine. 

The article was an enlightening read for me. It gave me new perceptions about fear. 

Fear of failure, or fear of success?  

Apparently, it is not so much the fear of failure that blocks us, but surprisingly, the fear to succeed. This is a pretty new concept to me; I never thought people could fear the positive. Rothschild talks about the 7 fears of success and how we should cut those ropes to overcome them. 

We fear success because we fear the unknown, not knowing what to do once we’re in new ground.  We fear success because we think we are not deserving of its rewards, and fear the consequences that come with it.  We fear success because we think it does not fit our self-image, or people will no longer like us once we’re there.  We fear success because our parents may not accept that we can surpass what they have accomplished.  We fear success because we think we are doing it for other people, not for ourselves. 

We fear success.  We hinder it ourselves.  We create the bars and roadblocks.  We limit ourselves.  We refuse to succeed. 

F.E.A.R. = False Evidence Appearing Real 

“Empty fears we all have, most worryings are needless, but still we fail to understand and go on fretting heedless.” ~John McLeod, from On Crossing Non-Existent Bridges 

Another article that turned my perception of fear around is what Lynn Pierce, the Success Architect and founder of the annual Empowered Women’s Business Summit, wrote in her article Banish Fear in Your Life .  It made me think, and eventually agree:  “95% of our fears are never realized.”   Our fears are mostly based on unfounded worries; we turn something illogical into an over-analyzed basis of anxiety. 

False Evidence Appearing Real.  And yet, we allow it to grip us, to stop us from moving towards the direction of where we really want to go. 

I liked Pierce’s suggestion of declaring that YOU and what you want to accomplish is bigger than your fear.  I did the personal growth exercise that she suggested and realized that I indeed have a lot of anxieties and apprehensions that most likely will never happen.   

“Whatever you fear most has no power…it is your fear that has the power”. ~Oprah Winfrey 

Fear is powerful in the sense that it is paralyzing.  It binds us and pins us down from doing what we should, or what is right.  The challenge to us is how to harness this power, and turn it around to become a positive emotion, a call to action.

Source: GettyImages.com

After reading the articles, it dawned on me, now, it’s all a matter of decision on my part:  “Will I allow my fears to lord over me?  Do I let it conquer me?  Or the other way around?” 

Burn your fear list 

Pierce, in her article, suggests this personal growth exercise: make three columns on a piece of paper.  On the first column, list your fears, on the second, write down the worst possible thing that can happen if your fear comes true, and on the third, write down a solution to the problem. 

I found this exercise liberating.  It simplified so many things for me, and helped me tackle each fear in a straightforward, no-nonsense manner.  I felt so much better after – silly, in fact, realizing that most anxieties I had were baseless, unfounded, and not even likely to happen.    And should they do arise, I now know what to do.   

To complete my liberation from fear, I read my list once again, took careful note of my solutions column, and burned my list.  Watching that piece of paper go up in smoke was symbolic to my letting go.  It’s like shouting to the world:  “Fear, I’m burning you down.  I’m much bigger than you are.”   

Source: GettyImages.com

 Cut the ropes 

“Each time we face our fear, we gain strength, coverage, and confidence in the doing.” 

Now that you have I looked fear in the eye and decided to stand firm against it, I can now empower myself to do greater things, reach greater heights.  I think Rothschild said it best in her article… 

“Imagine that you are in a beautiful air balloon ready to take off, to have what you want in your life. Now look towards the ground and notice if there are any ropes holding you down, stopping you from being free to fly. 

Source: GettyImages.com

“In order to reach your goals in your life, it is necessary to cut those ropes-to overcome not your fears of failure but your fears of success. You may be as surprised as I was when I first discovered the fear of success. It seems illogical to push away the very things we desire”. 

I have now decided to break away from the ties that bind and weigh me down.  I look forward to flying high and flying free, and breathing the wonderful air from above.   

Command & conquer 

What is it exactly that you fear?  Is it failure, or success?  What will it take to conquer it?  Look fear in the face and banish it.  Command yourself to conquer an imaginary foe that has long been pulling you down. 

I leave you now with another point to ponder on.  I found this excerpt from a book written by Marianne Williamson, A Return to Love – Reflections on the Principles of a Course in Miracles: 

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate,
our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves,
Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?” 

Conquer your fears!
Adaire  

Sometimes, I wish I could go back to the pre-internet age. The world without emails, IMs, Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, etc…There were fewer distractions to contend with. But it sure was a burden not having to shop at just a click of a button

I remember back then, when the internet was new, if you wanted to shop at Amazon, you would go through their “online catalog” write down all of the item numbers for what you wanted and pick up the phone and CALL their order number – or if you were really brave – you’d email your order and credit card info .  On eBay – if you bought something at auction and won – you would send a physical check to the seller who would cash it and then send your order to you.

Most websites were education sites or basically business cards online. Full scale online adoption didn’t happen until ten years ago.  And boy did we all truly adopt – fast!

I have to admit that living in the World Wide Web has made it difficult for me to keep my focus. The internet has enough content to consume my mind.  And even with all this surplus of cultural technologies that evolve faster than you can type, we still thirst for more ways to fill our attention. I mean, do you even have to wonder why they had to create multiple tabs in the internet browser?

Source: GettyImages.com

Indeed, with all these information bombarding us from so many sources, keeping our minds focused almost seems impossible. I bet while you are reading this, you are chatting with online friends, downloading a funny cat video, listening to the radio, and watching TV.

Greg Reid, author of the book, “Millionaire Mentor” cites a more vivid example showing the importance of focus in one’s success in his article on Healthy Wealthy n Wise entitled Catch the Ball.

He compares a golden opportunity to a game of basketball where you are poised to make the winning shot.  Being aware that the success of the game relies on you adds pressure that could make you lose focus.  Your mind may wander too far ahead into imagining triumph and accolades. As your attention drifts, you end up failing to catch the ball.

While focus is mostly required of athletes in a high-pressure competition, the concept also presents itself to various situations. Take a stage actor for example.  He could hit the high notes, memorize his lines, keep in character during his rehearsals, but once he loses his focus onstage when the blinding lights and public eyes are upon him, then all is for naught.

Riding two horses:

“If you can’t ride two horses at the same time you shouldn’t be in the circus.”- Unknown source

Riding two horses altogether may seem like a highly-prized ability, IF you want your life to be a circus.

So before you pat your back for your ability to multi-task, think again. Reid couldn’t have said it better himself, “We can do things faster and better, if we focus on only one thing at a time.”

So how do you maintain your focus amidst this crippling attitude of doing everything at once?

I’ve outlined here a few basic tips which I based on Reid’s article:

Unplug:

Recently, I caught a story on TV where a family with teenage kids was dared to live for a week without TV, internet, mobile phone, radio, and music players. To entertain themselves, they played board games; talked, painted, read books.  I wasn’t sure if the family made it through the week, but it did make me think how families have changed so much because of this technological age. Kids are busy text messaging their friends instead of talking to their parents over dinner. Dads are spending more time in front of the computer monitor instead of their real live kids. Families have lost their focus on the most important aspect of their lives – their loved ones. Without your family, with whom will you share your success?

If you think unplugging yourself completely is too harsh, then start with unplugging yourself some of the time. For example, turn off the TV and ban all mobile phones during meals so you could enjoy a conversation. Or plan a no-connectivity weekend in a beach or at home. You might be surprised at how going back to basics could lead you to a grander vision in life.

Prepare:

In his article, Reid emphasizes the need for preparation. In a high-pressure situation such as a big business presentation, you are given only one chance. Leave no room for surprises. Carefully study all aspects of a task or project before you aim for the big shot.  Being prepared mentally also boosts your confidence. Simon Cowell couldn’t have said it best, “There is no need to be nervous if you know you’re good.”

If you‘ve covered all possibilities, ran through your presentation, perfected your pitch, then you are in total control of the situation. This kind of assurance leaves you now with only one task in mind: focus to win.

Choose One:

Pick one and stick with it.  Whether it’s a career path, a task, a business, a strategy, a goal, and yes even a life partner You have to choose only one for you to succeed at it.  If you want proof then try it tomorrow. Make a list of your day’s tasks and do them all at once.  I bet you would succeed only at squandering your time.  If you think all your tasks are necessary, then prioritize and allot a scheduled time for each.  Imagine focusing all your thought, energy, resources on that one task. You would not only finish, but also finish with a flourish.

Glancing at these simple tips, you might think that they are far too methodical.  You might ask, what about creativity? The need to live in the moment, allowing the natural flow of imagination?

Have you heard the esoteric order of art?  Yes, even in the most abstract Picasso, there is logic and order. Underneath all those crazy, non-linear strokes is a unifying theme that makes it a work of art. Why do you think you could recognize a Picasso if you see one?

So ask yourself this question, are you ready to create a masterpiece of success?  Then get focused!

Let me know how you plant to start your magnum opus with your comments below.

Adaire

Source: GettyImages.com

Despite how some people make it look, networking isn’t easy.  Trust me on this, I know.  Networking takes time, hard work, and a lot of patience – and I’ve put in my fair share of that. Of course, to be at successful at networking, like in most other things, you need a couple of things: the right skillsets, and the right mindsets.  

Some of you may be wondering what the difference is between the two.  Let me break it down for you by putting you in the shoes of a carpenter or handyman.  

Think of your skillset as the tools you have on your belt, and of course, the know-how and experience to use these tools. These things not only make your job easier, but are vital for your job.  

In networking your tools or your skills involve effectively communicating your ideas to others, being able to focus on specific tasks, and knowing how to bond with potential business partners, just to name a few.  

Having the right skillset, however, is only part of the formula.  You may know how to nail, screw, and glue pieces of wood together, but if you don’t know what you’re building or what steps you have to take, all you’ll end up with is a pile of wood.  This is where the mindset comes in.  

Ivan Misner says it best in his article in one of our online magazines, Healthy Wealthy n Wise, entitled Networking is Both a Mindset and a Skillset. He explains that  too many business and life coaching professionals, focus too much on the skillset, and neglect a way of thinking that you need for successful and dynamic networking, or what he calls the mindset.  Of course, he also gave us specific examples to help us better determine what our own skillsets and mindsets are.

Focus your mind

I’m a firm believer in the power of the mind. If you can dream it, you can achieve it. Whatever you believe in and envision, you can become. These are some of the values I try to instill in my sons Chandler and Stefan. I want them to grow up knowing that they can take control of their own lives, and it starts with their minds.

Here are the three mindsets that Ivan Misner shared in his article: 

The Law of Reciprocity or Givers Gain Approach

The Golden Rule; “you reap what you sow;” “what goes around comes around;” “you only get what you give;” “give and you shall receive” – the idea has been stated many times over in countless ways, and for good reason.  No matter which form, language, or combination of words it takes, the Law of Reciprocity is a universal law. 

This is a great to law to apply to networking – if you treat your network well, they will likely treat you well too.  However, Ivan stresses that this law is not transactional.  Statements like “you scratch my back, I scratch yours;” and “tit for tat” are not what the Law of Reciprocity is about.  Sure, a quid pro quo approach can bring some success, but nothing like what the power of reciprocity can yield.  

You shouldn’t just do business with those who you think would give you the most profit or the best benefits.  Instead, you should focus on your ability to work with and help others – somehow the universe will make it worth your while.  Trust me, if your heart is in the right place, fate will pay you back tenfold.  It’s a cliché, I know, but no good deed goes unpunished indeed.

Diversity in networking

Diversity allows you to explore other worlds other than your own. It lets you get out of your own head and pick other people’s brains for a change. Not only will you increase your knowledge and broaden your perspective, you will also widen your network.

If you’ve been around the business long enough like Liz and I have, then you’ll know that diversity isn’t just good for networking and business, it’s also prime ground for personal growth. 

Farming Mentality

Among the many things farmers are known for and are good at are patience and cultivation. They till the soil before planting seeds, nurture and protect their crops, and gather the harvest only when the time is right.  They don’t expect to reap the benefits of their hard work overnight. 

Success in networking is similar – you don’t go in for the kill in the first meeting.  You prepare the soil first by bonding with potential clients, referrers, and partners.  Only after this do you plant the first seeds and discuss referrals and networking opportunities.  Also like a farmer tending to his seeds, you need to make sure that you strengthen your relationships with those you want in your network.  

Do this, and you’ll eventually reap the benefits.  Like farming, networking success  doesn’t happen overnight.  You don’t get rich by being impatient and riding get-rich-quick schemes. Remember, there’s no money-back guarantee in those fly-by-night businesses. 

Enhance your skills

Your mindset complements your skillset.  Your mindset gives you a plan or a networking stragety, but your skillset gives you the tools to execute that plan.  These three skillsets Ivan  mentions in his article can really help you start up and build a strong networking business.   

The VCP Process(TM)

Ivan Misner coined this skillset which stands for visibility, credibility and profitability.  Visibility breeds credibility and credibility, more often than not, leads to profitability.  You have to start with making yourself more visible to the business community you belong to.  This could come in many forms, including attending mixers, writing for the newspaper, supporting neighborhood sports, and holding fundraisers, among other things. 

As people see how stable and dependable you are, you gain credibility in their eyes.  This credibility leads to referrals, stronger relationships, and eventually, more profit.  Don’t be afraid to try something new, and be creative in getting yourself and your business out there.

Sharpshoot, Don’t Shotgun

Information overload can hurt your business really bad.  When you introduce yourself and your business, don’t try to cram everything into a 30-second, 3,000 word-per-minute spiel.  Instead, focus on the key aspects of your business – the more details, support materials, and stories you can build around each aspect, the more others will learn and remember.  My wife Liz often complains about retention, but in this case, retention is a very good thing.  When people remember and trust you, they will come back to you repeatedly.

Hold One-on-Ones

How did you meet your spouse, partner, or significant other?  Chances are, you met in a party, mixer, or some other group setting.  

How did you get to know each other?  I bet you spent quite a bit of time with each other, away from others in your social circles.  

The fact is that you can learn things about other people in one-on-one interactions that you’re unlikely to discover in a group setting.  This applies not only to personal relationships, but networking and business as well.  

One-on-one interactions give you a deeper knowledge and understanding of each other’s strengths, weaknesses, and capabilities.  They also help you  establish closer and stronger bonds with your partners, which usually translate to an increase in referrals too. 

There are many ways to start and build a networking business. Whatever skills you have can always be enhanced by your mindset and vice versa.  What mindsets and skillsets have you used in your business?  Do you know of others that you’d like to share with us?  Let us know through the comments section below.

Happy networking!
Ric

Peace of mind – a concept seemingly foreign to most of us overworked and overscheduled people running out and about in this modern world. Amidst our responsibilities, needs, wants and everything else in our everyday lives, we seldom get the chance to own and revel in it. When we do get glimpses though, it’s like we get to taste just a little piece of heaven!

Now, there are a couple of ways we could grab our own slice and enjoy peace – finding out what we really want and learning to delegate or  let go, as some may say – two  deceptively simple phrases that, not surprisingly, weigh the hardest on most people’s minds.  How do you find out what you want? When is it right to let go?

Source: Gettyimages.com

Listen to YOU

An article from Thrish Bishop – speaker, Intuitive Guide and author of “The Question Journey” – in Healthy Wealthy n Wise entitled It’s Time to Be Quiet helps us focus on finding all the answers we need within ourselves. Imagine that, we try and try to find answers to life’s many questions elsewhere and get confused by everything that’s going on around us, when all we needed to do was to find a spot, be quiet and listen to our inner voices.

Below are some tips from Thrish mentioned in her article:

Break the “buy your answers” habit.

Do you, like me and most people, spend money on self-help materials, when they’re basically saying or teaching the same principles? Somehow, we might be led to think that maybe if we pay for something, what we find inside it might actually be of some value. Well, that may be true for most of these sources, but not always. Try listening to what YOU know. Learn to distinguish the difference between the information they give and the knowledge that you already have. Between what you find out and what you believe in, you’ll definitely find what you’re searching for.

Shut off the chaos valve.

When we don’t want to know exactly what’s happening within us, or if we’re trying to hide something, we pretend that we have all these things going on. We make it a point to be busy, or we allow all the external distractions to, well, distract us.  Given that they really are important and they really do need your attention, don’t help them help you hide from what you need to do. Shut out the chaos, quiet your mind and find at least a modicum of peace within.

Rip-off the band-aid.

Don’t cover your feelings with bravado or denial. Those will only cause the negativity to fester. It’s better to let the wound breathe than let it breed in the dark. When emotions are exposed, it’s easier to deal with them, get them out of the way and move on to whatever you need to do. Let me tell you, the sooner you rip that bandage off, the better you’ll feel.

Cut the strings.

Don’t listen to society. Nor should you let them dictate what you should wear, eat, do or feel. Don’t let society’s restrictions limit you. I’m not saying you should break state laws or commit random acts of violence or sin. Show them off and be comfortable in your own skin instead. Listen to YOU and trust YOUR instincts. Follow your intuition and don’t allow “them” to mold you into something you’re not. Give yourself a chance to experience some personal growth.

Let THEM Help

Kim DeYoung – the “Get It Done Girl” who gives business and life solutions to mom entrepreneurs – on the other hand, shares with us one of the best tips for avoiding mistakes, and instead, boosting your profit and potential through her article Delegate – Give Yourself More Time, Energy and Money. How? Like the title said, through delegation. It may sound simple enough, but from my experience, it’s easier said than done.

One of the many business success secrets out there is delegation. Yes, aside from clearly setting and visualizing your goals, allowing failure to peep every once in a while and having a good marketing plan, you also need to learn how to let go of certain things and allow others to step up to the plate.

I’m sure you’d do an amazing job handling whatever it is you need to do, but with everything going on around you, you don’t have to drive yourself crazy with keeping up. There are other equally competent people out there who are very much willing to help and would likely give you better results and allow you to focus on the things that need your attention more.

Give the little, time-consuming things to them, so you could handle the bigger, more important things yourself. There are virtual assistants, virtual bookkeepers, and the like, who are very competent and enthusiastic about what they do.

With this set up, you could even pay them by the hour, as opposed to hiring full-time, in-house staff whom you’ll have to pay even without output. You’ll also get the benefit of picking their brains if you get stumped along the way, since they could easily have encountered similar situations before.

Kim DeYoung passed on some tips from her interview with Erin Blaskie:

Make a list of the things you know you want to delegate out.

Track your time for one week. Track everything.

Keep track of your time, so you’ll know which tasks take up more of it that you need to let go. Of course, this wouldn’t help if you don’t know how to leverage your time properly and end up spending more than you could bring in.

Communicate your business vision.

Consider your virtual assistants as partners, not employees.

Utilize their expertise.

Let them bring something to the table. The reason you chose to delegate tasks to them is because they know something that you might not. Trust them to share what they are capable of, and revel in human beings’ capacity to learn from each other and learn on their own, while trying to satisfy their insatiable thirst for knowledge.

Have you listened to the inner you, grabbed a piece of that peace, and found out what you want? Are you able to delegate and let go of tasks that would help you grow your business? Let me know through the comments section below.

Happy searching!
Adaire

Source: iStockphoto

Communication, verbal or not, is our way of getting in touch with people – or even animals, for that matter. Without communication, we won’t be able to build relationships, we’ll be locked in our own worlds and we’ll never get whatever we want to say out to our fellow human beings.

Furthermore, the money-making success secret of businesses, whether small or big and using online or offline marketing, is right communication. This is what Ric Thompson’s Small Business CEO Magazine’s  talk with Sam Horn focused on – Empowered Communication.

Sam Horn, with six books and 20 years of award-winning communication/creativity consultancy for international clients under her belt, discussed a few tips that she also featured in two of her books, Pop! and Tongue Fu! This top-rated speaker and in-demand consultant shared how we could empower our communication and use it to improve our businesses and relationships.

Source: iStockphotos

Elevate Your Style

At first meetings, we’re often asked, “What do you do?” For some professionals, this is so easy to answer. They either say they’re doctors, lawyers, accountants, consultants and the like. But for others with out-of-the-box, slightly unique or somewhat new careers, it’s very hard to convey what we do. I mean, it’s simple if the word marketing just covers it. But since there are different types of marketing out there – online marketing, event marketing, strategic marketing, web marketing, email marketing, affiliate marketing, etc. – it’s best to be more specific, yeah?      

You don’t want people knitting their brows in confusion and forgetting all about you do you? Of course not!  Sam Horn introduced the concept of the “elevator speech” or “elevator intro.” According to her, when we answer a question concerning what we do, we have to offer them something that they’ll be able to touch, feel, hear or taste. We should answer in such a way that will capture the other’s person’s senses.

Instead of rambling on about the technicalities of our job, that others might not necessarily care for, we could ask them a question so we could get FI or free information from them. We could then wrap our answer around that information. It would help relate what we do to what they’ve experienced or known before. They’ll understand what we’re about and most probably even want what we’re offering. Since we connected with them on a deeper level and our conversation led to something meaningful, there’s a bigger chance that they’ll remember us. 

One of the greater benefits of having people understand what we do is the chance of getting unsolicited – but very much welcomed – word-of-mouth promotion from them. First impressions last, as they say.  When we’ve captured their attention and made what we do remarkable to them, people tend to share information about us without actually meaning to. If someone asks them about what we do, then they’ll have an easier time sharing the information in our behalf. This is how information about us and our services could go viral. I don’t know about you, but that’s what I would call effective marketing.

“Good manners are made of petty sacrifices.”—Ralph Waldo Emerson

 This is another concept that Sam Horn shares in her talk with Ric Thompson. According to her, the best way to deal with complaints is not to explain, but to take the A-train instead — agree, apologize and act. I totally agree!  The best way to put out a fire is not to fan it nor add fuel to it, right?

During conflicts, it’s always easier to defend oneself isn’t it, especially if we’re certain it’s not our fault. It’s mostly an ego thing, I know. But there you go.  It’s human nature. When threatened, our defense and fighting instincts take over. When we’re on the frontlines of service though – whether by email, phone or in person – it’s not exactly the smartest way to go.

So, what should we do? We should do as Sam Horn advices – bite our tongue and process our thoughts quickly in our heads. We have to learn to think on our feet and to agree that we didn’t deliver what was expected, apologize for the oversight and act on a solution that would appease the customer or whomever we’re talking to. This doesn’t only work in business mind you, but on every relationship we wish to keep.

Don’ worry though, even if you don’t get it right the first time, there’s such a thing as a “fresh start.” Even if we stumble during introductions and first meetings, we could always make up for them the next chance we get – whether it be a day, a week, a month or even a year after the incident. Now, doesn’t that make you breathe easier?

Keep It Short

“I try to leave out the parts people skip.” – Elmore Leonard, bestselling author of Get Shorty

“Instant gratification takes too long.” – Carrie Fisher, Princess Leah from the Star Wars movies

These are good points to launch the other good advice that Sam Horn shared in her talk with Ric Thompson. She said, “If we write an article that’s too long, if we speak for too long, if we give a report that’s too long, or if we have marketing copy that’s too long, we are taking ourselves out of the game.”  

This, I believe, is true. If we really want to capture people’s attention and be remembered by them, then watching their eyes glaze over and boring their brains out are not exactly the smart routes to take.  Trust me, and the experts, on this – keep it short.

As a litmus test, it’s always better to ask yourself if what you have to say is (1) interesting; (2) easily understandable; and (3) would add value to the person you’re speaking with, before you actually say anything. Even when you’re excited, try to not get ahead of yourself. Take the time to process your thoughts before uttering any words. Better yet, it helps to have a prepared intro or a concise and compelling bit when you go into any personal or professional gathering. It’s a little unnerving to think about at first, I know. But with practice, it’ll get easier. 

Communication comes easy to everyone. Empowered communication, on the other hand, is a different matter all together. With the tips Sam Horn shared, we are actually given room to improve on our own communication skills. Keep in mind that in what we have to say, whether it’s about ourselves or our business, it always pays to keep it short, interesting, easily understood and remarkable. The best way to go viral, build networks and strengthen relationships is to get our messages across and have people relate to what we say.

In a way, these tips help us work on our own personal growth. By learning how to communicate well, we improve ourselves and our relationships with those around us. Don’t you think so too? 

To access the recording of Ric Thompson’s talk with Sam Horn on Empowered Communication, click here.

If you have thoughts and other tips to share on how to improve communication skills, please type in your comments below.

Happy mingling people!
Adaire

“Success is not a place at which one arrives but rather the spirit with which one undertakes and continues the journey.” ~ Alex Noble

We’re halfway through 2010, and yes, times are still tough. Amidst news of recovery and restarting growth, there are still those who fear for their livelihood, their income, their next meal. Not to be Ms. Negative here, but let’s face it, there will always be challenges. For as long as we live, there will always be problems to solve and hills to climb. After all, it’s one way to make sure we’re alive right? If we don’t have anything else to overcome, then we might as well just drop and well, stop living.

Contrary to popular belief, bad times can actually bring the best out of people. It is during these tough times that the strongest surface. The survival instinct within us tells us that only the fittest survive. As we have seen in history, the best practices are those that survive over time and only the strong thrive in the thickest situations. Those who are left standing are those that make millions and live happier lives.
Whether we’re talking about our professional or personal lives, it’s not really just the destination that we’re supposed to focus on. Of course, we all want to make millions in business and enter the pearly gates once we check out, but ultimately, it’s not the results that would matter. At the end of the day, more than the destination, it’s the journey that we should be more concerned about – the means to our end, so to speak. The journey is where we’ll spend most of our waking hours and get to experience a whole range of emotions. Thus, it’s not really something to be cavalier about.

Source: GettyImages.com

Fighting Tough

As humans, we are born resilient. When times are tough and we feel we can’t take it anymore, we’ll be surprised to find that we still have all that reserve energy and strength deep within us that we could call upon to get us through. On top of that, Anne Leedom, founder of www.netconnectpublicity.com, publisher of www.parentingbookmark.com and one of our contributors at HealthyWealthyNWise Magazine, shared with us Five Ways to Feel Empowered During Challenging Times.

Surround yourself with positive people.

Don’t add insult to injury. If you’re already feeling down and out, it’s not wise to surround yourself with negative energy and people, right? Trust me, you’ll be more productive if you maintain the company of optimistic people. I’m not saying you should forget about everyone you know, just spend time with those who could help lift you up for the meantime. Better yet, go with those who have the same goals as you. That way, you won’t have to feel lonely or out of place on your road to success. Be careful though, misery does love company. So, better have the power to say, “No, thanks!” and move on to positivity.

Do something you love everyday.

Don’t deprive yourself. Yes, I know, times are tough, but that doesn’t mean you have to wallow in self pity and close yourself off from those that you love. Go ahead, pamper yourself every once in a while. Never feel guilty for giving yourself time to enjoy. It could be as simple as sharing a meal with your family, listening to your favorite music, watching a bit of that guilty pleasure (a.k.a. that afternoon soap you’ve been following ever since you were a teenager or that single scoop of ice cream you so love ), etc. It doesn’t have to be expensive, as long as it helps you get through and provides you with a refreshed outlook every time.

Stay organized.

Declutter your life. Imagine being overstressed and overworked and having to deal with a cluttered office or messy home. Looking for those darned keys, slipping on that blasted banana peel and missing that deadline due to a misplaced report – you don’t need those in your life! In fact, you have the power to prevent them from happening. Organize your office and clean your home. You’ll find that these simple measures can help lift that heavy weight off your shoulders – and would likely save you from physical injury in the process.

Get Up and Move.

Shake those limbs and move that body. I’m a big fan of sports. I love feeling the energy that runs through my body whenever I run, swim or even dance. There’s something about hearing my heart beat faster and feeling my whole body’s coordination that keep me alive and refreshed. Somehow, knowing that I’m physically conditioned and healthy helps me focus my mind on the prize. It’s true what they say, adrenaline keeps you energized, happy and productive. Waking up those lethargic muscles helps give you the confidence you need to last however many rounds you need to get through the day. Stop dilly dallying. Get up and find your own physical activity now.

Give Yourself a Break.

Take a breather. Don’t push yourself to the limit, and don’t go thinking you could be too hard on yourself either. No matter how you see it or feel, it’s not always the end of the world. Every obstacle you face will resolve itself one way or another, with or without your help. Of course, you would prefer to have and solve things your own way. But, how are you supposed to enjoy whatever emotional or financial success awaits you if you go on and drop into oblivion or worse, beat yourself to a pulp over every single hiccup. Learn to adjust to those ever-changing situations, and challenge yourself with the many different ways you could get up and keep on fighting.

Ready for Business

What does this all have to do with you and your small- or medium-sized business? Don’t forget, the strength of your business is only a projection of your internal abilities and set goals. Whatever you achieve depends largely on how strong your foothold is. In spite all the uncontrollable external forces that may affect our decisions and actions, our success also depends on our minds, instincts, emotions and ability to ride the waves and come out standing at the other end.

Working Smart

Frustrations lead nowhere. In challenging times, we tend to work harder. We can’t help it. We try to double or even triple our efforts, thinking that by putting in extra hours and investing more, we’ll have a better chance at survival. These often lead to frustration, and the more frustrated we get, the more we struggle. The answer is not to work harder, but to work smarter. That’s a great stab at the back of the well-trusted notion most of us hardworking citizens believe in. How can we reach our goals if we won’t work hard? How can we achieve if we don’t push hard? Not to underestimate the blood-and-sweat-earned achievements, but it’s important to know how to work and work best.

The key is to know the best possible way to reach our goals – the smartest way possible. Not really academically smart per se, but smart in knowing how to tap resources, making fast and right judgments, acting quick, working creatively and coming up with proactive solutions to problems. With the rate of information and technology nowadays, someone else will beat you to your goal if you’re not fast enough. Especially in these tough times, everything is up for grabs and ready for the taking, and people will do everything to get what they want.

Are you equipped to survive these challenging times? How will you shape your business and personal lives to achieve that longed-for success? Share your thoughts and success secrets through the comments section below.

Stay focused and keep fighting!
Adaire

GettyImages.com

The world makes way for the man who knows where he is going. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

I always knew there was something special about that man. <g> I agree with what he said 100+%. A man who knows where he’s going does clear great paths for himself.

Take it from Ric’s (my husband) and my experience. If we did not know where we wanted to go or what we wanted to do all those years ago, or if we did not know what we wanted to make of our lives, we wouldn’t have been able to put up all our successful businesses, afforded the good life we’re providing our sons Chandler and Stefan, met all these amazing people we work with and lastly, touched the lives of all the people we’ve helped in our own ways. It’s all about having goals after all. <g>

Ah, goals! I know not everyone has them, but they darn well better should. <g> I’m all for throwing caution against the wind every once in a while, but even that has a hidden goal within – that of having fun, releasing suppressed tension and letting go for just little bit. That may be freeing for a time, but at the end of the day, we all know that it’s no use flying blind through life’s journey. It’s not bad to go with the flow at times, but some form of plan or vision has to come in sometime.

See, the thing with being too carefree is it eventually gets us lost at some point or other. The only way to find our way back, or to avoid being lost in the first place, is to know where we’re going. It would be nice, too, if we know how. <g>

Tapping Consciousness

Our friend Jill Koenig, the “Goal Guru” and founder of Goal University, shared with us the reasons Why You MUST Set Goals: The 10 Biggest Benefits of Goal Setting through one of our online magazines, HealthyWealthynWise. I’ll gladly share them here with you.

First off, you must know that setting goals has to be a conscious effort on a person’s part. It’s  a form of initially taking a step back, assessing one’s life and taking control of what you want to happen with it. You cannot achieve or reach anything if you do not take responsibility for your own actions, or lack thereof, and don’t know how to take a hit every once in a while. No one’s telling you that this is going to be easy. Of course it’s hard! Most anything worth working or fighting for is. <g>

In setting your goals, you also have nothing but your time and efforts to invest. It would be nice if you already have some money to start with, but that’s not necessarily the situation most people find themselves in. Your time, energy and efforts are your best assets, whether you go at it alone or seek help from others.
Pros for Goals
Jill’s top ten benefits of goal setting serve to remind us that in learning how to set our own goals, we’ll be able to take control over our lives. Having this kind of impetus makes us realize just how important this practice is.

Greater Peace of Mind.

This is a given. If you know where you’re going and you’ve mapped out how to get there, it’s easy to gain peace of mind. Even more, it adds a little skip to your step when you know that what you’re doing is actually worthwhile. You’ll definitely sleep better and reduce the stress that threatens to suffocate you sometimes, as well as the wrinkles that go with it. <g>

Clarity of Purpose.

Goals act as beacons in our lives. When we know what we want to do, we often realize the purpose we serve in this life. You discover that yes, your life does have meaning – not only to you, but to those you encounter as well. That makes up for a lot. Knowing your purpose gives you a clearer, less confusing angle at life.

Greater Productivity and Focus.

Being that we already have a clearer view of life, we have more time to focus on the more important things. We won’t waste any more of our time on the trivial ones that tend to distract us from our goal and, instead, focus all our energies and become more productive at the tasks we choose to do.

Greater Personal Growth.

With all the distractions out of the way, it leaves more room for personal growth. Now that you’re able to look into your own self and abilities more and you’re able to see your environment better, you’ll discover the needed changes within and act on them. All that added productivity would most definitely add to your knowledge and skills too. <g>

Higher Quality of Life.

Since you’ve narrowed down your vision and have started working hard for it, you’ll also seek, or even demand, a higher quality of life. You can’t let other things get you down if you
already know where it is you want to go and how. Life and fate give back whatever you choose to give. The more goals you have, the happier you become. The easier the journey gets, the more you get to enjoy it.

You Attract a Higher Quality Peer Group.

Like begets like. Who else would be good company for you than others who have realized the same thing you did and are making the same changes you have. It certainly doesn’t hurt to have more support from not only your loved ones, but other groups as well.

Increased Confidence and Self Esteem.

Oh, to have a clear vision of your life! Nothing builds confidence and self esteem more. You can’t bring down someone who has a vivid picture of what he wants out of life and knows that he’s doing all it takes to achieve it. Better yet, no one gets in the way of that kind of determination. They know enough to not even dare. <g>

Contribution to Others.

The more you realize all the goals you’ve set for yourself, the more you’ll have something of yourself to give to others. When you get to a stage where you’ve reached where you wanted to go and experienced what you’ve longed to happen, you have nowhere to go but outside yourself. Being at peace with yourself gives you better opportunities to contribute for the benefit of others. Not only that, you’ll also get to be a shining example for someone around you – whether you know about it or not.

Goals Help You Become a Better Person.

Since having goals gives you a picture of your future, then you will do everything that is in your power to protect that vision. Thus, you wouldn’t do anything that would jeopardize any part or step that would keep that vision from happening. Who would have thought, right? Goals actually breed and bring out better individuals. These goals help you develop the best parts of yourself and realize hidden abilities you may not have known about. Without them, these inner strengths and talents would remain untouched and unused. Wouldn’t that be a waste? <g>

For the benefit each individual goal will bring to your life.

Each and every one of these goals would bring some sort of fulfilment and great outcome to our lives, so we sometimes do it for the sheer benefit they would bring us. When we know what to expect at the end of the journey, the anticipation gives us just the right fuel we need to get there.

Have you set goals for yourself or your business? What are you waiting for? Don’t waste any more time and act now. Let me know how it turns out through the comments section below.

Happy goal setting!
Liz

Source: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Social media has grown increasingly these past few years. From putting up online newsletters, magazines, articles and blogs, people have now ventured into viral videos, networking sites and one-liner updates with 140 characters or less and whatnot.

If the Internet connected people before, it has definitely made them even more connected now. It used to be that people searched online for news and information. Now, information finds them. We used to compose messages and send them to people online through several email addresses via mail servers such as Yahoo!, Hotmail, and the like. Now, we could update hundreds of our family and friends with notes and status updates in the social networking sites. What used to take minutes takes mere seconds today, imagine that!

Nowadays, you can not only use and enter these social media sites via computers. They are now able to reach people via mobile devices such as cellular phones, PDAs and other handheld gadgets. The web of information and networks are made even more viral than before.
These are developments that Ric Thompson and Jody Colvard tackled in their Internet Marketing VIPS (Very Important Profit Systems) discussion entitled Integrating Social Media.

Jody Colvard is definitely a certified Internet expert, since she’s dubbed the Grandmother of the Internet. Being one of the pioneers who have utilized the power of the Internet since 1995, Jody Colvard has, together with her business partner Declan Dunn, worked with large companies such as American Express, Priceline and Travelocity – teaching them and other companies how to produce and use video, audio and podcasting.

Humanizing factor

Social media has captured the attention of millions of people worldwide. We not only use the Internet for information anymore. We also use it for connecting with more and more people. These social media sites have humanized online communication. We put faces to the names, speak with people in real time and update each other with snippets of conversation – just like the conversations we had before, back in the offline world.  

However viral and tech-y they might get, people should and do treat it like they do their usual offline groups and communities. Before developing a connection, they would first build relationships with each other – interact with several people in the community and earn each other’s confidence and trust.

In creating and joining these communities and networks, we find more and more people who share the same interests and goals with us. We connect with more people who have similar passions we have and have undergone pretty much the same experiences. It’s nice when people have an even bigger chance of finding their place in the world.

Business benefits

Gone are the days of putting out only print and television ads, notices and articles. Now, businesses, events and the like put up their own websites and set up their social media accounts to get more people interested.

Businesses step up and integrate themselves into the online world to communicate more with their clients and customers. Those who were apprehensive at first, due to fear of being too open, are slowly realizing that the benefits to be had are more promising by building stronger and more personal relationships with their customers. They now find that having an open line of communication with these customers provide them with instant feedback and suggestions for their products and services.

Customers, on the other hand, are not satisfied with faceless service anymore. They now demand to know who they’re dealing with – the more personal and open, the better. Customers are not satisfied with receiving newsletters and brochures via snail mail, or anonymous phone updates from random strangers. Now, they demand video and audio that offer them deeper insights and information on the products that they choose to patronize.

Instead of trying to get more new customers and people all the time, businesses also focus more on their existing clients and take better care of them. Instead of fleeting business relationships that consisted of one or two transactions, businesses and their clientele are now keen on building longer and deeper connections. When they’ve grown accustomed to each other’s qualities, the clients get to trust the businesses more in providing the products and services they want and need. That makes for a quieter and more profitable marketplace!

Deployment opportunities

From quotes and blog posts, to teasers and videos, the fastest avenues for spreading them around are the various social media sites and networks multiplying on the Internet today – YouTube, 5MinuteVideo, Blip.tv, Vimeo, Viddler, Veoh, Facebook, Twitter, Plurk, Digg, LinkedIn, Plaxo, etc. They are made more colourful and striking by free online programs that help in their faster and easier creation and distribution – FriendFeed, Camtasia, Animoto, iStockphoto, TubeMogul, etc.

With people’s attention spans becoming shorter and shorter, businesses constantly need to find ways to feed them information and entice them to return to their sites to linger there and buy. They create as many accounts as they can in order to introduce their products to a wider range of their target audience – getting themselves out there and finding the people they want to reach. For some, collaborating with established online sites make for better visibility.

The bottom line is still knowing who their audience is, how to speak to them and how to reach them – with keywords, calls to action, multiple choices of accessing information and products and more involvement through different avenues for feedback and suggestions.

Of course, rules and ethics are not to be ruled out. In fact, more and more restrictions and limitations are being processed to protect online users. According to Jody Colvard, we could expect a more well-mannered society where people are going to have more control over their own niches and nooks, against people who just aim to promote themselves and exploit people online.

Have you been captured by the power of social media? Do you use such social networking methods for your business? Let me know through the comments section below.

To access Ric Thompson’s Internet Marketing VIPS (Very Important Profit Systems) discussion with Jody Colvard and other profit systems, go to: www.internetmarketingvips.com.

To access Jody Colvard’s seven-module course that offers all you need to learn to be able to create your own show, broadcast and promote it via social media, get visibility for your business and build a brand for yourself, click on: www.InternetMarketingVIPS.com/fmg

Welcome to the fourth installment of my sharing posts, where I recommend a few articles that I hope would make the same impact on you as they have on me. May they inspire you to think and reflect on your own lives and business situations.

The first three posts focused on goal setting and self improvement this 2010, as well as starting a business. This next one will focus on the keys to success. Without further ado, here it goes.

Keys to Success

Every business venture has its ups and downs (just like life, right? ). Sometimes luck and good timing has something to do with business success, but more often than not, it has to do with the talents, strategies and capacity of the business owner running it. If I got you worried there for a bit, don’t. Below are a few helpful reads on how you could ensure your business success and sustainability.

1. The One Key to Business Success! – And Three Simple Ways to Do It

Aside from hard work, one of the best success ingredients out there is knowing your audience. To make them take notice and have them come back to you again and again, you should know how to read, approach and connect with them.

This can be done by talking to them and finding out what they want and need, doing formal studies on the market and keeping an eye out for the competition. After all, it’s not just important to know who you’re trying to reach and how you could reach them. It’s also vital that you know who you’re competing against for their attention.

2. Tony Hsieh – Profits, Passion and Purpose

To be successful at whatever field you choose, you need more than talent or knowledge. You also need to have passion for what you’re doing. This passion allows you to be more creative, cook up big and new ideas and to push the limits of what you can do and offer, not only to others but to yourself as well.

Find out how failure helps us determine what works and what doesn’t. Know why perfection isn’t the key – it’s actually the ability to get right down to business and do whatever you need to do to achieve success. See how building a good work environment and culture is important for the development of the individual and the company. Discover why the goal to do something to help others and make the world a lot better is also important, even for just a few at a time.

3. Deliver Powerful Teleseminars That Bring in the Money

To bring in profit, you should know how to capture the attention of your target market. Whether you’re doing a seminar, distributing an online newsletter or maintaining a commercial blog, you should be able to make your audience do a double take and keep them on their toes, so they would continue to watch out for your new material.

Find out how you could hold a powerful discussion, get your audience’s attention and generate interest during a seminar, especially when it’s via phone where they couldn’t see your facial expressions and gestures, with these few tips.

4. Weird & Wacky – Making Your Marketing Stand Out

Marketing is one good way to let the people know about your product. Before they come knocking to you for more, you should first bring it to them and introduce all the benefits it could give them.

There are plenty of traditional marketing strategies out there – newspaper ads, magazine spreads, billboards, radio ads, etc. – that are being used by many. They do work, but it also depends on the industry you belong to and with a lot of competition marketing practically the same way nowadays, it’s pretty hard to get separated from the rest.

After focusing on who to market to and gauging the effectiveness of your marketing effort, you should be able to step and think out of the box. Make sure that your marketing style stands out from the competition. Follow up as much as you can and don’t be afraid to reinvent yourself when need be. You could always let go of one idea in favor of a new, more effective one. Never, ever be afraid to explore the wacky and weird ways, because they might be the ticket to your marketing genius.

5. Be Nice: It’s Good for Business

More than the nice office, number of employees, good business location and product quality, what customers look for is nice service. All these bells and whistles will be overlooked if the service is bad and the staff appear bored with an “anywhere but here” look on their faces.

See why it’s important for a company to be conscious about building a “be nice” culture instead of just letting little things and mishaps slip by, because not making it a policy is just giving room for the alternative.

6. It’s Not Being Cocky, It’s Showing Confidence

Confidence is often mistaken for cockiness. But is there really something wrong with that? After all, being cocky is just being confident and assertive. If you believe you are the best at what you do, then you will certainly do everything you could to continue making that a reality.

Oftentimes, it’s about getting the right mindset. It all starts with how you perceive yourself and the amount of faith in you have in your abilities. You have the power to get your head in the game and focus on the end goal you’ve envisioned. If people see that you indeed have the ability to back up all that confidence and see that you have total faith in yourself, then they, too, would believe in you.

7. New Leadership Challenges of 2009 and Beyond

Charm and good deeds could only get you so far. In face of hard times, experience and knowledge would help you survive. It’s vital for a business owner and leader to know what his business is about and how to run it, how to handle the loops of the market and trade and have the continuous thirst for learning.

This way, he would know how to choose the people who would work for him and help him bring the company to a whole new level. Knowing the ins and outs of the business would also allow him to guard the company against those who have negative intentions towards it. I don’t know about you, but having that security is a very good thing.

8. How Well Do You Leverage Your Time and Effort?

Delegation is a hard concept to grasp for some. In turn, they end up trying to do everything themselves, and thus, spreading themselves too thin to focus well on each and every task. Leveraging the talents of other people to take care of certain details is not bad. In fact, this gives you more time and energy to focus on the things you are really good at. Not only that, it could also give you more time for your family and more chances to build good relationships with your colleagues.

Delegation does not take anything away from you. Instead, knowing how to leverage your time and effort allows you to focus more on the goal, cross off all the things that need to be done, achieve greater success and most of all, it helps you keep your sanity.

What are your keys to success?  Do you have other links or thoughts concerning success secrets that you would like to share? Let us know through the comments section below.

Catch up with you more next time!
Adaire