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Archive for 2006

It’s hard to believe another year has come and gone. So many things you wanted to accomplish but didn’t, and the many things you were able to accomplish.

This year was special for our family and an exciting time. Our youngest daughter had bought and moved into her very first townhome in January 2006. When she knew it was hers, she stated she would be hosting Christmas 2006 in her new home!

What an exciting time it was. How she decorated, prepared the meal and entertained us all. To see her grow into an independent woman this year has been amazing. As I watched our other daughters and their husbands, I just was so filled with thanks and the fact of how richly blessed I have been to have such a wonderful family.

To me the new year is always an exciting time. A time for a new beginning. In my article A New Year, A New Beginning I compare the new year to a new page. It’s fresh, clean, crisp and it’s up to you what you write on your new page!

As a writer, comparing a new year to a page comes natural. As we go through the months, each month becomes a new paragraph we print on the page.

What are some of the things you want to “write” about this year? Maybe it’s a new business, expanding or downsizing an existing business, or maybe just better business techniques.

Maybe there are personal items you need to “write” about. A change in your career, more time spent with family and friends, or maybe you want to develop more relationships.

Whatever you begin “writing” about this new year don’t lose sight of balance. Remember to keep all the “pages” in perspective. From time to time you will need to turn the “pages” down, walk away and take time to enjoy life and everything that goes with it.

So, what do you want to “write” on your new page this year? It’s all up to you! Just get your “keyboard” going, “write” one word after another and then–press enter!!! After all it’s….. A New Year and A New Beginning!

Hope all of you have a wonderful and prosperous New Year – 2007!!

Thank you, Veterans, Thank you!!!

Many years ago and even today our troops fought, gave lives and gave limbs to give us the wonderful freedoms we have today. They endured and are enduring situations and circumstances we can’t even imagine, yet still they honor their country and honor us by serving and protecting.

I wholeheartedly support our troops and what they are doing. Yes, I would rather there not be the need for them to be on foreign soil or certainly not in harm’s way, but the need is there and because of their unselfish acts, we are free in this country to enjoy freedoms that most countries only dream of.

So as this day goes by, if you see a past veteran or even active duty personnel, let that person know, you care, you appreciate them and most of all…Thank you dear Veteran…Thank you!!!

Follow up contacts are by far much easier to initiate than cold calling due to the fact the people you are contacting already know or have heard about you from the initial contacts made. This means:

1) You aren’t having to spend as much time to initiate the contact
2) You already are known by the business/person you are contacting
3) Your name is in front of them again if they need you
4) Each contact is another step in building and strengthening your relationship with the person you are reaching

Make sure when you are making either initial or follow up contact that if someone asks you to follow up at a certain time, you make a note on your calendar, in MS Outlook , or wherever you keep your appoitnments, especially if these people ask you to “touch back with them in a couple of months” if you hadn’t heard from them. Then make sure you contact them at the appointed time. I’ve had contacts that actually thanked me for remembering to contact them!

Key lession to learn: Initial contacts are needed obviously, however follow up contacts can offer even greater rewards!

Keep up the contacts!

September 11, 2006 marks the 5 year anniversary since September 11, 2001. We all have memories that come rushing back to that eventful day and that exact moment, myself included.

My daughter, Stacey, and a friend of hers were in NYC that day. It was her first trip to NY, she had been there 5 days and was to board the airplane at 6:30 the evening of September 11 returning home to Charlotte, NC. It didn’t happen that way.

Stacey was only 30 blocks away from the WTC when all this took place but didn’t know anything had happened! Although she heard sirens, she said that wasn’t anything unusual in NYC, but what she couldn’t understand was why her cell phone wasn’t working…indoors or outdoors, as she tried to retrieve the message she had on the phone.

The message she was trying to retrieve was the message I had left, trying desperately to locate her and make sure she was all right. I knew in Charlotte, NC before she knew, 30 blocks away from the WTC….what had happened!

From Tuesday morning until Friday morning, when she and her friend rented a car and left NY in the wee hours of the morning were very difficult hours.

Stacey and her friend who lives in Florida, arrived home Friday evening around 6:30 PM, their lives changed forever.

Time has passed and now 5 years later much healing has occurred. Stacey still has a problem at times when she sees low flying airplaines and has a special place in her heart for the people who’s lives were forever changed that day.

God, who is the Great Physician and Healer, in His infinite wisdom has allowed time to heal.

We are so blessed! Our loved one returned unharmed, for the most part, from the eventful day 5 years ago, but many families and friends were not as fortunate.

As we view the memorial programs and read the articles related to September 11, 2001, please take a few moments and remember those families and individuals whose lives were forever changed by…… A Moment In Time.

Even though cold calling sends shivers down some spines and cause some to break out into cold sweats, it really does work.

In Peter Bowerman’s Well Fed Writer: Back For Seconds cold calling is a subject he endorses extensively due to it’s “law of averages” for success.

Granted you must be making, as Bowerman puts it, “….a TON” of calls for the averages to work, but the point is, it works!

The beauty part of it is you are just saying a 20 second message and it’s amazing how receptive the prospects can be to receiving the calls. The more you call, state your message and move on to the next call, the more proficient you become in delivering your message.

Now how about it? Go ahead–pick up that phone and see how many people are glad you took the time to contact them! How will you know??? YOUR phone will be ringing with inquiries in no time.

Happy Calling!