I did my usual routine this weekend, which is driving around until I find something interesting! I didn’t leave the house until after ten o’clock, so I knew already the light would not be optimal for outdoor shooting. But I wanted to get out of the house and get some exercise so I went anyway. I started out at Eufaula National Wildlife Refuge. You can drive onto the refuge so I spent a little time there exploring. There wasn’t much wildlife to see in the middle of the day but I got a few nice shots of the refuge and some crazy looking wildflowers. I decided the visit a neighboring park and found a small car show. I love cars, so of course I had to stop! My dream car is a ’69 Camaro so I found a red SS and grabbed a snapshot...

There is no REWARD without the RISK! Take chances,stretch & grow.

I often see people disappointed because they believe that they have done everything they could, and still something in their life is missing or broken. And even after setting a goal and committing to that goal, they are still left unaccomplished and disappointed in themselves. Why couldn’t they meet their goals? What did they miss?

We all go through this; you know what you want, you’ve set your goals. Great, now what? Now the real work begins. Every year after New Years day comes and goes, millions of Americans sign up for a gym membership. By the end of January, the goal of getting in shape has been forgotten and the gym membership goes unused. So what happened, you were so determined January 2nd! Life happens, our priorities shift and certain goals and aspirations are forgotten.

In order...

We all know a dreamkiller. Those people in our lives whose doubts permeate our thoughts and make us second guess our own wants and wishes. A dreamkiller can be anyone; the family member who tells you it’s not a good time to start a business, the spouse that never supports your efforts, the boss that shoots down all of your great ideas. Yes, dreamkillers are everywhere, they come in all shapes and sizes. Sometimes, they even come from within; that small voice inside that taunts you, telling you to stop and turn back, that you’ll never make it.

So how do you fight dreamkillers? How do you silence that voices? You fight them through faith and confidence. You conquer them through your strength and perseverance...

Recently, the AC went out in my car. Just what I needed, another unexpected expense. My budget was stretched so thin already. But as I was sitting in the mechanic’s shop, I realized I wasn’t upset or as stressed out about it as I usually would be. I felt a calm and happiness. I was thankful that I the means to get it fixed. I didn’t worry about the other looming expenses; rent, utilities, insurance. I was just happy to know that in an hour or two, my AC would be running again. I closed my and envisioned sitting in my car with that cool air hitting my face. Why bother stressing about the money, these things happen. I wasn’t going to blame God or scream “Why me lord”, I had spent enough time crying, feeling sorry for myself, like I was the only person in the world that was struggling...

Beware of anyone that says they enjoy cold calling. They are absolutely lying, or a little crazy. I’ve seen even the most talented salespeople crumble in fear at the thought of cold calling. No, cold calling is never fun; but it is still a very useful tool to generate leads. Notice I said generate leads, not sales. In 2010, it is difficult just to get a decision maker on the phone. Once you do, don’t waste your time trying to sell them. You’ll likely get shut down immediately. Instead, use that short amount of time to peak their interest, get an email and an appointment. Then you can sell them on your product or service. If your just starting out, or need a new avenue to generate leads; don’t be afraid to pick up the phone. Here are 5 tips to get you started.

1. Prepare your work area...

Networking is a great way to build relationships, enhance your prospecting and increase sales leads. But there is some skill involved. It’s not easy for most people (including me) to walk into a room full of strangers and start a conversation. Here are my do’s and don’ts of networking.

1) Arrive on time, many events provide opportunities for you to introduce your business to the group.

2) Have your 30 second commercial ready. You should always be able to  clearly explain what you do and what benefits you could provide for consumers.

3) Make sure your business cards are clean and easily accessible. No one wants to sit and watch you dig through the bottom of your purse for a lint covered card.

4) Be prepared to ask intelligent questions...