'The Road to Nowhere" near my home, is a heavily traveled road that many people use. The scenery is nice, but traveling the road is very lonely.
Many women take this road because of their unique God-Given gift of nurturing. For these women this gift is a double edge sword. They care for their families and forget about caring for themselves or their dreams.
They work outside of home to earn money or choose stay at home mom; for the good of the family. Others work because they are single mom's and feel they have no choice. There are ways to take care family and have time for yourself.
Exhausted from working, or feeling the solitude of staying at home, worrying about lack of money brings more lack of money. Not growing passion a is death trap for dreams, and beauty. I chose stay at home mom until my daughter started kindergarten and that was part of my dream.
The decision to ignore "you" creates thoughts of dread resulting in resentment. We manifest what we think. These thoughts lead to emotional, spiritual, mental or physical health issues. The loneliness of traveling "The Road to Nowhere" brings on aging much quicker.
Neglecting "you" manifests a "Prison of Lack" and lack of money becomes reality. The harder you work the more lack of money, and more negative resentment.
The "Road to Nowhere," dead-ends at this prison, with the amenities of worry, sleeplessness, eating too much food, weight gain, eating too little food, frailty of being too thin, becoming a victim, behaving like a sacrificial lamb ready for the "kill," blaming everyone that crosses their path; and manifesting anger/depression. Do you know that suppressed anger is depression's twin sister?
Neglecting your dream and hope of never seeing your dream becomes reality with loss of true identity.
Lost identity is the loss of your God-Given beauty; both inside and outside. God doesn't create ugly women. Women create their own ugly.
Unlock the door to your self-made prison. Get off "Road to Nowhere." Turn around and head back toward the unique woman God created.
Start with changing bad habits. It takes time to change negative habits. Just do it; even if the change is one habit a month. Statistics show that it takes thirty days to change a habit.
Work on self-discipline. Become a Professional Learner in Self-Development. With Self-Development, you can get off "The Road to Nowhere," restore your beauty, joy and happiness.
Grow your dream! Get back to your original beauty. It doesn't matter your age. Your beauty isn't outside, your beauty is within. Find that beauty and you will be encapsulated in a beautiful glow so powerful people will notice your DNA beauty unique only for you.
It's never too late for a New Start regardless of age, stage or condition. God made you uniquely beautiful. If you have lost it: get it back. You own it.
One of my biggest goals in life is helping as many people as possible understand that they have the power to make their life as they want it to be. You can become whatever you set your mind to. And just like many of you, I have spent years searching for a fulfilled happy life. Join me in team spirit and meet some of the most amazing people who have experienced the good and the bad choices and moved forward to success. http://www.retire2freedom.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Patricia_A_Gaines/1360095


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9866641

  Are you building your contact list for your business? If so this article might help you grow a more quality list.

There is truth to the fact that the money is in the list; however, the real money is hidden in the way you communicate with your list. Prospects are people; not just names and numbers.

To keep your list active and engaged, it's necessary to offer them something that brings value to their lives. They may have joined your list for information only, or even to buy a product; but this is not the time to forget or ignore them. You want them to purchase, or become a repeat buyer and to give you referrals.

Each email subscriber is an asset to any business. You want to make sure they know and feel that value, because people buy from emotion, not from logic.

And the more subscribers you get the more money you make, if you keep the subscribers interest and engagement. Your list of subscribers is an asset not to be taken for granted.

It only takes a few minutes to write a letter; but sometimes it takes a year for someone to buy. People are much more savvy these days with the information and competition on-line. To gain subscribers, it's necessary to be consistent with communication and quality content.

Here are a few examples about how to create quality subscribers.
Meet them on your social sites; initiate interesting conversation; find out what they are looking for to make their lives better. Add them to your mailing list with their permission. Then follow-up with them.

Continue to send them messages, but don't attempt in your face selling. Instead offer them information on how your product can benefit them. If you are in the Pet Product Business and they need a certain product, then show them the benefits of the product in a very short one paragraph letter.

If they are looking for a home business show them the benefits of the business in a short one paragraph letter. Keep the letter simple and don't attempt to sell them anything; just offer the benefits of what you have one paragraph at a time.

In each letter send them a gift, an e-book or an article that is beneficial to them. Keep the letters warm and friendly. Always use a call to action, but never try to do a hard close.

We don't want people to sell us anything; we want to buy. If selling to your list isn't working for you; change your strategy, I know this approach works because I personally use it every day to make money.

Build trust with your prospects; offer them something that will create value in their lives, they will value your relationship and respond to your offer in a positive way.

One of my biggest goals in life is helping as many people as possible understand that they have the power to make their life as they want it to be. You can become whatever you set your mind to. And just like many of you, I have spent years searching for a fulfilled happy life. Join me in team spirit and meet some of the most amazing people who have experienced the good and the bad choices and moved forward to success. 
 To learn how to Retire to Freedom   
 www.retire2freedom.com 

Google the definition of Identity Theft; here's the core of what it means "the fraudulent acquisition and use of a person's private identifying information, usually for financial gain." Yet it's not really a true definition of the term. We have so much Identity Theft happening that now the term has evolved into a mishmash of nonsensical rhetoric.
Listen to the news media; a biased "we will report what we want" instead of the facts. Open social media pages and we see comments regarding racism. I Googled racism and here's what I found, (the belief that all members of each race possess characteristics or abilities specific to that race, especially to distinguish it as inferior or superior to another race or races.) this too has evolved into a chaotic form of behavior that totally is a misuse of the phrase.
Turn on radio and hear "Political Identity". Really? So now we are defined, viewed and judged by our political views? Several years ago, I wrote a blog article about American losing her Identity. If I were to write that blog article today I would be totally confused.
It appears to me that Identity Theft and Racism are now the same according to Radio, TV, and other media.
This nonsense about White Supremacy and Black Lives Matter is beyond my comprehension. Dear reader, I ask your tolerance to allow me to just "vent". People have lost their minds to words that create hate, which creates "movements" that create even more chaos.
Just because I am white, and do not believe killing unborn babies is the right thing, doesn't make me a white racist, yet I receive vile hateful messages from a (what once was a dear friend) about my white racist supremacy. Lies have evolved from the phrase Identity Theft that causes, even more, loss of identity.
Our real Identity is God made. We are all made by one God. And yet "man" once again has taken it upon himself to get involved with what God created and condemn it to the point that it's beyond harmful to society.
Political Identity is lunacy. Just because people perceive issues and situations differently means that they have lost their real identity to an ideology. I Googled the definition of ideology ""systematic set of ideas, doctrines" first recorded 1909. Ideology... ideology [(eye-dee-ol-uh-jee, id-ee-ol-uh-jee)] A system of beliefs or theories, usually political, held by a person or a group. Capitalism, communism, and socialism are usually called ideologies."
While people argue, fight and live their Political Identity, other countries want to demolish America from the earth, our kids are getting illegal drugs anywhere, anytime and losing their identity to this evil. Babies being killed before they are born, many of our citizens are living in poverty.
And people are so entrenched in the Political Identity they can't live in the reality. I just don't "get it."
One of my biggest goals in life is helping as many people as possible understand that they have the power to make their life as they want it to be. You can become whatever you set your mind to. And just like many of you, I have spent years searching for a fulfilled happy life. Join me in team spirit and meet some of the most amazing people who have experienced the good and the bad choices and moved forward to success. LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT I DO. Find me on Facebook, LinkedIn, Referral Key or www.lovebasedrelationships.com

​​Alarm clock screams, it’s time to wake up. You’re tired, restless, and beaten; you look at the ceiling and wonder, where is hope? Have you ever wanted freedom with such intensity that you just stayed in bed after the alarm clock assaulted your ear drums with ungodly decibels? Adding insult to injury you slept very little because of worrying about money. Your money is gone and the month isn’t.
 Have lost your job, or closed your business because of the economic meltdown? You aren't alone. Other people row that same boat. There are a rare few that have money, and peace in their hearts.
The alarm clock continues to assault your ears as you pull your aching body with what seems a ton of steel attached to your back. This is the same game life plays with you every morning. You reach for that stupid noisy alarm, and finally muster up the strength to shut it off.
Sluggishly you crawl out of bed, your mind twisting through the thick quagmire of the day ahead of you. You feel rotten; don't like yourself much less anyone else.  No choice but to tolerate the next eight to ten hours, working if you are blessed to have a job, or spending endless hours online looking for a job, or opening your business.
Is this what some people call insanity? You struggle this scenario as you make your way to the bathroom. There's that light on again. Doesn't anyone in this family understand electricity costs money and the electric company is overcharging to begin with. You fumble for the shower head. The water takes forever to get hot. Is that hot water heater acting up again?
Gurgling as you brush your teeth see it, the tooth that needs a root canal and crown. Your mind sinks to the bottom of the deep black well of depression. Finally, your shower. The warmth of the water soothes your aching body.
Time to get dressed; and struggle to the kitchen for the coffee pot. Ah, yes, caffeine hits the spot. You add the façade needed to become the chameleon for the day.
And so, it goes day after day, until finally the years of stress overrule. You can't cope because of the depression you feel, can't get ahead, much less save and grow your money. Lower or lost wages and hyperinflation has taken you down.
So, what's missing in your life? Hope is missing?  It's still with you just hidden behind layers of the negativity onion in your mind. Life sucks!
 A good tool to help you peel away the rottenness you feel is gratitude. Every morning when you wake, thank God for your blessings. You do have blessings, right? Then thank God for the new blessings you will receive that day. Do this thirty days. Signs of change will begin to emerge to help you on your way to the life you desire.  Go Here To Learn More About How I Changed My Life.
 

​​​​​​With the recent hacking of social sites, and the traumatic experiences that are in my book about identity theft and identity fraud, gives me even more reason to pause. Our privacy has been compromised for years. Yet, no one takes the time to really listen to what is "really" being said. If our information is stolen, we do not know how many people the thief sells our information to and what happens after the sale.
Working in the financial industry for many years, I witnessed the exact same situations. My clients, and with people who didn't become my clients. They said, "Oh, it will never happen to me." Many of these people would tell me God would take care of them. Had it ever occurred to these people, that working through my services, was God's way of helping these folks?
After leaving the financial industry, and I left because of my own identity theft, my lessons of life escalated. I myself never thought that I would be the target of identity thief. Yet, it happened to me. While alone and in trauma, I learned everything possible about the computer, and how the Phantoms (as I have named them in my book), not only target people online but also offline as well.
Can it happen to anyone? Yes, it can. Identity Theft is a stigma that is difficult to overcome. With retirement funds stolen, reputation ruined, bank accounts depleted, and credit cards appearing one after the other, security codes from the banks fraud department breached, targeted people experience a depth of betrayal that can result in a lifetime of work to gain trust, and feel secure.
But trust can return. It's not easy and it takes time. Learning to protect our identity is work. There are many habits we have (especially here in America) that need to be broken, and new habits learned. Example using Debit Cards with pin numbers, even at the ATM. This convenience is a habit that can lead to identity theft. The list can seem endless. Learning ways to protect ourselves is not nearly as endless as the repercussions of the theft.
Our identity is unique. No one else is exactly like us. When we lose our financial or professional identity, we many times leave our spirit stark naked and ready for the Phantoms to clothe us in depression, hurt, anger, and lack of trust; especially trusting God. This was my lesson to learn. And it did take a few years. Now, with lessons learned, I can take that trauma and teach other people how to not let it happen to them, and if it does happen to them, how to overcome and start over. But it's difficult to teach an ostrich with his head in the sand.
Wake up and act to learn how to protect you and your family. You could be next.
To Learn More About Me  Go Here.. You Might Be Amazed.

​My friend David and I were sitting on the front porch enjoying a star-studded twilight evening. Suddenly without warning we heard roaring thunder, and lightning; with the wind swirling into a funnel headed directly at us.
We barely made it into the house when the wind angry and furious torpedoed through the front yard. After the storm, David left to go home. A few minutes later he called; he couldn't get through the driveway. A monstrous tree had fallen and blocked the exit.
The following morning, I called a local tree service for an estimate to clean up the damage. Much to my surprise a young woman driving a huge black truck stopped just south of the drive way. She told me her name was Erika. She gave me the estimate and said that her company would be back later that day to remove the tree.
About two hours later, I received a text message from David. He said I'm watching two young women remove these trees! I walked around the bend and to my surprise I saw the women working a job that looked as if it would take four men to carry out.
After Erika finished the cleanup I paid her, asked her how on earth she had learned this trade. She said, "had been in a "bucket" removing trees since she was thirteen years old. And now she managed her father's business with success. And she was her father's caregiver because of his illness
We scheduled an interview about two weeks later because she is a Remarkable Young Woman and I wanted to share her story.
I learned that she is a survivor of divorce at an early age. Her mother acquired custody and re-married a man who was extremely abusive to Erika.
Erika about the age of seven years old told her mother that she knew in her heart that God had called her to join a certain Christian Religion.
Her mother no longer wanted Erika in the house; if she attended this church. Erika went to live with her father. She loved being with her father because he was active in the church, a loving father and taught Erika his tree removal business.
At eighteen years of age this young woman has learned to live with drama, pain and illness. Her faith in God is strong and she gives God praise for saving her.
There are so many remarkable people I meet on my journey. Each person has a story. I challenge you to share your story; you never know whose life you touch in a positive way.
One of my biggest goals in life is helping as many people as possible understand that they have the power to make their life as they want it to be. You can become whatever you set your mind to. And just like many of you, I have spent years searching for a fulfilled happy life. Join me in team spirit and meet some of the most amazing people who have experienced the good and the bad choices and moved forward to success. 

What is social media? What does it really mean? After a Google Search, I found this from vocabulary.com "If you are social, you want like-minded people within your circle of influence. A social butterfly is social or friendly with everyone, flitting from person to person, the way a butterfly might. The word social comes from the Latin socius meaning "friend." When you're being social, you're everyone's friend.

In today's world of marketing, the word social has been tainted by advertising and business recruiting? The term copy - paste - post is not the way to gain respect or trusting relationships for any business growth. 
There are a few people who use social platforms for communicating with family and friends, however most business owners use social media for growing their prospecting list.
Per Hootsuite over 67% of the Social Media users now use these platforms for customer service. If you have a business and you aren't part of the phenomenon you are leaving money on the table for your competitors.
Yesterday an on-line marketer asked for opinions about which is more important, Social Media or The List. And the same day a member posted this, "If you friend me just to try to recruit me into your business, then I will block you."
People are becoming more aware of whom to accept as friends because Social Media is now more about business than friendship. However, MLM Marketing as well as Brick and Mortar requires building trusting relationships to grow a successful business.
The money is not in Social Media or The List. The money is in the relationships and referrals generated from these platforms. It's really all about brand awareness and customer service.
There have been a few times when I received poor customer service from a business and my only comment to the manager or business owner was; "do you have a Facebook page?" The look on their face reveals the importance of a good Facebook review.
Marketers need to understand that we are working with real people; and not just a face on a web-page. People have needs, wants, and feelings. And statistics show that they buy from an emotional not logical mind-set. So stop the selling if you really want to grow your bank account.
Building a customer base that is willing to bring referrals to your business is a necessary part of any marketing campaign to grow your bank account.
Yet to build a business with a healthy bank account, does require the sale of goods and services. Look at your pages; are they customer friendly?
Entrepreneur states "Facebook estimates that it is home to more than 30 million active small-business pages. How will yours get noticed? How do you turn one fan into 1,000?"
And how many of that 1,000 fans can you into buying customers?
One of my biggest goals in life is helping as many people as possible understand that they have the power to make their life as they want it to be. You can become whatever you set your mind to. And just like many of you, I have spent years searching for a fulfilled happy life. Join me in team spirit and meet some of the most amazing people who have experienced the good and the bad choices and moved forward to success. http://www.retire2freedom.com
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Have you really looked at your Social Media Sites? If not take about an hour to look over what's being advertised on your pages. I see that people are promoting coaching and training about how to do almost everything and get rich doing it.
I agree that if your heart is in your work, you can become successful. The adage "follow your heart" is just as true today as it was two thousand years ago, "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." Luke 12:34
When I have followed my instincts (heart) then I have made the right decision for my life. It's when I haven't and have listened to other people and based my decisions on logic that I have made some big mistakes.
My point is this. In Network Marketing, we can find a business that really looks great for us. Because we think we can make money quickly we get our credit card and join. A few days later we realize that we don't have the money, time, or the skills. But that realization is just an excuse.
The reality is that we don't want to take the time, to learn the skills to make the money for working any business. People spend thousands of dollars on coaching programs and never apply any of the strategies.
My issue is this; strategies are not practical with the one size fits all system. People are unique and different. Here are a few Synonyms for strategies; blueprint, design, game plan, ground-plan, program, project, road map, scheme, and system.
The get rich quick coaching programs are for high achievers. If you aren't willing to pay the price to become a top producer, the only person making money is the coach who is selling you the system.
Years ago, before I started working on-line I taught sales training. And the theme of that training was "The Art of Not Closing the Sale." It was so successful that my competition contacted me to train their agents. The subject of my training was that cold calling doesn't work. I had purchased a course Cold Calling Doesn't Work, and it made perfect sense to me. Since that time I have used this course as a base for building my business.
Social Media is all about selling something. Any business must have the exchange of money from the consumer to the business to achieve success. The transactions need to benefit the consumer who feels the value of that transaction. If not the sales rep or the business is always cold calling.
If you are using your Social Media pages to promote your business or attract buyers, pay close attention to who and what is being posted on your site. No one likes to be sold anything, but everyone likes to buy.
One of my biggest goals in life is helping as many people as possible understand that they have the power to make their life as they want it to be. You can become whatever you set your mind to. And just like many of you, I have spent years searching for a fulfilled happy life. Join me in team spirit and meet some of the most amazing people who have experienced the good and the bad choices and moved forward to success.