Renee is a woman of tremendous heart, passionate about teaching. She is growing an online business and turning her wisdom into life-changing products and programs.

Yet, when it comes to things like writing a salesletter so prospective buyers would know how her product will change their lives, Renee used to experience huge resistance.,

“I don’t want to be ‘salesy,’” she said.

Can you relate? Have you ever said that?

Renee loves it when people see the value of what she offers, but she never wants people to feel pushed or bullied into making a purchase.

That is as it should be.

“Being salesy feels yucky,” she added.

“Well of COURSE it does!,” I countered. If someone liked being pushy and badgering the potential customer into a sale, I would not want to hang around them.

Being pushy is a bad thing –  but offering true solutions and getting paid for it is a GOOD thing.

Renee is revising her beliefs about sales because she is seeing how she can have a heart and still do business without feeling “yucky” about it.

With heart-based examples, a little practice and some mentoring, she began to see the salesletter in a whole new light.

She began to see that truly solving people’s problems –  the kind of problems that keep them losing sleep and chugging antacids –  while getting paid for it is just as it should be.

By providing huge value for people, she could trust her heart, serve the customer phenomenally well, and earn income at the same time.

Renee wants to both trust her heart AND grow her business ethically,honestly, and abundantly! It is a journey unfolding for Renee and for so many like her.

Do you have to choose between heart and profit?

Absolutely not!

You can be completely committed to serving your customers well and at the very same time experience abundance and prosperity for your business so that you can create and live the life of your dreams.

There are many examples of heart-based entrepreneurs, and 19 of them came together to write a new book that is now on my recommended reading list.Transformation

You’ll discover

• How one immigrant from Poland with just $190 in his pocket became a multi-millionaire. 
• How an illegal deal at a big company sent one soon-to-be-entrepreneur packing. 
• How one budding actress walked away from acting to serving Italian food to the biggest names in Hollywood to creating her own coaching business!
• And more!

Pick up the book right now at www.ProfitableStorytelling.com/trust.

Here’s my review from Amazon.

Review of Trust Your Heart by Ronda Del Boccio

5.0 out of 5 stars Trust Your Heart – Awesome RESOURCES & Stories, May 18, 2011

By 

Ronda Del Boccio, The Story Lady “Ronda Del B…  – See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase(What’s this?)

This review is from: Trust Your Heart: Transform Your Ideas Into Income (Paperback)

So many times, anthology books are wonderful reading in terms of storytelling but light on content. Trust Your Heart combines the best of both worlds.

Yes, it is fabulous to read the stories of how the 19 authors each trusted their heart, often in the face of astounding odds…and as you discover these wildly successful business owners perhaps for the first time, you will also receive valuable tips to help you not only trust your own heart, but grow your business in a heart-based way.

There is a growing trend in business today to be more servant based than “salesy.” People want to know that the business owner truly cares and is looking out for their best interests. You see this showing up today in things like:
* Reviews
* Ratings (like/thumbs-up/stars)
* Comments

Nobody makes a buying decision these days without “checking you out.” And that means transparency is a big deal in the marketplace – now and into the future.

Trust Your Heart is not just stories and really not just business tips. You will experience how the authors does business in a heart-based, serving way.

Because these authors are so phenomenal in how much information they gave as well as the kind of people they are, I made a very special invitation. And I am thrilled to say that many of the authors have agreed to be guests on Relationship marketing 101 Radio.

Do yourself and your business a favor and pick up a copy of Trust Your Heart right away.

Ronda Del Boccio, The Story Lady of www.ProfitableStorytelling.com
#1 bestselling author, speaker and mentor

Fast-Action-Takers Bonuses

Today only (May 18, 2011), you can receive exposure for your business and an audio teaching from each of the authors. Here are the details, courtesy of co-author Jessica Swanson:

Trust Your Heart: Transform Your Ideas into Income has just launched, and you can get your copy now and access our one-of-a-kind bonus!

When you purchase today, you will get two special
bonuses!

First, you’ll receive all author interviews sharing
unique business strategies that helped transform their
dreams into reality.

Secondly, you can get YOUR website/bio/subscriber link advertised in front of all buyers of the book!

We’re massively promoting this book and aim to make
it a best-seller.  And you have a chance today only to
use our buyer’s list to fill your subscriber list!

The publicity bonus is only good for today, so please,
don’t miss out on this massive publicity opportunity for
your website!

Get your copy of Trust Your Heart: Transform Your
Ideas into Income right now at www.ProfitableStorytelling.com/trust

and then go to this url for your bonus interviews and
publicity package at www.ProfitableStorytelling.com/trustpub !

This book is a must-read that you’ll highlight, underline and dog-ear.

Go get it now at www.ProfitableStorytelling.com/trust and claim all the bonuses, including one from me!

Every once in a while you come across a movie that makes you feel so warm inside, so inspired and so GOOD about humanity that you tell everyone about it!

Do You Wanna Dance

 ? is a movie that made me feel just this way. And since as a blogger I AM the media –  I’m sharing it with YOU.

This film is getting RAVE reviews among fans and the media. Chicago’s WGN Radio gave it a four star, thumbs up rating, and said the feel of the movie reminded them of “Rocky”. And wait until you read what other people who have seen the movie have to say!

Read the reviews –  Watch the Trailer –  & Start Dancing NOW!

I had the supreme pleasure of speaking with Robert Krantz, creator, director, producer, FABULOUS “hottie” dancer and — well EVERYTHING— of Do You Wanna Dance?

I’ll share some of Robert’s story in a moment. First, though, let me ask you this…

What person has had the greatest impact on your life?

You’ll probably be taken back to a low point and a time when someone gave you a kick in the seat of one kind or another and at the same time lifted you up.

Times like that are those moments upon which you look back alter and realize they were pivital moments in your life that changed you forever.

This happens when a mentor gives you some instruction or feedback you may or may not like…but advice that sets you on the right path nonetheless.

Here’s how Robert Krantz answers this question:

I had been acting in dozens of movies and tv shows for several years and had sold several screenplays to the major studios, but the studios would always want to change them or as they would say, “Let’s make it edgier”. Edgier?

I didn’t want to make edgier movies. I wanted to make movies that celebrated life; that left you feeling that whatever your dream was, you could accomplish it.

At one point, I was so frustrated, I thought of quitting. Then, one day, I met someone who changed my life. His name was Fr. Chris. He was a wise cracking, beer drinking, hockey loving priest from Chicago.

He told me to come out to Chicago to visit his family and his church. I did. What an experience. We went to a Blackhawks hockey game. We went to his church and I met all of his wonderful elderly parishioners and I got to spend time with his wife and kids. It reminded me of my purpose.

When we got to the airport and I went to say goodbye to him, I got choked up and he smiled and said, “If you start crying, I won’t be able to stop”. We both laughed and I told him that one day, I was going to make a movie about what happened. He looked at me quizzically and asked what it would be about

I told him it would be about the difference that one person’s kindness can make in another person’s life.

It took ten years, but I finally was able to make it happen. We took a great storyline, mixed in some of the best dancing ever on film and got some heart pumping, toe tapping music to go along with it. The result was, “Do You Wanna Dance?”

Watch the Trailer & Start Dancing NOW at Sowww.ProfitableStorytelling.com/dance, if

you are looking for a movie you can watch with your whole family, if you are looking for a movie that has a great story, if you are looking for a movie that celebrates life, if you are looking for a movie that makes you wanna get up and dance… then you will love “Do You Wanna Dance?”

Watch the clip and I’m certain you’ll be hooked. The hardest part will be waiting for the DVD to arrive once you order it!

I told Robert that I literally went from the mailbox to the DVD player with Do You Wanna Dance? .I watched it once and had a friend over the next night to watch it again with me. He borrowed it to share with a friend and has ordered his own copy..

In the movie, Robert plays the role of “Billy Duncan”, a dance instructor who gets in trouble with the law. The reason he gets in trouble with the law is quite interesting (I won’t spill it here!), and when he meets the wacky priest, he is at rock bottom.

Billie  ends up having to serve community service, and let me tell you, he is NOT excited about it when he finds out what he has to do in order to win his freedom. His assignment? Teaching the elderly parishioners at a local church how to dance so they can stay in shape.

This is not at all what Billie, with his broken dream a raw open wound, had in mind. But, soon, Billy finds himself falling in love with the daughter of a wealthy parishioner.

His budding love is NOT encouraged by the rich, influential mother of his intended girlfriend, who wants her daughter to marry the son of an equally influential family of the church, not some law-breaking upstart.

But with the help of Fr. Chris, Billy is inspired to teach dance again and take a chance on love— and on life.

Watch the Trailer & Start Dancing NOW at www.ProfitableStorytelling.com/dance

The movie is a celebration of life. I’m mostly blind, but I can see well enough to tell you that the dancing is as good as your all time favs (easily as good as films like Dirty Dancing or Footloose or flashDance or A Chorus Line)

Do You Wanna Dance? has something for everyone –  dance, romance, action, hopes and fears (even a little red-hot jealousy) and a big dose of bringing out the best in humanity.

I love this movie and urge you to pick up 3 copies — 1 for you, one for a loved one, and one for someone who’s feeling low and needs a reminder that life is good.

And here’s one last message from Robert…

o you wanna dance? I hope you do!

May all your dreams come true,

Robert

I give this movie a 5–star review!

Watch the Trailer & Start Dancing NOW at www.ProfitableStorytelling.com/dance!

“Hope is the dream of a soul awake”

–  French proverb

Events of the past few days no doubt remind you how fragile life can be. Imagine busily going about your day, working, taking care of your family or other responsibilities, and suddenly, in the blink of an eye, life as you know it changes.

People in Japan are experiencing this on a massive scale now because of last week’s earthquake and tsunami. But anyone can experience a series of losses at any given moment.

And

Loss

Imagine feeling caregiver stress as you care for an aging parent, dealing with health challenges, having relationship problems, and losing your home all at once.

When losses or other kinds of setbacks stack up, life can be overwhelming. The thing to remember is that events never determine your response. You do.

You get to choose…and chances are excellent that you could use some help.

Tools to Help You Navigate Setbacks, loss and Stages of Grief

During any time of setback or loss, it is common to feel alone. It’s common to feel stress. But neither of these issues have to get you down for very long.

Having a guide along the way can give you the personal tools to navigate the tough times. And a new book could be just what you need.

The new book Bouncing Back From Loss: How to Learn From Your Past, Build The Present, and Transform Your Future by Donna Marie Thompson

Here is the author’s story in brief. You’ll notice that she turns her grief and loss into inspirational thoughts and actions to help you walk through tough times.

Inspirational Thoughts on The King’s Speech and The Power of Your Voice

Imagine being in a position of power yet not feeling powerful and you have the situation in The King’s Speech.

Imagine having to perform in front of the public using a brand new technology whereby your stuttering voice –  for the first time in history –  is  broadcast to people who you do not see.

And further imagine that you were so undone that you completely lose your way.

Being royalty in a position of authority did not make life any easier for the military man who became King George VI.

I have no trouble understanding why this movie has received so many awards already and why it is nominated for 12 Academy Awards. Certainly the performances are great, but the best part is the storytelling .

The King’s Speech is above all a story about finding your voice and stepping into your power. It is on my must-own movies list, and I highly recommend it to all my mentoring clients and friends.

Here is a description of the movie.

About The King’s Speech:

Brian Tracy asks, “What one thing in your life would change if you knew you could not fail?”

Perhaps you immediately know how you would answer this question. Perhaps not.

You might know precisely what you want your life to be but have no idea how to get there.

Maybe you are on the road to your ideal life but could use a trail guide—or a GPS!

Or you might be so stuck or fearful that you can barely imagine things being different from how they are now.

Which one of those scenarios is yours?

No matter how you responded, one thing is certain.

Thinking, dreaming and wishing won’t give your life a transformation makeover.

Wouldn’t it be amazing to have a guide to lead you by the hand with humor, inspiration and the honest coaching you need to get from where you are to where you want to be?

It’s time to Ignite Your Life!

Anyone who offers coaching, training, classes or even information products has one big issue –  and that question is it…how to get clients –  new clients –  and keep the money

I have a BIG issue with the way most people offer their coaching, training and online courses. And I used to have the same issue with MYSELF!

Now that I found my solution, and yours, the whole issue of how to get clients and keep those new clients coming back for years to come, I am THRILLED to share it with you!

Why? Because I know how people are these days, and I simply wasn’t satisfied with the way my programs served you.

I, like many people offering online training courses and mentoring, delivered a well-thought-out and well-designed package that showed you exactly what to do step by step.

Sounds great, right? And truly, I’ve developed curricula for years and what I assemble is always educationally sound (which is a much higher quality than you get from most courses and programs)

HOWEVER — here’s what happens…

No matter how well the program is organized, how step-by-step it is… your likely to be so dreadfully distracted when you get it that you don’t even REMEMBER where on your computer you put it. Then you’re not disciplined enough to take the steps unless personally guided.

I know –  I get it –  life’s busy. There are so many demands on your time and attention. Unless you have an appointment, you won’t keep a meeting with yourself to learn something new. (Golden Nugget: Put it in your calendar as if you’re meeting a VIP!)

You see, these days, people need to be spoon-fed. Even YOU.

Oh come on now – 

How often have you sworn to yourself that THIS is the year you’ll write your book?

… and even as easy as I make it, I’m appalled how few people take action and get a book done (I’ve published 4 to print this year and 3 to Kindle SO FAR… so you have no excuse when you apply my system).

And I’m sure you have this same problem…

You may actually have a set curriculum everybody gets when they invest in your coaching, training, mentoring or courses. But probably you’re still delivering it one person at a time (trading time for currency) or in small groups and likelihood is everybody doesn’t get the same basic materials every time without fail.

I have a solution for you –  and it’s MY solution as well. You’re invited to a free call that shows you how to solve your biggest problem easily and –  even better –  affordably.

People often ask me about the tools and systems I use in my biz to serve you. I’m about to share one of them – and first let me say that I USE and LOVE this tool. I don’t share biz tools I haven’t tried.

Too many coaches & trainers have absolutely NO SYSTEM for delivering a consistent program to each client, and even less have a way to offer their expertise that is truly SCALABLE so they can quit trading hours for currency.

My first mentor was like that. Oh, he SAID he had a system, but people who talked to him never seemed to get the same material at the same point, and he didn’t have tools and strategies to make them successful. The business tools he used were WAY to expensive for someone starting out, so they didn’t get adopted. Only the rare bird could take and run with what he taught.

I was one of those rare birds, and I not only took off but filled in ALL the holes in his method as I created my own system for how to write a book easily.

I switched my packages over to this tool, which is called JigsawBox, because I love it so much and truly see the greater value the programs you get from me are because of JigsawBox. (You may think of it as Jigsaw Box, with the space, but it’s JigsawBox.)

You can look right here on the blog and see a review and another article about it You’ll also see JigsawBox in the Glossary.

So – read on If you are a current or budding author, coach, speaker, trainer, mentor or offer (or want to start offering) classes, training, guidance…

Because this is for YOU!

I’m THRILLED to let you know that I’ve just made a special arrangement to get you FREE access to a not-to-be-missed webinars with my colleague Nicola Bird of JigsawBox.com: Six Weeks To Launch

To register for the call, click this link:
–> wwwaskTSL.com/jigsaw.

You could develop and start offering a full package of your teaching and guidance in only 6 weeks following what you’re about to see …

What Will You Discover On This FREE Webinar?

Even though you are not even starting to think about the holiday period, did you realize there are only around seven weeks until that January 1 “magic” date, which is the best time of year to launch a product if you’re in the coaching or personal development industry.

At the new year, people want a fresh start, and you could be the one to give it to them – using a system that makes your coaching/teaching engaging for your client and more profitable for YOU.

So if you want to make the most of that ‘new year, new you ‘ feeling in your clients, Nicola is going to show you how to create your first online teaching/coaching product and get it all ready to launch in just six weeks.

Yes, really!

You see, Nicola has been helping coaches, consultants and trainers package up their expertise and deliver it online for a while now, and she knows a thing or two about getting it done and launched quickly.

In this call she’s going to show you exactly what you need to do.

I’m a big fan of her online tool JigsawBox. Thiss call is a chance for you to see it in action as she shows you step-by-step how to create your first product, and, more importantly, the key to selling it!

In just 60 minutes, you’ll discover:

* Why packaging up your expertise is the only way to HIT YOUR REVENUE TARGETS for 2011

* How to create an innovative and exciting product, EVEN IF YOU’VE NEVER DONE IT BEFORE

* A week-by-week guide for what you need to do IN THE NEXT 6 WEEKS to hit that lucrative January launch time

* 4 easy ways to promote your product BEFORE YOU’VE EVEN FINISHED BUILDING IT

* Nicola’s favourite way to LAUNCH YOUR PRODUCT WITH A BANG in the New Year!

* And much, much, much more!!

I’ve been on Nicola’s webinars and I KNOW you’ll get a lot out of it!

—> Reserve your spot NOW!

Just get it done NOW!

It really doesn’t matter if you’ve never created an online product before – she’s going to show you how it’s possible in just six weeks. And the best way to get it sold too.

To make sure you’re there, click this link:

AND –  you’ll get a free 2–week trial of this amazing tool. (Because I know  you want it NOW not at the end of the call, at the bottom of the registration page is a link to the main site, which is where you get your 2 free weeks! I got so excited that I switched my programs right during the free trial and kept on going!

You can follow Nicola Bird on Twitter. @NicolaBird

Related articles

• Review: Jigsaw Box Interactive Product Creation (profitablestorytelling.com)
• Standing Out in a Sea of Coaches: “Why Is It So Hard to Get Enough Coaching Clients?” Of Systems, Curricula and JigsawBox (profitablestorytelling.com)

Like any tool, how useful it is depends on how much you need it. Today’s review is for Snap It, which lets you select areas of the screen to “capture” and snap instead of the entire screen.

That little PrintScreen button is handy, but a lot of times you only want a snapshot of one part of the screen. Goodness knows I’ve captured the whole screen and then had to go into Paint to extract the button or menu or area I need.

What SnapIt does is let you determine the area you want to print.

Here is information about the product from the Snap-It website:

SnapIt Screen Capture 3.7

 

SnapIt is easy to use screen capture software which allows you to easily capture

anything on the screen including windows, menus, full screen, rectangular regions,

web pages and take shots of moving images.

 

- Supports hotkeys, auto-saving, clipboard

- Automatically copies screenshots to the clipboard

- Tracks capture history, auto-saves captured images

- Saves files in BMP, GIF, JPEG, PNG and TIFF formats

- Auto-names captured images

So the first thing I did was tape a SnapIt screen image of the part of their website with the cover image and links to download and purchase. Here it is:

By the way –  since they make you click something to see the price, it’s $17.99. I would much prefer the price to be listed right on the page. As a business owner, you want to give people as few steps as possible to make a decision about your product.

Anyone can get a free trial to see if this is for you. I appreciate that, because sometimes you THINK a tool will be helpful and it turns out not to be. Conversely, if you love it, you are delighted to go ahead and make your purchase. So Kudos to SnapIt for the free trial.

If you create demos, photo collages or similar projects in your business, then you’ll want to give SnapIt a try.

So once you download and install, a desktop icon appears.

I like to try using something without having to read through instructions first, because to me that’s a test of ease of use. So admittedly I was lost.

When you click the desktop icon after downloading, the only thing that happens is you get a box asking if you want to purchase or keep using the free trial. So I was wondering what to do next. I clicked it again, figuring something would open up, but nothing did.

Then I noticed a tray icon, and I was annoyed because I didn’t see anything asking me if I WANTED either the tray icon or desktop icon. I like a tidy desktop and there are already more buttons than I prefer. As a blind person I don’t use launch buttons in the tray much. It’s a bit of a hassle.

Undaunted, I decided to try hitting the PrintScreen button to see what would happen. Et Voila! a cross-hairs came up in place of my mouse and I was easily able to grab the part of the screen I wanted. In the tray icon (right click it) is a choice for Save As. I saved it as a JPEG, but there are several formats, as mentioned above.

They do not appear to have an affiliate program. If they do, it isn’t obvious. Naturally, any business owner who could potentially refer business would love to have an affiliate program.

They do have a forum, which is helpful if you’re into using forums.

OK, I’ve walked you through using the tool. Time for the review.

Note: I am not compensated for this review. I only used the free trial anyone can get.

My Review of SnapIt

Now that you’ve seen the description above, you’ll find it a snap to use this program without reading documentation.

Since I don’t personally use a lot of partial screen captures or photos, I’m not overly excited about it. That said, it’s a good program. I think if you are someone who creates a lot of demos, tutorials, collages or desires partial screen capture for other reasons , this could be an invaluable tool.

And at under $20, SnapIt won’t break the piggy bank

*************************************************

Want me to review your product/tool/service?

If you have something you’d like me to review, you can use the Contact page. You can’t buy my opinion, of course. I will join your affiliate program if you have one, because reviews tend to lead to SALES!

As someone who offers mentoring, classes and info products, one of the saddest truths is that about 90% of people buy a package from someone and do absolutely nothing with it. I suppose it’s because when you make a purchase, your brain tells you that you have the solution now, so you don’t take

action.

You swear that you’ll do whatever the self-paced study program or ebook is about, but chances are it languishes forgotten on your hard drive.

I’ve been wanting an online interactive training tool, but the one with which I am familiar is sterile, remote and hard to use. That online environment is a pain in the behind to use for creating a product or course, because you have to flip back and forth between various areas, and you can’t rearrange things either. Plus on the client side, it’s really not enticing. Oh, and the one I know doesn’t let the mentor/trainer brand it in any way. You only get this sterile, cold, YUCK background.

I wanted something better.

I want a flexible interactive arena that empowers me to create various online writing courses, mentoring or coaching programs, and even information products that help you the customer interact with and use the materials in a fun and easy way.

Here is my wish list for an online interactive training environment.

• Ability to include audio’s, videos, hunks of html code, and text easily.
• Ability to upload materials, such as work sheets, graphs, documents, etc.for the client.
• Interactive so the client can answer questions right there, not in a downloadable workbook.
• Easy for me to use with one area for me to create a module or a course (or coaching / mentoring program).
• Has my logo on it and my branding
• Ability to change the background color.
• Ability to adjust font size
• Spell check
• Ability to edit all aspects of the module even in a live course
• Affordable
• Scalable
• Ability to formulate various packages without re-inputting the materials
• Ability for client to export their questions and answers for continued use on their computers.

So imagine my glee when I discovered Jigsaw Box! A British coach developed this program so she could deliver her services without using so much of her time. This tool gives me 95% of my wish list. And with a 2–week free trial, I was able to try it out at no risk.

Jigsaw box lets you create multimedia modules. You can include whatever materials you want, including uploaded documents. Then, like a jigsaw puzzle, you can create various packages, selecting the modules you want as if you’re choosing items on a menu.

One example of Jigsaw Box in action…

I’ve already made sales on the first product I created with Jigsaw Box. It’s Easy Write & Publish Your Book. I show you the 5 fastest, easiest ways for how to write a book and publish it fast

See how easy it is to create a module with an article that I “dressed up” using the editor inside Jigsaw Box. I added a few questions, then included a video. Watch this…

“How do I make positive affirmations work for me?”

Following is a short video that teaches you why positive affirmations do not always work and how to help those positive messages sneak in “under the radar” of your conscious mind, effortlessly.

I am an affiliate of this product because I believe in it, and because the product creator, Glen Mollett, is a businessman of quality deserving of your trust and your business.

Get the Affirmation Ticker now

Mountain climbing devotee Greg Mortenson made an unsuccessful attempt to reach the summit of K2. He staggered down the mountain, and a wrong turn brought him to the people of a small and poor town. They nursed him back to health, though they mad little to spare, and he found his ultimate purpose in life.

He vowed that he would come back and build a school for their children, including the girls. Yet when he came back to his home in the USA, he found the task of fundraising daunting. Not knowing how to use a computer at first, he individually typed letters to influential people, hoping for donations.

It would only take $12,000 USD to build and supply a school. Yet the wealthy and influential did not flock to his aid. Would you like to guess who gave him the most in donations at first?

Watch this video…

Greg talked to children at the school where his mother worked. He told them about children in Korphe, Pakistan, who drew letters in the sand with sticks and only had a teacher some of the time. Plus, the girls had no way to be educated. They wanted to do something. Realizing everyone has a penny, they collected over 6,000 pennies.

Three Cups of Tea is a real life adventure in bringing education and peace to Pakistan and Afghanistan. You can read the original version of Three Cups of Tea, and there is also a young reader’s version.

This book excites me on many levels. For one, it is a brilliant collection of personal narrative example’s that walk you through Mortenson’s life-changing climb and his passionate dedication to building schools. One of the women I know who read this book thinks Mortenson was crazy to live in his car. I say his passion drove him to sacrifice what most people consider a normal life in order to make his dream a reality.

Imagine this. He cared so deeply about having enough money for a school in Pakistan that he lived in his car and used a storage space to keep a few items. That’s because he did not want the expense of rent to rob the children of their education. He used money sparingly in order to power his dream.

That’s an impassioned servant willing to give up so much, including what we in America would consider “the basics” such as a place to live, because that was the only way he felt he could get things started. Later, he garnered other resources, but at first, he was willing even to give up a place to live. Now he has a modest house and a family.

I truly admire his passionate devotion.

I really love the story about how he met his wife. The video below is his first daughter singing the song, “Three Cups of Tea.”

Education Changes Lives

I’ve been thinking a lot about the power of education since reading this book. In America, education is pretty much a given, and even those who drop out still live in wealth by global standards. You can be a grade school dropout and still have an apartment, a cell phone, a TV, and so forth. I’ve always been a proponent of giving people all oaver the world an education, but I never realized the depth of the issue until reading this book.

My commitment to education is deeper because I understand on a deep soul level what it’s like in places like Pakistan, Iraq, Afghanistan, and so many other parts of the world. When you don’t have an education there, you truly don’t have options. Think of how many people who join the Taliban or other terrorist organizations do so because they’re simply trying to have the ultra basics of food and a roof over their heads. It’s easy to think people make those choices out of political or religious loyalty, but so often, it’s simply because without an education, there are few options.

I cried more than once while reading this book. When I read about the young woman educated in one of the first schools Greg helped establish march into a meeting of men and demand that Greg live up to his promise to send her for medical training so she could help her people. I did a fist pump and shout for joy!

Powered by Peace

Did you ever stop to realize how much peace is linked to education? So often I’ve heard people complain that America will send money everywhere else for schools and medicine. Yet stop to think about it. Sure, children are our future, but it’s more than that cliche.

When you have the opportunity of education, you realize you have choices. Education turns boys and girls with little guidance into empowered young men and women who understand that they can choose their own destiny.

This book will help you know the people of Pakistan. When you know how people live and stop to ask them what is important to them, it is easier to bring about peaceful relations.

One thing that popped out for me as I read the book is the power of relationships. Several times, Greg had intended to build a school in a certain place, however, the wisdom of someone who knew the specific people involved urged him to leverage the relationships first. And this is so true everywhere.

Relationships are the key to building any dream. Greg started out as a lone wolf and spent so much time and energy trying to get things moving. But through the power of people who knew the situation and people who had the financial ability to provide funding, his dream got legs.

Three Cups of Tea is a powerful peace symbol. It is about spending enough time with people to get to know them and share their lives. By the time you have had 3 cups of tea, you have received not only gracious hospitality, but trust.

Please read this powerful book and bring a little more peace into the world in so doing.

order Three Cups of Tea: One Man’s Mission to Promote Peace . . . One School at a Time

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“Dreamers see the world, not as it is, but as it should be!”
- Dr.Mani Sivasubramanian

Dr. Mani dreamed of being a heart surgeon ever since his childhood. He saw an article in Reader’s Digest magazine about a famous heart surgeon, Dr. Denton Cooley. As a young physician, he felt a burning desire to beat the odds and cheat death.

A few years later, he found his passion to work with children in India who have congenital heart defects, CHD. This work ultimately led to him writing his new book, 47 Hearts: How to Live Your Dreams and Reach Your Goals with Passion, Purpose & Persistence.

“Working with children born with congenital heart defects (CHD), interacting with their parents, and understanding the uphill struggle they faced, gave me a unique perspective into how 9 in every 10 CHD families in India live.

“Limited finances, lack of awareness and restricted access to resources

“I had found my focus. A problem that I could try and solve.”

47 Hearts has several meanings, one of which is to honor the 47 healed hearts and the hope of more to come.

Watch the book trailer.

This book takes you on a journey into your own passion. It is a fast read, and one you will want to pick up when you need a boost of positivity or courage to go for your dreams.

A number of the chapters ask you to consider a question about your own dream, such as, “What if it takes your whole life?”

The chapter I like best is titled: “You are the Visionary; The Others are Missionaries,” in which he reminds you to hold the vision and surround yourself with a team to bring it into fruition. He’s saying you should not have to be chief visionary and chief cook and bottle washer.

I had an interesting exchange with someone via Facebook today. Each day I post a Word of the Day on this blog, courtesy of an RSS feed. Rick saw today’s word and commented that I was up early. I “fessed up,” telling him it was my blog feed auto-posting to Twitter and all over the place because of the way I have everything hooked up.

Rick said he was disappointed. I countered with this: “If I didn’t use some technology and automation to help me serve my audience, I would spend all my time doing piece work instead of PEACE work!”

47 Hearts is a nice little book. I will definitely buy a copy because it is a fundraiser for heart surgeries for children.  I have to honestly say it lacks one of the key elements I say belongs in every book: storytelling. How much more powerful this book would be if he had included stories of some of the families in India with children who have received their heart surgeries.

One element I like very much in this book is that he says if 47 people come together, each contributing a portion of the $1,250 it takes to match the government subsidy in India to give a CHD child heart surgery, those 47 hearts united can make the difference.

I am hoping that as his Feb. 14^th launch approaches, he will share more stories on his website, in videos, etc.

WAIT until Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14^th…

Dr. Mani asks – “Will YOU Commit To Spending $6.95 To Buy My new Book On February 14th?”

All profits from sales of the book go to charity. Purchase of this book helps provide heart surgery for underprivileged children.

Visit www.47Hearts.com and register for your reminder to purchase the book on Feb. 14^th.

How much time and energy do you put into your personal development each day? Do you read, study and improve yourself? If you are not currently doing so, I urge you to spend at least a few minutes each day reading a book or listening to a recording that empowers you to expand yourself.

Reading stories of people who raised themselves out of difficult situations and change lives everyday is one of my favorite passtimes. The book I review today

Kenneth Brown, author of LIFE: 6 Principles for Living In Freedom Everyday, lived his early life in poverty. Yet he had a dream of owning his own restaurant. Naturally, he did not effortlessly move from dream to fulfillment. He faced numerous challenges along the way. Only once he gained the right mindset and associations, a sense of vision and purpose for his life and took responsibility for his circumstances did he discover the meaning of freedom.

in LIFE, Kenneth Brown walks you through a journey of self discovery that will help you connect with what I would call your passion and he calls your calling. This is a book for those who appreciate a Christian perspective and/or who hold the belief that God directs your life.

He says in the book that when he first tried to borrow money from family to live his dream, the deal fell through because he used “earthly currency” and because he had not been made ready. After gaining skills working in McDonald and other restaurants, he discovered a passion for leadership and a clear sense of what God was calling him to do..

The guiding principles he talks about in the book are:

• Faith in God
• Vision  of success
• Purpose ordained by God
• Passion  and energy
• Ownership of your life and situation
• Associations that strengthen you

The book is written in a very friendly and accessible style. Kenneth uses some of his own stories, Biblical tales and stories of people he knows throughout the book.

If you feel a desire to understand God’s purpose for your life or you wish to deepen your faith, this book will definitely inspire you.

One of the great stories he tells is about the importance of your associations. He shares a time when he nervously started a horseback riding lesson. The instructions given to him reminded him of his wife. No, he does not liken her to a horse, but the instructions a rider gives a horse are like those of a good accountability partner. Sometimes you give a gentle direction with the reigns, and when you want the horse to go, you kick him in the stomach. While the contact does not hurt the horse, it gets him moving. That’s what Brown says his wife does for him at times.

One of my favorite stories is in the section on vision. Brown coached a businessman whose company was failing. While the man talked about wanting his employees to buy into his vision, and while he had created excellent training materials for them, his vision statement was not posted anywhere either in the manual or around the offices. How can anyone buy into a vision when they do not know what it is?

Brown shares an unfortunate truth in the book, which is that most people do not have a written vision statement or written goals. He created a simple yet powerful guiding vision statement for his restaurant. This single sentence stated the vision so clearly that all he had to do to demonstrate to an employee that they were not in alignment was to point and say, “Read the vision.”

I really appreciate Brown’s use of stories throughout LIFE. This isn’t surprising, since I’m definitely an advocate of connecting with people through storytelling. His stories poignantly guide you into an understanding of how to improve your life in the 6 arenas he covers in the book.

While there are no specific “exercises” in the book, there are many questions for you to consider and suggested actions you can take to raise yourself up in each of the 6 areas. You will find this book easy to read and powerfully pertinent.

Give yourself the gift of LIFE Tuesday, Jan. 26 and receive some life-changing gifts from Kenneth and his promotion partners right here..

I enjoy the Cat Who cozy mysteries by Lillian Jackson Braun. They’re light reading and a nice break between intensely suspenseful or gripping books.  I’ve read a number of them now, and I enjoy the interesting life and adventures of Twil, the main character.

It is fun when yuo get to follow characters you have come to know and love through their adventures. In the first book, journalist Jim Qwilleran, our hero, inherited a Siamese cat named KoKo,who has a penchant for turning up clues. The trick, of course, is in interpreting those clues correctly.

Qwil soon inherits a second Siamese, yum Yun. Braun is obviously a cat fancier. As a cat lover myself, I especially enjoy hearing of the adventures

This book came out in 2005, and I confess it isn’t one of the best. The plot was weak in this one. My mom, also an avid fan of the series, did not like this one as much as others either. But once you start reading the series, you’ll want to give this one a quick read to keep up with  the cats’ latest adventures.

What’s your opinion?

The version I read includes a few of his other works. Interestingly, the autobiography is incomplete. And there are some revealing omissions.

I enjoyed reading franklin’s discussion of his 13 points of character that he diligently worked on every day, completing 4 cycles per year to improve his character. His 13 areas of life that he focused on included temperance, frugality, organization, and moderation.

Here is a copy of Benjamin Franklin’s 13 Virtues Chart for you to have. What Franklin did was to first arrange the virtues in a way that made sense, with an easier virtue ahead of a related one so that once you gave your attention to the easier one, you were partway to handling the other. He made a chart that he carried with him every day. Each week, he would focus his attention on one of the virtues, so that over athe course of a year, he went through the 13 virtues 4 times.

Even a great inventor, statesman and businessman is imperfect, as are we all. Knowing what a womanizer he was, I noted this aspect of his life completely absent. Evidently, he did not consider woman-chasing as any sort of blemish on his moral character or anything that needed to be modified.

I also discovered that Ben Franklin facilitated at least one (probably more) joint ventures. Can you imagine? Yes indeed. A man wrote him saying he wanted to raise himself out of poverty and Franklin set him up in a printing business wiht an important stipulation. In exchange for Franklin purchasing all the equipment and other necessities, the man would remit 25% of his earnings back to Franklin.

That was a joint venture. Eventually, the man died and his wife took over the printing business. She bought out Franklin’s hare and her son then took it when he was old enough. Quite interesting!

I hope you enjoy keeping up with my reading list It’s fun to share my literary meanderings with you.

If you feel the desire to take charge of your time and bring sanity to your day, I have a free gift for you. Mark Joyner‘s Simpleology is absolutely a must. I am so glad I found it when I started my entrepreneurial adventure. I’m an affiliate and delighted to share this gift with you.  Principles I focused on because of this program help me to be very productive while still having a life. I hope you will claim and enjoy it.

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I just finished reading the Celestine Prophecy by James Redfield.  This is a story of intuition, insight and beauty. Instead of the author sharing his teachings in a nonfiction book, he chose to share them in a novel. This is the first of 4 books teaching the Insights that empower people to live from Source/beauty and stay connected wiht the divine power no matter what is happening around you.

The story begins as a restless former teacher hears from an old flame. She tells him about secret scrols and lost teachings in Peru that are being rediscovered, and every time she thinks of the scrolls, she thinks of him. Thus begins his H

ero’s journey and a huge adventure.

When John arrives in Peru, he discovers that government and church officials are trying to suppress the prophecy that he is now compelled to discover.

Here is the theatrical trailer for the movie based on the book:

This hybrid story/study guide for living connected with Source/divinity will hold your attention and give you something to think about as well. If you’re like me, you’ll gain a fresh appraoch to look at familiar understandings.

I am a person who has always let intuition guide me and someone who is aware of the energy of life around and within everything.  It’s fun to find a book that teaches people a way to live from intuition.

This book was a runaway bestseller, on the lists for 3 years. I first encountered the Celestine Prophecy because of the movie, which I watch several times a year. I actually found it at a WalMart, which surprised me for whatever reason. You can rent it from Netflix or your favorite rental place.

I am adding this to my recommended books section because I believe there are powerful insights that will help anyone along your path. The journey begins by understanding the power of meaningful coincidences that are truly messages.

The other insightstake you through a progression of adventure and understanding of how to awaken wisdom.

Most of the time, the book is better than the movie. I want you to read the book and see the movie, and in this instance, I feel the movie is better. And in the book you will gain some specific practices you can do yourself, revealed in the pages of John’s adventure.

So I’m in this sticky spot. I am not recommending the product, but as I write a commentary, I don’t want to name the product either. It’s in the realm of books. So if you’re considering any large purchase in that arena, just write and ask me first.

Let me share what I look for in a product, so you’ll understand how I evaluate what to offer as an affiliate or what to present to potential joint venture partners.

I look for the following aspects in a product:

• GREAT product that people want.
• step by step instructions in it or some sort of easy to follow plan.
• much more use value than cost.
• solves a big problem.
• makes a hard task simple.
• Breaks things down into manageable chunks.
• multimedia.
• value in the PRODUCT itself even without bonuses.
• when I review it, I can honestly say I would refer it without a moment’s hesitation to my closest friend and to my tribe.

So here’s the thing. I got a copy of the product from him and…well…um…I’ll say it this way…it’s multimedia, because there are 5 CDs and a manual.

It’s NOT great. It’s OK. Well, it’s OK if it were about 80% off. If I had to pay full price for it I would have thrown it across the room first and then packed it up to send for a refund.

It is supposed to solve a big problem, but it doesn’t. Not really. It is a hipey more fluff than substance product where the 2 people who did what they did remembered back to how they did it. Out of 5 CDs, 2 are good. 2 are almost duplicates and the last misinforms completely.

There is no step by step. The system has more holes than a pound of Swiss cheese. You couldn’t possibly follow the steps and accomplish what you’re intended to do unless you have a lot of tenacity. And then it wouldn’t be their steps but your tenacity that got you there.

It makes a hard task even harder, because they don’t tell you how to get “the thing” listed where it needs to be in order to use the system at all.

What this product shows you how to do (supposedly shows you how to do) has been done so many times that it has lost its shine. And with so little detail, unless you are already on a path to a solid business, you’d never get the intended result.

One whole CD has a system that is flat out wrong on it. They tell you to do something, and if you know how the company you would be dealing with works, you KNOW it doesn’t work that way. Plus at another point they give wrong information about when changes are calculated in the system.

Someone else I know puts out a truly great multimedia product that gives you a blueprint and makes things simple, requires less of an  investment and gives much more detail, information, and step by step. I’ll make less money per unit promoting this product but sleep well at night knowing I served my audience well.

Although I very much want to support my friend’s product, I cannot honestly do so with a joyous heart and a clean conscience. So, when friendship and business collide, which one wins? Business.

I hope this has helped you consider how you select products and services to recommend.

Yet giving goes so much further than giving money. In Chapter 2 you’ll read about giving time, life, knowledge, leadership, hope and laughter, among other things. Anyone can give these things, no matter what your economic status.

As I read the book, I appreciated how the authors incorporated stories of various people as well as a chance for the reader to stop and explore your own life. For example, there is a section about attitudes toward money, and within it is an area to consider your own attitudes. The authors encourage you not simply to read but to interact with the book.

The focus of the book is on many arenas of life, including developing new skills and using those to give. I like the activity on page 65 which invites you to discover what new skills you want to develop. The first question asks you to consider what you’re passionate about and the second urges you to ask yourself what skills you could learn to pursue those passions. Good stuff!

This is a video taken at a blogging convention:

I love the reflection section on page 80 that talks about the steps to helping yourself. You cannot truly give when you are not first helping yourself.

And one of my favorite pieces is about “heart fiber,” which the authors talk about giving to your children. The authors call heart fiber “the values and virtues that build a strong character.”

Another thing I like about the structure of the book is that you will see a recap of the key points in each chapter. This is a brilliant way for an author to increase the reader’s comprehension and ability to put what they’re reading into practice.

Some of the material is more conceptual, but there is plenty of “nitty-gritty” in it as well. You will discover not only various types of nonprofit but how to evaluate them.

You’ll also discover some unusual types of tithing that I bet you never thought about before: idea tithing, time tithing, and interpersonal tithing, to name a few.

Even if you consider yourself to be a giving person, you will gain insights from this book that I’m sure will surprise you.

This is something else I love that automatically makes the book viral. Several times in the book you will see a box that starts: “Give this book away” with specific instructions. Bravo!

When you purchase The Power of Giving today, you will receive a number of bonus gifts, including one from me. The link is http://ThePowerOfGiving.org/paperback for the gifts. Please buy the book, read it, and give it away as the authors suggest.

Additional Resoruce

If you want to know how to write a book yourself, you want to pick up the Instant Credibility System, because I walk you step by step from business vision to knowing your audience to determining your profit funnel to actually writing the book in such a way that it grows your business.

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(full disclosure: This is NOT a paid endorsement. I received nothing other than the same ebook you yourself can get on the website.)