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What will it take to unhook you from stuff?

April 30, 2012 By

When you hear the word hook what do you immediately think of? Okay, in addition to fish what word comes to mind? What about seize, fasten, or hold? Hook implies getting stuck or drawn into something. In literature, a hook is what draws you to pick up the book or read a story. In advertising it is what causes you to purchase a product or service. Given these examples it is reasonable to assume that if we have lots of stuff, there are lots of hooks in us. Here are some examples:

  • The seductive store display that says “Buy two, get one free.” (even though you only intended to buy one)
  • A friend who gives us a gift with the words, “When I saw this I thought of you.” (and you think that it is hideous)
  • A relative that brings us a piece of furniture and says “I don’t have room for this but it should stay in the family.” (you don’t have space for it either)
  • A colleague who gives us a desktop sorter and states “This is a lifesaver in keeping my desk organized.” (your desk is functional for your needs)

So would you keep the stuff or delete it from your space? In most cases, the person feels compelled to keep the item because it was a great deal or they are afraid to offend someone.

Visualize the following: a fishhook in your body for every time you have bought or received an item that you couldn’t use or didn’t like. How many hooks? How many more hooks do you think you will have if you maintain your current habits? I’m thinking things are getting pretty uncomfortable! So are you ready to get unhooked? Dictionary.com defines unhook in several ways: to unfasten or open by undoing or to detach by or as if releasing a hook. Whew, if you are covered by stuff hooks, I would think that unfastening or detaching would be quite a relief! Melody Beattie asks the following question: “What are the words, the signs, the looks, the hints, the cues that hook us into a predictable, and often self-defeating behavior?” I challenge you to ask yourself that question and then detach yourself from one such behavior today!

Need help changing some of your stuff accumulation habits? Find out how Minding Your Matters can help!

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“I can’t build my business because the economy is so terrible and no one has any money to spend on what I have to offer!” Woe is me…. (yeah, I’ve heard myself say that a time or two!) Um….. Visit…

April 30, 2012 By

“I can’t build my business because the economy is so terrible and no one has any money to spend on what I have to offer!” Woe is me…. (yeah, I’ve heard myself say that a time or two!)

Um…..

Visit a restaurant on a Wednesday night – you’ll have to wait to get a seat.

Go to a movie in the middle of the afternoon on a Saturday – you’ll park in the BACK of the parking lot built for 5,000 cars.

Go to a local minor or major league baseball game – SOLD OUT and 75% of the people there are buying $ 6.00 cokes and $ 8 hot dogs.

And, guess what – I’ve done all three in the past week which is why I know those statements are true.

This is one of the biggest excuses entrepreneurs use, so they don’t have to take responsibility for their inability to build a business – and they end up applying for a job somewhere else because making money for someone else is “secure”.

Well, if jobs are so secure, then why have I been on pins and needles for the past year wondering if I’ll have my online teaching job once the Spring 2012 semester is over? Don’t we all think teaching in the Public School System is…..Stable?

An entrepreneur’s inability isn’t because they aren’t smart enough or have some earth shattering product or service – it’s simply because they don’t understand how to market themselves, set and achieve goals or get out of their comfort zones and overcome their fears. And, they don’t value themselves enough.

* Would you like to position yourself so that you never feel like you HAVE “to sell” your service or product?

* Did you know that when you are really clear about exactly how you can help someone, they are relieved that their problem will soon be solved or that you will help them reach their goal, and they can’t wait to get started?

Are you ready to stop letting excuses STUNT your cash flow and YOUR SUCCESS! If you answered yes, say “I”!

YOU CAN MAKE MONEY – EVEN in THIS Economy!

How do I know, because I do. My clients do. And loads of other coaches and entrepreneurs do, too! One of my clients started a baby-sitting service business in October of 2011, she has over 100 babysitters and over 150 families! She also had a FULL TIME JOB while building her business. She just worked her last day for someone else last Friday! She is making MONEY!

The Question that remains…How can you make money in this economy?

The answer is to change your story and your state, set and achieve goals, organize your thoughts and our time, get out of your comfort zone and GET INTO ACTION!

People buy what they want and they figure out ways to pay for what they want, regardless of the economy, especially if they want it bad enough, and if they believe their lives will be significantly enhanced by getting it.

* They will splurge on dessert if the thought of home-made key lime pie tonight is more compelling than cab fare tomorrow. (They’ll burn the extra calories walking it off ;-)

* They will spend hundreds to thousands of dollars for once-in-a-lifetime concerts or opening day for their favorite sports team. (What if I never get to see them again?)

* They will even sell their car to get coaching when they know it will get them the lifetime results they are looking for. (Once I learn how to make money coaching, I can buy an even better car!)

When you position yourself to be what they are looking for, you never have to sell your services.
They know what they want, and when they get that you are it, they are ready, willing and able to invest in your products services, so they can get it.

Are you committed to:

Change Your State
Write a New Story

Set and Achieve Goals

Get Out of Your Comfort Zone

Organize your Thoughts and your Time

Get Into Action

If this is all I need to learn and do to live the life I want to live, then I’m in, full throttle!

Are You?

Article Source: What Is Your Excuse? The Economy?

Author: Megan Huber is a Triangle Professional and Personal Development Coach for men and women small and home based business owners who are just getting started, transitioning careers and/or want to redefine their purpose. If you want to get clear with your purpose, set and achieve your goals, experience the abundance of life outside of your comfort zone and get into more action so that your business and your life thrive, please contact Megan @ 919-906-0753.

Contact Megan for a free 15 minute session if you are serious about investing in yourself and in your business!

http://www.structuredwellness.com – Click Contact Megan

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Worried About Owing Money After A Raleigh Short Sale?

April 30, 2012 By

Raleigh NC – We recently received an email from Joy. She was thinking about a short sale, but was worried about a deficiency.

Here is a sentence from her email: “We obviously want to get the price as close to fair market value as possible to eliminate or reduce any deficiency the bank may assess, but also want the house to move as quickly as possible.”

Click here to discover how other sellers successfully did a short sale and avoided foreclosure.

Here is the good news for Joy. In about 80-90% of all cases the homeowner is allowed to walk away without a deficiency. Yes, banks are releasing homeowners from hundreds of thousands of dollars in upside debt.

We’ve seen homeowners walk away from $ 300,000, $ 500,000, and more in upside down debt. It’s like a “Get Out Of Jail Free” Card.

So, how do you find out if you will not owe a deficiency after a short sale? Here is the first step. Find out who owns your loan. Even if you send your monthly payment to ABC Bank it is likely that your loan is owned or insured by one of the one of the following entities.

Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. There is about a 60% chance that your loan is owned by one of these two entities. If they own your loan, then mortgage forgiveness will be granted according to their policies.

FHA Insured. FHA does not own your loan. But, they insure the owner against loss which means that they will be writing the check for the loss. As a result, they dictate whether or not the debt is forgiven.

VA Insured. The Veteran’s Administration does not own your loan. But, they insure the owner against much of the loss. As a result, they dictate whether or not the debt is forgiven.

USDA Insured. USDA does not own your loan, but insures the owner against much of the loss. As a result, they dictate whether or not the debt is forgiven.

Sliced and Diced Loan. This is a mortgage that has been securitized. It is called “Sliced and Diced” because of the way the ownership of each loan is sliced up and sold off to thousands of different people.

The actual owners of the loan are the people that bought the securitized loan product.

Once you have found out who owns your loan, then you move to the next step. That is to find out the short sale deficiency guidelines of the individual owner or insurer of your mortgage. Thinking about a short sale?

I can help you short sale your property and get back on your feet. Send me an e-mail at ken@goldensrealty.com. I will contact you for a free consultation.

When we talk, I will explain how the process works in detail and answer any questions you may have. Or, if you prefer, you can call me at (919) 606-8751

Discover how other sellers successfully completed a short sale and request a free consultation by clicking here.

Thinking about a loan modification? Our Raleigh loan modification kit has the instructions you will need to get a loan modification approved with your bank. Click here to request a copy.

Thanks for reading this, Ken Smith.

Ken is a Real Estate Broker at Goldens Realty. Raleigh Short Sales Realtor:

Phone: (919) 606-8751 . ken@goldensrealty.com.

Friendly, loyal, intelligent service!

View My homes for sale at www.GoldensRealty.com.

Ken Smith specializes in loan modification assistance and short sales in Raleigh North Carolina. Raleigh Loan Modification Help, Raleigh Short Sales. Raleigh Short Sale Realtor. Raleigh NC Short Sales. Raleigh Realtor.

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Repurposing: Get Organized

April 30, 2012 By

Here is a short vlog to encourage you to look around the house to repurpose everyday items you have to get organized!

http://youtu.be/XunZ0afULD0

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Why I am so Passionate About Skin Health and Revitalization

April 30, 2012 By

As I reflect back on the past years of A Younger You, I recall a question I am asked, frequently “WHY do you care so much about skin revitalization and improvement?”


The joy and passion I feel is demonstrated with each and every client I am blessed to encounter.



I Understand.  The reason for my passion? I UNDERSTAND….



If you want to start at the very beginning, I was born and raised in West Virginia, and received my cosmetology license from WVU/Morgantown School of Cosmetology in 1967. I’ve been lucky throughout the years, and my path through multiple states and thousands and thousands of hours of practice has allowed me the opportunity to know about and learn from many leaders in the field of true skin care! I’ve practiced, lectured, and even served as director of state-level beauty pageant committees. But I really didn’t find my calling until after a very personal and traumatic event happened to me about 15 years ago.



Looking for Answers.  I was diagnosed with a parroted tumor that was very extensive, implanted on in the right side of my face and neck – I was very lucky that the surgeon I had was one the best around! The amount of damage from surgery was minor relative to what we were expecting. However, I still lost the feeling in the right ear and some hearing. There was also numbness on the side of my face and a feeling of slight tingling, and though I didn’t have drooping or paralysis of the mouth or eye, about 5 years after surgery, I began to notice that the muscles from the eye to the top part of the neck were losing tone and tightness, as well as general loss of color and brightness. Most of the chin area had become flabby and loose. It was depressing.


Hope.  I went to a seminar and met Dr. Charles Mc Williams, an internationally known naturopath who, from years of research, developed two new technology advanced devices that will stimulate the cells to regenerate the production of collagen and elastin, this will lift and smooth, without surgery and injections. I was fascinated with the technology, and wanted to give it a try for myself. After the 10 treatment series, I had significant improvement – and now you cannot tell that there was any damage at all. I’m now 61, and not only do I look completely normal, but most people have no clue that I am that age – what a great feeling! Since I had such a great personal experience, I started helping others with the use of this technology.


Visible Solutions:  Working with patients and watching the transformation from beginning to end is the most wonderful thing imaginable. Not only do I see the outward appearance change for the better, but I also see how much more confident and self-assured my patients are – and it’s wonderful. And because of the technology, it’s all done without any invasive procedures or injection of foreign substances, no side effects, and no recuperation time. I can honestly say I am having more fun and satisfaction working now than I have ever had in my adult life!



How does it work? I’ll write more about specifics in the future, but it has to do with the stimulation of collagen and elastin cell production, even if such production has been low or nonexistent for many years. By stimulating these cells, on the deep level of production, we can rejuvenate and restore 5 to 10 years in appearance, tighten and brighten the skin!



Now you see why I am so passionate about what I do! I can honestly say that what I do is remarkable – I know, from personal experience, how it affects the individual, on the outside and on the inside.

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Team Nimbus All-Star of the Week – Marc Larin

April 30, 2012 By

Team Nimbus All-Star of the Week


Marc Larin is the owner of Cardinal Home Technologies, LLC

Nature of Business:

We design and install Home Theater and Surround Sound. This includes TV mounting and cabling in the walls of existing buildings. Our clientele includes home owners, small offices, doctor’s offices, and meeting rooms.

What Marc has been up to since his/her participation in 100 Days to Abundance/Team Nimbus:

Team Nimbus was crucial in narowing the scope of my marketing down to my expertize; Home Theater. My sales numbers have been flowing consistently ever since. The people I met through Team Numbus helped me develop a strong marketing and referral system. I have been participating in a Rainmaker groupfor over a year and plan to continue to reap its benefits in growing my business.

I have been with Team Nimbus near 3 years and am proud to call Bill Davis a friend. Bill has made himself available to me for advice and encouragement many times outside of office hours. He is teaching me to become a competent business man. I am truly grateful.

2012 is the year in which our offices and staff will grow to meet the market demands.
The new staff will give me the opportunity to develop the firm and our market

Marc’s best advice to other small business owners:

Always prepare for whatever comes next; meetings, training, consultations or actual jobs. It will increase the efficiency of the time and give you the best appearance to your colleagues & customers.

If you don’t have the pleasure of knowing Marc you can connect with him on:

Inside 919

Read about other Team Nimbus All-Stars.

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Raleigh Loan Modification Tips: How To Gain A Negotiating Edge Over Your Lender

April 30, 2012 By

Raleigh NC – Thinking about a loan modification. If you can afford to, then order an appraisal. Or, do your own appraisal.

Click here to discover how other sellers successfully did a short sale and avoided foreclosure.

Ask your realtor “Hey, what are houses in my area selling for?” I’ve seen people who bought a house for $ 500,000. Guess what’s it selling for today? $ 300,000.

If your house has had a 40% drop in value, then you shouldn’t be paying a mortgage payment based on a value of $ 500,000. You should be paying a mortgage payment based on a value of $ 300,000. Make sense?

Here’s how to find calculate you should be paying. Google “amortization calculator.” Type in what your home is currently worth. Enter the interest rate you were originally paying.

Look at the example numbers below.

* A $ 500,000 mortgage at 6% interest is a monthly payment of $ 2,997.75.

* A $ 300,000 mortgage at 4.5% interest is a monthly payment of $ 1,520.06. Remember, interest rates have dropped a bunch lately.

It looks to me like this person is overpaying by $ 1,477.69 a month. Ouch!

Run the numbers for your house. If your lender forecloses on your house, then it’s not necessarily going to sell for the market value. Most foreclosed houses often sell for 85% to 95% of the value today.

Remember, knowledge is power. When you have this information you have a much better negotiating position with your lender.

You can say “Hey guys, foreclose on my house. But, be prepared to lose a ton of money.” Thinking about a short sale?

I can help you short sale your property and get back on your feet. Send me an e-mail at ken@goldensrealty.com. I will contact you for a free consultation.

When we talk, I will explain how the process works in detail and answer any questions you may have. Or, if you prefer, you can call me at (919) 606-8751

Discover how other sellers successfully completed a short sale and request a free consultation by clicking here.

Thinking about a loan modification? Our Raleigh loan modification kit has the instructions you will need to get a loan modification approved with your bank. Click here to request a copy.

Thanks for reading this, Ken Smith.

Ken is a Real Estate Broker at Goldens Realty. Raleigh Short Sales Realtor:

Phone: (919) 606-8751 . ken@goldensrealty.com.

Friendly, loyal, intelligent service!

View My homes for sale at www.GoldensRealty.com.

Ken Smith specializes in loan modification assistance and short sales in Raleigh North Carolina. Raleigh Loan Modification Help, Raleigh Short Sales. Raleigh Short Sale Realtor. Raleigh NC Short Sales. Raleigh Realtor.

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Found $2,000 in Payroll Tax Overpayments

April 29, 2012 By

Every small business owner has strengths and weaknesses. Typically accounting is not a small business owner’s specialty and s/he usually does not want to deal with the accounting. So small business owners choose to hire an outside service to perform tasks such as tax preparation, bookkeeping, and payroll. Even if this area is not your specialty, it is wise to understand what your service provider is doing so that you can determine if mistakes have been made. I was at a client this week and found about $ 2,000 in payroll tax overpayments. Here are some tips to avoid this situation:

Ask a LOT of Questions – if you do not understand a payroll report or the purpose of a deduction on an employee, ask your service provider. Do not assume that the information is accurate. Sometimes errors occur, but you are ultimately responsible for payroll taxes, not your payroll service provider.

Read Your Reports Before Signing Them – do not blindly assume that your payroll tax forms are accurate before signing them. Again, if you do not understand the report, ask your service provider to walk you through the lines step-by-step so you understand the form you are about to sign and certify is accurate.

Create Check Figure Reports – if you use QuickBooks, you can easily modify reports and create check figure reports to back check your payroll company to verify the information is accurate. You should confirm that the quarterly wages in QuickBooks matches the payroll tax forms. Also create a payroll tax liability check figure report to make sure the balance zeros out after you pay your taxes. Sometimes the wages recorded in QuickBooks will not match the payroll tax forms and it is not an error. Again, talk to your payroll company to understand what it reports as wages versus what you record in QuickBooks as wages to determine if the difference is explainable or an error.

Communicate With Your Service Provider – some payroll companies offer different service levels. One option is to have the payroll company do all your payroll for you: generate payroll checks/direct deposit, file payroll taxes on your behalf, and file payroll tax forms on your behalf. A more common option because it costs less, which I do not recommend unless you fully understand your payroll reports and tax liability calculations, is to have the payroll company process the payroll, give you reports so you see how much tax you owe, and sends forms for you to sign. In this scenario, the payroll company assumes you made the payroll tax payments on time, for the full amount, and made no mistakes.

If you make a mistake and pay a different amount for payroll taxes or forget to make a payment, immediately contact your payroll company. This will affect amounts reported on the payroll tax forms. And if you receive a letter from the IRS or other tax agency, fax or scan & email it to your payroll company right away even if you do not understand the letter. Get the letter to the payroll company first and then call to ask what it means.

If you have liked this article, find out more tips by following EverChange, LLC on Twitter, “like” EverChange, LLC on Facebook or sign up for the EverChange, LLC newsletter.

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What Does Your Publicity Barometer Say About You

April 29, 2012 By

Between Inside919, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, I have nearly 6800 connections. If you take into consideration that a number of those connections overlap, the number is probably more like 3000. The reach, however, is probably in the tens of thousands because I have to admit I travel in some circles with some pretty popular people.

So what does having all of these connections mean when it comes time to promote something you’re selling or doing? I put it to the test recently when I announced an Amazon promotion. I decided to turn one of my print books into an ebook and give it away for FREE over a 72-hour period via Kindle Direct Publishing. All anyone had to due was go to my page on Amazon and download it.

OK—so what did I learn?

1) Just because it’s free doesn’t mean everybody is interested. Your product or book may simply not be something your connections are interested in, even if they like you very much.

2) Thousands of connections doesn’t mean thousands of downloads.

3) Promoting anything requires a pre-promotion. You cannot start promoting in the 11th hour as I did. Olalah says “strategy–then execution” (I did have 549 downloads with only 3 days promotion–so imagine what I could’ve done with a clear plan in place).

4) Don’t expect everyone to see your Facebook page or tweets about your promotion. Would you be surprised to know that some people “hide” your posts or “unsubscribe” from you on FB? And the Twitter goes by so fast, if you blink or sneeze you’ll miss the tweet. And Lord knows, no one wants you cluttering up their stream with tweet after tweet after tweet about your promotion. Where’s the value in that?

5) Have a few teams in place to help you get the word out—remember they probably have connections who know nothing about you. By being a part of the MasterKoda Group on FB, I became connected to a whole new world of authors and writers.

6) Don’t rely solely on friends and family

7) Make sure you’re targeting the RIGHT audience

8) Don’t spam people

9) Everyone who says they will support you will not

10) If you network locally and you don’t get support from your group, RE-THINK your networking strategy

11) Don’t waste your time and energy where you haven’t gotten much support in the past. If you’ve been paying attention to how others interact with you and on what social media sites, you’ll know the answer.

12) You must make personal contact. This goes back to #4. When I sent out an email just hours before the campaign was up, I had a number of people respond that they were sorry they didn’t download in time because they either hadn’t been on Facebook for a couple of days or they just never saw any of my posts—or perhaps they just flat-out lied.

13) You many not be as popular as you think. Lots of connections on your social networking sites doesn’t always equate to YOUR popularity. Remember other people have agendas too.

The book stayed solid at number 2 on Amazon by the time the promotion ended and I learned some valuable lessons along the way.

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Mark Prokop, of Food-Aid International, delivering 154 pounds of food to OCIM

April 28, 2012 By

Mark Prokop, of Food-Aid International, delivering 154 pounds of food to OCIM in Hillsborough, NC to make sure that Orange County residents don’t go hungry.

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.150628878310677.29199.100000906967808&type=3#!/photo.php?fbid=395110770529152&set=t.100000906967808&type=1&theater

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