Working Round 'The Big Dogs'!

I visited a website yesterday before it's launch. Everything talked about there appeared to be terrifically encouraging, direct and real as far as being a method to succeed online. Just a few hours ago I visited it after it's launch. I went to look what the price tag would be on it, all along hoping it would be permissive. But at $997 it might as well have been one of those Super Guru's products priced way over $3000. It was way out of my league. Am I disappointed? Yes. Am I surprised? Not at all. I knew the way he talked on his video it would be out of my range. It seemed as though he was ready to be a 'Big Dog'. This is not to say he is a bad person or that the testimonials on his site cannot be believed. I am merely saying he is moving on up in the industry and loosing site of those behind him.

There are people like myself; who are still struggling to make a living. Sure I want to be able to save time; but that is not as important as keeping the lights, water, and heat on. I am working hard to get "there". As always it infuriates me to see brash people on their sales pages say things like 'only this or that price'. These people are not catering to the little guy or gal but the gurus that want to make money with the next workable system or the poor fool that just got a large settlement or inheritance of some kind, or has a credit card that isn't maxed out yet.

I do have quite a few people in this business that I look up to today. But a lot of the other people I perceive them saying; 'I want to help people'; then they turn around and charge unattainable prices for their products. As I have said before; I am not a tire kicker, nor am I addle brained. I am an intelligent determined and articulate lady entrepreneur with little or no capitol; which makes it hard to get from point A to point C. But I will struggle on because I am convinced that I will succeed.


So though I am annoyed at a lot of the people that are selling systems, software, and other products for excessive prices I am here to tell you this. I believe that I shall soon have that experience of going to paypal or my bank account and see the money I have made with my labor. And I won't have to charge high prices, make people feel bad because they can't buy this or that, and I shall end up touching people's lives in a positive manner.

Cat With a Hat Just like Jason's

I just saw a video that Jason Moffatt made at some seminar in California I think. This young man is irreverent, swears worse than any sailor I have never known, and his appearance is to say the least very 'casual'. Having said that I think he is a truly caring, empathetic, and sincere individual.

I understand a great deal more about marketing and videos than I did before. I have learned that some marketers are very flamboyant and that Jason doesn't mind having a lot of fun.

I went to his blog, and learned a lot about him and what he really cares about. I also learned a lot about marketing from the blog. I got a great deal from his other site here and the accompanying blog as well. He isn't a polished young man but he is definitely on his way to making a great mark in this industry!

Oh by the way Jason, congratulations on the new house!

Ranting about Products Offered on the Net

I was looking at some new courses and products on the web. I was suddenly stricken with a thought. No wonder these people are millionaires! They not only charge exorbitant fees for all their marvelous 'Can't miss', 'Will make you thousands', and my favorite, 'So easy my 10 year old can do it' products they are trying to sell you. They razzle dazzle you with pictures of all the tangible things they have acquired because of their product. Generally speaking, they didn't get rich using their product but selling it at humongous prices.

There are those that have courses that will probably do what they say and really want to help others; as well as make money; but they are few and far between. The one course I am particularly thinking of has his client/student pay almost $500 and that is only 10% of what the person will end up paying. However the one good thing about his pay system is that the customer is on the honor system and doesn't have to pay the balance until he feels he has earned enough from the fruits of the labor that is associated with the course.

My problem with this whole high priced thing is that I don't consistently make enough yet to be able to afford even one of the few excellent courses or products that are online. I am having fun just trying to keep a roof over my head and food in my stomach.

Of course I suffer from information overload just like everyone else. This month I am trying to weed what I want from what I don't in my email accounts. This is a huge task as I usually get 800 or more each account. Most of the business contacts on my accounts are sending me multiple offers a week, but its spamming if I try to show them something of mine which I believe really unfair! Its not that I don't understand why they technically call it spamming but why shouldn't you take a gander at mine if I have opened and read yours?

Well so much for today's rant. We'll see you in the next post and please feel free to comment if you wish.

Halloween

When I was a girl Halloween was a very exciting holiday for most of us in our little village. You see I lived in a hamlet called Unionville in Ontario Canada. I remember a one thing very fondly. Mr. and Mrs Clarke Young were an older couple that really made holidays lovely for the town's children. They lived in a large brick house beside the railway tracks that went through the center of our town.

Well most of the children in town; the young ones in particular, made a beeline for the Young's house after only going to 2 or 3 other houses. I remember going up those large stone steps; as if I were pursuing the Holy Grail. Mrs Young would invite us into the vestibule and have us sit on the little bench. She and her husband would spend a few moments guessing what we possibly might be. Then she would rightly guess the obvious ones and feign being complete ignorance on the others. Well then she would tell us that because she hadn't guessed 100% she had better pay the price.

Mrs Young would leave us there with her husband to chat with us. He seemed to really enjoy guessing the ones she hadn't successfully figured out. A few minutes later, this lovely lady would be back with a tray of warm cider or hot chocolate and some kind sweet like chocolate chip cookies or chocolate brownies. As each child finished their 'lunch' they were given a treat bag full of goodies. Most years she made sure that everyone had a taffy apple, some english toffee, some mixed nuts, a couple of lollipops, some marzipan, an apple or orange and a small little toy each individually wrapped so they wouldn't get messy. More often than not we would find another couple of cookies or brownies too.

These lovely people had no children of their own so they made the village children their own in a small way. I don't remember a time; if I met her at the grocery store, at church, or another place around town that she didn't have a small conversation with me. She had the knack of really listening to you and making you feel as though you were the most important person in the world.

I rather think a lot of the other children felt this way about the Youngs. When Christmas time comes I think I shall tell you about the way she made it special for all of us.

I am glad to say, as I got older, I would visit with her in their yard mostly in the Spring, Summer and Autumn. On those days we would have little conversations and keep each other company for a little while. When her husband Clarke died she kept on with their traditions but everyone felt it wasn't the same without him. I can't quite remember but I think that she died around the time I was in my early 20's. It was at that time that our little hamlet seemed to grow and become part of Toronto. Nothing seemed quite right after Jean Young passed away in our village.

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FYI
Thanks to the Celtic people of pre-medieval Europe, we have Halloween. The Celts celebrated the end of the light half of the year with the festival of “Samhain” (pronounced sah-wen), which they observed during the October/November lunar cycle. Costumes and treats were a traditional part of the Celtic celebration. And while Samhain began as a strictly Celtic festival, it is probable that aspects of Roman religion were incorporated into its observance over the four centuries of Roman rule in Britain (43-410 AD). Pomona was the Roman goddess of fruit trees and gardens. Her symbol was an apple. Some scholars believe this may explain how candied apples and bobbing for apples became associated with Halloween. Later with the early Christians, November 1 became All Saints Day or All Hallow's Day. The night before became All Hallow's eve.

As Christianity spread throughout the world, pagan holidays were either Christianized or forgotten. Samhain was absorbed into Halloween. Costumes and gifts and bobbing for apples were preserved, incorporated into the new holiday. They remain a celebrated part of Halloween to this day, many centuries later.

Now that is the history behind Halloween which I got straight off this site: http://www.allabout popularissues.org/origin-of-halloween.htm .

Smokin'

Ever since I had my first Black Cat unfiltered at 8 or 9 years of age, I have quit at least a dozen times a year. It is a very strange thing. I know they are bad for me, leave an awful odor and taste, and that it doesn't look sophisticated at all. What it amounts to is a dreadful addiction.

Just a word to you younger smokers. It gives you wrinkles before your time and absolutely pulverizes your lung power. Not only that; if you want one you have to go outside of a building which isn't so bad unless its 30 below.

I need to quit because of the coughing I do to clear my throat in the morning, the clothes I have ruined burning them, and the horrible taste in my mouth all the time except when I have just brushed my teeth. Most of all, I want to live a few more years cancer free if posible although I can't undo what I have done.

To the young folks out there, take an elder's advice and don't start! As for me, I shall keep on quitting one day at a time.

Spirit Mind And Body

Lately it has been hard for me to sit at my work station for very long. If I do I experience a lot of pain. This is my excuse for not writing very much of late and I'm sticking to it. Evidently most sources site that anywhere from 600,000 to a million people get shingles in the US each year. I happen to be one of the over 50's that has contracted it. By the way the majority of the people that have them are over 50. Add to that agonizing scoliosis, compacted discs at my neck, carpal tunnel syndrome in my left hand and excruciating arthritis in my limbs and back.

Now that I have given a litany of what ails me; I can tell you where I am mentally and spiritually these days. I state with some pride that the old brain pan works quite well; if I remember to use a calendar to keep track of appointments. It takes a little longer for the old messages to travel round my body from my brain these days but they get there. Spiritually I think that most days I feel a great deal of comfort from my faith. It works if I meditate and pray every day. As for what I believe, I won't share that here as I think that faith is a very personal thing.

The only thing that brings my spirits and thinking down is not being able to get a large 'list' built for all my business endeavors. Oh and burning my scrambled eggs the other day. Hopefully the list will grow and I will watch the eggs more carefully the next time.