One Nation, Under God–Indivisible!

On this special day, I’d like to share some history, and a powerful remembrance of the price paid for our FREEDOM, as shared by my Pastor, Pastor Philip Derber, and the RVN Band.

I think EVERY American should see this video.  May your life be FOREVER change by watching it!  I ALWAYS walk away with a deeper appreciation for those who have given up SO MUCH for my freedom!  Honor …someone today who has served our nation.  Enjoy the video: http://tinyurl.com/297zcsc

By the way, I’m PROUD to be an American!  Thank you to the MANY, MANY men and women that have fought, and continue to fight to keep us free!

Some history behind our nation:

Our founding Fathers had no “quams” about including God in their conversations…why do we shy away from Him now?

The Mayflower Compact:

“In the name of God,  Amen. We whose names are underwritten, the loyal subjects of our dread Sovereign Lord King James, by the Grace of God of Great Britain, France and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, etc.

Having undertaken, for the Glory of God and advancement of the Christian Faith and Honor of our King and Country, a Voyage to plant the First Colony in the Northern Parts of Virginia, do by these presents solemnly and mutually in the presence of God and one of another, Covenant and Combine ourselves together into a Civil Body Politic, for our better ordering and preservation and furtherance of the ends aforesaid; and by virtue hereof to enact, constitute and frame such just and equal Laws, Ordinances, Acts, Constitutions and Offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the general good of the Colony, unto which we promise all due submission and obedience. In witness whereof we have hereunder subscribed our names at Cape Cod, the 11th of November, in the year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord King James, of England, France and Ireland the eighteenth, and of Scotland the fifty-fourth. Anno Domini 1620.

The Preamble to the Constitution of the United States of America. 

This document ”governs” EVERYTHING in our Nation.  The same Nation that was founded with God in mind!

“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”

Happy Memorial Day!  IN GOD WE TRUST

Ditch the “Pitch” When Building Connections on Social Marketing Platforms

I found this article on one of my Social Marketing sites, and I felt it was valuable to share with each of you.  Following this article, please find my comments to A. Mchelle concerning her article.  It’s my goal to empower you with tools that will help to make you a success!  Enjoy the article!

Ditch the “Pitch”

Make better connections with real conversations.  For years we’ve been told to recite what it is we do in 30 seconds in effort to catch someone’s attention, attract potential clients, and believe it or not, make a sale. Although we acknowledge that business relationships take time to develop, we continue to “pitch” our products and services to anyone who will lend an ear.

Someone once said, “People don’t buy products and services, they buy trust.” Potential clients need to feel a sense of trust before they will ever engage you for your product or services.

Long-term professional relationships have always been built on personal connections.  Before you can get to trust, you have to connect on a very basic and human level.  You, essentially,  put the cart before the horse when you offer your services without ever being asked for your assistance.

The next time you feel inclined to “pitch” someone,  stop and think about the following:

1. Never jump into sales mode or take the person you whom you are speaking with on your ego trip.  Keep the conversation natural and casual.  Networking conversations are really introductory conversations.  They are the perfect time and place for you to discover what you have in common.
2. Ask questions and if you forget what to talk about, remember F.O.R.D. Friends and Family, Occupation, Recreation and Dreams. Ask questions related to any of these areas to not only find out what you may have in common, but you may discover unmet needs or ways you may be able to help later.
3. Do your homework. Don’t just take someone’s business card and flood him or her with emails or expect them to call you. Search out their name and company on the Internet and see what they’ve been up to. What is going on in their industry or region? What other things do you have in common? Do you share a target market? Do you share some of the same connections? Are your products and/or services complimentary? What else have you discovered that you can build on?

Social networking should be just that, social. Ditch your pitch. Stop ambushing people with your cards (unless they ASK for one). Idle chitchat can lead to powerful conversations, but business relationships aren’t built over night. Save the professional interrogations for a time and place after you have taken some time to get to know someone. 

A.Michelle Blakeley is the Founder and CEO of Simplicity, Inc.; a progressive small business development firm. She manages her clients’ business expectations and prevents information overload via Micro Business Therapy™ and Micro Business Action Plans. She is featured in Forbes.com and the Financial Post as one of 30 Women Entrepreneurs to Follow on Twitter, contributor for the San Francisco Examiner and Fearless Woman Magazine; the host of Simple Truths for Women Entrepreneurson BlogTalkRadio.com and author of the NEW e-book: “Get it Right and Move Along… a collection of practical tips, tools and techniques for small business owners.”

My Comments to  A. Michelle regarding her article, follow:

Thank you so much for taking the time to put together this valuable information for the Internet and Social Marketing arenas. I tend to “pitch” more than I probably should, so now I’ll try to remember your list, FIRST!

********This isn’t a “pitch” , but I felt it was pertinent to the conversation…….

I “tried” to sell Christian radio for about a year (unsuccessfully, because I’m not a “closer”), but I tried. I learned VALUABLE things while in the position. LISTEN MORE & talk less! Find out who your customer IS, and what they’re all about. Remember, God gave you one mouth and TWO EARS–listening is ESSENTIAL!

You would think since the parts of our body which involve listening out-number the body parts needed for speaking, that “listening” would come “naturally!”  HA!  It really is a LEARNED skill/behavior.  Here’s the good news….we CAN be taught!

It’s not all about “us,” it’s really about how we all work TOGETHER to make this a much more productive and enjoyable world to live in! “We’re all called to do something great, but none of us can do it alone!”