The late Norman Vincent Peale was a controversial preacher who burst into public consciousness with his best-selling book, "The Power of Positive Thinking". He believed that ordinary people could become really quite remarkable when they start thinking that they can do things, and when they believe in themselves, they have the secret of success.

So many people trying to start a business, don't believe in themselves. They look for advice from self proclaimed "gurus" and try very little on their own. Any MLMer will tell you about the power of duplicatable systems. While much of this is true, and it is not always necessary to re-invent the wheel, many miss a very important point.

A duplicatable system does not demand that you memorize a script. It basically means that you know your product, and have seen what has worked for others, and follow their lead. If you add your own ingenuity and your sales efforts, you will do even better.

If you aren't the creative type, it really is best to follow a tried and true system. But if you are, you are selling yourself short if you don't branch out and develop some of your own techniques. If you believe in yourself as well as your product you have a winning combination.

If you look back in history, you will see many examples of ordinary people who have achieved extraordinary results. Many of the best known people who have left their mark in the pages of history, failed a number of times on their climb up the ladder. This is not a "history lesson" so we won't go into the specifics, but there is no doubt this is true.

These people all had something in common. They had self confidence as well as tenacity in achieving their goals, and a sense of fulfillment. Most successful people have a "can do" attitude. While failure is always a possibility, they don't become fixated on avoiding failure and approach life with an upbeat attitude.

You must however have a goal clearly in mind. This can be referred as a vision of what you want your life to be. It's like the parent asking their child what they want to be when they grow up. If you don't have a clear vision as to where you want to be, your odds of success are greatly diminished. You, and only you, can decide where you want to go on your travel through life.

But you can't sit on the top of a hill and think pleasant thoughts all day. You have to come down to the real world and set your goals and objectives. You have to set priorities and have a plan to meet them on a regular basis. You must have a plan of action, and follow it. In other words, "plan your work and work your plan". While things come up to delay you at times, you must meet your goals each day. You must be organized, and have a system in place to attain your objectives. Without one, your ship will certainly founder. Excuses don't count. Leave these behind you. Build your own personal image of success.

Do you spend any time honing your skills? Community involvement is a great way to do this. Get out and meet people. Do some public speaking - anything to allow you to practice your techniques when dealing with people. Most sales are not product driven. If people believe in you, you are more than halfway home to making a sale.

If you are fired with enthusiastic ideas and allow them to dominate your thoughts, you will find that new horizons will open. As long as your enthusiasm lasts, so will new opportunities. Don't wait for the world to beat a path to your door - it won't. Search out and seek new ventures.

Allow yourself to think outside the boundaries. Remember, failure is merely a stepping stone on your road to success, and if you exercise positive thinking, you will reach your objective.

Did you know that subscribers to Bob Osgoodby's Free Ezine the "Tip of the Day" get a Free Ad for their Business at his Web Site? - http://adv-marketing.com/business/subscribe2.htm - For information about building your computer, or technical support questions, contact JP at: answerguy@comcast.net
Bob has been publishing online since 1996. All the "tricks of the trade" are contained in his latest E-book. Learn how to avoid being shut down by your ISP for Spamming, and where to find "E-mail friendly ISP's. Learn which software packages are available to easily manage and distribute your email. For more information - http://www.adv-marketing.com/business/handbook.htm

Allowing Setbacks To Spur You On by Denis Waitley (Excerpted from The Psychology of Motivation) by Denis Waitley

Many times, we look at high achievers and assume they had a string of lucky breaks or made it without much effort. Usually, the opposite is true, and the so-called superstar had an incredibly rough time before he or she attained any lasting success. It may motivate you more toward your own goals to know that some of the most famous and well-known people in modern times had to overcome as difficult obstacles as anyone before they finally reached the top. It takes persistence and total commitment to your goals, but it's possible!

You may not know the background of a certain laundry worker who earned sixty dollars a week at his job but had the burning desire to be a writer. His wife worked nights, and he spent nights and weekends typing manuscripts to send to publishers and agents. Each one was rejected with a form letter that gave him no assurance that his manuscripts had even been read. I've received a few of those special valentines myself through the years, and I can tell you first hand that they're not the greatest self-esteem builders.

But finally, a warm, more personal rejection letter came in the mail to the laundry worker, stating that although his work was not good enough at this point to warrant publishing, he had promise as a writer and he should keep trying. He forwarded two more manuscripts to the same friendly-yet-rejecting publisher over the next eighteen months, and as before, he struck out with both of them too. Finances got so tight for the young couple that they had to disconnect their telephone to pay for medicine for their baby.

Feeling totally discouraged, he threw his latest manuscript into the garbage. His wife totally committed to his life goals and believing in his talent, took the manuscript out of the trash and sent it back to Doubleday, the publisher who had sent the friendly rejections. The book, titled Carrie, sold over five million copies, and as a movie, became one of the top-grossing films in 1976. The laundry worker, of course, was Stephen King.

The main message - believe in your ability to turn obstacles into opportunities. Too often people try to storm their obstacles as if they're forts that need to be taken. It's better to step back and ask yourself: "Did I cause this obstacle by my own actions or lack of them? Did someone else cause this obstacle? Is this obstacle one that grew out of the natural progression of circumstances?"

This last question may seem complex, but it holds a secret to the way you can set and reach your goals and achieve your destiny!

With over 10 million audio programs sold in 14 languages, Denis Waitley's CD album, "The Psychology of Winning," is still the all-time best selling program on self-mastery. To order this Best-Seller or his newest release, The Platinum Collection and save 30% go to http://deniswaitley.jimrohn.com or call 800-929-0434. To subscribe to the Free Denis Waitley Weekly E-zine, send a blank email to deniswaitleyezine@jimrohn.com

You are special indeed. It is estimated that there have been over 105 billion human beings born on this earth, yet there has never been another just like you. You are unique, with your own special combination of traits, abilities and personal experiences to enable you to make a unique contribution to society.

I encourage you to cultivate your uniqueness and express it fully. It is the special gift you can share with us all.

It may not be easy to express your uniqueness. Our society often pushes for conformity rather than uniqueness. We are told to suppress the "I" or the ego for the benefit of the group. However if we all suppress our egos for the sake of the group, who is going to act for the group? We need strong leaders who will use their uniqueness on behalf of the group and every member of that group can be a leader at the appropriate time.

L.S. Barksdale and Bill McGrane both stressed the importance for each of us to maintain a sound level of self-esteem. Self-esteem is the esteem or value you place upon yourself. It is not simply feeling good about yourself as its detractors maintain. The only way you can really value yourself is by developing a sound level of self-respect, which comes from living in accordance with your values. It is not self-centeredness or egotism. It does lead to a healthy ego, which is used for the greater good of all.

There are people with low self-esteem who-generally with the best of intentions--do their best to discourage those with healthy self-esteem. The reality is that if you do not value and respect yourself, no one else is likely to value or respect you or your ideas. Only a person with sound self-esteem and a healthy ego can function effectively and make a real difference in this world. This is not a matter of being selfish or self-centered; it is a matter of taking care of yourself first so that you can be in a position to help others as well.

Take time to celebrate you and your uniqueness. Develop a strong and healthy ego to deliver your unique gifts to the world.

Your goal:

To recognize that you are special and develop sound self- esteem and a healthy ego.

The result:

You will not only feel good about yourself; you will feel empowered to function effectively and decisively and to make a real difference in this world.

Your assignment:

Take time to evaluate your level of self-esteem. Are you doing anything that is not fully aligned with your own personal values? What can you do to change that? Are you allowing your ego to develop in a healthy manner so that it is strong, yet focused on the needs of others as well as your own? Take time on a regular basis to celebrate you and your uniqueness. Recognize the contributions you make to others without becoming immodest or arrogant.

Sandy Karn is president of her own company, Creative Results Sources, Inc., a consulting and training company of over 30 years. Take her Self Development Quiz! http://www.sandykarn.com/quiz/ _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Becoming "Slightly Famous" A Strategy Worth Examining By Mike Marchev

Have you ever stopped to consider why multi-millionaire entertainers and businesspeople take the time to sit down with Jay Leno or David Letterman for a few minutes, although their pay for doing so is probably less than they paid for lunch that day? So why does every celebrity you can think of try to get themselves booked on talk shows? The reason they want their faces on the air waves is simple.

They realize that regardless of who they are ...

and what they have managed to accomplish ...

that once they are out of the public's sight ...

they are out of the public's mind.

Visibility, my friends, is the fundamental that leads to credibility. And credibility leads to trust which leads to success. The more you see someone, the easier it is to believe them and trust them. Therefore, it makes sense to begin identifying ways for you to become more visible.

Whether you own a business or work in the mailroom, it is in your best interest to develop and enhance your visibility. Becoming more visible is a strategy that will pay very attractive dividends when pursued properly.

Becoming visible does not mean you have to yell from the roof-tops, "Hey look at me... I'm a big shot." I'm not talking about bragging; I'm talking about letting the right people know that you are alive, well, and in a position to contribute to the good of the company. If you have this ability to contribute, you owe it to people to let them know about it.

I am not suggesting that it is in your best interest to knock Tom Cruise or Halle Berry off the front pages of People Magazine. Neither Tom nor Halle need look over their shoulder to see if I am gaining ground on them. I am recommending that you attempt to position yourself as a knowledgeable, capable, sincere, fun-loving person worth knowing and worth listening to. When done properly, you will not only be developing a more positive career path, but you will be putting a bounce back in your step while having more fun day in and day out.

Women are generally not as good at this as they need to be. The reason being that from childhood, they are taught that it is not lady-like to brag, appear conceited, or appear self-serving. Ladies, GET OVER IT! If you do not tell me how good you are and why it is in my best interest to know you, who is going to do it for you? Perhaps it is time for you to become your own personal press agent. Your career and your future life-style are counting on you.

For lack of a better term, you can think of this project as becoming "slightly famous." When executed properly, people will recognize your name as "the real deal" throughout your area of influence. They will come to respect your place in the industry and the overall knowledge you have on a particular subject. They will think of you as a true professional and believe you to be sincere and forthcoming.

But I am afraid this won't happen by accident. It is not difficult, but it does involve a little bit of focused effort on your part.

So how does one achieve "slightly famous" stature?

There are lots of ways to become more visible, or even "slightly famous." They all involve spreading the good word to as many people in your targeted audience as possible with a high degree of credibility.

The easiest and fastest way to achieve this goal is to leverage your message through people who are in position to spread your "fame" to hundreds if not thousands of others.

The three vehicles that immediately come to mind when it comes to "spreading the word" are (1) local radio, (2) print and (3) the spoken word in the form of a speech or group presentation. But before throwing up your hands in surrender, let me remind you that radio, print media and meeting planners are in constant search for people with something of value to share with their audiences.

They need you. They want you. They just may not know about you. Your job is to find them, introduce yourself, and present your case in a simple, straightforward fashion. No stress. No strain. Just you being who you are.

"How does one manage to get on a radio program?"

"How does one manage to get an article in print?"

"How does one manage to get asked to speak at a meeting?"

You simply ask. No, I am not trying to be cute or facetious. It is truly amazing what can happen if you just ask. If you have something to say, then I say go for it. It will enhance your visibility and credibility while positioning you as a slightly famous individual worth knowing.

Your goal should be both modest and practical. Write one article and try to book an appearance on one radio show. Write a letter to a local trade association and offer your speaking services. You see celebrities write stuff and they talk about stuff. So, if you want to achieve celebrity status, it is time you do something about it.

Here is a five-step sure-shot celebrity-status launch program.

Step 1: Polish up your message.
Step 2: Ask for a shot to share your message.
Step 3: Package your message.
Step 4: Distribute your message from A - Z on your Rolodex.
Step 5: Polish up some additional follow-up messages.

A quick way to establish a presence in your industry or company is to run up and down your street or corridor with a sandwich board strapped across your back offering a special deal to whomever you come in contact with. I do not particularly endorse this strategy. I would rather you go the speaking, writing or radio interview route, as it will serve you better over the long haul. When you are out of sight, you are out of mind. It is time therefore that you begin devising a strategy to stay visible and remain visible for as long as possible.

Someone has to write it. Someone has to say it. Someone has to comment on it. Who better than you?

Mike Marchev, MBA, CTC, is an internationally recognized motivational speaker and author of the book, Become The Exception. He has shared his motivational thoughts in 18 countries and is a favorite speaker at corporate events. Email Mike at MikeM@Marchev.net to receive a sample 'special report' he has distributed as part of his own "slightly famous" strategy. You'll see how easy it is, plus you'll learn how to get more prospects wanting to talk to you in 10 seconds or less. Also, you can receive Mike's complimentary Monday Morning Motivational Message and his FREE 7-Lesson Marketing Course by signing in at www.marchev.net. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ What to Do When You Are Chased by a Snake The Four Elements of Life Control By Dr. Freddy Davis

I lived for several years on the Japanese island of Okinawa. It is a tropical island setting with a wealth of beauty and lots of things to do. We lived on the side of a mountain that overlooked the Pacific Ocean. The beauty that we were able to observe from there was breathtaking.

There were a lot of enjoyable things about living in Okinawa, but one of the things that I enjoyed most was learning to scuba dive. The island itself is a coral reef island so it is surrounded by all different types of coral - different colors, different shapes. There are also dozens of varieties of tropical fish. And the water was as clear as a bell. Even from the surface, by wearing a mask, you could see all of the beautiful sea life that was thirty or forty feet down.

But for a diver, it is not just the sea life. Different parts of the island have very different terrain, and you didn't even have to have a boat to enjoy it. In most places you can just swim out a few feet and have a great dive in water that is anywhere from fifty to one hundred and twenty feet deep. In some places there is a wall. You swim out and all of a sudden the bottom goes from twelve feet to sixty feet deep straight down. Other places have caverns or giant boulders or wavy hills. So much variety. Of course, scuba diving can be dangerous if you don't know what you are doing. That is why people who want to take up the sport have to get training. There is an actual certification that a person must get in order to participate in the sport. In the certification class you study all of the things you need to know to be safe. You learn how to use the equipment and actually practice doing it. You learn how to calculate the length of time you can dive at different depths so as not to get the bends. And, of course, you learn about different kinds of sea life - particularly about creatures that can be dangerous.

One day I was out diving with a friend and I came across a brown water snake. There were two kinds of snakes in the waters of Okinawa. Both are poisonous, but the brown ones are more so, and they are more aggressive. Well, I didn't see this snake until I was fairly close to him and when he saw me, he started coming at me. I had seen this kind of snake before and always steered clear, but had never had one come toward me. I had been told that they won't mess with you unless you mess with them, but for some reason this guy started coming and kept coming.

Now I don't like snakes, to begin with, and especially poisonous ones. When I saw him coming, I turned around and swam away as fast as I could. After I had gone a little ways I looked back and, to my surprise, he was still coming. You guessed it, I swam even harder. That rascal chased me close to forty yards before he finally gave up. Well, I knew that he wouldn't chase me forever and that if I could move out of his territory he would leave me alone. If I had not known what to do, though, I might have tried to attack him back or do something else stupid that would have caused disastrous results.

The Four Foundations for Gaining Control of Your Life

Knowing what to do is not something that just happens to us. We have to take the time and make the effort to figure out what we need to know, then go after it. We have to prepare. But we also need the whole picture. If we prepare in the wrong areas, or if our preparation is incomplete, we will end up as if we had never done any preparation at all. This principle applies to every arena of life - to our family, our job, our sports activities and every other area. Since the principle is so pervasive, it is important to make sure we completely understand it so we can use it in life.

People tend to be way too narrow in the way they apply growth principles to life. It is not possible to select one or two elements of life to grow in and neglect the rest. The areas that are not strong will, eventually, pull down even the areas that are strong. We have to develop our whole self all the time. So just what are the areas that we have to focus on? Well, there are four.

Emotional Control

The first element of our personhood relates to our emotional development. We can be in control of our emotions or they can be in control of us. Many people think that they can't have that kind of control, but there are skills related to emotional flexibility, attitude, coping mechanisms and identification which can allow us to become quite adept at controlling our emotions.

Physical Control

The second element relates to our physical body. In order to maintain personal control we have to exert a lot of energy - and that requires good physical conditioning. With proper nutrition, rest and exercise it is possible for us to develop the stamina necessary to move us to higher levels of personal development.

Mental Control

The third element involves our mental development. It is actually possible to develop our brain capacity in various ways so that we can be more effective in the activities we involve ourselves in. We can develop our brain function skills in the areas of content acquisition, quickness, outlook, concentration, focus and perspective.

Spiritual Control

The final element relates to our spirit. The spiritual part of our being involves our self-awareness, creativity, conscious relationships, communication, choice, analysis, contemplation, imagination, self-discipline and perspective. These are the elements that make up the core of our being as humans. We are also able to develop each of these elements of our spirit to become more effective in our development.

The Choice to Take Control

To really get a grasp on the full scope of these four areas would require a whole book. But even a brief description of the whole gives us a sense of the personal development task. We can't just work on one part of our life, or even several parts, and neglect the others. Every part makes up who we are and we have to develop them all or the ones which don't grow will begin to pull down the others.

We all have choices to make in life. Some of the choices have small consequences, but others may have life or death significance. Preparation for the choices is not something that just happens. We have to deliberately become aware of the areas of our lives that need work, then actively and aggressively go after it. But when me make the effort to get it right, all the preparation is worth it. At that point we are able to see those snakes that are coming toward us and know exactly what to do to deal with them.

Dr. Freddy Davis is the owner of TSM Enterprises and conducts conferences, seminars and organizational training for executives, managers and sales professionals to help develop greater effectiveness and productivity. He is the author of the book Supercharged! as well as the Nutshell Series of books for strengthening business. You can visit the TSM website at www.tsmenterprises.com, or you can contact Freddy directly at 888-883-0656 or davis@iname.com.

FAILURE IS ONLY FEEDBACK… By Jerry Clark

To start we need to review The 5 Step Success Formula that Never Fails… In a nutshell, here are the five steps…

1. Know the Results you Seek: There is much Power in Clarity.

2. Get Busy: This means Take Action.

3. Have Awareness: This means being aware of what is working and what is not working.

4. Be Flexible: This means that you want to stay focused on the results you desire; however, be willing to change your approach if necessary.

5. Keep Charging: This means Go, Go, Go!!!

The reason I bring this up now – is because I've noticed how some people take the time to know their outcome and they may even start to take some action and then they miss the boat during the third phase… Having awareness of what is working and what is not working…

In other words, they may have a setback and instead of viewing the results as Feedback, they view it as Failure… Quick example so we can easily distinguish the two… You haven't had any water in a while and so your body begins the process of signaling you by creating a dry throat… That's called Feedback… Now, let's say that a person gets a dry throat and decides to commits suicide as a result of it… That's called Failure… I know that I didn't have to be that dramatic; however, I want you to understand that this is what a lot of people do in their Network Marketing business… They get started in their new Network Marketing business and get really excited so they go and "Fire hose" or "Data Dump" on their friends and relatives… After they are done with a 2 hour seminar on their products and opportunity, their friends and family just sit there with glazed looks over their eyes as if they were in a coma or they simply turn around and run the opposite direction as fast as they can…

Then the new distributor takes this as personal rejection and gets their distributor kit, wipes off all fingerprints, and hides it under the bed so no one will know they ever got started… Many of them quit by committing what I called "Network Marketing Suicide"… You will find their names amongst the other hapless souls in the MLM Cemetery… Instead, they could have taken the reactions of their friends and family as Feedback because that's all it was anyway. They could have examined what they did and sought counsel from their successful up-line leaders to see what the challenge could have been and how they could improve… Or they could have even asked their friends and family… They could say something like, "Hey John, as you know I'm just getting started with my new business and I can understand and appreciate that it's not for you right now. However, could you do me a favor by telling me why you almost fainted after I explained the products and opportunity to you? I'm new to this and it would be really helpful to me. And since you're my cousin, I know you will be sincere and honest with your feedback."

Something like that would be suffice and you will be surprised at what you discover… People truly want to help you; however, you have to be willing to see the so-called Failure as nothing more than Feedback… Feedback that can be used to make finer distinctions and eventually assist you in creating massive success… All of the great inventions that we benefit from today came as a result of the inventor seeing "Failure" as nothing more than Feedback… The automobile, airplane, light bulb, even this concept of Network Marketing… Wow… So the quickest way to success is to get massive amounts of Feedback as soon as you can and use it as the Stepping Stones to your Super Success…

So go out there and "Fail your way to the Top!" because FAILURE IS ONLY FEEDBACK… That's it for now…

Until Next Time…

Go, Go, Go!!!

Jerry Clark became a self-made millionaire while still in his 20's. Today he conducts personal and professional development seminars in over 35 countries worldwide. To find out more about Jerry and his Best Selling programs, including The Magic of Influence, Insider Secrets Vol. 1 and 2, Creating Magic, High Achievement Network Marketing and The Magic of Colors, go to www.yoursuccessstore.com and save 20% - 40% or call 877-929-0439.

If you're an employee, one day you expect to retire. Indeed, many businesses have mandatory retirement ages in their employment policies.

But if you're a small business owner, theoretically you can work as long as you want.

So what is your plan? Regardless of whether you actually have a financial retirement plan, have you decided when you will stop working?

Many of us love our businesses so much that we actually don't think about what we do as work. Indeed, some of us are defined by our businesses so much, that it may scarcely occur to us that we would ever stop working. And therein lies a danger.

B.C. Forbes (1880-1954), founder of Forbes magazine and grandfather of Steve Forbes, said, "I have known not a few men who, after reaching the summit of business success, found themselves miserable upon attaining retirement age."

Mr. Forbes is warning us about the dangers of a life without balance.

Fundamentally, work is the activity that delivers the things necessary for our survival as human beings. Beyond survival, work is the lever of our intellectual curiosity, and the blessing that has produced civilization.

But for individuals, work can be a two-edged sword, and Mr. Forbes' observation has inspired me to create another Blasingame Small Business Principle: The work we love can morph from blessing to curse, if it exists without balance.

If you love your work, congratulations. But simultaneous with that love, make sure you also love golf, or tennis, or boating, or volunteering, or travel, or gardening, or whatever it takes to provide your life with balance.

For small business owners, balancing our beloved work with other interests enhances physical and mental well-being. And for those around us, it makes us much more interesting and desirable to know.

Thanks for being part of our community. I'll see you on the radio and the Internet.

Jim Blasingame, The Small Business Advocate http://www.smallbusinessadvocate.com

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A personal message from the publisher...

How I became a proud, single, work at home grandma.

My name is Francine York, publisher of Modern Opportunity Web site and newsletter. I welcome you to what is fast becoming the quintessential business opportunity web site. Not only will you find a wide variety of interesting and profitable opportunities; but you will find services and products as well. Feel free to browse the site and read the many informative articles and columns geared to assisting you in becoming a successful entrepreneur. My email "door" is always open to you; so email me anytime and you will receive a personal reply from me.

And now, about my background and how I came to publish this site and newsletter... Due to budget tightening, my job at a not-for-profit agency was cut back to part time. Because I needed more of an income, I set out looking for a new position. At about the same time, my daughter and son-in-law gave me the wonderful news that they were expecting their first child and my first grandchild! My joy was boundless until the reality of economics deflated my euphoria. My daughter would have to go back to work three months after the baby was born. I started envisioning he/she being cared for by strangers in a day care setting. Fortunately, when I had my three children, I was able to stay at home until the youngest was in full day nursery school; but she could not financially do the same.
EUREKA! It suddenly became crystal clear...I would stay home and care for my grandchild.

First I headed for my financial advisor to review my finances and see if I could do this. He politely and firmly said, "Get a job, send your grandchild to day care like so many others do; sell your house; giveaway your three dogs; and rent a small apartment, then maybe you can afford to stay home." Needless to say, I was horrified and angry. You see, I had recently separated from my husband of many years and could no longer rely on him to help with the income.
The more people told me what a crazy idea this was, the more I was determined to do it! I began looking in the classifieds for home based business opportunities. Most listings were for opportunities for which you needed a great deal of money; and that I would not be able to run from my home. That was not going to do. Unfortunately, at the time, I was not knowledgeable about the myriad business opportunities available which can be operated from the home. Finally, I saw an ad for newspaper for sale. The same week my grandson, Ethan Jacob, was born (May 11, 2002), I became the new owner of a business opportunity newspaper. Since I knew the impact the Internet has on today's existence, I immediately started designing a web site. Today, after a year of changes, improvements, redesign and hard work, the site has grown to over sixty pages with more on the way.

I am a proud, single, work at home grandma now; and loving every minute of it!...and guess what?
On March 18, 2004, I became a grandma for the second time...Ryan Caleb!

To give readers, some info about my educational background...I graduated from Brooklyn College, Brooklyn, NY with Bachelor and Masters of Science degrees in the field of education. I spent the next four years teaching in a N.Y.C. public junior high school. Coming next was a move to the "burbs" in 1973 followed by the birth of my third child. When he turned four, I returned to teaching in a Brooklyn High School. The commute, the conditions and having a mother who was quite ill caused me to rethink the teaching profession. I decided that I needed a change, a challenge and to be closer to home. My next venture was opening a retail business...a Hallmark card and gift store on Long Island. Fifteen successful years later, that was sold. Not at all ready to sit idly by and watch the world pass me, I sought a new focus. I found a job working for a small marketing company. Since writing was always my hobby-I have been published several times-I was able to write copy, marketing plans, radio commercials and the like. It was during that time, after many years of marriage, that my husband and I decided to separate. The week after my daughter was married, 8/13/00, I lost my job. Luckily, I was hired to do public relations, write press releases, oversee the computer program, assist with development, etc. for the not-for-profit agency at which I had been volunteering as a crisis counselor since 1995.

My story comes full circle...I am here, it's 2003 and I am a very happy stay at home, single grandma whose mission is to offer money-making opportunities, services, products and essential information so others who desire, or need to, will be empowered and able to stay at home; and they will be able to find all the resources necessary to do just that right here...so, WELCOME and much success in your endeavors!

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