Article: Avoiding Recession Depression

Words of Encouragement to Women in Business - What Motives and Keeps Me Going During Tough Times

It's all too easy to Join the Recession Depression right now, what with the constant bombardment of bad news from the media, everyone cutting back on their spending and general air of anxiety that pervades our society at all levels. Not to mention news of Swine flu! No wonder we are having a hard time feeling optimistic and motivated in our business and personal lives. If things are going well for you, in this atmosphere of gloom and doom, its can actually make you feel guilty because you aren't suffering enough! We are social creatures and its only natural to feel pulled by the crowd.

So what to do to counteract all of this negativity? I'm no psychologist but am happy to share what is working for me right now.

1. Look after yourself. This means getting exercise outside in natural light every day – even a 10 minute walk where you are totally present to the wonder of nature can refresh your weary soul and body. Eat properly – you know the routine, get your fruits and veggies, whole grains, healthy protein. Take a warm bubble bath and listen to music – treat yourself to playing with your rubber duckies in the foam, just like a kid. Have some fun and laugh regularly.

2. Limit Exposure to Bad News. Its easy to get so taken over by the Recession Porn (predictions of more disaster and scary scenarios) that is rampant in the media on a daily basis. People even admit to deriving a guilty pleasure from wallowing in all of this. Time to Stop Already! This doesn't mean you have to turn off the internet and TV and live in Wonderland. It just means putting boundaries on how much of this stuff you will allow to pollute your personal space. And certainly eliminate taking on a boatload of more bad news just before bedtime. I used to watch the late news. I now turn off the TV and go to bed an hour earlier and feel a lot better for it.

3. Get Your Sleep – This one step can make a huge difference in how you feel each day. Anxiety and depression can make getting restful sleep difficult. So get help if you need to with these issues.

4. Make a plan to do 3 or 4 positive things to attract new business – make a change in what you are currently doing in your business if it isn't working – tweek a few things. Accept what you cann't change – don't beat yourself up, and do your best each day.

5. If you are thinking of changing careers, now is a great time to do it. You have time to get educated in your new field and be ready to take on new business once things turn around again – and they will!

6. Be grateful for what you have – we are so privileged compared to so many living in misery on our planet each day. Smile at someone and be kind – This Too Shall Pass!

Written by: Suzanne Elliott – April 25, 2009 Office: (831)429-9126

Freelance Writer/Copywriter and Artist

Tips for Getting Referral Business - Sample of Ghost Writing for a Mortgage Broker Client

Creating Personal Relationships with Your Clients – Consistent, Simple and From the Heart Actions to Grow Your Business

Having been in the mortgage business for over twenty years , and having moved to a variety of different loan companies during that time, I can attest to the fact that my clients followed me to each new company I moved to because of the personal relationship that I had developed with them over many years. People want to work with someone they like and trust rather than having to start over again with a new person every time they do a transaction.

One of the key points is to stay in regular contact with all your clients. I create newsletters, emails or other informational and educational marketing pieces and mail or email my entire client data base with these pieces about 6 to 8 times a year. I keep my data base updated and guard it carefully, as it is a precious resource that keeps generating repeat and referral business for me.

I have always been present at the conclusion of each transaction when my clients are signing their loan documents. This gives me the opportunity to be on the spot should there be any questions or concerns expressed by my clients. It also makes them feel that I care about their business.
A handwritten Thank You note is mailed to each client within a day of the transaction closing. I also send a small gift as part of my Thank You for their business. Clients like to know that their business is appreciated and not taken for granted. After all, they have many others they could have chosen to do business with other than me.

In addition to the points mentioned above, I always operate with the best interest of my clients foremost in my mind. This means full disclosure of all pertinent facts in each transaction. Gentle education of complicated products is very important. No one wants to feel like an idiot because they don’t understand a financial product, so explaining what is involved in ordinary language is huge for building trust and customer relations.

The points outlined above sound really simple, but it is surprising how many people in business don’t do them. Be consistent with these simple things and genuinely care about your clients and you will have a happy business life for many years.

Sample: Front Page Content for Professional Organizer

Professional Organizer – Home Organizer – Closet Organizer

“ORGANIZED AT HEART” - ALYS MILNER, PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZER
FROM CHAOS TO CALM, ONE ROOM AT A TIME


Specializing in Organizing: Home Offices, Play Rooms, Kitchens and Garages


Picture This:
The chaotic jumble of stuff that was your home office has now disappeared. In it's place you see clear space. The shining surface of your beautiful wood desk greets you and the faint scent of lemon-oil polish wafts through the dust-free air.
Breathing room!

You smile as you contemplate paying your monthly bills. All your bills are in one place. You know exactly where to find them and you know when they're due. No more frantic searching to locate a bill only to find you are late paying it. No more late fees; no marks on your credit report. This will now be a thing of the past. Your shoulders relax, you feel great. All of this is possible because you called
Alys Milner, Professional Organizer, Organized at Heart.

CONTACT ALYS MILNER, PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZER AT:
(408)921-4816 OR BY EMAIL AT: alysmilner@comcast.net

Article Sample : Origins of Feng Shui

ORIGINS OF FENG SHUI and THE SPIRIT OF OUR TIME

Feng Shui (meaning Wind, Water in Chinese) is more than just a system of where to place things in your home. It encompasses a whole philosophy of life and how to live a life that is in harmony with nature. Feng Shui principals are very much focused on balance in all things, and as such, have a commonality with the ancient Greeks, who were also concerned with balance in all aspects of life.

Feng Shui is a Taoist art that can be traced back to the shamans of ancient China at around 300 B.C. It evolved from the observation that people are affected, for good or evil, by their surroundings. It was thought that if you change your surroundings then it will have an effect on you and also change your life. Attitude is everything. This buys into today’s renewed interest in the Law of Attraction and that you bring to you what you think about most. Like attracts like.

There are many different school of Feng Shui. The original version is called the Landform School and is concerned with the shapes of landforms and how they may affect “chi” or the flow of energy. Landform Feng Shui is the most intuitive approach and is concerned with shapes and directions of land and water masses. Mountains are said to resemble dragons or other animals. Dragons are a frequent metaphor for mountains. The ridges leading to the summit link the backbone. Ridges on either side of the backbone are arms and legs. Streams and springs running down the mountain are the veins and arteries of the dragon. Mist is the dragon breath.

Originally these matters were simply to do with farmers wanting to place their fields in spots that were the most likely to yield good crops, with minimum interference by floods, drought or strong winds. The shaman was consulted as to the best location – this would most likely be in a protected valley with the fields located in a South-facing manner well out of the flood plane of any river and out of the reach of destructive winds. Farmers would more likely prosper in their work in such a good Chi location.

The Tibetan Tantric Black Hat school of Feng Shui is a hybrid of many customs. It changed and acquired new aspects as it made its way from Tibet, thru India, to China. The Tibetan influence is in the charms (or cures) and chants or setting of intentions. The idea of karma – that you get back what you put out into the world – is from India. The theory of Yin and Yang (balance of light and dark) is Chinese in origin. Intuition and mystical knowledge is also incorporated with the use of astrology and divining the future.
No aspect of life is left unexamined.

Chi is the most important thing in Feng Shui. Chi is energy or life force. Feng Shui can be used to untangle knots in chi that block happiness and attainment of one’s goals and hopes. Energy that moves is nourishing and beneficial to life. However, the energy flow must be moderate and not too violent. Many of the Feng Shui “cures” are designed to modulate the energy flow so that it is just right. Stagnant energy is destructive – Feng Shui focuses on bringing movement to this still pool and the ability to embrace change.


Tao – reflects the natural way, the eternal rhythm of the universe and the place of man within the balanced system. Out of Tao, comes Yin and Yang – complimentary opposites necessary for balance and harmony.

With global warming now an acknowledged threat to our planet’s health, more and more people are taking note of the planetary impact of their personal habits and lifestyle. It is now becoming less and less acceptable to live in a way that threatens the overall good. People want to do the right thing and live in harmony with nature. It feeds our need to be good stewards of our homes and communities.

In a spirit of play, ascribing mystical powers to animals, plants and landforms leads to a more connected feeling with the earth and a more meaningful daily life. A childlike happiness in greeting a beautiful tree as you walk by it each day adds richness to life and a deep appreciation of what we already have right in front of us. The desire for beauty in our homes and balance in our lives by employing techniques that have been used for thousands of years by other humans weaves a thread of connection and universal understanding.

Arrange for a Feng Shui reading of your home with a local Feng Shui practitioner. To experience the benefits, pick one area to work on with good intention and see what happens. It is said that the life we experience is a reflection of how we think – so paying attention to surroundings that make us feel better can only have a positive and uplifting effect.
Article Written by: Suzanne Elliott - Copyright 2009

Financial Writing Sample - Good Faith Estimate for a Mortgage

As a Real Estate Loan Borrower, one of the most important documents to pay attention to is the Good Faith Estimate of Closing Costs. This document will help you understand exactly what you are paying for, how much is being paid to whom, and can save you big bucks in negotiating with your Lender. I am going to show you what to look for so that you feel confident that you are receiving the full facts about the cost of your new mortgage loan.

First of all, the Good Faith Estimate (GFE) of Closing Costs is just that. An estimate of costs. However, the fees disclosed should be very close to what the final numbers are at the end of the transaction as disclosed in the HUD-1 form. Figures that may change from the GFE will be items that are “Prepaid” (#900 thru #1005 on GFE form) such as mortgage interest, insurance premiums, impound account amounts for property taxes and mortgage insurance. These prepaid item calculations are made based on the closing date of the transaction. Therefore, if the closing date changes, then these prepaid item amounts will also change.

Items 800 and 801 on the GFE cover Lender “Points” aka Loan Origination Fee or Discount. A Point is 1% of the loan amount. So if the new loan request is for $200,000 and the quote is for a rate of 5.5% at 1 Point Origination Fee, then the Lender will make $2,000 on the transaction.

There may also be an additional disclosure of “Yield Spread Premium” or a “Service Release Premium” which is paid by the Lender to the Broker for originating a loan. This is the equivalent of the “Manufacturer’s Rebate”. And you need to know how to spot it. This fee is how Lenders make their money on a Zero Points loan. This Yield Spread Premium is paid to the Loan Agent by the Lender in certain situations. Important! It is not disclosed by a number item on the GFE but rather as a line item towards the end of the GFE under the heading “Compensation to Broker”.

The GFE is required by law to be issued to you within 3 business days of applying for your loan. It is important to understand that the GFE does NOT guarantee or “lock-in” the interest rate quoted. The HUD-1 form is issued at closing and should match up with the GFE except for prepaid items as explained above.

Sample Brochure Content

BROCHURE CONTENT FOR “MY PERSONAL VET


“My Personal Vet” -Private Membership Health Care for your Pet – featuring 24/7 access, House calls, Traditional and Alternative Medicine, Physical Therapy and Nutrition Counseling


REWARD YOUR PET'S UNCONDITIONAL LOVE AND LOYALTY WITH WELLNESS EXAMS AT HOME!

IMAGINE

Your pets greet your vet at their front door as a welcome visitor
Treatments are part of play – with treats!
Your vet sees the home environment and can then make recommendations that will help you and your pet. You converse with your Vet in a relaxed setting taking the time you need.


A LIMITED NUMBER OF MEMBERSHIPS
In order to provide each Private Membership Client with the attention they need and deserve, Dr. Evelyn Sharp is limiting the number of memberships available in “My Personal Vet”


THE LUXURY OF ... TIME
Dr. Sharp needs time to research new treatments, time to consult with specialists if needed and time to spend with you, the pet owner, whenever you need her. This is all covered with your Membership.


MEMBERSHIP INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING BENEFITS:
Long term relationship with your vet so she can get to know your pets in depth.
Two unrushed House calls per year for wellness exams
Vaccines based on their exposure and need
One full blood and urine panel per year
My Personal Vet available to you 24/7 via phone or email – even if you are travelling.
If your pet needs to go to Hospital for Treatments, Dr. Sharp will see you within 48 hours – usually sooner. No week-long waits for appointments
If Emergency Room is needed, the Doctor will meet you there
Dr. Sharp's time to do research for medical treatments that are appropriate
We act as Advocate for you and your pet



ABOUT DR. EVELYN SHARP, FOUNDER OF “MY PERSONAL VET”
Dr. Evelyn Sharp is a graduate of UC Davis and has been practicing Veterinary medicine since 1995. She has been studying and using animal acupuncture since 1996.
Dr. Sharp believes in combining traditional Western Medical knowledge with Alternative holistic treatments such as:

Acupuncture – for pain relief, behavior modification and medical adjunct therapy.
Physical Therapy - which includes carts, braces, swimming therapy, at home treatments.
Nutrition Counseling
Basic Behavior Counseling
Chiropractic Care, Homeopathy, Herbal and Massage treatments by referral.


THE COST
About the cost of a Starbucks coffee each day gives your animal friend
Accessible, Knowledgeable, Holistic, Loving care

AS MEMBERSHIP IS LIMITED, CONTACT “MY PERSONAL VET” TODAY AT:

(831)476-1515 or Email Dr. Sharp at: dr@mypersonalvet.com

Creative Writing - Indian Silver Bracelet

“My Silver Bracelet”

I found my silver bracelet inside an old adobe house in Taos Pueblo. It was a cold and snowy day in early March. I had stopped at the Pueblo because it was too windy to go skiing at Taos Ski Valley. The air was biting cold and small sharp snowflakes stung my face. I walked amongst the old pueblo houses stacked upon each other like toys – ladders leaning against the flat roofs. The incense-like smell of pinon wood burning tickled my nostrils and reminded me of going to early morning mass when I was a child. A pack of mangy dogs trailed after me hoping for food. They turned on each other and fought in the mud and sleet.

I opened the turquoise door to a room housing the wares of a jeweler. The interior of the room was small and lit with underpowered light bulbs. The darkness of the day was relieved by a small fire burning in the kiva fireplace. The Tiwa Indian silversmith was an austere man – thin and weather beaten with dark hair shot thru with gray – it was pulled back into a pony tail. He had beautiful hands. I saw the bracelet that he had made with those hands and knew I would buy it. To remind me of what is important in life – simplicity, beauty and the importance of respecting yourself. He had these qualities.

Twenty years later, I have not tired of the bracelet I bought that day. The silver takes on my body heat and feels such a part of me. I wear the bracelet whenever I create my art or write. It has become a talisman of creativity for me – a ritual part of my artist persona. If I had to choose just one piece of jewelry to last the rest of my life, this silver bracelet would be my choice.

Suzanne Elliott

My brand new Blog is off and running. Mainly for the purpose of providing a place for prospective clients to come to see samples of the promotional writing I have done for previous clients. It feels great to have actually done this - as always the thinking about it is 20 times as much work as actually getting it done! Which is why people need someone else to do their writing for them - it is so much easier for me to write for a client than do my own stuff - kind of like do your own dentistry. No thanks! Call in a pro and just get it done.