1 Quick Step to Achieve your Health Goals

Wouldn't it be nice if there's a home diagnostic test kit that could determine if you are heading in the right direction to a healthy living?

Evaluating your health can help you live a longer, healthier life. 

Take the Shaklee Healthprint assessment to see if you're heading to the right path and see some other things that you can do to take the next step in improving your health.

Quick access to the FREE Shaklee HealthPrint

How to change Lives and Improve your Income

For almost 60 years we’ve helped families earn life-changing incomes, and paid over $7 billion in commissions. http://bit.ly/1E3XTMv

Posted by Be-Barefoot on Wednesday, April 1, 2015

Dr Mark Hyman on Sugar & The Only Rules you need to Eat Healthy

The Story of Shaklee's Vita-Lea

Shaklee Difference - The Landmark Study

Shaklee hired an independent research firm to do a long term study on supplements that has proven Shaklee products work, you'll get better health, feel better, and have a better quality of life!

BACKGROUND
Dietary supplement use in the United States is prevalent and represents an important source of nutrition. However, little is known about individuals who routinely consume multiple dietary supplements. This study describes the dietary supplement usage patterns, health, and nutritional status of long-term multiple dietary supplement users, and where possible makes comparisons to non-users and multivitamin/mineral supplement users.

METHODS

Using a cross-sectional study design, information was obtained by online questionnaires and physical examination (fasting blood, blood pressure, body weight) from a convenience sample of long-term users of multiple dietary supplements manufactured by Shaklee Corporation (Multiple Supp users, n=278). Data for non-users (No Supp users, n=602) and multivitamin/mineral supplement users (Single Supp users, n=176) were obtained from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2001-2002 and NHANES III 1988-1994. Logistic regression methods were used to estimate odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals.

RESULTS

Dietary supplements consumed on a daily basis by more than 50% of Multiple Supp users included a multivitamin/mineral, B-complex, vitamin C, carotenoids, vitamin E, calcium with vitamin D, omega-3 fatty acids, flavonoids, lecithin, alfalfa, coenzyme Q10 with resveratrol, glucosamine, and a herbal immune supplement. The majority of women also consumed gamma linolenic acid and a probiotic supplement, whereas men also consumed zinc, garlic, saw palmetto, and a soy protein supplement. Serum nutrient concentrations generally increased with increasing dietary supplement use. After adjustment for age, gender, income, education and body mass index, greater degree of supplement use was associated with more favorable concentrations of serum homocysteine, C-reactive protein, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglycerides, as well as lower risk of prevalent elevated blood pressure and diabetes.

CONCLUSIONS

This group of long-term multiple dietary supplement users consumed a broad array of vitamin/mineral, herbal, and condition-specific dietary supplements on a daily basis. They were more likely to have optimal concentrations of chronic disease-related biomarkers, and less likely to have suboptimal blood nutrient concentrations, elevated blood pressure, and diabetes compared to non-users and multivitamin/mineral users. These findings should be confirmed by studying the dietary supplement usage patterns, health, and nutritional status of other groups of heavy users of dietary supplements.

 

More Information at: 
http://landmarkstudy.com

Shaklee Guarantee- Feel Better in 30 Days or Your Money Back

Reasons NOT to Do Social Marketing

A message from...  Cindy McAsey

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I've got to say marketing via the social networks isn't for everyone. Believe it or not I visit with people daily and steer their marketing efforts a different way, especially if I think they will struggle so much they throw in the towel on their dreams. It takes time and effort just like any other worthwhile profitable endeavor. That's not to say you couldn't hire someone to do it for you if you don't have the time or skill set to do it yourself.


3 Reasons Not to Do Social Marketing


1. You have the communication skills of a brick wall and no time to work on getting better at it. Social Marketing is about connecting with other people through written content, video, audio, images, text messaging, phone, and personal connections. Not that you must be a master at all of these way's to communicate, but you will have to get really good at a few of them to have any success.

2. Your website hasn't been updated since 2003 or you don't even have a website. Social Marketing comes last. If you don't have a good site, good products and a business plan, you should focus on the basics before implementing a social marketing program. This isn't to say it's impossible to market via the social networks, nothing is impossible when it comes to networking, let's just say it's much simpler when you have an up to date website you can refer people to.

3. You don't know how to use social sites. If you don't have a facebook profile or set one up but never use it and think tweeting is only for birds, you probably need to get online and start using social first. Most social sites are fairly simple to set up and start using, but it does take time and effort to use them effectively.

Cindy McAsey
Barefoot in the Garden
888-272-6701

 
P.S. Connect via our facebook community. Were having fun expanding our thoughts, just join us.

Franchise Opportunity: Postcard Marketing

Postcards are a great way to share information. It's quick, to the point and over time people will react to your messages. Here is my latest postcard design

I've used several different printers for my designs over the years, I've found VistaPrint to be very cost effective and their website is very user friendly. You can check out their latest "DEALS" at http://vistaprint.tellapal.com/a/clk/St6zj (Yes they also have a "tell a pal" program)

Franchise Business evolves from 911

To have a better tomorrow than today get a very vivid picture of exactly what you want. For me the determining factor to make the do or die decision was 911. It was my "breakthrough" so to speak.

So were were you when the World Stopped Turning?

I gotta tell ya... There is nothing like a life changing event like 911 for us to see the world in a different light. I was about a mile from the pentagon when it was hit. I could hear it, smell the burning, and see the smoke. It was the events that took place for the next week and 1/2 that made me realize I could change this situation and NEVER be put in that situation again... I could choose to have a BETTER tomorrow than today.

A few years before I made the decision to change my future. I had started my own business and looked forward to the day when I could work from home and be my own boss. I wanted to spend more time with my family on our farm. Even though my job was requiring more time and travel I had gotten comfortable with the routine.

I worked for a national non-profit organization who helped people with limited income get training and employment. My position was Kansas State Project Director. We had held a contest for Kansas's outstanding older worker and was accompanying her to DC to be honored with a week long celebration along with all the other state winners. I can still remember when I picked up our KS OOW (outstanding older worker) her sister telling me please bring my sis back home safe. At the time I didn't think much of it. This lady had very limited travel experience in the last several years. Out flight into DC was smooth, we checked into our hotel and other than needing to explain how motels don't use room key's anymore and helping her access her room with a card she was accomidating.

The morning of 911 as I called her room to set a time to pick her up for breakfast I watched as the planes hit the twin towers. There was talk about it in the hallways and elevator, but we didn't really pay much attention till we were eating breakfast and heard the noise, smelled and saw the smoke. On our way back from breakfast we stopped to register for the weeks activities and then it HIT me. Our country was under attack! This wasn't an accident and the noise was another plane crashing into the pentagon!

We were told to go back to our hotel room and wait until the organizers of the event could decide what to do. The hotel rooms were all of a sudden VERY uncomfortable with police helicoptors circling right outside the window. We were told limit our cell phone usage so it wouldn't clog the circuts for the emergency crews. One of the first thoughts that hit me when I actually realized what was going on around me was the "sisters words" to me. "Be sure to bring her back safe"

It was that moment that I knew it was time to go into "fight or flight mode".. I immediatly started seeing what I could arrange to get us out of DC. The roads were blocked so no one could enter the city. Our only choice was to get a taxi out past the road blocks and arrange transportation from outside the city limits. It was an long errie ride down to Virgina Beach that day. I can remember my son Matt (who was stationed in there in the Navy) picking me up about 10 PM that evening.. I was never so glad to see him as I was that night.

For the next week I put together a makeshift office in his living room and made it my JOB to find us transportation back to KS. It took a week for us to secure a rental car for our long journey home. I had flown all over the US but I had never attempted to drive accross country before. We had no choice. I had huge conserns bringing along an 88 yr old passenger... again I had no other options. It's amazing the accomplishments we make when we have no other options. We stopped every 2 hours and walked around the cars at least 5 times, I didn't want her circulation to stop. Every 4 hours we stopped at a sit down restraunt generally Cracker Barrel. We avoided the cities when possible and kept a close eye on the map.

When we pulled into KCI airport to pick up my car it became very real again to me our life as we left it in KS was very different now. My car was barricaded in the parking lot alone.. again I had this errie feeling come over me. It was like an act of congress to get out of the airport that day, and I remember telling myself I'm not coming back here!

It seemed like an eternity to get the last 100 miles to drop off my passenger safely at her sisters house. It was such a relief when she was delivered home safe. The last 2 hours home seemed like a breese, like I had the world in my hands. It was the last 2 hour stint though I had time to reflect back at the last week and made the descision no matter what I wouldn't let something like this happen to me again.

I truly believe everything happens for a reason and for me this reason was to have a breakthrough moment to move ahead with my business and become my own boss.

Our life is exactly as we have created it. To have a better tomorrow you must start dreaming first of what you really want. I've spoke to folks and they will tell me what they really want is more money. Really now it's not the money itself you want it the stuff money will bring you. For some folks they would really just want to spend more time with their family or do more for their family, and that's a good "why" but you must take it one step further than this -- you must focus in on an exact target to achieve it.

We can talk more about finding your "WHY" if you would like. Connect with me at http://barefoot-online.com

Franchise Business on Healthy Aging

This is a testimony from Jan C.
My husband Jim called today after meeting with his lipid specialist in Minneapolis. Once again his cholesterol numbers have significantly dropped! At the time of his cardiac arrest 20 years ago, his cholesterol was over 400. For years the number gradually went down. Two years ago it was 179 and last year, after a year of being on Vivix, it was 138. That's when his statins were cut in half. Today Jim's total cholesterol is 97.

Jim has struggled with the LDL (bad cholesterol) the most. He has a genetic condition that causes his body to produce too much of it. Originally the LDL was 240. For years he worked to get it to 140 and then to 120. It needed to be less than 100. After a year and a half on Vivix, it dropped to 90. Today it was 58 !!!!!

Jim's doctor made this comment: Nobody wants to deal with the problem. They just want to take a pill to have it go away. When that doesn't happen they get upset." He and his office staff consider Jim their poster child. Jim complies and does what's needed to be healthy, and we support him.

What Jim does each day:

1. Takes Vitalizer, Vivix, Nutriferon, CoQHeart, Liver DTX Complex, and Joint Health Complex (had me order the new Cholesterol Reduction Complex right away, too!)

2. Runs 5 miles (has never missed a day of running in 20 years)

3. Drinks tea instead of coffee (Was addicted to coffee but switched to tea several years ago and dropped 30 points off his cholesterol total)

4. Is his own boss - so he can run and rest as needed (Quit a 20 year corporate job at time of cardiac arrest 20 years ago and located his office at home)

5. Makes decisions that eliminate as much stress as possible from his day.

Our youngest son Matt was 2 when Jim had the cardiac arrest. He got married on June 11 this summer. Twenty years ago, I never imagined that with 3 arteries 100% blocked and the 4th blocked 70%, that Jim would even live to see his youngest son grow up. It's good to note, too, that our three sons and I have supported all of Jim's efforts, and as a result we are healthier ourselves. Our family experience is proof that great health is primarily in the hands of the individual and the choices he or she makes. We've always chosen Shaklee nutrition, for example, and that has paid off royally for us. ~Jan

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Prescription For A Healthier Life

For More information visit: http://barefoot-online.com

RAS - The Mom Factor

At the base of your brain, where all the nerve endings come together to form your spinal cord, there is something about the size of your thumb called the Reticular Formation. This is a real physical, physiological thing. Part of the Reticular Formation is the Reticular Activating System (RAS). The RAS has one job and one job only. Its job is to filter information; and it is superb at what it does. We are constantly exposed to, and bombarded by so much information, data, stimuli and even opportunities, that if we consciously tried to register it all, process it all and think about it all, we would literally go crazy. We would be in a constant state of "overload". So the RAS (which remember, is VERY good at what it does) constantly filters out "extraneous" and "superfluous" information and data. It's like a "Spam Filter" for your mind.
The crucial question then becomes: How does the RAS determine what it needs to filter out? The RAS is constantly asking three questions in order to decide what you need to know and be aware of:

• 1. Is it my responsibility?
• 2. Is it important?
• 3. Does it match my version of'the truth'?

Whatever information, data or stimuli you are exposed to must satisfy all three questions. It's not the best two out of three. It is not a democracy or majority rules. It must satisfy ALL THREE criteria before the RAS will allow you to be aware of it - that includes any opportunities that you come across. Lets look at the first question the RAS asks to see why you may have blind spots and can't see opportunities that are all around you. 1. "Is it my responsibility"? - Have you ever gone someplace you've never been before, in an unfamiliar part of town, as a passenger in someone else's car? After you got there did you realize that you had absolutely no idea how to find your way home? It has probably happened to most of us. On the other hand, had you driven there yourself, would you have been able to find your way home? More than likely.

Why in the first case were you clueless, but in the second case you noticed the gas station on the corner, the white picket fence, the church steeple and all the other landmarks that would help you find your way out of there? Because, in the second case you knew you were responsible for getting there and back. However, in the first case you knew you weren?t responsible, so your RAS decided you didn't need that information, filtered it out and you never saw the important landmarks that could help you find your way home. The "Mom Factor"

I would like all of you mothers reading this to think back to when your first child was an infant (I'm sure the following was true of all of your children, but think especially of your first child). They were just old enough that they had graduated from the bassinet by your bed to their own crib, in their own room down the hall. The first few weeks do you remember how you would be sound asleep in the middle of the night, and out of a sound sleep, all of the sudden you knew that you had to be down the hall checking on your child. You don't know what you heard; you're not even sure that you had heard anything; you just knew you had to be there, and in a heart beat you are wide awake and at that child's bedside making sure that everything is OK.
It's the third time that night that you have been up to check on your child. As you return to your bed, you decide that it is important for your husband to know that THIS! - IS! - THE! - THIRD! - TIME! that you have been up to check on HIS! child. So, you THROW! yourself on the bed and JERK! the covers back over to you, just to make sure your husband appreciates that this is the THIRD! time you have been up ? and your husband sleeps through the whole thing. He never heard you get up, was never aware that you came back to bed, and never even felt you jerk the covers back over.
Now, in some of your homes, later that night, the family dog starts yapping in the back yard. Dad jumps out of bed, throws open the window, shouts at the dog to shut up, comes back to bed - and Mom sleeps through the whole thing. How is it that Mom can hear a virtually inaudible sleeping baby, but can?t hear barking dogs and Dad can hear dogs, but can't hear babies? It's simple ... in your home the roles have been defined such that Mom is responsible for the baby and Dad is responsible for the dog.
Your RAS will filter out any information that you are not responsible for and make you unaware of it.
I've often heard it said that wisdom comes with age. But, that is not true. The only thing that automatically comes with age - is old. That's all you get. Wisdom comes when you accept responsibility for your life. I know 80-year-olds with no wisdom and 18-year-olds with plenty. The difference is that the 18-year-old has accepted responsibility for their life and future, but the 80-year-old is still blaming everyone and everything around them for their stature in life.
All of us spend the first nine months of our lives on a waterbed. It is warm. It is cozy. All of our needs were met without us having to do a thing. Then we are born, the doctor cut the umbilical cord, slapped us on the rear end and then 95% of us spend the next 50 years of our lives looking around for someone else we can plug our umbilical cord into to take care of us. But, it's not someone else's responsibility. And until you take responsibility for your life and future, your RAS will make you blind to opportunities around you.

Shaklee Celebrates $5 Billion in Paid Commission at Annual Conference in Anaheim

Number One Natural Nutrition Company in the U.S. Also Unveils New Car Incentive Program for Distributors ANAHEIM, CA--(August 9, 2010) - Shaklee Corporation, a leading provider of natural nutrition, personal care, and environmentally friendly home care products, announced today that it has surpassed five billion dollars in commissions paid to its more than 1.2 million Shaklee Family Members worldwide.

The announcement was made at the 2010 Shaklee Global Conference in Anaheim where thousands of Shaklee Members, Distributors and prospects gathered to explore how to capitalize on the Shaklee business opportunity while embracing the Shaklee vision to make people and the planet healthier.

"Shaklee's mission is to create the best natural health products and market them through a business model that gives people the opportunity to achieve the dream of owning their own business and controlling their financial future," said Shaklee CEO Roger Barnett. "This commission milestone is a tribute to the tens of thousands of distributors around the world who have found success in their own independent business with Shaklee."

The company also kicked off a new Car Incentive Program which will allow distributors to qualify for car bonuses that can be used to pay for a lease or purchase of a brand new car, with extra incentives for those who lease or purchase hybrid vehicles.

"Shaklee's new rewards and compensation program perfectly aligns with our values by creating new opportunities for distributors to grow their business with tangible lifestyle and financial incentives," said Barnett. "This program will also allow our distributors to touch more people and share the Shaklee opportunity of doing well by doing good. That's a powerful thing."

For more information about Shaklee or its 2010 Global Conference, please contact Matt McAsey at mcasey (at) shaklee (dot) net or 785-341-4437. For more information on Shaklee, the number one nutrition company in the U.S., please visit http://mcasey.shaklee.com.

About Shaklee
Founded in 1956, Shaklee Corporation is the number one natural nutrition company in the United States. A leading provider of premium-quality natural nutrition products, personal care products, and environmentally friendly home care products, Shaklee has more than 50 patents and patents pending worldwide. With more than 1.2 million members and distributors around the globe, Shaklee currently operates in the U.S., Mexico, Canada, Japan, Malaysia, Taiwan, and China. In 2000, Shaklee became the first company in the world to be Climate Neutral™ certified to totally offset its CO2 emissions, resulting in a net-zero impact on the environment.

McAsey Family Enjoys Flexibility and Financial Stability

The latest economic indicators for May bring some hopeful tidings, but also some significant concerns. The U.S. unemployment rate is as high as it has been in 25 years, and there is continued concern about sizable job losses to come. The recession has been a source of severe stress for many throughout the country.

According to the recent Multi-Sponsor Surveys' 2009 Economic Impact Market Segmentation Study, 49% of employed adults expressed worry about potential job loss, while 32% admitted to "significant" financial troubles.

But amid numerous reports of havoc and despair created by the current economic climate, Cindy McAsey, a local small-business entrepreneur in KS, reports a very different experience during this recession.

"If it weren't for the additional income my health-and-wellness business generates, I think my family would probably be in a very different place," says McAsey, who operates a Shaklee franchise business out of her home.

"My franchise business helps us not only continue to pay the bills, but it also generates additional income which we save to have on hand for unexpected situations, or use when we want to do something special, like take a trip, buy a new car, or remodel the kitchen—things that would otherwise be outside of our budget."

McAsey credits her home franchise business for helping to alleviate much of her family's stress and says her business has eased financial concerns while providing flexibility—qualities that can insulate a family from the changing tides of the economy. Most people who run a business from home work only part time, so there's freedom to plan business activities around the busy schedule of a young family.

"When I began my business," says McAsey, "it was on a very part-time basis. Since I started, I've increased the amount of time I spend working with it. Using the Internet and communicating my business online makes my work much more efficient and flexible at the same time, making it possible for me to work on my business pretty much whenever I want to. Plus, it was very simple to get started, and there's no need to make space in our home for any inventory since the company ships directly to my customers."

Franchise home businesses have drawn considerable interest from people who may be having a difficult time finding employment and from those looking for an income opportunity that also resonates with their personal beliefs—characteristics that most jobs likely do not offer. "Because I recommend products that help people to be healthier, that help our environment to be cleaner, and for homes to be safer, I feel good about what I do. And because I also offer the chance for other people to do what I'm doing—to achieve independence in a way they may not have thought possible—there's an incredible feeling of satisfaction in knowing that I can help make a real difference for people looking for extra income right now."

According to the 2009 Economic Impact Market Segmentation Study, 60% of adults are now interested in operating a home business in response to the economic downturn.

"To me, there's a great sense of security knowing that my business is backed by a company that has a proven track record and more than 50 years of experience giving people the means to thrive, even during the most difficult economic times," says McAsey. "Shaklee has grown during each of the prior recessions since it was founded in 1956."

For more information about McAsey and her Shaklee Business, visit http://barefoot-online.com.

Franchise Online:Top 10 List for More Effective PowerPoint Presentations

How many times have you been the audience for a drawn-out, 50+ lifeless slide show? Or even worse, have you been a presenter and feel your lost the audience or know they are just hanging around to be nice?

Facts are, bad PowerPoint happens to good people, and quite often the person giving the presentation is just as much a victim as the poor souls listening.

Here's a top 10 list to help you add a little pizzazz! to your next presentation.

1. Write a script.
A little planning goes a long way. Many presentations are written in PowerPoint without any sort of rhyme or reason.

This is backwards. Since the point of your slides is to illustrate and expand what you are going to say to your audience. You should know what you intend to say and then figure out how to visualize it. Unless you are an expert at improvising, make sure you write out or outline your presentation before trying to put together slides.

And make sure your script follows good storytelling conventions: give it a beginning, middle, and end; have a clear arc that builds towards some sort of climax; make your audience appreciate each slide but be anxious to find out what’s next; and when possible, always leave ‘em wanting more.

2. One thing at a time, please.
At any given moment, what should be on the screen is what you’re talking about. Our audience will almost instantly read every slide as soon as it’s displayed; if you have the next four points you plan to make on the screen, they’ll be three steps ahead of you, waiting for you to catch up rather than listening with interest to the point you’re making.

Plan your presentation so just one new point is displayed at any given moment. Bullet points can be revealed one at a time as you reach them. Charts can be put on the next slide to be referenced when you get to the data the chart displays. Your job as presenter is to control the flow of information so that you and your audience stay in sync.

3. No paragraphs.
Where most presentations fail is that their authors, convinced they are producing some kind of stand-alone document, put everything they want to say onto their slides, in great big chunky blocks of text.
Congratulations. You’ve just killed a roomful of people. Cause of death: boredom.

Your slides are the illustrations for your presentation, not the presentation itself. They should underline and reinforce what you’re saying as you give your presentation — save the paragraphs of text for your script. PowerPoint and other presentation software have functions to display notes onto the presenter’s screen that do not get sent to the projector, or you can use notecards, a separate word processor document, or your memory. Just don’t put it on the screen – and for goodness’ sake, if you do for some reason put it on the screen, don’t stand with your back to your audience and read it from the screen!

4. Pay attention to design.
PowerPoint and other presentation packages offer all sorts of ways to add visual “flash” to your slides: fades, swipes, flashing text, and other annoyances are all too easy to insert with a few mouse clicks.

Avoid the temptation to dress up your pages with cheesy effects and focus instead on simple design basics:

• Use a sans serif font for body text. Sans serifs like Arial, Helvetica, or Calibri tend to be the easiest to read on screens.
  
• Use decorative fonts only for slide headers, and then only if they’re easy to read. Decorative fonts –calligraphy, German blackface, futuristic, psychotic handwriting, flowers, art nouveau, etc. – are hard to read and should be reserved only for large headlines at the top of the page. Better yet, stick to a classy serif font like Georgia or Baskerville.
  
• Put dark text on a light background. Again, this is easiest to read. If you must use a dark background – for instance, if your company uses a standard template with a dark background – make sure your text is quite light (white, cream, light grey, or pastels) and maybe bump the font size up two or three notches.
  
• Align text left or right. Centered text is harder to read and looks amateurish. Line up all your text to a right-hand or left-hand baseline – it will look better and be easier to follow.
  
• Avoid clutter. A headline, a few bullet points, maybe an image – anything more than that and you risk losing your audience as they sort it all out.
  
• Use images sparingly
  

There are two schools of thought about images in presentations. Some say they add visual interest and keep audiences engaged; others say images are an unnecessary distraction. Both arguments have some merit, so in this case the best option is to split the difference: use images only when they add important information or make an abstract point more concrete.

While we’re on the subject, absolutely do not use PowerPoint’s built-in clipart. Anything from Office 2003
and earlier has been seen by everyone in your audience a thousand times – they’ve become tired, used-up clichés, and I hopefully don’t need to tell you to avoid tired, used-up clichés in your presentations. Office 2007 and non-Office programs have some clipart that isn’t so familiar (though it will be, and soon) but by now, the entire concept of clipart has about run its course – it just doesn’t feel fresh and new anymore.

6. Think outside the screen.
Remember, the slides on the screen are only part of the presentation – and not the main part. Even though you’re liable to be presenting in a darkened room, give some thought to your own presentation manner – how you hold yourself, what you wear, how you move around the room. You are the focus when you’re presenting, no matter how interesting your slides are. When web conferencing pay close attention to the tone of your voice, your mannerism when you speak, the passion in your voice.

7. Have a hook.
Like the best writing, the best presentation hook their audiences early and then reel them in. Open with something surprising or intriguing, something that will get your audience to sit up and take notice. The most powerful hooks are often those that appeal directly to your audience’s emotions – offer them something awesome or, if it’s appropriate, scare the pants off of them. The rest of your presentation, then, will be effectively your promise to make the awesome thing happen, or the scary thing not happen.

8. Ask questions.
Questions arouse interest, pique curiosity, and engage audiences. So ask a lot of them. Build tension by posing a question and letting your audience stew a moment before moving to the next slide with the answer. Quiz their knowledge and then show them how little they know. If appropriate, engage in a little question-and-answer with your audience, with you asking the questions.

9. Modulate, modulate, modulate.
Especially when you’ve done a presentation before, it can be easy to fall into a drone, going on and on and on and on and on with only minimal changes to your inflection. Always speak as if you were speaking to a friend, not as if you are reading off of index cards (even if you are). If keeping up a lively and personable tone of voice is difficult for you when presenting, do a couple of practice run-throughs. If you still can’t get it right and presentations are a big part of your job, take a public speaking course or join Toastmasters.

10. Break the rules.
As with everything else, there are times when each of these rules – or any other rule you know – won’t apply. If you know there’s a good reason to break a rule, go ahead and do it. Rule breaking is perfectly acceptable behavior – it’s ignoring the rules or breaking them because you just don’t know any better that leads to shoddy boring presentations that lead to boredom, depression, psychopathic breaks, and eventually death. And you don’t want that, do you?

Marketing Strategies Coach
Cindy McAsey
888-272-6701
http://afranchiseonline.com

Business Truth about Social Media & ROI

Right now, small businesses have a huge advantage over big business in actually being able to convert social media conversations into dollars and cents. Here’s why:

Small business:

• Can be less censored – They don’t have to wade through layers of social media do/don’t policy and legal sign-off on every tweet, update, post or comment. And, in social media, people respond to real and spontaneous. So, it’s much easier to build the conversation
  
• Can have a personality – All too often, the voice of the company that filters through to social media is almost entirely devoid of personality. People connect with color, business proper gray.
  
• Only needs to connect with hundreds or a few thousand, not hundreds of thousands or millions – If a small business connects with a few thousand people, that could make a huge dent in it’s business, making it worth the effort. A large business may need to connect with millions to feel the same impact and that may well not be worth the effort from an ROI standpoint
  
• Can tap into local energy, events, traditions – By having a shared experience based on the local community, it’s a lot easier for people to bond with the voice of that business
  
• Can implement instantly and tailor highly relevant offers – When it’s one person behind the mic, it’s way easier to carry on a real, spontaneous conversation and also create an ongoing series of highly local, highly-relevant and time-sensitive offers that will convert followers into customers.
  
  

So, if you’re a small business or entrepreneur and you’ve been wondering about the value of this wacky thing called social media, fact is you’ve got a huge advantage over large corporations right now. You have the ability to actually convert time spent on social media into money in the bank. And, have a lot of fun doing it.

Case Study: Mountainbike Madness

Mountabike Madness is a bike shop run by two college friends, Mario and Eva. It’s a real business with a great product and it’s growing nicely. But they’re always interested in finding new ways to get customers to the shop. Along with trying out street teams, the local pennysaver, mailings, sandwich boards and a bunch of other marketing ideas. Eva gets the idea to start to play around with twitter.

Actually, she already had a personal account. So did Mario, so they’re familiar with the nature of conversation in the communities, because they’re already regular users. So, they set up a Mountainbike Madness account and use Mario as the name associated with the account.

They use twitter’s search function and a number of other tools twice a day to find people in their neighborhood who either have some variation of the word bike in their profile or their tweets. They broaden it out to various forms of outdoor activities, too. They see what these potentially likeminded folks talking about, then follow them and join in the conversations they are having.

They also start to share all sorts of funny, quirky, edgy quotes, ideas, and stories. And, here and there, they throw out tweets about instant giveaways for the first person to tweet their favorite rider, grip or trail. They do daily or weekly specials on bikes, parts, clothing and other schwag. They share cool tips and riding strategies and aren’t afraid to show their personalities. They announce weekly Rave Rides where everyone has 4 hours to show at a particular trailhead for an epic group ride. And, once a month, they do a one-day 20% off twitter-only sale from the back of a truck and you have to be following them to know where it will be.

After 3 months, they can track twitter related sales to an average of 30% of daily sales and total sales have gone up 20% since starting on twitter. Not only is it great for their community, for customer service…they’re using social media to put money in the bank.

So there you have it. There are many ways to market online if you aren't considering adding social media to the mix your missing out on a big chunk of profits. Yes there is a right way and wrong way. Be sure to follow those who know how to do it the right way.

Business Franchise: Barefoot Economic Stimulus Plan

We are on a mission to reach 10 Million People this year. The CEO of Shaklee is putting lots of extra incentives just for you to jump start your business. This Power of 10 Video give ya all the details.




The next step is working on your plan to succeed. That's where our team and business franchise plan will help you get a fast start. Check it out at www.barefootplan.com

Business Franchise hardly anybody knows about

I'm sure you've been exposed to he problems we are faced with in a down economy. Heck it's all over CNN, BBC, FOX News ...have been releasing reports daily of market turmoil, multiple bank failures, soaring foreclosures, and skyrocketing unemployment.

Every one of us has witnessed or is feeling the harsh effects on our economy in one way or another.

To make matters worse, business owners, top professionals in the mortgage business, real estate and insurance business are struggling financially and are facing a major crisis.

As a small business entrepreneur we must seek out solutions. We must not only shift gears in the midst of a downturn, but also shift our energy to stay out of fear mode, which is even more important — and tougher to do.

In Tough Times, Tackle Anxiety First

Here's a simple six-step program for “shifting yourself out of fear-based operating mode and getting back on track towards success.”

The first step, is to confess that you are, in fact, afraid. Stress, worry and apprehension are all elements of fear. I admit it is scary right now being in business, but that is what entrepreneurship is all about.

The second step is to respond to that fear with calm deliberation rather than rash acts that may push your businesses into deeper trouble.

The third is for small businesses to refocus their efforts on things they can excell in.

The fourth is to “reframe the story” by looking for new opportunities in difficult times.

The fifth is for entrepreneurs to maintain a balance between their work and personal lives.

The sixth is to seek out a critic who will give unvarnished feedback about potential blind spots.

Did you know that while the majority of folks in America are fighting for survival a privileged few are building a steady, stable, strong business? These folks know something that you don't.

They aren't jumping on the latest greatest thing since sliced bread. (rash acts) These folks are maintaining the calm deliberation, reframing by looking for real honest opportunities and taking advise that goes to the heart of the matter. Don't Panic!

I want to share this short video from the CEO of Shaklee, Roger Barnett giving an explaination of why he launched the latest incentive called "The Power of 10"



Bottomline..our Business Franchise Online offers REAL opportunities for REAL people.
http://www.afranchiseonline.com

It really is a plan for the rest of us. Be sure to check out our business franchise today.

Business Franchise Online: Good News for Internet Marketers

The word is out Internet Marketing and Internet Marketing Consultants are in the top 5 careers in "uncertain times" according to Yahoo News. Read the whole story.. So what exactly was said about Internet Marketing and how does it relate to Business Franchising?

"Internet Marketer ($53,000) -- from Internet Marketing Specialist ($43,000) to Internet Marketing Life Coach -- $203,000

Online marketers, also called eMarketers or Internet advertisers, work in a lively business sector that changes every day. One of those changes, according to the BLS 2008-09 Occupational Outlook Handbook, is continued growth. Advertising, marketing, promotions, public relations, and sales manager jobs are highly coveted and will be sought. ... In particular, employers will seek those who have the computer skills to conduct advertising, marketing, promotions, public relations, and sales activities on the Internet."

Now I have always believed everyone should have a plan B. It doesn't make any difference if you are working a JOB or in your own business you should always have a plan just in case things go south... if ya know what I mean. If you don't currently have Internet Marketing skills (earning this much yet) isn't it time to do what it takes to get the skills?

Over the weekend I ran across an article saying 80% of "Bloggers" were making only a couple hundered dollars a month from their blog. It went on to say the only revenue they had was ads on their blog. Now I've been blogging before most "bloggers" even knew what the word meant. I've noticed many of the new "social marketers" using this exact strategy. The really sad part is many are tagging themselves as "Social Media Experts"!

Here is the trend I'm seeing. Start 1 blog, sell ads (or use a service like google adsense), build a large social network database, promote 1 blog, get excited when many people reply to a post they promote through social networking. No wonder 80% of bloggers aren't making a living!

Any smart business person knows you don't put all your eggs in one basket. Many times in my live training I use the analagy of the guy in the circus spinning plates. Start one plate get it spinning, then another, then another... knowing you need to go back to the spining plate and give em a spin to keep it going once in awhile.

How about you? Do you need a proven plan of action... an inside track to run on? Maybe it's time you checked out http://afranchiseonline.com Not for Everyone.

Business Franchise Online: Rule #2 for Happiness and Contentment

A message from...
Cindy McAsey-Marketing Strategies Coach

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To gain happiness, you must discover and enjoy what you have. It is not how much you have. It is what we THINK about how much we have which produces happiness. In building a happy contented life you must give happiness to others. No one living for himself will ever be contented.

Your happiness is reflected upon you through service you give to others.... and the thought you give to the creation of happiness will attract a happniess-service from others.

Start creating happiness-habit by producing happy love filled thoughts.

"As a man thinketh in his heart so is he."

When I discovered the company in this short video my level of happiness grew much stronger. I feel it's because the values align so closely with who I am. I feel a close parallel between my business "Barefoot in the Garden" and the philosophy "created by nature."



What values do you align with?

Discover our Barefoot Business Franchise Online... http://www.afranchiseonline.com

Barefoot Franchise Online Business:

A message from...
Cindy McAsey-Marketing Strategies Coach

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In recent weeks, a wave of fear and pessimism fueled by the world financial crisis has stolen the headlines, gripped the nation, and challenged our mindset. The greed that led the world economy into crisis should NOT defeat your commitment to your business franchise online.

Change doesn't wait on Washington. And it doesn't depend on Wall Street. Change comes from within. Our company has been demonstrating that fact for more than 52 years. This video will help you understand my philosophy and the deep roots with the company our team has partnered with.



You must plan for happiness as much as much as you plan for the welfare of your business franchise online. Happiness is a state of mind... it depends entirely upon the thoughts you produce. You wouldn't know whether you were happy or not, if you didn't think about it. So make sure you can think about the happiness you know CAN be yours.

Success is not money ~ although it may include it. Success is not business activity ~ although it may encompass it. Just like a straight line is the shortest distance between two points ~ your thoughts are the direct path to success.

Barefoot Business Franchise Online a plan for the rest of us? http://www.afranchiseonline.com