A recent phone conversation inspired me to write today. My girlfriend received a call not too long ago from her employer. She works part-time from home previewing articles for an e-magazine. The company’s inbox has been steadily growing, and some adjustments were necessary to keep up with the increased demand. While being asked if she would be up for taking on more hours, Janet was made aware of the fine job she’s been doing, how intelligent and poignant her questions are, and how much her good work is appreciated. She took on the extra work without hesitation.

This wasn’t the first time she’d heard these types of comments from him. In fact, he never lets an opportunity pass to share his words of encouragement, and each is as earnest as the last.

There isn’t a one of us who doesn’t melt a little on the inside when we’re approached in such a fashion. A gracious attitude and a kind tone can change the course of a day in a matter of seconds. It’s pretty hard to turn down almost anything when we know that what we do for others is sincerely appreciated.

Smart employers understand the value of this. “Always treat people the way you’d like to be treated” should be second nature…and that goes for everyone. In the business community, top firms have proven time and again greater ‘bottom lines’ as a result of expressing sincere gratitude to their deserving employees.

Young children especially love words of appreciation and kindness. They so want the approval of their parents and authority figures. Each opportunity taken in expressing earned recognition does so much in building confidence, worth and self-esteem.

I’m sure you’ve noticed just how much offering a retail checker a heartfelt ‘hello,’ ‘thank you,’ or ‘how’s your day going?’ is appreciated. And taking a few extra seconds to express our gratitude to someone who’s helped us locate a store item is never too much trouble, really.

I do realize, of course, that what I’m getting at here is nothing new to anyone. We’ve all heard it, and lived it, too. We know that a little goes a long way. Speaking for myself, I try hard to remain faithful in my awareness to this subject. And I’m not saying that I think most people don’t. I believe the vast majority to be kind and attentive more often than not. Most likely, if they’re negligent, it’s probably only because they may be getting a little too caught up in the ‘swell of life.’ I just wanted to put this out as a friendly little reminder, because it can make such a difference. As we all know, “you reap what you sow.”

I love the expression “the best things in life are free.” Where else can you give away so much with so little effort? Whether you’re the sender or the recipient, it always feels pretty good. So, go ahead – make someone’s day… pass some on!!!

I occasionally think back to my younger days as a teenager, and in the satisfaction I found from immersing myself in music. Luckily for me, it all came rather naturally. Practice was something I looked forward to, without hesitation. And in retrospect, I would have to say that those were some of the best years of my life.

My mother, God love her, was always there, ‘tuned in’ to whatever material I was working on, and continually offering her words of encouragement.  Even today, not much has changed.  She’s been, without fail, one of those people who leave’s you with some special thought or quotation that always seems so poignant.  And the one thing she repeated during those progressive years that has never left me was, “This is something you’ve accomplished.  You’ve done this yourself, and you should feel proud. Nobody can ever take it away from you.”  Since then, I’ve never missed an opportunity to pass these words on to others who’ve seemed to have latched on to ‘anything’ with similar enthusiasm.

But as the years have passed, I’ve noticed that many people don’t have much they can happily do by themselves…something they can truly call their own.  They create situations that, more often than not, simply require the involvement of others.

I feel fortunate, because even now, I can get totally lost in this endless journey I began decades ago.  For me, anything that gets the creative juices flowing is always worth a closer look.  Over the past few years, I’ve personally compiled several CD’s of original music, and two additional discs that my sweetheart and I recorded of some of our favorite jazz standards.

More recently, I’ve made several new international friends on FaceBook who are also musicians … a handful with whom I’ve wanted to share some of these tunes, but I didn’t know how. I found myself a bit frustrated for several months, not seeing any obvious solution to my problem. But that finally changed when I investigated the possibilities of ‘Windows Movie Maker.’

I don’t know why, but for the two and a half years that I’ve owned my laptop, I seemed to have overlooked this factory-installed program. Not only has it been the answer to my dilemma, it’s also been very enjoyable to work with. It’s a basic package, and yes, ‘just a bit’ lacking in the tutorial department. Other programs that could be purchased elsewhere might be more sophisticated. But with it’s multiple ‘transitions and effects’ and ‘storyboard and timeline’ formats, ‘Windows Movie Maker’ has been quite easy to maneuver and comprehend.

With most of us owning digital cameras and video recorders, the possibilities for saving and sharing the experiences of your life are endless. What with raising children, taking vacations, attending weddings or sporting events…there’s so much at your fingertips. The sense of creativity can quickly turn into a minor addiction.

If you’ve saved some of your favorite songs in iTunes, you could upload one, accompany it with some personal photos, or some you’ve selected from Google images, to create a story you’d like to tell. The ambience and overtones are all formulated by you…you’re the director. You’re in charge! Then, upload your masterpieces to YouTube. You’ll soon be making friends with so many others who share a similar interest.

With that said, I’ve decided to include a sampling of ‘my collection’ for your perusal. If you happen to like what you see, feel free to type my name into YouTube to view a few more.

I’m planning on writing another article in the near future on several of the ‘ins and outs’ of ‘Windows Movie Maker.’  Hopefully I’ve enticed you somewhat to try it out for yourself. Once ‘the train’s left the station,’ I think you’ll find it hard to slow it down.  Enjoy…

I recently shared an exceptionally good morning with our two felines.  It’s rare that I have an opportunity for some real alone time with them. Most often, the dogs will be a bit disruptive during the early hours of the day, so the cats tend to zip off to their safer domains.  But as it was, the boys were still asleep in the bedroom, and the three of us took advantage of some special time together.

It was shortly after 4 a.m.  I grabbed some coffee, and the cats followed me out to the screened porch. After a few minutes of exploring the turf, they both settled in, near each other, and near me.  I guess it was the quiet and peaceful nature of things that made me take a closer look at our little dynamic, and the realization of the unique relationship that can exist between a human and a domestic animal.  It’s certainly wasn’t the first time I’d entertained these thoughts, but sometimes you can’t help but pause and wonder, when it’s all right there – staring you in the face.

Why do they like us so much…and we them?  We’re not even the same species, and our differences are many. They give us their love unconditionally, each and every day, and appear quite comfortable sharing our space, no matter where or what that might be. They don’t seem terribly concerned with their smaller stature, even though they could easily be injured if we’re not careful. They just find their own paths to travel. And, who is more keenly aware of our moods?  If we’re happy, sad, frustrated, anxious… whatever, they’ll always want to be our best friend.  Always.  So, what is that?  What is that thread that seems to tie us together?

I’m not sure I’ve got a great answer. Far be it for me to figure out the ‘how’s and why’s’ of the whole grand design.  But in all the miracles of life itself, I marvel at the true essence of these magnificent animals.  They are such a gift to us.  Each brings it’s own soul, it’s own spirit, and it’s own personality. The relationships that develop between us come from the equal sharing of who and what we are. They teach us so much just by being themselves.  But unfortunately, we don’t have them in our lives for very long, and that makes me sad.

If there’s a lesson to be learned from all this, perhaps it comes from their pure and simple nature. It’s all about love and kindness. That’s it…’love and kindness.’  That’s all they want.  Just like us. And the more we give them, the more they return to us, tenfold. Every time!

So take a closer look at your pet, if you haven’t in a while. Life is short, and we all get caught up in it periodically.  Let your special friend remind you of what really counts while you’re still here. It’s time well spent. We should never take these ‘furry little pearls’ for granted!

I’ve decided to write a blog today about cigarette smoking, which is a little weird because I’m not a smoker.  My only experience with it occurred in elementary school when myself and a few of my friends secretively gave it a go. My father had warned me that if I ever decided to get into it, he would be dishing out some serious consequences.  He was a smoker.  Regardless, my experiences were a blessing in disguise because cigarettes did not like me, and I did not like them.  So why even write anything to do with cigarettes, you ask?

My girlfriend, Janet, has been a smoker for 30 years.  She’s obviously not the only person I’ve known with the habit, but she is the one person that I’ve had the deepest discussions with regarding this subject.  Being a non-smoker and someone who doesn’t suffer from any serious addictions, I can’t possibly understand all the subtleties tied into all of this. So when Janet quit a few years ago, I got to watch, first hand, someone go through all the pangs, withdrawals, and frustrations.  The first several days were difficult.  She did get some help through acupuncture.  In fact, she’s convinced it would have been much harder had she not reached out in this fashion.  As it turned out, staying off the cigs lasted a little more than a year.  That was very disappointing, for both of us.

It’s been almost a year and a half since Janet started up again.  Fortunately, there’s some good news in this story and it recently showed up at our doorstep.  Ladies and gentlemen, introducing the ‘electronic cigarette.’ Perhaps you’ve already heard about them.  With several manufacturers now in place, it’s one of the greatest inventions to come around in a long time, and its benefits are enormous.

First, let me interject a simple explanation about this particular unit.  Made by a company called ‘v2 cigs,’ the electronic cigarette is comprised of two parts, the vapor cartridge and the battery. The rechargeable battery ignites the cartridge that gives off only two things – vapor and nicotine.  Nicotine is an addictive stimulant that may not be mans best friend, but it also isn’t terribly dangerous by itself.  The ten thousand other chemicals found in a regular cigarette that are dangerous are no longer delivered to the lungs by this modern marvel. This is definitely its greatest asset.  There are two types of models.  One has a push button on the side to ignite the cartridge.  The other model does not have a button and is ignited simply by inhaling.  The vapor cartridges come in six different flavors and five to a pack.

One of the biggest surprises for me was seeing that this did not turn out to be a hard transition for her.  Honestly, she’s a self-admitted addict who, if this were to be a struggle, would likely bring an end to this adventure.  It didn’t, so put a check mark in the victory column.  Today is the fourth day since the package arrived and Janet can’t quit talking about how good she feels about the move.  Physically, the changes are already manifesting.  She spent an hour on the treadmill this morning and said her lungs felt better today than they did last week when she did her walking. They are also decongesting and getting rid of the old toxins.  Psychologically, she feels so good just knowing she’s no longer putting dirty substances in her body and is now adding years to her life.

I’m elated, too.  Janet no longer smells like smoke, because the only discharge from a v2 cigarette is a smokeless vapor.  If she wants to smoke in the house or the car, it’s not a problem.  The only scent given off is that of the chosen flavor, and barely noticeable.  The total cost ends up being approximately 75% less than regular cigarettes.  If you’re a smoker, you know what a significant savings that is.

Look, I’m not trying in any way to promote smoking.  It’s not a good habit and we all know it.  It is, though, a terribly hard habit to kick.  So if you’re already there, do your self a huge favor and consider this alternative.  You won’t be sorry.  There really is no downside to it.  So it looks only a little different than the real thing.  Does that really matter when it comes to maintaining good health?  Of course not, so check it out.

Lastly, I chose my title for a reason.  Here in the U.S., it was a tag line used in a famous commercial some years ago. How many years ago?  Look, if you know the answer to that question, I promise I’ll never squeal on you.  Check back later.  I’m sure I’ll have more updates.

I would be curious to know just how many people have seen the movie, ‘The Secret’- or maybe I should rephrase that with how many people haven’t?  It created quite a buzz, and gained popularity faster than any other independent project I can think of in recent times. I’m not sure what percentage of the viewers embraced its message, but I’m inclined to believe that most open-minded folks probably gave it some consideration. It’s not very complicated – it simply boils down to ‘the law of attraction.’

There were a host of popular authors and speakers asked to participate in its making – Bob Proctor, Joe Vitale, Jack Canfield, and Lisa Nichols to name a few. I think they all brought ‘good food for thought’ and presented themselves very well.  At the time that I saw the movie, most of these names were unfamiliar to me.  Curiosity getting the best of me, I started searching for more information on these people on the Internet.  Little did I know just how famous and well published some of them are!

Understand, I’m not writing this blog today with some personal agenda.  We’ve all got enough experience in our lives by now to know what’s in the well and what to draw upon when needed. I did enjoy, though, much of what I either heard or read because so much of it is just good common sense and quite practical.

Positive thinking is always going to trump negative thinking – very simple.  Not letting your past control your future just makes sense.  Having ‘an attitude of gratitude’ will put a positive outlook on almost anything.  None of this is probably an epiphany for anyone.  But I do believe that most of us carry dialogues from our past that could stand some modification.

Many people believe they don’t deserve to make significant amounts of money.  The only dignified way to earn money is to work ‘very hard’ for it.  If you were going to make a large sum, you would have made it by now.  No one from our family has ever been successful.  We’re just ‘worker bees.’ There’s only so much money out there – we’ll never see it.  If you have more than you need, you’ll lose your way and become like so many others. Stop daydreaming and get to work!

I don’t have all the answers to life, but I do know that none of that is true.  I didn’t always think this way, either.  In fact, it’s probably been only the last 10 or 15 years that I’ve changed my thinking.  Our subconscious is just what the word means – below the level of consciousness.  It’s there, and can be driving our bus for us more often than not. I’m  inclined to believe that each of us knows this already in some way or other. Why do I bring it up then?

I guess I just think that sometimes it’s nice to get a positive reminder.  We’re all involved in something special right now.  Something that I think we know can be an extraordinary experience if we don’t lose our way or give up.  Yes, there’s only 24 hours in a day, and sometimes most of that day can be quite stressful.  It is my hope that we each remember why we joined this program and where we hoped to finish.  A positive attitude is ‘the only way’ to succeed.  Whatever’s in the past has little or nothing to do with moving forward.  Always be grateful for what you have right now.  I’m convinced great things lie ahead for those who don’t quit. What do you think?

As it stands today, it appears I’m almost finished with the first phase of John Thornhill’s Masterclass .  With these first several weeks behind me, I must say that I am elated to be a part of an educational program that is so very well thought out, and also one that is presented in a ‘mentoring format.’  John has been crystal clear with what he says and demonstrates on each video. Other than a few support tickets to Paula Brett, all has gone well.

It’s been almost 15 years since I purchased my first computer and I can’t say that I’ve done much more than send email, write some documents, join Facebook, Google lots of information, and a few other basic maneuvers. Considering the tasks I have completed thus far in the program, I find it hard to imagine myself flying solo, sifting through the mire from scratch, setting up everything that I have, and eventually landing where I am… with everything working.  So the big question is, ‘how did these guys do it?’

My hat is off to John Thornhill and Dave Nicholson. Both men used to work in an auto plant. Bored, unhappy, and unfulfilled, they changed their lives and have managed to achieve significant success in “Internet Marketing.”  Each is a fine example of a ‘Go Giver’.  But I’m going to make the assumption that neither is too intimidated by the workings of a computer and don’t allow the technical bumps in the road to slow them down.  Perhaps they were born  ‘computer junkies’…or maybe they have several ‘computer buddies’ who are just a phone call away.  But everyone is a beginner at some point.  FileZilla, Word Press, ClickBank, Aweber, etc…  That’s quite a bit to fuse together if you ask me.

However, I’m not totally unfamiliar with technical confrontations involving computers.  Several years ago, as I was enlarging the capacity of my music studio, I was challenged with trying to get all the pieces of equipment to communicate with each other.  At that time, running cables between different modules and routing individual tracks to their own channels on the computer was a bit daunting for a novice like myself.  But I did get through it. I’m just glad that my ‘imaginary gremlins’ didn’t come out at night and destroy my work.

I think what’s been presented to us here is quite extraordinary. We’ve certainly been spared numerous headaches. Think of all the html code that’s been deleted and modified. What if some of that material was put in the wrong place? What if we didn’t catch our mistakes? What if there was no support system in place? Those are the kinds of problems that would make you wish you were living on another planet. Whether our mentors went through their hours of despair or not, we get to reap the benefits. We just have to put in the time and pay attention.  As far as getting an online education, I’m truly enjoying learning all this valuable material. It sounds like product creation is just around the corner.  I’ll keep you posted.

The question asked more often than not.  You know, when  another email informs you about an ‘opportunity’ you’re missing out on… right now.  They’re very familiar, and that’s okay,  really.  But depending on what’s going on in your universe, the question is ‘Do I actually feel like reading one of these, again?’

It’s pretty tempting just knowing I can quit my day job by next week, or I could be stuffing thousands more in my pocket in just 30 days. I’m not that busy right now…heck, I’ll open it.  Now, I wasn’t born yesterday, so I’m not expecting a golden goose here. I am intrigued, though, by the sales pitch.  Internet marketing should have enough similarities to any other legitimate business.  The more you look and act sincere, the greater your chance for success. As a customer, I want to feel like I’m being greeted with a smile and a warm handshake.  Not too much to expect, I think, if you want my money…today…because time is ‘running out.’

Yes, I’m being a little sarcastic, but I just want to feel confident that you’re a business owner who has my best interests in mind. That’s a tough sell when grammar and punctuation seem a little too ‘elementary.’ Showing pictures of your big house or your new car is a little overdone for me.  Have you really made millions and helped thousands? Perhaps you’re using a video format.  Sounding like you couldn’t even get excited at a football game, or to the contrary, coming at me at a little over the speed limit can be annoying too. So, where do we draw the line here?

Why not take the approach that you live here and aren’t planning on leaving town anytime soon.  You’ve taken time to put your thoughts together in a way that would appeal to anyone who’s old enough to buy what you’re selling.  Being a true internet marketer, you take pride in your product, and you want me to know that you’ll offer me the greatest opportunity for complete satisfaction. You also know that if you can do that, I’m likely to open my mail from you in the future.  So you tell me…’Should I or Shouldn’t I?’

Today, as I begin writing, I’m going to let you in on one of my daily personal dynamics.  I’m typing this with my laptop on a caddy, hovering over my bed, while I lay on my back.  This isn’t something I choose to do out of laziness, but more out of necessity.  I have ‘low back’ issues, and even sitting in a comfortable desk chair for any length of time can start wreaking havoc on my spine. Statistics now show that more than 80% of the population will deal with some kind of back problem(s) in their lifetime.  My vertebrae and I got very acquainted with each other before I even entered high school.

I participated in track and field events when I was younger… broad jump, high jump, hurdles, relay races, sprints, pole vaulting, etc…  I loved them all, especially pole vaulting. Unfortunately, that was the one that eventually forced me to realize that I wasn’t genetically coded for ‘sports greatness’.  As I’ve aged, my earlier adventures have not only left their scars, but (looking at the upside of all this) a genuine opportunity to learn a whole lot about my body, my mind and my spirit. These three entities are nicely woven together and require a close look when it comes to finding practical solutions to our ‘weaker links’.  Having a bulged disc or muscle weakness definitely requires the attention of trained professionals, but the mind and spirit can also play a powerful role in putting balance back into our life.

Good health should never be taken for granted, and I intend to spend considerable time discussing these types of issues in the near future. The more we appreciate who we are and what we require for our greater good, the sooner we can direct ourselves towards increased longevity and our most enriching life.

Well, as of this writing, I’m almost 10% of my way through John Thornhill’s Masterclass Program.  Yes, I’m a newbie, but I’ve looked at a lot of different material on the internet over the past few years.  Much of what I’m seeing and hearing is somewhat familiar.  It’s just that before I was ‘really’ clueless as to what it all meant as compared to now, where I’m still a little clueless but starting to see a bigger picture.  Affiliate Marketing, AdSense, blog, “THE LIST”, opt in and squeeze pages, PLR, etc…  This is all becoming clearer. But why does the old saying, ‘the more you know, the more you know you don’t know’ keep dancing around in my brain?

When I’m looking at the blogs of former students, I find myself asking several questions.  Yes, it looks like everyone gets the opportunity to do some affiliate marketing right out of the blocks with some very familiar names.  This must be a good thing…right???   RIGHT!!!???  Does everyone want to teach how to be an internet marketer?  Would ‘I’ be qualified to do that when I finish?  Do I even want to?  Is that the most profitable area to pursue? I’m actually interested in other things…should I be? Am I in for a rude awakening in a few months? What does everyone else know that I don’t know?  I don’t know, that’s why I’m here.  And that’s what I’m really looking forward to.

There’s still a whole lot of information that lies ahead…and I’m really enjoying John’s presentations.  I know this program is designed to point those of us who are interested in the right direction, and help get us there as quickly as possible without too many pitfalls.  After reading many of the suggested blogs, it sounds like ‘everyone’ has succumbed to more than one of those along the way, so now I’m not feeling so lonely. I know there’s still much to acquire on the technical end and I’m anxious to learn it. I want  running my business to be as smooth and easy as possible. My gut tells me, though, that this program is going to present a lot of options and ideas, perhaps suggestions of what might work best and what to avoid. The experience and education that John has acquired over more than a decade, along with some of his closest associates and the products they have produced, pushes me forward with confidence.  I’m a newbie today, but not forever.  Whatever directions I choose to take, I’m optimistic this will ultimately be one of the best moves I’ve ever made.

I recently posted a blog about why I still love the accordion.  Although I’m very biased for a variety of reasons, I have to admit that I can also fall into the group of people that gets very tired of the stereotype.  More often than not, if you seek out an accordion venue, what you’ll see is another guy playing a polka, or God help us, ‘Lady of Spain’.  Yes, it can be funny at times, but the steady diet is getting old.

So why the title for this blog?  YouTube,  Facebook, and Skype…three of the best sources for broadening one’s horizons.  In this case, I found many famous and accomplished accordionists from other continents who were kind enough to post their talents on video.  This is where you can see all the potential of this versatile instrument brought to light in the form of Jazz, Classical, Pop, and all sorts of Ethnic styles.  These folks ‘embrace’ the accordion with sincerity and dedication, and the number of truly astounding musicians is staggering.

Watching and listening to several videos lead me to look up several names on Facebook.  If you’ve ever done something like this, you know you’ll find many members who have thousands of friends.  I’m assuming most of these are probably admirers.  Regardless, if they’ve been accepted as a friend, this is a great place to see ‘who’s who’, especially if their picture has an accordion in it.  Click here, click there…if their wall has some videos of themselves on it, I’ll send a friend request, a few comments about my past, a mention about their video, and more often than not, we end up hooking up.

This past May, through my efforts, I met the national champion accordionist from Macedonia.  If you’re unfamiliar with the country, it’s part of the former Yugoslavia.  Skip ahead a few weeks and getting acquainted through Facebook messages and Skype, I now have an amazingly talented young friend who, if we can get certain things lined up, is planning on coming to the States to play a concert.

Not too many years ago it would have almost been unfathomable to imagine making a good friend from another country without actually traveling there.  I’ve met his entire family. I’m still having a hard time wrapping my brain around what’s happened.  Small world???  I don’t know…but with all this modern technology, my musical horizons have expanded by leaps and bounds, and I’m gratefully enjoying the ride.