Road To Destiny

New Name?

2009-08-28T08:50:00.000-05:00

Is is time for a new name for this blog?

I started this blog a few years back to talk about me and my journey as a home based business owner. I am no longer in that business.

I thought about just starting a new blog, but I hate to start from scratch.

I am thinking about starting a new business, but it is nothing like the one I was in.

Do I start over?

Do I leave it like it is?

Do I come up with a new name and design?

Please share your thoughts!

2009-08-27T20:14:00.003-05:00

Hello!

It's been so long since I last posted! Over a year actually! I guess you have figured out that I am no longer running my Coastal Vacations business. I am, however, busy as ever!

It has been a year of change, as is has for so many people. This past year there have been many times when I wasn't sure how we were going to make it. But, God is good! I can honestly say that overall it's been a good year.

There were times when we were not sure if my husband was going to have a job or not. There were times when we were not sure how all of the bills were going to be paid. I let stress get to me and I decided that something had to go. That something was my business.

I got a job in the health care field and I have been going about the day to day. I am thankful for my job, don't get me wrong, so many people can't even find a job now, but I know that I want more out of life.

This last year has been very exciting spiritually! My husband was saved on February 15th and my husband, daughter, and I were all baptised in June. We have learned (and will continue to learn) to trust God in the hard times. It's been an awesome adventure!

My little Sister was married in August. We spent the week before her wedding at Smith Mountain Lake, VA with my Mom. If you have never been to Smith Mountain Lake, you must go! It's absolutely beautiful and the people are super nice. We joked the entire week about moving up there. We even looked at a few of the houses!

This is the view from our condo at Smith Mountain Lake!

This is my little sister Sara and her new hubby Craig!

Anna, TJ, and I playing Putt Putt - we love Putt Putt Golf :-)

Parts of the year were very challenging. Parts of the year were better than we could have ever imagined. I know that there are great things in store for my family and I. Life is what you make it. Why not make it great? I know I will!

LOL - Love This Blog!

2008-05-14T19:13:00.006-05:00

Check this one out:

http://debbieoutloud.blogspot.com/

**Disclaimer** Yes, I do know the author, but it really is a great blog! **Disclaimer**

Zoo Day!

2008-05-09T14:17:00.005-05:00

I absolutely love working from home because I get to spend time with my family. Here is a slideshow of the fieldtrip we took this week to the Metro Richmond Zoo!

Also, I am now on YouTube! You can find me at www.youtube.com/user/lorabmoore - see you there!

Times Have Changed!

2008-04-29T12:34:00.004-05:00

Isn’t it amazing how times have changed? I remember watching “Leave It To Beaver” when I was little. Everything just seemed simpler some how. The dad was there every morning drinking his coffee and reading the paper while everyone else was getting ready for the day. The kids left for school and the dad left for work. In the evening the kids came home, then the dad came in, and everyone enjoyed each others company. My home life was nothing like that show, but even then, it was simpler than it is now for many of today’s families.

Did you know that in 1900 the average family size was seven or more people? The most common household size today is two people. In 1972 52% of households were considered traditional. Traditional is defined as the father works and the mother stays home. In 1998 that percentage dropped to 21%. Now I am not saying that all women should stay home and not work. There are too many great women out there doing great things for anyone to say that! Please don’t think that I am taking sides, or judging anyone for what they choose to do. I just think that most people feel that they have to work outside of the home to keep their families going – women and men included.

A lot of times it is not a matter of choice, but a matter of necessity. I talk to people all of the time who are looking for time freedom. Many times, the people who are looking for time freedom are not even familiar with that term!

I was one of those people looking for that time freedom. There were many things that we could not do as a family when both my husband and I worked outside of the home. Once I was told that I could not take the day off of work to go to my son’s first field trip. They couldn’t even understand why I would ask to take off of work for such a thing! When all of the adults work, it is hard to coordinate schedules. It is hard to be there for the kids/family activities. Sometimes it is hard to be there for the major holidays!

All too often people feel trapped by what is viewed as normal. It is normal to be so busy that you can’t enjoy being a family unless it is put on the schedule in advance. It is normal for teachers, babysitters, and daycare workers to see your children more than you do. In many cases they know more about your children than you do. It is normal for many parents to miss out on the firsts - first words, first steps, first field trips, first ball games, first recitals, etc…

I do not consider that normal. I am here to tell you that there is another way! You do not have to be June Cleaver vacuuming and cooking in your apron all day. You also do not have to be tied to a job that you only show up for every day in order to make the financial ends meet. Take a look at other options. Stop missing out on all the firsts. Life is just too short for that!

How to Choose a Home Business and Why I Picked The One I Did!

2008-02-26T21:10:00.004-05:00

There are so many work from home opportunities and home based business out there today. It can be very hard for a person, once the decision has been made to see what is out there, to pick the best one from them. There are many things to take into consideration. I will go over some of those things and tell you why I picked the business that I did.

Just making the decision to take a look around the internet and see what is out there can be an overwhelming one. You never know what is going to happen when you hit submit on a fill form. It can be very hard to tell the legitimate opportunities from the guy who is just looking to make a quick buck and then disappear. I did a lot of searching and this is some of the best advice I can give a person who is just starting to look into this amazing way of life!

First you need to think about what you want. What do you like? What are you interested in? Make a list of the things that you know something about, the things you love, and the things that you would like to learn more about. Personally, I like travel. I have always liked to travel and I know that many, many people out there love travel also. Not only is it something that I love, but it is something that is in demand.

Now you need to think about what you actually want to do. There are so many ways to market, what do you want to do? What do you like? Do you like meeting people face to face? Do you want to talk to people that you know? Do you want to have home parties? Do you want to use the power of the internet?

There are a lot of companies out there that say all you have to do is sign up, people will magically come to your website, and you will magically get a nice fat check at the end of the month. That is simply NOT true! There is no such thing as get rich quick. If you think there is such a thing then you need to stop reading this now.

Back to marketing, I personally did not want to have home parties. I think they are fun, but I have two kids and a husband at home. I also didn’t want to talk to people that I know. The thing that interested me the most was being able to use the internet and the phone to market my business.

Now you need to think about time. How much time do you have to work on your business each day/week? Are you going to start out supplementing your income? Do you need it to replace a job? Are you looking to do this on your own or will there be someone else involved with you? I wanted to be able to replace my income working the hours when my children did not need me.

In order to replace my former income, I needed to make a substantial income. Making 5% on a $20 or $30 item or $100 here and there just wasn’t going to cut it. I needed to be able to make real money pretty quickly. I knew that I needed to look at the higher ticket items if I was going to be able to do that.
The next thing that needed to be looked at was the product/service. I didn’t want to market a product that could be found at Wal-Mart. I also wanted to find something that was a great value to the consumer. If the product couldn’t stand on its own, then I definitely did not want anything to do with it!

Now that you know what you are interested in, how you want to market, how much time you have to put into your business, how much income you need/want to generate, and the caliber of the product/service that you want to market, it’s time to start looking!

Most of the opportunities out there have many ways for you to do your research on them. Most have conference calls that you can listen to. They have websites that you can read. They have testimonials you can look at. Be sure that there are testimonials on both the product and the opportunity. You will find good and bad in anything that you look into (if you don’t there is a problem), just be sure to dig as deep as you can. My point is, do your research! All of the time that you put into making the right decision now will definitely pay off in the end. It definitely has for me!

Action and Attention - What you focus on does flourish!

2008-02-01T10:04:00.000-05:00

We have all heard the saying a hundred times. What you focus on flourishes. What does that saying really mean? How can we understand how it applies to us and our everyday lives?

To better understand the saying, let's look to the dictionary. Merriam-Webster OnLine defines the word flourish as a center of activity, attraction, or attention. Action is described as a thing done and attention is described as the act of applying the mind on an object or thought.

Now that we understand the true definition of the words, ask yourself this question. Do my thoughts line up with my actions? Most do, even if we don't realize it. Hence the saying, what you focus on flourishes.

We look around; there is talk about the economy and a possible recession. Families are on the news begging for affordable healthcare. Elderly couples are shown living in one room because they can't afford to heat the entire home that they live in. We hear these negative reports and all the sudden, that's where our attention goes.

If you are in Corporate America and you can’t find the time to spend with friends and family, are you doing anything about that? Are you looking for a solution or are you sitting back making excuses to the people around you saying this is just the way Corporate America is?

If you are a stay at home mom and you are worried about finances, are you doing anything to improve them? Are you looking for a way to bring in some extra income or are you constantly complaining to your husband about the bills?

If you are a business owner and you are thinking about marketing your product/service, are you putting any action behind your attention? Are you getting your name out there as much as possible? Or are you just sitting back waiting for a divine intervention?

We usually do put some sort of action behind our attention. We need to figure out if that action has been positive or negative. Until you put some positive action into place to back up your thoughts, nothing is going to improve. Constant worry is not going to solve anything.

Take a moment to think about what you have been thinking about. Remember; only action, positive action, can get things where you want them to be. The only person that can make that change is you! What are you waiting for?

Rebate Checks

2008-01-29T21:14:00.000-05:00

The hot topic on the news lately is the economic stimulus plan. This plan is intended to stimulate consumer spending in order to deter a possible recession. It looks as if there is going to be some sort of rebate check going out to millions of middle and low-income Americans. It doesn't matter if you think that this is a good plan or a bad one. The plan is the plan. Whatever passes, we, as Americans, need to be smart about it. I think that the rebate checks need to be used as a cure instead of a band-aid.

The point of the rebate checks is to stimulate our economy. What good is a one time check? Is it better to run out a buy a new flat screen TV or a new living room suite? How about using it to help pay the bills for a month or two? What good is spending that money in either of those ways really doing in the long run? None.

Invest that money. Do what both Robert Kiyosaki and Donald Trump said they would do to get rich if they had to start all over again in the book Why We Want You To Be Rich. Invest in yourself and in your family. Start a home business.

Starting a business with the rebate check is smart for so many reasons, here are just a few:

1. You are going to create that extra income that your family so desperately needs. You will not have to pay extra daycare, or gas, or car maintenance bills. You will not have to go out and buy different clothes to work in. You will not have to miss being there for the important moments in the lives of your loved ones.

2. The incredible tax breaks. The government is going to make everyone who gets a tax rebate check count it as income on the 2008 taxes. Starting your own business is a tax write off. Use that to your advantage.

3. The fun factor! Owning your own business puts you in charge of your life. You will be in charge of your time. How many times have you wanted to take a vacation, to go see a ball game, or go out with friends only to find out that you can't get off of work? Take charge of your own destiny.

I encourage you to Google the economic stimulus plan. Read it for yourself then make an educated decision. It could be the decision that changes your life completely.

Website

2008-01-10T09:05:00.000-05:00

Check out my new site:

Road to Destiny

Feedback is needed...don't forget to leave me a comment!

Resolutions

2008-01-02T18:25:00.000-05:00

Everywhere I go I hear talk about New Years Resolutions. In the past I haven't done much with New Years resolutions. I didn't think I needed a new year to come around to know when I needed to change something. Around here resolutions were made on an as needed basis.

Having said that, I do understand why so many resolutions are made during this season. What better time to make a change than a new year? I have to say, this past year flew by! There were things that I thought I would have had accomplished by this time, but I haven't. I read once that the word procrastination isn't really a word at all. Someone made it up to make themselves feel better. All I have to say is, for a made up word, I sure am good at it!

I thought that by now my husband would have been able to quit his job. That hasn't happened. I thought that by now we would have paid off our house. Nope, haven't done that either. Since I have been working from home I have gained more weight than I want to admit. I'm still in my ideal weight range, it's just made up of fat instead of muscle (there's my first resolution for this year!)

Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaigning. A lot has been accomplished this year. I do have a lot to be proud of. I can just see where I need to do some fine-tuning. I am happy with our life now. I haven't worked outside of the house in over a year. I have more than replaced my annual salary (working a LOT less hours). I have the time freedom that I was searching for. Now it's time to move on and work on other things.

Having said that, here are my New Years resolutions:

1. As a family we are going to work on becoming healthier. We are going to become more active and start using Isagenix.

2. I am going to start using a schedule. I have been telling people to use a schedule for a long time, but I've been really bad at sticking to it!

3. I am going to work on becoming a better leader to my Coastal team. I want each and every one of them to become even more successful than I am. I feel like I have slacked off with the business considerably the last few months (if you keep up with my blog you've already noticed that!).

I would love to know what your resolutions are for this year, leave me a comment and let me know!

I truly want to make 2008 great, won't you make it great with me?

Look at Some of the Deals!

2007-12-30T19:00:00.000-05:00

It's That Time Again!

2007-12-11T18:29:00.000-05:00

It's Tax Time!

**Disclaimer** The information you are about to read came from Ron Mueller MBA, Ph.D. - I am personally NOT a tax professional :) You can check his information out on http://www.homebusinesstaxsavings.com/ **

Congress has passed laws that give average Americans tax breaks who operate a legitimate home-based business – even a part time business – as long as they can prove they're trying to make a profit.

Start taking Control in 2008!

The average American who runs even a part-time home-based business can now qualify for more tax advantages than any other category of taxpayer,” according to Ronald R. Mueller, author of the bestseller It's How Much You KEEP, That Counts! Not how much you Make.

The tax year is coming to a close... here's the BEST tax deduction you can take!

Business owners everywhere are thinking about something that you might not have even considered... this is the last chance to beef up your deductions so you can get more money back in a couple weeks when you file your tax return. You could could be missing out on thousands of dollars extra in your pocket in the next couple weeks by not knowing how to take advantage of this now!

Did you accomplish everything you wanted to this year?
Did you create that extra income you were hoping to create?
Did you go on vacation more?
Did you spend more time with your family?

They say to look at your last five years... and that what you see is your destiny unless you change something. Go to http://www.yourroadtodestiny.com/ to make the change.

Do you want a repeat of this past year?
Or do you want to make a change?
Do you want to get your home business started?

On Tuesday, January 1st, you will be starting a fresh, new year. All the things you didn't get around to this year, you will have another chance to make them happen. You can start over with your record keeping. You can set and achieve brand new goals and dreams. It will be a fresh start.

Ron says the average tax savings for home business owners ranges between $3,500 and $7,000 per year!

Maybe you simply haven't had the time to put into starting your business. Whatever the reason, now is your chance to take advantage of a HUGE tax deduction that will help you put money back into your pocket right away! Why wait until tax time next year when you could be getting that tax break now?

So if you've been sitting on the fence,thinking about making a change, now is the time to make it. Learn what you need to know to get 2008 started off right.

Just to let you know...The cost to NOT have a home-based business is about $20 per workday -- $100 per week - $5,000 per year - or more. And that's every day, every week, and every year. That's a lot of YOUR hard earned money that's going to the Treasury Department, but could be going into your own pocket.

A home-based business offers the best tax savings strategy available to the average American, bar none.

**Again, this is NOT coming from me, it came straight from a tax professional. I have read his book. It is actually included with our business training. For more tax advise check out Ron's site, his link is at the top of the page.

Until next time!

Sorry I've been really busy!

2007-09-23T21:26:00.000-05:00

Sorry I haven't posted in a while. I've been really busy. Anyway, I really like this video, I hope you enjoy it too!

Dave Matthews Band - Everday

Hugs! :)

He Caught Me!!!

2007-09-06T19:27:00.000-05:00

My son likes to sneak up on me and take pics while I am working...

He always catches me off guard! There are many more, but these are the best. He can catch me with my mouth wide open talking, or laughing, just really embarassing for me! He even recorded me the other day on the digital camera and I didn't know it! I told him he should be a spy...anyway, he was proud, so I thought I would share :)

National Package Details

2007-09-04T16:08:00.000-05:00

I recorded a call today on our National Travel Membership for my associates to use. This is the first time I have tried this, so let me know what you think!

Thanks :)

2nd Annual Coastal WealthBuilders Seminar!

2007-08-15T21:24:00.001-05:00

Look at all the fun we had!!!

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Ten Healthy Reasons To Take A Vacation!

2007-08-13T19:54:00.001-05:00

Surfing the net today I found this artile on Forbes.com --

Ten Healthy Reasons To Take A Vacation
Allison Van Dusen, 08.06.07, 9:00 AM ET

The surf's calling, but if you're like many, you're feeling guilty about asking your boss for a little time off to relax--even though you desperately need it.

Not only do Americans get a meager amount of vacation time, they also tend not to use it all, according to Expedia.com's seventh annual Vacation Deprivation survey, conducted this spring.
Unsurprisingly, Americans got the least amount of vacation days per year among the countries surveyed, earning only 14 days vs. 24 days in Great Britain, 26 days in Germany, 30 days in Spain and 36 days in France.

And despite reporting an average of 14 vacation days this year, compared with 12 days in 2005, 35% of the more than 4,100 U.S. adults questioned said they will not use all of their time off, leaving an average of three days on the table.

"Some people are fearful in this day and age about job security," says Munro Cullum, a professor of psychiatry and neurology at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.

"There's a push for productivity, and that can make people really avoid taking a vacation. Some people just figure they'll relax when they retire."

Sound familiar? Your behavior may impress your boss, but medical experts say you're not doing your health any favors.

Workaholic Woes Stress produces physiological changes in our bodies, including higher blood pressure and a surge in stress hormones, such as adrenaline, which can cause blood to clot and increase the risk of a heart attack. By working all of the time, you're constantly subjecting your body to these responses, says Dr. Harvey Simon, associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and founding editor of the Harvard Men's Health Watch.

Likewise, Cullum says, stress can impair the hippocampal function, which is crucial for the acquisition of new information, such as names, facts, PIN numbers and meeting times.

It's not clear whether vacations cause better health or whether they are just an indicator of healthier lifestyles. But taking time off does appear to have physical and mental benefits.

A 2005 study that analyzed research on 1,500 Wisconsin women showed that those who took vacations more frequently were less likely to become tense or depressed. Those women also reported being more satisfied with their marriages.

Cathy McCarty, the study's principal investigator and a senior epidemiologist for the Marshfield Clinic Research Foundation, says vacations help ease tension, which can lead to depression. Not taking a break also seemed to indicate that women were not spending time focusing on their marriages.

Even worse, the findings showed that nearly one in five women in the study reported taking a vacation only once in six years.

"It's the whole work culture," McCarty says. "Even people who have worked for me come to me with this tone of, 'I'm sorry, but do you mind if I take a day off?' I tell them to go--it's better for their health."

The data are damning for workaholic men, too.

A 2000 analysis of the Multiple Risk Factor Intervention Trial, a study of more than 12,000 men ages 35 to 57 at high-risk for coronary heart disease, showed that those who took regular annual vacations had a lower risk of death than those who skipped taking time off.

Dealing With Your Vacation If you're out of practice when it comes to getting away, experts say there are a few things you can do to make sure that when you do take a vacation, it's a relaxing one.

First off, try not to leave for your vacation on a Friday straight from work. Lugging your suitcase to the office and rushing to finish a project before dashing to the airport in rush-hour traffic will cause unnecessary stress, Cullum says. Ease into your vacation by giving yourself a day to pack.

While a three-day weekend is better than nothing, consider whether it'll really be enough time for you to unwind and feel rested. If you need more time off, take it.

And always try to schedule your vacation during a slow period at work.

"If you're worrying about that deal going through at work, you're not in the moment," says Dr. Edythe Harvey, a psychiatrist with international psychiatric center The Menninger Clinic.

"You're not allowing yourself that break from constant work to re-balance yourself."

So, now that you know you actually NEED to take a vacation, how about saving some money on it? Check out my travel packages today!

I'm Back!

2007-08-04T12:24:00.000-05:00

We are back from WV! Everything went great!

We decided to stop a few times on the way home and just enjoy the sites. We stayed in a beautiful town in the mountains of Virginia for a few days too. Here are a few pics I took along the way!

This is a pic of my kids, we stopped at a lookout on I-64 in Virginia.

I took these two from the car...while driving...

I could post pictures here all day. We had so much fun! We went to caverns, we raced go-carts (I don't have any pics from that, I was too busy trying to win!), we went bowling, we went swimming, we just had an all around great time! We were not planning to stop on the way home. It was definately a last minute decision and we still saved $30 per night at a Comfort Inn using one of the discount cards in our Coastal Vacations package!

The seminar was great too...I'll probably post on that next time :)

What are YOU waiting for?

2007-07-26T08:42:00.000-05:00

We are leaving today for West Virginia to go to the CWB seminar. Before we leave I just wanted to say this one thing.

There is something amazing about the people who actually take steps to change their lives positively. The path is not always easy but the destination is definitely worth it! Even if it doesn't turn out as expected, at least you tried, at least you gave it your all. If nothing else the path that you go down makes you a better person.

We are going to be surrounded by people who are getting ready to step on the path, those who are on that path, and those who are already at their destination. The person who started our group just over 2 years ago is a millionaire and her wish is to share what she has found with the rest of us. How awesome is that?

So, my question to you is this: What are YOU waiting for? The timing is never going to be perfect, life isn't perfect...but we can do our best to make it that way!

This song (What Are You Waiting For by Natalie Grant) says it all:

sometimes i get that overwhelming feeling
so sad the faces on TV
if i tried to make a difference would it help anyways
but then i stop and to myself i say.........

CHORUS:

so you wanna change the world
what are you waiting for
you say you're gonna start right now
what are you waiting for
it only takes one voice
so come on now and shout it out
give a little more
what are you waiting for

sometimes i feel a little helpless
seems like i can't do a thing
but anything is possible just you wait and see
good things happen if you just believe.........

CHORUS

someday somehow
you're gonna take that step
cause time is ticking away
right here right now
before it's too late
gonna face tomorrow today

CHORUS

The words don't do it justice, so here is a video I found on YouTube:

Brian Adams Rocks!!!

2007-07-14T10:31:00.000-05:00

I have been telling you about the CWB seminar that is coming up on July 27th, 28th, and 29th. I have been telling you that I am so excited about all that is going to be covered there...well...Now I am so excited I can't stand it!!!

This morning we had a conference call with Brian Adams, he is going to be speaking to us Saturday, July 28th, in West Virginia at the seminar. I have to say, my face hurts from smiling so much during the call! He is absolutely wonderful to listen to. He is very straight forward and to the point, but it is all delivered in a way that makes you feel good. A way that totally motivates you to go out and get things done.

Brian says that "you have to make successful actions a habit". He also says that "In ALL areas of your life, nothing will get better until YOU get better". Brian is absolutely a speaker worthy of checking out!

Here is the bio from his website www.endlesspossibilities.net

Brian Adams is a published author and award-winning speaker. Born and raised in rural North Carolina, Brian did not just endure but purposely overcame his poverty stricken and abusive upbringing. He decided at a very young age that he was not going to be a casualty of his environment but instead an example of the human strength and willingness needed to succeed. He learned early on that we can be, do or have anything we want, no matter what we experience in life.

Through the years he has mastered several styles of martial arts which enabled him to lead numerous training seminars for the Los Angeles Police Department. While teaching children’s and women’s self defense classes, he realized it was more important to teach people mental self defense.

He recently sold his successful hardwood flooring business to pursue his true life’s passion—helping others succeed.

Through his new company—Endless Possibilities—Brian shares his enthusiastic, motivational, and entertaining seminars in which he reveals the strategies and techniques that he has learned throughout the years on how to control the conscious and subconscious minds, in order to look at the good in EVERY situation and learn from them.

Brian’s life is a true example of what one can accomplish regardless of one’s background.

I have to say, that's a nice bio, but it doesn't do him justice!

I am seriously excited about the seminar and I would love to meet YOU there!

It's been a while!

2007-07-12T12:18:00.000-05:00

I feel like it's been so long since I posted here!

Things have been kind of crazy around here. But it's been a good crazy :)

My son has been at day camp with his Cub Scout pack this week. There is only one thing about day camp...I have to drop him off each morning and pick him up each afternoon! Now, this wouldn't be a problem but we live in the middle of nowhere and camp is on the opposite side of the middle of nowhere...at least that's how it seems when I'm making the drive each day! But, that's OK. He is having a ball and I'm sure he will remember this forever.

One more thing, for those of you who don't really know what goes on at a Cub Scout day camp...it scared me a little when I found out. They have been shooting bb's every day (not the little play ones either). Today is archery and sling shot day...fun for the boys, frightning for the moms!

This month is our CWB seminar. I am getting really excited about it! It is going to be in Huntington, WV on July 27th, 28th, and 29th. All the details can be found here!

Also, for about the last month, I have been co-hosting the morning members-only forum calls for the CWB . I was nervous at first so it took me a few calls to really speak up, but it has been so much fun! I think I have learned more than I have taught, but that is OK! That is part of what makes this group who we are. We all help each other out. There is no stepping on each other to get to the top. Nope, here we all take each other by the hand and we all go to the top together!

If I can answer any questions for you on Coastal Vacations or the CWB (Coastal Vacations WealthBuilders) let me know!

I'll see you at the top and I hope you are having a wonderful summer day!

Do You Squidoo?

2007-07-05T20:12:00.000-05:00

Hi!

Do you Squidoo?

I had never heard of Squidoo until a few weeks ago. I checked out a few lenses and I thought that they were OK, nothing really special. Well, then I started seeing it more and more on the internet. A few people talked me into creating my own lens, so I went for it. It was really easy and it didn't take long at all.

My lens is www.squidoo.com/coastalvacationswealthbuilders - go check it out and rate me!

So, now I am officially hooked! I have one published lens and another that I just started working on. It really is addicting!

If you don't already know, squidoo lenses rank pretty well in the search engines too :)

Go check out a few lenses, then make one of your own. You can create one on whatever you like! It's fun! (and there are some really great lenses there too) Happy Squidoo-ing!

2007-07-04T00:00:00.000-05:00

4th of July fireworks from my hometown -- Chicago, IL!

Happy 4th!!!

Enjoy :-)

July Already?

2007-07-03T13:02:00.000-05:00

Wow it's July already! This year is flying by!

You know what? Even though I have had my home business for a little over 2 years, I have worked from home full time for 1 year and 2 weeks now! That is so exciting! So many people work a full time job and then start a business on the side hoping to one day be able to replace their job. Many people work a job and have a business for years without ever being able to quit their day job. I was able to do it in one year! It could have been sooner if I had worked more consistently in the beginning. Whatever your dreams and goals are, never give up on them. Just remember, it can be done!

I hope you are enjoying the Summer. I also hope you have a safe and enjoyable 4th of July holiday. I plan on taking my kids, my nephew, and my niece to the park in town. They have a children's parade and face painting and a bunch of other stuff the kids love. They also have food vendors, live bands, and, of course, the fireworks! I'm like a big kid when it comes to the fireworks!

Whatever you plan on doing for the holiday, have fun!

Whatever you plan on doing with your life, have fun with that too! Life is meant to be great! If you aren't loving your life then it's time to make a change. If you are loving your life than - good for you! That's great!

:)

Summer Day

2007-06-26T11:19:00.000-05:00

Summer is here, full force. I love the Summer. I love spending long days outside. On a typical day I sit back in the lawn chair and get my work done while the kids are playing. Sometimes I even take a book out there, it all depends on how hot it is and if the kids are keeping themselves occupied!

This week we have VBS. The kids absolutely love it and so do I -- I get 2 1/2 hours of free time!!! Since I have the free time, this week I started reading a new book - Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki and Sharon Lechter. I have only read the first 3 chapters, but so far I highly recommend it!

I was on our team forum call this morning. I am getting my Diamond Directorship and co-hosting the forum call is one of the requirements. I absolutely love doing the forum calls! One of the ladies there was concerned because she wasn't getting the results that she had expected with her advertising. I wanted to touch on this for a moment...

I think the issue is that today is a beautiful Summer day!

People tend to do more in the Summer. There are ball games, cookouts, trips to the beach, VBS, day camps, not to mention going on vacation! Most of us already lead busy lives, Summer just compounds that with longer days and warmer weather.

When you are getting back to someone who has requested information and you don't get in touch with them, it's not you! It's just life keeping that person busy. Do your job, make the phone call and send an email. Be consistent and persistent. If the person is truly interested, they will get in touch with you or they will answer the phone the next time you give them a call.

We are planting seeds. The people that we are talking to now will be the people that get involved in the next 30 - 60 days. Do not give up! There are many home business owners out there that will put their business to the side during the Summer. Do not be one of those people. The people that are asking for your help now are just as serious as the people who were asking for help 3 months ago. It is our job to help those who are willing to help themselves!

Is short, don't take it personally! It's Summer time! Definitely keep on working toward your goals. Get outside and enjoy the weather. And remember, you can always do both at the same time like I do :-)

Think About It.

2007-06-19T10:44:00.000-05:00

I went to a different church this past Sunday.

There was a missionary speaking and he has just come back from Mexico. He told a story that I would like to share...

He started by telling us that he had a revelation with bugs in his mouth...literally!

There was a bucket hanging from the top of the cooking hut. In the bucket was a pile of dirt that was covered with hundreds and hundreds of worms (the same worms that you find in the bottom of the tequila bottle). So, he asked what the worms were for. The lady never answered him, she just reached in the bucket, pulled out a handful of worms, and threw them in the pot. She cooked them for a few minutes, crushed them up, mixed them with a salsa type of stuff, and told him to try them. So, he put a pile in his mouth. Then he forced a smile.

He said that at that moment this went through his mind -- "Is my temporary comfort (in this life at this moment) more important than the eternal destiny of the person I am talking to, talking about, working with, working for, ministering to etc. etc?"

All I could think when he said that was this - What is more important? Being a little out of my comfort zone and talking to people I don't know? Or helping other people completely change their lives and get where they need to be?

Think about it!

Thanks!

2007-06-17T22:10:00.000-05:00

Thanks to all the Dad's out there.

The ones who got up in the middle of the night when we needed you. The ones who went to work, even when they didn't feel like it. The ones who took time off - just because it was our birthday. The ones who took us out for ice cream and a movie. The ones who listened when we needed to talk. And the ones who talked when we needed to listen.

Thanks for teaching us about life. Thanks for teaching us how to drive and then letting us use the car. Thanks for correcting us when we needed it. Thanks for doing the things we liked to do (and pretending to like it too). Thanks for being a friend. Thanks for being you!

I Love You Dad!!!

Shy

2007-06-14T11:45:00.001-05:00

I was talking with a very nice lady today who is trying to find a way to bring in some income from home. She is married and they have a 7 month old daughter. She did everything that I asked her to do. She read over the information and she does see how this business could really change her life.

Here's the thing -- she's really shy! She says that she is not a people person, even though she is a delight to talk to. The most soft spoken, polite lady that I have talked to in some time.

Because of her shyness, she told me that this is not something she would want to do and she thanked me for my time.

You know what? I TOTALLY get where she is coming from! I was the exact same way! I hated talking to people that I didn't know. I was so bad, that when I was out in public, I would stand around (usually in a corner somewhere) with my arms crossed. I was great at the one word answers:

How are you today? OK
What have you been doing lately? nothing
Are you having a good time? yes
Is there anything I can get for you? no
Will you come again next week? sure

I was very shy. I didn't have much self-confidence. I didn't think that anyone would want to hear anything that I had to say. I thought that if I did say something, it would probably come out wrong. I would sound stupid, or worse, hurt someone else's feelings.

I know better now! I know that I am here to help people.

So, if you are the shy person standing in the corner, watching life pass by, and you want more -- there is hope! If you want to change, you can! I am the living proof. :-)

Goals

2007-06-13T12:31:00.000-05:00

Yesterday my thoughts were on dreams. Today I'm thinking about goals.

I think that the only thing that separates a dream from a goal is action. The ones that we make up our mind to try to accomplish are our goals.

I like to list my goals and review them all the time. I also like to reevaluate them every few months. I have two types of goals. Short term and long term. Those things that I can accomplish in 90 days are my short term goals, everything else is a long term goal.

When I first started my business I wrote my goals out like this:

1. Build better relationships
2. Quit working outside of the home
~ spend more time with my kids
~ join a gym (and go!)
~ cook dinner 4 nights a week
3. Pay off credit cards
4. Build a deck
5. Put more money in savings

Now, this is just an example, I wanted to show you that even though I had a more long term goal on my list, I would break that one goal into smaller ones. Even though I may not have been able to quit working outside of the house completely, I could see that I was making progress. Maybe I only had to work two weekends out of the month instead of all four. Because I was able to work less hours I had more time to spend with my kids. Those little things really make you feel good about what you are doing. After all, if what you are doing isn't paying off, are you going to keep on doing it?

Now, most of our goals can be put in to different categories. Not just short term and long term. They can be personal (health, relationship, etc.), business (work, money, etc.), or spiritual goals. Some of these goals we can accomplish on our own. Some of them take other courses of action.

If your goals are to build a deck, or add more to the savings account, or go on a great vacation, you probably need to find a way to bring in some extra cash. Think about how much extra income you would need to accomplish those goals. Now, how are you going to do that? Can you bring in that much additional income at the job you currently have? Could you go out and get another part time job? Would you still have time to live your life?

If working more hours or going out to get a second or third job doesn't sound like something you are willing to do, then it's time to look at other options! A home business maybe?

Don't settle! Don't get comfortable with things the way they are. Look around -- there are other options. First think about what interests you and go from there. If you don't like what you are doing, then you will never stick with it, no matter how much money you make doing it. You deserve better! You deserve a happy life! You deserve to see how it feels to be living right in the middle in that picture you pained of your life when you were younger!

My interest is travel and I did something about it. What interests you? Are you going to do something about it?

Dreams

2007-06-12T12:15:00.000-05:00

What are your dreams? Have your dreams changed over the years? I'm sure they have, most people's dreams change over the course of their life. That's a good thing! We should all evolve as we get older (and hopefully wiser!).

But, did you settle? Did you lose sight of your most precious dreams? Did life get in the way? What were your dreams? Remember, back when you thought that you could do anything? When nothing was impossible? When you actually DARED someone to get in your way? What were the great things that you were going to accomplish? What did the picture of your life look like?

If you thought that you could do anything, if you could not fail, what would you do? Even if you didn't make it all the way, would it be worth it just to say that you tried? You gave it your all? How would living life like that be?

Dreams are the one thing that we completely own. They are ours and no one else's. Reflect on your dreams for a few minutes today. Put a smile on your face, live in the moment, and let your imagination soar!

It Just Keeps Getting Better!!!

2007-06-08T13:03:00.000-05:00

All I can say is - WOW!

The WealthBuilders just keep getting better, and better, and better!

Our 2nd Annual Coastal WealthBuilders Seminar is taking place next month. It is sure to be a great event!

There is something exciting about being able to meet other people who do the exact same things that you do on a daily basis. It's even better when that group of people are there to help each other out with ideas and support. We are very fortunate to be in a group that truly believes in paying it forward.

I was just told to get ready because there is going to be a session on retailing the travel packages business to business. That is a definite interest of mine! Needless to say, I am excited!

We are all going -- My mother-in-law and her husband, my husband and I, and our kids. We would love to meet you there! Oh, this is an open event, you are welcome to join us even if you are not in Coastal yet!

If you want to see the event flyer - click here!

Do you need more detail? Go here!

Also, just released today was the first team newsletter for the WealthBuilders. They just keep on getting better!

Email!

2007-06-07T10:19:00.000-05:00

Here is a copy of an email that I got today. It was sent out by the founder of the WealthBuilders, Lynn McCallister. I like it and I thought I would share it with you!

-------------------------------------------------------------
Hi Team, Lynn here...

Happy Sunday, Team. I wanted to share this excerpt from Mark Victor Hansen.

Deciding how we want our lives to play out is like creating a storyboard for a movie.

Storyboarding is the process of creating a panel of rough sketches that outline the movie and major changes involving plot or action in the production. Storyboarding was first dreamed up by Walt Disney when he began his animated cartoons way back in the 1930s. It has since become an industry standard and has now moved into the “corporate” world with help from Bill Gates and his electronic storyboarding software, Microsoft PowerPoint.

In order for us to create the movie of our lives we have to decide exactly what we want to happen. First, we create an outline for the entire movie. We start at the end, deciding in the beginning what that outcome will be. We decide what we want in each area of our lives.

Next, we conceptualize the plot – we ask ourselves questions to determine specific goals in each category.

Finally, the camera goes on and filming begins – we create action steps for each goal and begin to live our dreams.

Shakespeare said, “All life is a stage...” so create your stage for YOU, for YOUR story, and the rest falls into place. Seeing the big picture of the life you want to live is a tremendous achievement! Better yet, it’s exhilarating! Most everyone who has achieved great success, both financially and personally, has had a clear vision of what they wanted their lives to be like.

Clarity is power. Without that vision we’re like ships drifting on the ocean without a captain or a destination. You must become the captain of our own ship. You must map out a destination worthy of you.

Visualizing the future does not mean only focusing on our careers or business, because our lives consist of so much more than that. In order to live abundantly we need to visualize abundance in every area of our lives.

Here are the seven categories of life in which I encourage you to begin storyboarding by developing an outline:

1. Health and Fitness – When it comes to this category, include spiritual fitness and mental fitness. Note: Health is your first Wealth.

2. Contribution – Our lives should be brimming with contribution to those around us and to causes that we believe in. We all have gifts, talents, time, energy, ideas and/or money. It’s our obligation to the Universe to contribute whatever we have to give.

3. Relationships – This is the category where we concentrate on the people in our lives. They can be members of our family, friends, associates, or mentors that we’d like to learn from. We deserve to have amazing relationships, so deciding on the relationships we want is extremely important. Consider your criteria for what makes a relationship exhilarating, fulfilling and fun, then take the actions necessary to keep those people front and center in your life.

4. Personal – In our personal lives we need only concentrate on ourselves. Here, we need to discover skills we want to perfect, ALL the skills we have to offer.. and then seek those who will benefit from them.

5. Fun, Fun, Fun! - Unfortunately, this is the category that most people forget about or feel guilty about. That is nonsense! We are ALL meant to have FUN. We need it in our lives. I’m talking about real fun...whatever it is that puts butterflies in your stomach and a smile on your face that you can't wipe off, THAT'S what I call fun.

6. Finances – In our financial lives we must focus on goals concerning the TOTAL income we would will receive each week/month/year; the amount of money we want to invest in real estate or other appreciating assets, the sum of money we want to put into savings, and finally, the debts we want to pay off – all this while becoming debt-free, stress-free and set free. Write it all down...just like in a movie..if it's not in the script, it's not going to happen.

7. Business – In our business lives we need to consider every business we want to build, all of the different careers we want to have (whether there’s one or ten and no matter how crazy they may sound to anyone else) and even the key people with whom we want to work. This last point is incredibly important. If you don’t write down the type of people you want to work with or even write specific names of people you most admire and want to learn from, you’ll miss so much opportunity in your life!

Walt Disney had a full 50 Year Plan... What's yours?

“Each of us must do massive right thinking, take massive right action and get massive right results, right here, right now.”

- Mark Victor Hansen

Note: Most people overestimate what they can do in a year and grossly underestimate what they can do in a decade. Grab a pen and start writing.
---------------------------------------------------------

OK, what is going to be on YOUR storyboard?

OK, I think we are finally caught up!

2007-06-04T14:25:00.000-05:00

It's June!

It's hard to believe that I started a business with my mother-in-law two years ago. It's even harder to believe that I didn't do much of anything with the business for the majority of that time!

Since I have been working at the business this year I have consistently made at least $4,000 per month in profit. The crazy thing about that is I don't even work that many hours!

On the 1st my son had field day at his school. I really wanted to be there for him, but I also wanted to work. So, I talked face-to-face to 2 people about my business at the school. I talked to 1 lady at the bank. And I talked to 2 people at the pharmacy. I ended up talking to 5 people on my day off. I was really bad during the month of May, I probably only worked 15 hours all month. Even with that I still made $4,000 profit.

I am not saying these things to brag. There are many others out there who make a LOT more than I do with Coastal. I just want you to know that a successful business can be built even if you don't have much time. If you want it bad enough, it can be done!

May 2007

2007-06-04T14:14:00.000-05:00

Once I took this business seriously, and I actually treated it like a business, great things started happening!

I get to stay at home with my kids. I get to see my husband every day (I didn't before, we worked opposite shifts). We finally get to do the fun stuff together. Cub Scouts on Monday's. Birthday parties for friends. Dinner and a movie. Days at the beach just for fun. Last month we even took a mini-vacation to North Carolina with the kids. Our life is nothing like it was a year ago at this time!

I truly thank God for everything. I thank Him for putting me where He did. I love the group of people that I get to work with on a daily basis. I love getting up and getting on the phone to see who I can help each day. There is not another job out there that I would rather be doing. I really am blessed!

**Congratulations to Amanda from IN for qualifying as a Level II Director this month! **

April 2007

2007-06-04T14:03:00.000-05:00

Dani Johnson brought First Steps back to the East Coast this month!

Patsy wanted to go back to First Steps and so did I! My husband even wanted to go back again, so we did! We drove up to Baltimore for the conference. One of my new associates (Rene from IN) and her husband even met us there. Again, many of the WealthBuilders were there. Actually there were probably more of them there in Baltimore than there were in LA because in March the Coastal Vacations conference happened at the same time as the Dani Johnson conference.

I know, you probably think this blog is all about Dani Johnson, but it really isn't :-)

We probably will not be going back to one of her conferences for a while. For now I am going to concentrate on helping my new associates!

I also started a conference call for my personal associates this month. We meet every Monday night, it's a great way for everyone to get to know each other and encourage each other!

March 2007

2007-06-04T13:48:00.000-05:00

March went well :-)

March 14th and 15th my husband and I went to Los Angeles, CA for the First Steps to Success seminar. I got to see a lot of the people that I had met at First Steps in VA Beach last summer. We also met a lot of new people from the WealthBuilders group. Two of my new associates, Amanda from IN and Jen from GA, even made it out there with us! We were all ready to get home and make great things happen! We had a great time in LA!

I stepped up to the top Coastal package. This is where I am supposed to be so I am here to stay!

February 2007

2007-06-04T13:18:00.000-05:00

February started with a bang!

I really wanted to go back to First Steps To Success. This time I wanted to take my husband with me. So, at the very beginning of February, I registered us for the March event that was going to be in Los Angeles, CA.

Also, the first week of February, I had a meeting with an advertising sales manager at our local parenting magazine. The meeting went great! In exchange for a vacation I am getting 6 months of free advertising!

The same day of the meeting with the magazine, I had a brand new associate start at the Premier level!

I also ended up starting the paid advertising again this month.

February ended up being a really great month!!!

Fall/Winter 06'

2007-06-04T12:03:00.000-05:00

During the Fall and Winter things really started turning around. Everything started going much better for us personally.

I did a lot of personal development. I really started listening to the Dani Johnson Cd's (Spiritual Keys to Success is my favorite!) that I had purchased at the First Steps conference. I was also introduced to "The Secret". Those are just a few of tools that I use for personal development.

The most important thing that I did during the Fall and Winter was staying consistent. I stayed plugged into our team training. I checked, updated, and renewed my free ads as needed. And I did some form of personal development almost daily.

All in all, 2006 was better than 2005. Things were looking up for us and I was excited to see what 2007 had to offer!

Summer of 06'

2007-06-04T11:00:00.000-05:00

The Summer of 2006 went pretty slow for the business. I didn't have extra funds in place for advertising. I did do all I could with free advertising though. That was ok, I was still getting visitors to my website, but it wasn't going as well as I thought it would.

I did start participating (instead of just listening) in our Wealth Builder team calls. I had met several of the Wealth Builders at the Dani Johnson conference, so that was really cool! I loved listening to them and hearing how their businesses were booming.

I did have the opportunity to do a live presentation for a business. I went to their Board of Directors meeting and presented the travel package to them. I was pretty nervous about it at first, but it ended up going great!

I was qualified out as a Level II Director over the Summer of 06', so that was great!

I also had a lot of fun with my kids! Being able to stay home with them is just awesome!

My Biggest Change

2007-06-04T10:25:00.000-05:00

There was one major change that took place in me at First Steps To Success. I became a Christian again!

See, I grew up in church, my Dad was a preacher. I had always considered myself a christian. I tried to be a good person and I tried to raise my kids with good values. I said goodnight prayers before bed every night with the kids. We even went to church every once in a while.

All of that meant nothing because I had walked away from God and I hadn't even realized it. I did all of those things because I thought that's what I was supposed to do. I was trying to be a good Mom. Not because that was the life that I was living.

I didn't have a personal relationship with my Heavenly Father. He wants that personal one on one with each and every one of us. I didn't have that with Him. In fact, until First Steps, I had only felt His presence one other time in my life that I can remember. That was when I was about 12 years old and I went to church camp.

OK, I am not going to start preaching to you now. I just wanted to add this so that you would have some background on me. In my heart I know that I am exactly where I am supposed to be. I was brought to this business and to this wonderful group for a reason!

First Steps -- To Things Changing!

2007-06-04T00:02:00.000-05:00

In June I decided to take my Coastal Business seriously. I had been on the training calls, even though I never participated, off and on throughout the year. I really thought that if all of these other people could be successful with this business, so could I.

I talked to my director and I told her that I was ready to get back to work. I didn't know how I was going to make it happen, but I was definitely going to give it another try.

She told me that I needed to go to First Steps To Success -- a Dani Johnson conference. The conference was going to be right here in VA Beach that month. I already knew who Dani Johnson was. I listened to some of her free pre-recorded calls on the internet when I had time. I liked her and I had wanted to go to one of her live events for some time. The problem was, we didn't have the money!

I knew that I needed to go, but I couldn't scrape enough money together to make it. My director, Donna, called me out of the blue one evening the week of the First Steps and told me to check my email. She had paid for my ticket to the conference! I still owe her to this day for that one!

Patsy and I ended up going to First Steps together. We split a hotel room and we had a truly life changing weekend!

Now, I could tell you all about the conference, but I won't. I will just tell you that if you have not been, you need to go! It doesn't matter what you do for a living, you will benefit from the conference!

I personally will never be the same. I am definitely changed for the better. Everyone around me saw the difference as soon as I got back home.

Cont. How I Started Down This Road...

2007-06-03T18:59:00.000-05:00

The business that Patsy and I started was Coastal Vacations. I really wasn't looking for the business to do much of anything. The only reason I started with an advertising campaign was because of all that was happening at the time.

You see, we started in June of '05. At the time I worked as a contractor in our local public school system. I was a computer math lab administrator. I absolutely loved my job, but I didn't love the pay.

Ever since middle school I had wanted to become a nurse. In high school I started taking nursing classes and I was certified as a nursing assistant at the age of 16. During the summer of my Junior year I even worked at a retirement home. After high school I started at our community college to pursue my nursing degree. Next thing we knew, I was pregnant. My advisor suggested that I wait until after I had the baby to continue my classes because of my due date. I took his advice and dropped all of my classes.

Life happened and I put going back to school off. I had a husband, two kids, a job in the school system, and a pretty busy life. Even through all of that, the dream of becoming a nurse never left me. In March of 05' I was accepted to a private nursing school. Only 15 students were accepted each year -- and I made it!

Since I was getting ready to go back to school full time, I had to quit my job at the school. Since Patsy and I started a business I thought that I would at least give the advertising a try until my classes started up in September. I thought that I would make some money to have on hand for when I went to school.

I plugged into the training that our group, the Coastal WealthBuilders, offered. It was awesome! You will never meet a group of people that truly want to see each other succeed. Over the Summer I got one person started. I made $1,000 and I thought that if I could do it once, I could do it again. I got really excited!

At the end of August I found out that I was not going to nursing school after all. Things just didn't work out with my son starting Kindergarten and needing a sitter for my daughter. I had her on a preschool waiting list all Summer and nothing opened up. I had to give my nursing school spot to someone else. I was very upset about not being able to go, but at least I had my Coastal business! I have to admit, being at home with the kids all that time was great. A lot of times I would actually talk to people and do my work outside while the kids were playing in the kiddie pool!

Once the summer ended a lot of personal stuff happened. Patsy and I ended up putting the business aside. I went to work part time at two different places. It was supposed to be just a seasonal thing. I was going to bring in some extra money for Christmas. It ended up being way more than that.

In June of 2006, when school was out for my son I quit both of my jobs (I didn't make enough to pay for day care for both of the kids anyway). I decided that if my life was going to change for the better, I was going to have to be the one to step up and change it.

How I Started Down This Road...

2007-05-31T22:08:00.000-05:00

In May of 05' my Mother-in-law, Patsy, was looking into starting a home business and I was helping her check them out. She is not a computer person and she wanted my advise. We looked at several that were no good. She even got started with one that turned out to be something completely different than what it was advertised to be.

In the process of looking she warmed me up to the idea of working from home. I told her that if she ever found one that was legit, I would help her out. This was definitely her dream -- not mine. This was not something that I had ever even thought about. I thought that all work-from-home systems were a scam. They were just out there trying to get your money. Totally useless and not for us 'normal' people.

Anyway, if nothing else, my Mother-in-law is persistent! She found what she thought was a great opportunity. She took the time to print out all of the information for me. I looked it all over and I couldn't find anything wrong with it. I took it home and asked my husband to take a look at it. Guess what! He couldn't find anything wrong with it either. He thought that at the very least the product was well worth the price and we should give it a try.

In July of 2005 Patsy and I got started with our own home business. There was no way for me to know at the time that I had just started out on my road to destiny...

Stay tuned, I will post more about how I started, how it has gone, and how I discovered my purpose in life soon!