tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9643460714865858542024-02-07T01:13:26.573-05:00more GSP insightsA consultant's news and viewsGilliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11946022595804239825noreply@blogger.comBlogger131125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-964346071486585854.post-86861690605311995792010-01-10T10:22:00.008-05:002010-01-10T10:28:51.025-05:00How to live our life in this new decade (and after)I've hestitated from writing my first post of 2010 - i wanted to write something really meaningful - not about business lessons learned (and god knows there have been a lot of those), not about new years resolutions as such and then .... I was sorting through my emails and found this one that a friend sent to me - no idea who the original author is so can't acknowledge but...<br /><br /><em>A 92-year-old, petite, well-poised and proud man, who is fully dressed each morning by eight o'clock, with his hair fashionably combed and shaved perfectly,even though he is legally blind, moved to a nursing home today. His wife of 70 years recently passed away, making the move necessary. After many hours of waiting patiently in the lobby of the nursing home, he smiled sweetly when told his room was ready. <br /><br />As he maneuvered his walker to the elevator, I provided a visual description of his tiny room, including the eyelet sheets that had been hung on his window. I love it,' he stated with the enthusiasm of an eight-year-old having just been presented with a new puppy. <br /><br />'Mr. Jones, you haven't seen the room; just wait.' <br /><br />'That doesn't have anything to do with it,' he replied. Happiness is something you decide on ahead of time.Whether I like my room or not doesn't depend on how the furniture is arranged ... it's how I arrange my mind. I already decided to love it. <br />'It's a decision I make every morning when I wake up. I have a choice; I can spend the day in bed recounting the difficulty I have with the parts of my body that no longer work, or get out of bed and be thankful for the ones that do. Each day is a gift, and as long as my eyes open, I'll focus on the new day and all the happy memories I've stored away.. Just for this time in my life. Old age is like a bank account. You withdraw from what you've put in.. <br /><br /><br /><strong>Remember the five simple rules to be happy: </strong><br /><br />1. Free your heart from hatred. <br />2. Free your mind from worries. <br />3. Live simply. <br />4. Give more. <br />5. Expect less. </em><br /><br />Happy New year - Happy New Decade - may it be your best so far !!Gilliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11946022595804239825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-964346071486585854.post-50898985580823979272009-10-04T18:20:00.001-04:002009-10-04T18:20:16.938-04:00Business lessons to be learnt from flight attendantsI can't believe it's almost 3 months since I wrote a blog post..... I guess I was busy most of the summer writing some books on how to research your market and using questionnaires to better understand your customer plus earning a few pennies here and there to pay the rent. But... this evening a friend of mine (<a href="http://www.aprilanna.com/index2.html">April-Anna </a>- who is a talented artist and body painter) posted a cracking video on her Facebook status. It's a flight attendant on South West Airlines who delivers the most amazing 'welcome on board'. It made me think that British Airways flight attendants would never do that -or if they did they would probably sing a snooty opera aria ! (no, I prefer Air Canada and Air France). It also made me roar with laughter. <br /><br />BUT.... it also got me wondering how creative we are being or could be in our own businesses. Do write and tell me !<br /><br /><br />So here's the video:<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ivjybzdXVmI&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ivjybzdXVmI&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Gilliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11946022595804239825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-964346071486585854.post-54605232826464429132009-07-17T17:20:00.004-04:002009-07-17T17:45:13.817-04:00Do your Webinars with GlanceIf you do (or are planning to do) webinars then check out Glance. Once you have downloaded the software to your computer you can allow up to a 100 people to connect to your computer so that you can demomstrate for example, setting up an account on Facebook, installing a Wordpress theme and so on. Free phone conferencing is available with every account. You can see and control participants' screens.<br /><br />To enable people to join your webinar either provide them with a code which enables them to access your Glance web page or they can connect directly from your web site. Guests can also join sessions via a web page that Glance hosts, but which looks like your own web site. For this there is a one time set-up fee but... when their session ends, they'll see another page that you can customize with a Call to Action and links to your web site or landing pages. Awesome for when you have an e book or teleseries that you want to encourage people to purchase.<br /><br />If you want guests to see you then just power up your webcam, put it in "preview" mode so you can see yourself and your guests will be able to see you too. You can always hide the window from time to time if you want to.<br /><br />You can record the session using Camtasia for example. This captures what's on your screen along with your voice. After your session is over, use Camtasia to edit the content and publish it on your website, You Tube or use as a bonus when you sell one fo your information products or systems. <br /><br />Glance claim that in tests, Glace starts nearly three times faster than GoToMeeting® and WebEx®. They currently have a free trial which I am going to use to show a personal friend of mine how to make good use of Facebook. <strong>If any of you want to sit in on that one hour session let me know and I will send you the time and date and connection details. Just leave a comment on the this blog post.</strong><br /><br />Glance have done a cute video cartoon to demonstrate it: <a href="http://www.glance.net/flashdemo/noscript.asp"></a>Gilliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11946022595804239825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-964346071486585854.post-71615572507379759382009-07-08T20:12:00.002-04:002009-07-08T20:19:16.766-04:00Obituary to........... Common Sense<br /><br />One of my Facebook friends commented on a post that I have taken the liberty of reproducing exerpts from below:<br /><em><br />Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape.<br /><br />He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as knowing when to come in out of the rain, why the early bird gets the worm, life isn't always fair, and maybe it was my fault.<br /><br />Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you earn) and reliable parenting strategies (adults, not children, are in charge).<br /><br />Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job they themselves failed to do in disciplining their unruly children.<br /><br />It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer Panadol, sun lotion or a Band Aid to a student , but could not inform the parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.<br /><br />Common Sense lost the will to live as the Ten commandments became contraband, churches became businesses, and criminals received better treatment than their victims.<br /><br />Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault.<br /><br />Common Sense was preceded in death by his parents, Truth and Trust;his wife, Discretion; his daughter, responsibility; and his son,Reason.He is survived by three stepbrothers; I Know My Rights, Someone Else is to Blame, and I'm A Victim.<br /><br />Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone.</em><br /><br />All credits for thinking of this and writing remain with the author, Croz. The complete post can be found by clicking <a href="http://www.worryfreeisland.com/whatiscroz/asadloss/">here</a>.Gilliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11946022595804239825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-964346071486585854.post-16237728938901727352009-07-02T11:35:00.003-04:002009-07-02T11:43:56.922-04:00Dealing with an underperforming VAI'll tell you straight off the bat - I don't have the answer. But I hope one or some of my readers do.<br /><br />You hire a VA to accomplish specific tasks that you have set out in a document and discussed on the phone. Then they don't deliver - they make excuses - everything else in their business seems to be a priority but the work they have accepted payment to accomplish for you; when they do deliver it is riddled with mistakes. You tell them how you feel, they admit they are not performing well and then nothing changes. What can you do ? Fire them yes, but they have almost 1000 of your hard-earned dollars. At the same time you are spending as much time chasing and cajoling as if you had done the work yourself almost 8 weeks ago (their deadline was six weeks ago !!!). <br /><br />With 3 000 friends on Facebook and access to thousands of others via my groups as well as hundreds of followers on Twitter, I could potentially crucify the person and their business in an instant were I to choose to do so. And here is another point - I know of other people who have had the same issues with this person and their team but have kept quiet rather than going public because if any of us did ..... we risk being seen as not nice and lose potential clients and partners. <br /><br />Feels like a lose whatever you do situation.<br /><br />Does anyone have any similar experiences ? any helpful suggestions ?Gilliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11946022595804239825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-964346071486585854.post-64365115370426118582009-06-29T19:14:00.006-04:002009-06-29T19:24:44.629-04:00TwttrlistI just checked out Seth Godin’s <a href="http://www.twttrlist.com/">TwttrList</a>. It's a really fast way to see who has been tweeting about a subject of interest to you. <br />You can filter tweets by: by anyone, by me, by a user, my favorites.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXmRs-50TakqmDszuySKdVzplva2lWQgMCs5zbsZ-71fldjJq4b3hNfTj2g7tIvIItWeEphxuD8W5g-PA2E8CztxX_gjoakbqaALSQuppGgdpHzhk3MPjGiamOnMZA9n3l7w5nt8oNvI4/s1600-h/twitrrlist.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 189px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXmRs-50TakqmDszuySKdVzplva2lWQgMCs5zbsZ-71fldjJq4b3hNfTj2g7tIvIItWeEphxuD8W5g-PA2E8CztxX_gjoakbqaALSQuppGgdpHzhk3MPjGiamOnMZA9n3l7w5nt8oNvI4/s320/twitrrlist.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352893728142819138" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I checked out nomadic entrepreneurs and lifetsyle entrepreneurs since this is an area I am researching at the moment for my new business helping nomadic entrepreneurs earn a living wherever they are in the world.Gilliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11946022595804239825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-964346071486585854.post-3475123328388711392009-06-18T10:15:00.003-04:002009-06-18T10:21:12.373-04:00So you think you own your website ???I read a seriously worrying post on Karyn Greenstreet's blog today about how to be absolutely sure that you own the website you hired someone to produce for you. <br /><br />She was talking in the context of US law but I think we should all read her post and the associated articles and then go and find out what the applicable law is in the country where we do business. <br /><br />But here's another thought: what law applies ? The law of the country where your business is based or the law of the country where the web designer is based ? and if the latter then what happens if they outsource to a designer based in yet another country - given the extensive use of Elance for outsourcing these days ???<br /><br />Karyn's post is: <a href="http://www.passionforbusiness.com/blog/who-owns-your-website/">Who own's your website ? </a>Gilliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11946022595804239825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-964346071486585854.post-16544667327452605822009-06-14T19:30:00.005-04:002009-06-14T19:38:38.575-04:00Have U got your unique Facebook URL ?Did you know you can now set up a personal URL for your facebook profile that's so much easier to give as a link to others to help them find you? Mine is: http://facebook.com/gillianpritchett<br /><br />To get yours go to <a href="http://facebook.com/username">http://facebook.com/username</a>. Facebook will make some suggestions but you can choose your own. You can also get a unique URL for your pages (if it has over 1,000 fans !!).<br /><br />Don't hang around on this one otherwise you someone else may take your name or business name !Gilliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11946022595804239825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-964346071486585854.post-63986063147131289602009-04-22T23:14:00.006-04:002009-04-22T23:35:34.226-04:00How to shine as a radio hostA few weeks ago I did the <strong>Insider Tips on How to shine as a radio guest </strong>program by Lorraine Cohen. My motive was partly that I was developing a series of teleseminars on various aspects of starting and growing a business and had decided to present the teleclasses in an interview format and I had been invited by Lisa Hartwell as a guest on her radio show. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoViSyQsdG6p4srhUMiw7C8LKjWKm-2FjFe4yLle-4PT8j0eFSj0nF84XZUPmtcR51nBA7TPeRsU6Od0vIev9WxfRdyeSuUl5_3wwXjRC8YIxWBiY0B-rRX_3fbZwUfrciuObbNvb2Pk8/s1600-h/Lorraine+Cohen+pic.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 158px; height: 196px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoViSyQsdG6p4srhUMiw7C8LKjWKm-2FjFe4yLle-4PT8j0eFSj0nF84XZUPmtcR51nBA7TPeRsU6Od0vIev9WxfRdyeSuUl5_3wwXjRC8YIxWBiY0B-rRX_3fbZwUfrciuObbNvb2Pk8/s320/Lorraine+Cohen+pic.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327724564545889650" /></a>The program, <strong>Insider Tips on How to shine as a radio guest </strong>by broadcaster and life coach,Lorraine Cohen is really excellent and I can whole heartedly recommend it. The next program kicks off on May 26th. To read more <a href="http://www.profcs.com/app/?Clk=2984677">click here</a>.<br /><br />There is a F.R.E.E. 60 minute preview call on Wednesday May 6th 2009, 6-7 pm EST/3-4 pm PST that you may wish to <a href="http://www.profcs.com/app/?Clk=2984638">sign up </a>for. <br /><br />As both a host and guest, Lorraine has participated in over 150 programs that have been heard and downloaded by so many people around the world. Contributing as both host and guest has taught her so mcuh about how best to deliver a message that is informative, distinctive, and most of all, memorable.<br /><br />If you're serious about expanding your market by positioning yourself as a radio guest expert, this program is for you. <br /><br />If you follow the 5-week program you'll learn tips to:<br /><br />• Distinguish yourself as a great guest so that hosts will want to invite you back again and again <br /><br />• Develop confidence in talking about your passions <br /><br />• Avoid some common mistakes to create raving listeners <br /><br />• Generate income and build your opt- in lists <br /><br />• Create instant connections with any audienceGilliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11946022595804239825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-964346071486585854.post-3254813532549030362009-04-20T21:53:00.008-04:002009-04-22T23:48:50.605-04:00What Susan Boyle can teach us<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjACAu7-84rE9VYYJ19xyBhbyUiiOYfX4FBqx8RaOh6v1B-DUEEKRjMYFzhnJOhpj39KckgKnoCHDFKn968sXqx-5-6zXiBUjGqPNEO7PmN97llzd7jzDkHZMfolL2PQ858dP2oe3oerW4/s1600-h/20-04-2009+21-10-25.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 113px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjACAu7-84rE9VYYJ19xyBhbyUiiOYfX4FBqx8RaOh6v1B-DUEEKRjMYFzhnJOhpj39KckgKnoCHDFKn968sXqx-5-6zXiBUjGqPNEO7PmN97llzd7jzDkHZMfolL2PQ858dP2oe3oerW4/s200/20-04-2009+21-10-25.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326961644874287730" /></a><br />Last Saturday I had not heard of Susan Boyle. I had been to the Greek Orthodox church with a friend and we were eating a late meal - like at 1.30am - accompanied by a couple of Ouzos. The waitress asks if I am from England and tells me about Susan Boyle who had amazed the judges on a talent show in the UK. <br /><br />I checked her out on YouTube when I got home - and wow - she has an amazing voice. It truly brought tears to my eyes.<br /><br /><strong>Lessons for people starting out in business ?</strong><br /><br /><em>- believe in your dream <br />- take steps to make your dream come true<br />- don't be put off by what other people might think or say</em><br /><br />And lessons for anyone : don't pre-judge and be humble enough to admit that you had prejudiced or just plain wrong.<br /><br />Watch the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY">video clip </a>of Susan Boyle - not just to enjoy her voice but to see how the faces of the judges change as they realise they had erroneous, pre-conceived ideas about her and how they are humbled by her.<br /><br /><strong>So what is your dream ? What would it take to make your dream come true ?</strong>Gilliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11946022595804239825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-964346071486585854.post-71440497266938395732009-04-14T22:53:00.003-04:002009-04-14T22:58:20.842-04:00Kathleen Gage removed from FacebookKathleen Gage has been removed from facebook. Yep.... and no-one (including her) knows why. <br /><br />I know I got warnings last year when I was adding friends and I think it was because I was cutting and pasting my little spiel about myself everytime I asked someone to be my friend.<br /><br />Other suspected reasons for getting into trouble on Facebook include:<br /><br />- inviting people to friend but cutting and pasting the same message to each of them. Even if you top and tail to make it personalised the alogorithms see cutting and pasting as potential spamming.<br /><br />- entering a URL too often in one day<br /><br />- accepting too many friend requests in one day<br /><br />- accepting too many invitations to join groups in one day<br /><br />- sending too many messages in one day<br /><br />- you become a victim of a phishing scam<br /><br />- if you are a group Admin or have a Facebook page with a large<br />number of fans then you are much more at risk than others<br />because it is very easy to fall foul of Facebooks anti spam robots.<br /><br />Read Kathleen's postand associated comments <a href="http://snipurl.com/fx0uk">here</a>.Gilliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11946022595804239825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-964346071486585854.post-72653451712892905662009-04-03T11:14:00.006-04:002009-04-03T12:47:45.139-04:00It's been a yearYep, its a year since I started to build friends on Facebook. Today I went up to 2,800 friends. This has been achieved by selectively inviting people who make interesting, intelligent comments on walls, people who have a similar business to mine (business coaching & consulting and information products) or accepting some of the numerous requests that I get with as much discernment as is possible.<br /><br />So what have I gained from Facebook ? <br /><br />A great transcriptionist, <a href="http://www.cynrje.com/">Cynthia Bull </a>who was recommended to me by <a href="http://www.completemarketingsystems.com/">Diane Conklin</a><br /><br /><strong>Laurie Hayes </strong>(the <a href="http://www.thehbbsource.com/">Home Based Business Source</a>)with whom I have shared information and bounced ideas<br /><br /><strong>Andrea Stenberg </strong>(<a href="http://TheBabyBoomerEntrepreneur.com">Babyboomer Entrepreneur</a>) who I met when she was up in Montreal last Summer and who I am going to be sharing some ideas and plans and schemes with<br /><br /><strong>Valerie Young </strong>and her wonderful Changing Course programme (which I bought)<br /><br />the fantastic <strong>Lorraine Cohen </strong>whose programme <a href="http://www.profcs.com/app/?af=959371">Insider Tips to Shine as a Radio Guest</a>; is awesome - I can't recommend it highly enough<br /><br /><a href="http://audiblemarketing.com">Lisa Hartwell </a>who is going to interview me later this year<br /><br /><strong>Rodney Waters</strong> who has asked if he can quote from an article I co-authored "<a href="http://www.scena.org/lsm/sm10-2/universalite-musique-en.htm">The Universality of Music and Human Rights</a>." in connection with a concert at the Rothko Chapel in Houston, Texas<br /><br />The list goes on.<br /><br />Plus I can see what my real friends are up ! And my lovely dentist can tell me off for <a href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=785250004&v=info&viewas=756699692#/photo.php?pid=1420853&id=756699692">eating maple syrup </a>on a stick when unbeknown to me she was checking what I was up to.<br /><br />So... tell me... what have YOU got from being on Facebook ? Tell us all - the good, the bad and the ugly !!Gilliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11946022595804239825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-964346071486585854.post-70702055692727975312009-03-22T15:51:00.020-04:002009-03-24T12:46:35.773-04:00Jade Goody loses battleThe news came through today that British reality star Jade Goody lost her very public battle with cervical cancer. She was just 27 years old with young sons aged 5 and 4. She died on Mother's Day.....<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7PZZhZD5S_tpIkuOJoyy-F7IKody7KhLXHdH7LGVG2ulkT7TiChHBbrFYhTPq3FGlYuR_QKA5LnliKWgSbkHTUIMcLKJ0BaM_F96cW4KDUfKeR3uVvWAq0-P7q4fDeVCiP-T4kU8N_dg/s1600-h/jg1.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 154px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7PZZhZD5S_tpIkuOJoyy-F7IKody7KhLXHdH7LGVG2ulkT7TiChHBbrFYhTPq3FGlYuR_QKA5LnliKWgSbkHTUIMcLKJ0BaM_F96cW4KDUfKeR3uVvWAq0-P7q4fDeVCiP-T4kU8N_dg/s200/jg1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316796582074729538" /></a><br /><br />I've never been a great television person so to begin with I had no idea who she was but everytime I have been in the UK over the past 9 months Jade Goody was rarely off the front page of the more popular newspapers. (It seems she became a celebrity after appearing on the British version of Big Brother in 2002, polarizing audiences with her brash manner.) <br /><br />When her cervical cancer was diagnosed last Summer the remaining time she had on this earth was played out very publicly. Her situation touched the hearts of the nation, made people acutely aware of how vital it is to follow up when a hospital calls you back because of abnormal cells being found,<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioYMhDctQe38VP-naT84FP0Lzw-tGCuhRyKPsM00hUnZtUhyBMwbTRfsJfOE1-bO-pKD6QfxBGUr3eEDAXafoGzJFqFhwPvSAeK9zFXc0iz66sQ6syamUWGcos74qnDX98PPAx0TTjoIg/s1600-h/jg+2.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 174px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioYMhDctQe38VP-naT84FP0Lzw-tGCuhRyKPsM00hUnZtUhyBMwbTRfsJfOE1-bO-pKD6QfxBGUr3eEDAXafoGzJFqFhwPvSAeK9zFXc0iz66sQ6syamUWGcos74qnDX98PPAx0TTjoIg/s200/jg+2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316177263222482962" /></a><br />how doctors can fail sometimes and resulted in a dramatic increase in cervical screening in the UK.<br /> <br />Jade went from rather brash to serence and poised. A credit to her strength of character when she knew that her days were so tragically numbered. She always had a brave, beautful smile for the press. Even during her lavish wedding just a few short weeks ago she made no attempt to conceal the ravages of chemotherapy, holding her bald head high and so elegantly. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzNpy-E8lCyjvfXIdxrHUmsyAEvPDU42oJSKtQ8DoCuyvSxNLk0NTGa9N3lkX88NcEPpRedBsq4Y4z3JxoFzTKwMM9Wx0hPRIU5XF84aaCyFZy7X4TYvJ_nM5cgNhPABCP2buQE4n_4ks/s1600-h/jg+3.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 230px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzNpy-E8lCyjvfXIdxrHUmsyAEvPDU42oJSKtQ8DoCuyvSxNLk0NTGa9N3lkX88NcEPpRedBsq4Y4z3JxoFzTKwMM9Wx0hPRIU5XF84aaCyFZy7X4TYvJ_nM5cgNhPABCP2buQE4n_4ks/s320/jg+3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316180484214758914" /></a><br />Bishop Blake who conducted the blessing of her wedding to Jack Tweed said: <em>"She was an extraordinary person, she's become for all of us almost like a saint, a saint of Upshire, a princess from Bermondsey. [...]she's touched so many people not only in this country but across the world." </em> He said she transformed the way people approached cancer by laughing in the face of death and making possible every last dream before she died. <em>"I think that's been an inspiration, a light, a torch of hope burning brightly across the world [...]</em><br /><br />The British Prime Minister in his tribute to her said: <em>"She will be remembered fondly by all who knew her and her family can be extremely proud of the work she has done to raise awareness of cervical cancer which will benefit thousands of women"</em> <br /><br />I think the TV presenter and author, Stephen Fry, summed it all up in his tribute: <em>"Poor, dear Jade... I warmed to her immensely. All impulsive spirit and smiles. What a life. Jade lived life under a magnifying glass. Magnifying glasses magnify (obviously) but they distort and they burn. I suppose she was a kind of Princess D from the wrong side of the tracks." </em><br /><br />Yes she touched my heart too and this post is a further tribute to her courage and a warning to others to never ever ignore symptoms, never ever ignore a letter when a hospital calls you for further tests, never ever be fobbed off by a doctor when your body and your heart tell you that something is wrong. You only have one life - fight to keep it and always strive to make it a worthy one.<br /><br />Rest in peace Jade.<br /><br />Click here for the <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7925719.stm">BBC video clip </a>about her life.Gilliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11946022595804239825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-964346071486585854.post-10463317254744720322009-03-13T09:25:00.005-04:002009-03-13T10:40:49.547-04:00Info Products - What do your clients want?Well I would love to know what <strong>my</strong> potential clients would like to have when they consider buying information products.<br /><br />The survey is at this <a href="http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=gXdAQr6d5YvZlYqlQuQbCA_3d_3d">link</a> or you can read the questions below and just leave your comments on this blog post - as you wish. Thanks in advance for sharing your views !<br /><br />What information products have you bought recently - what subject and what format did they take (audio, CD, e books, combination of these)<br /><br />What did you like about the content and what did you not like<br /><br />What did you like about the format and what did you not like<br /><br />Did the product involve any interactive sessions with the person who produced it, or coachiing or the possibility of asking questions ? - did you wish that it had ?<br /><br />I look forward to hearing your comments and feedback !Gilliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11946022595804239825noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-964346071486585854.post-76871785045208993952009-02-14T10:23:00.002-05:002009-02-14T10:28:04.854-05:00The Power of a smileCheck out this awesome 15 minute film about the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cbk980jV7Ao">power of smiling</a>. Try smiling at everyone and even those miserable faced people you see everyday will smile. Smile at potential clients rather than straight faced telling them about your business services.Gilliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11946022595804239825noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-964346071486585854.post-19944986406395725442009-02-06T19:47:00.005-05:002009-02-06T19:55:22.625-05:00EmpowermentBack in the days when we were in the corporate world empowerment was all about the company empowering its employees and managers empowering their staff; then you become self-employed/run your own business. Suddenly its just you so is empowerment relevant anymore ? You bet your life it is.<br /><br />Think about it...<br /><br />When did YOU last <strong>empower yourself </strong>to not open an email from an ex-client who was bound to be writing to hassle about something ?<br /><br />When did YOU last <strong>empower yourself </strong>to not accept a mandate even though you needed the $$ because you knew the client would cause you grief ?<br /><br />Have you <strong>empowered yourself </strong>to not do everything but to outsource a few things ? - like setting up the website in Wordpress, or doing your tax returns.. sure you can do it but you'll probably do it slower than someone else and while you are doing that who is getting in the clients ?<br /><br />Go on - make a list of things that annoy or irritate you; the things you do not like doing; the things you are slow at and then <strong>empower yourself</strong> to make changes.<br /><br />Feeling <strong>empowered</strong> makes you feel great and utlimately it will make you great. <br /><br />Don't you agree ?Gilliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11946022595804239825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-964346071486585854.post-68872875936307919502009-01-12T17:01:00.002-05:002009-01-12T17:03:30.567-05:00Otengo - or how to share photos, videos and large filesWhat is Otengo? <br /> <br />Otengo describes itself as a reliable, secure and easy to use software application that enables easy sending and receiving of messages rich in multimedia content. The application takes seconds to set up and comes with an intuitive interface integrated within the Windows environment. Otengo is completely free of viruses and other undesirables. Best of all, it is absolutely free! <a href="http://www.otengo.com/otengoDownload.do">Try it now!</a>Gilliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11946022595804239825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-964346071486585854.post-5596140922535151052008-11-19T03:48:00.002-05:002008-11-19T03:49:38.995-05:00A kick in the butt from IttyBIzSome kick in the butt advice from <a href="http://ittybiz.com/about/">Naomi Dunford of IttyBiz </a>(yep, another Facebook friend of mine but since she's moving to the UK soon may become a real friend). I have taken a chunk verbatim from her latest blog post:<br /><br /><em>If you run a service business — and in service I include coaching and consulting — and to a degree if you run any other kind of business, here’s the best piece of advice I’ve got.<br /><br /><strong>Spend 4 times more time on MARKETING than you do on DOING.</strong><br /><br />I could give you the list and litany of people who are the worst at this, but basically everybody is the worst at this. Except maybe life coaches. They’re the REAL worst.<br /><br />You bust your ass creating this wonderful business that is going to change lives. You get the certification and you spend the money on the website and you give the free sessions to get the testimonials. You create something that will quite honestly make it so people will not even remember what their life was like before they worked with you. And then what do you do? <br /><br />You sit around and wait for people to find you.<br /><br />Unless any of the other aspects of your business are absolutely tragic, you should not be spending your work time:<br /><br />- tweaking your website<br />- responding to comments<br />- reorganizing your accounting methods<br />- taking skills upgrade courses, including mine<br />- reading ebooks<br />- chatting on IM<br />- telling people what you ate for breakfast on Twitter<br /><br />There is nothing wrong with any of the above activities, but those are the things to do in your SPARE time. And if you’re not getting clients right now, you don’t have spare time during the workday. The time that you THINK is spare should be spent getting your name out there, all over the place.<br /><br /><strong>If you are not getting enough clients, your only priority is getting clients. <br />That is all. Now stop reading blogs and get back to work</strong>.</em><br /><br />Original<a href="http://ittybiz.com/if-you-build-it-they-wont-come/"> post at IttyBiz</a>Gilliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11946022595804239825noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-964346071486585854.post-10670439084849425882008-11-18T19:49:00.002-05:002008-11-18T19:52:24.749-05:00Trust, but verifySeth Godin (marketing expert and one of my Facebook friends) wrote this in his <a href="http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2008/11/dont-get-fooled.html">blog</a> today. I have reproduced his blog post verbatim as they are very very wise words:<br /><br /><em>If you think that's a friend of yours on twitter, don't be so sure.<br /><br />If you wonder why your boss sent such an insane email to you, don't be so sure.<br /><br />If you get a chance to invest online, think twice.<br /><br />Don't buy anything from an inbound phone call.<br /><br />That email you sent in confidence... probably won't be read that way. And that photo, yes, it's going to show up in the digital world where you least want to see it...<br /><br />In your little village, where you see your neighbor every day for ten years and the person in the next car might be the local constable, the rules are very simple and obeyed by all. In an electronic world, it's trivial to impersonate, hack and otherwise annoy. <br /><br />Online, rely on direct, personal interactions to be sure you're seeing what you think you're seeing. Trust, but verify.</em>Gilliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11946022595804239825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-964346071486585854.post-39677363227735890642008-11-12T22:22:00.006-05:002008-11-12T22:42:58.470-05:00Networking - make the effortTonight as I walked through the cold deserted streets of Old Montreal towards a networking event I was tempted at one point to turn round and go home ! I was cold and I was thinking that it would probably be a waste of time.... Well, I carried on walking and here's what I got from the evening:<br /><br />- The first person to greet me opened with "I gave your name to the Haitian Young Chamber of Commerce - they need someone to give a talk on business plans and I immediately thought of you"<br /><br />- I met up with someone I am working on a new business project with (<strong>CanEuropa</strong> - helping Canadian companies move into Europe and European companies move into Canada)<br /><br />- someone working for an organisation representing the Rhône-Alpes region in France needed exactly the kind of services I can provide for their clients<br /><br />- a fellow lecturer from HEC Montréal (we both teach Sector Analysis)enabled me to catch up with what is happening next year<br /><br />- I got talking to someone who like me loves hiking and skiing so finally this Winter I may well have someone to go with<br /><br />- a former coachee who months ago told me about Michael Port, who in turn was instrumental in me getting onto Facebook (where I now have 2,300 friends by the way)and working on teleseminars and information products, was there so I was able to thank her for launching me onto a path I had not expected to travel<br /><br /><strong>The reason for mentioning all of this is to make the point:</strong><br /><em>- even if you're tired, it's cold, it's a long walk don't turn back when you have set out to a networking event - you never know who who you will meet nor what exciting avenues it might open up for you - personally and/or professionally</em><br /><br />And you know what, every time without fail when I go to a networking event and wonder whether I might just not bother and head home .... these are always the ones that bring me the most value, the most interesting conversations. It's like a little guardian angel has driven me there.Gilliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11946022595804239825noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-964346071486585854.post-53034715950418882372008-11-03T13:36:00.006-05:002008-11-03T14:09:05.680-05:00Marketing lessons from the streetToday I lined up to buy one of the new plastic cards for the Metro in Montreal and then I lined up a second time to use the machine to actually load my monthly pass onto the card. Pain in the butt system or what ?!!!<br /><br />In the time all this took I had the opportunity to observe one of the people who regularly beg in the subway here (underground to readers in the UK !!). Then I started to compare him to someone else who begs in the same Metro station (Sherbrooke for those of you who live in Montreal).<br /><br />I would argue that begging for money isn't a million miles different to getting business from a potential client. Here’s what I learnt from my observations:<br /><strong><br />THE FIRST BEGGER</strong><br /><br />•<strong>Pick the right moment </strong>– begging for money is not going to be successful when you solicit people rushing to go to work. I wondered why the guy didn’t pitch to those of us lined up – we were a captive audience, bored, fed up and possibly receptive to a good story. <br /><br /><strong>In business ensure that the client is undistracted and ready to listen to what you would like to say.</strong><br /><br />•<strong>Close off objections </strong>– dirty, in tatty clothes and telling me you’re hungry … maybe you are but maybe you want money for drugs. Good idea to think about what I might be thinking and then close off that objection before I even make it. <br /><br /><strong>Same applies with a potential business client. If you think the person might be wondering if you have the right experience, could harness the right resources, whatever.. then cover that off when you are speaking to them.</strong><br /><br />•<strong>Address the “what’s in it for me”</strong> – what should the guy in the Metro be doing so that we get someting? just imposing the odours of his unwashed body so that we give him some money to make him go away? Maybe. But, suppose he appealed to our more generous side: "You’re buying your monthly pass I would like to be able to buy some food" (guilt trip); "While you are waiting in line think about people like me who have ended up on the streets" (compassion with a bit of guilt). <br /><br /><strong>In business think what the person’s pain might be, actively listen and ask questions to make this discovery before pitching in for their business. </strong><br /><br /><strong>THE OTHER BEGGER</strong><br /><br />•<strong>Let them come to you</strong> – Now the other guy who begs at the same Metro station just stands there and smiles at you. That’s it. He smiles. he ackowledges you as you hurry by. The only person who does. Soon you find he smiles at you each day so you start to say "Bonjour". Then you don’t see him for a while and you ask where he’s been, how he’s been. You learn a bit about his life, his story. Then you find he's quite a conversationalist. Quite smart in a street-wise kind of way. You start to warm to him. From time to time you give him some coins or something. He always remembers you and asks how you are and, in my case, how my mum is. He becomes part of your life. <br /><br />I bet you he gets way more money than the other guy.<br /><br /><strong>And in business… build yourself a good reputation; strong visibility; be seen in the right places talking to the right people; earn credibility. Then they will come to you.</strong>Gilliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11946022595804239825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-964346071486585854.post-62569195501677391572008-10-15T17:06:00.005-04:002008-10-15T17:19:14.511-04:00PopcornOne of my Facebook friends. Kim Duke, produces a useful newsletter about selling- she's not styled the Sales Diva for nothing.This week her artilce really made me smile so here is an abridged version:<br /><br />In the good old days popcorn was not a bag that you put in the microwave - to make popcorn you needed a stove, a pot with a lid, oil, popcorn.When you made popcorn - you put the pot on the stove, heated the element, added the oil, then the popcorn, put on the lid and then you waited.<br /><br />What was the first thing that happened ?<br />NOTHING.<br />NOTHING.<br />NOTHING.<br /><br />And then???<br /><br />A lonely little POP.<br /><br />More waiting.<br /><br />Then another 2 or 3 little POPS.<br /><br />Then you start shaking the pot slowly (so nothing burns) and then<br /><br />POPPETY POPPOPOPOPOPOP POPOPOPOPOPOPOPOPOPOP POPOPOPOPOPOPOPOPOP<br /><br />Kim says this is like the sales process. She exhorts her readers to make SALES POPCORN. To do this:<br /><br />You need to have many popcorn pots on your SALES STOVE.<br /><br />You need to be planting seeds, making connections, have proposals out there with<br />the right companies and people.<br /><br />You need to be watching those seeds, giving it some time, shaking the pot a bit and making sure that nothing is burning!<br /><br />She then askes her reader whether they are making these Sales Popcorn Mistakes:<br /><br />- You plant some seeds (network, meet with clients, send out an ezine, etc).<br />- Then you get impatient and keep lifting the lid off the pot or adjust the temp mid-way.<br />- You ignore your customers who have been loyal to you through good times and bad.<br />- You only have one SALES POPCORN pot on the stove.<br />- You only have a few SALES POPCORN seeds in the pot.<br />- You use stale popcorn seeds that need to be pitched out.<br /><br />I thought this was a really brilliant analogy and worth sharing with my readers.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.salesdivas.com">Kim's website</a>Gilliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11946022595804239825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-964346071486585854.post-80064892484737558072008-10-08T05:57:00.005-04:002008-10-08T06:03:36.340-04:00Be in business mode when working from home.I was browsing through Betty McCray's blog and found a post about setting yourself an appointment at 9am each and every day if you work from home so that you don't let the start time for your day slide. Whether its a meeting with a client or a telephone appointment it ensures that you get your day started in a businesslike way. <br /><br />I would also add the importance of dressing for business - not only does it put your mind in work mode but it also means that if you get a call from a potential client who wants to meet up almost straight away you're not rushing off to the bathroom to shower and dress and slap make-up on. (OK I'm sitting here typing this in my pj's but it is 5am and my excuse is I am jetlagged and heading back to bed for a couple of hours.!!)<br /><br /><a href="http://www.smallbizsurvival.com/2008/10/your-9-am-appointment-with-success.html">Betty McCrays blogpost</a>Gilliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11946022595804239825noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-964346071486585854.post-72388854405515878702008-10-07T07:26:00.003-04:002008-10-07T07:27:14.515-04:00Canadian citizen (not by birth ) - be careful at Heathrow airportBe warned - if you fly out of Heathrow with Air Canada and are resident in Canada you risk getting serious hassle and even being refused the right to fly if you do not have a Canadian passport OR a foreign passport and Permanent Resident card. I have been a proud Canadian citizen for almost 4 years. I do not have a Canadian passport as I don't need one, they're expensive and the waiting list to get one is horrendous. It is quite legal for me to fly into Canada with my British passport and a Canadian citizenship card. Permanent Resident and a Citizen of Canada are two distinct status and once a Citizen you do not need, and indeed cannot have, a Permanent Resident card.I pointed this out to the Air Canada check-in person but she decided to get an 'immigration expert'. <br /><br />The 'immigration expert' had serious 'attitude' and claimed that the citizenship card is honorific and has no value as an ID document - it was just for people like me who had emigrated to Canada and gone through the process of becoming a citizen - an honorary document. This was said in a tone that was méprisant and by someone who seemed to not like immigrants. I was so upset I could have cried. <br /><br />I told the immigration officer at Montreal airport about all this and he was disgusted that this had happened to me BUT warned me to be careful as these people who, even though they are totally wrong, have POWER, the power to refuse someone the right to board an Air Canada flight to travel back home to Canada. <br /><br /><br />Sorry to rant but I am so upset by this and want to go public on it to warn other people.Gilliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11946022595804239825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-964346071486585854.post-90080857278471712262008-10-07T06:12:00.002-04:002008-10-07T06:22:21.105-04:00How do YOU spend your time ?Want to keep track on where you spend your time when you are on line ? Then sign up for F.R.E.E. access to Rescue Time. There is also options that are not free but ....<br /><br />RescueTime enables you to know exactly what software and sites you’re actively using. If you have staff you can also see where they are spending time - there are various privacy settings which can be applied.<br /><br />Click here to check it out and sign up. <a href="http://www.rescuetime.com">RescueTime</a>.Gilliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11946022595804239825noreply@blogger.com1