IN THIS ISSUE
Welcome
Feature Article - Fried Mush for Your Soul
Words to Inspire
Guest Column - Write Your Own Success Story: Using Articles to
Promote Your Business
Resources for You
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WELCOME

Greetings and welcome to all of you. We are delighted to send you another issue of KEYS TO SUCCESS. Thank you for joining us.

Our commitment is to give you practical information and inspirational ideas to benefit your business and personal life. We are committed to "bringing out your best"! We welcome feedback so we can improve and offer real value to you.

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Fried Mush for Your Soul

Have you ever had one of those times when nothing seemed to click in your mind? No matter how hard you tried ideas wouldn't flow. Your synapses just weren't connecting. Your brain was on strike!

Well, that's exactly what happened to me as I sat down to write this month's feature article. I'd come up with an idea and think "yes, that's it" and after one short paragraph I was totally stuck. My mind was like a bowl of fried mush.

Creative juices were at a standstill. I tried all my usual tricks of the trade like reading other people's articles, browsing through inspirational books, checking out web sites on creativity, taking walks and journaling. I even took long naps to give my mind a rest. Nothing ignited that writer's spark.

I feel a little like Winnie-the-Pooh looking for honey in all the wrong places. Ideas are swarming all around me like bees in a tree. I just don't have a container for them.

I have relinquished trying to control what seems to be currently out of my control. Any of you who write will understand my dilemma. There is a deadline to publish but I have nothing to publish! I considered using a previous article. However, not one of them jumped out at me as being the right article. I even had a fleeting thought of not publishing this month and quickly dismissed it as a bad idea! It goes against my philosophy on the importance of showing up!

I am guessing that you have probably had similar experiences of being stuck. Maybe you couldn't face making cold calls, attending another networking event, writing one more performance review or designing another training program.

My musings have me asking what lessons can we learn when we get stuck with fried mush. This is what helps me. I hope it works for you.

(1) The situation is temporary. A lull in creativity or productivity doesn't last forever. It's creating space for a turn around. Remember, this too shall pass!

(2) Respect yourself. Self-criticism does not build self-esteem. Be kind and accept where you are. Think of it as character building rather than defeat.

(3) Trust the process. Sometimes we have hurdles to jump. If you are given a lemon, try making lemonade. Add a little sweetener to make it palatable. Use the experience to broaden your horizons and take a different path.

(4) Take time to reflect. What is really going on? What do you see? Are you on the verge of a break through or a shift in direction? Only time will tell as the process unfolds. This might turn out to be a gift.

So being stuck has some advantages if put in the right perspective. You have the power to change how you think about the situation. Let your mind wander about and seek out new meanings. That bowl of fried mush may transform into food for your soul!
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WORDS TO INSPIRE

"Let everything you do be done as if it makes a difference."

William James

"Some say knowledge is power, but that is not true. Character is power."

Sathya Sai Baba

"Man's self-concept is enhanced when he takes responsibility for himself."

Will Schutz
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GUEST ARTICLE

Write Your Own Success Story: Using Articles to Promote Your Business
By Meredith Pond

Most likely, you've tried marketing with classified ads, sales
letters, compelling web copy, or even press releases. These
methods can be extremely effective ways to get the word out and
drum up some business, but if you're looking for the kind of
exposure that can take on a life of its own (and a potentially
very long one), try using articles.

"But how can an article be used as a marketing tool?" you ask.
Well, it's really quite simple; just write an article that is
somehow associated with your business. For example, if you're
marketing a business opportunity, an article about recognizing
the scams in the biz opp world might be a great angle to take.
People who are looking for business opportunities (like the one
you're offering) will be interested in reading your article.

At the end of the article, include a brief bio or subtle ad that
tells who you are and what you do, as well as an email address or
link to your web site. That way, when people finish reading and
are convinced that you know what you're talking about, they're
likely to contact you.

So how do you get your articles out there for people to read?
There are plenty of online self-publishing sites you can use for
free, such as IdeaMarketers.com, MarketingSeek.com, and
MakingProfit.com. Placing your articles on these sites is easy,
and ezine editors and others are always looking for articles at
in these places. So, not only does the general public have easy
access to your work, but so do editors who will almost certainly
publish your article in their online or offline publications.
That extra exposure can get the word out to a huge audience...
potentially hundreds of thousands.

Be aware, however, that only the politest of editors will ask
your permission or notify you when they've published your
article. However, the exposure you're likely to get will be well
worth it.

Give your article a catchy title that will grab attention and
make people want to read. Articles that give good information or
explain how to accomplish something are usually best, and will be
read most often. If you lack confidence in your abilities as a
writer or don't have the time, there are plenty of writing firms
out there that have experience writing these articles, and
they'll be more than happy to help.

**Meredith Pond is a professional and freelance writer with
extensive experience working on the web. Meredith provides
writing and editing services to individuals and businesses alike
at great prices. See
http://www.geocities.com/wordsmith25/MeredithPond.html for
details. For instant info on prices and services, send a blank
email to mailto:meredithpond@getresponse.com. Contact Meredith
directly at mailto:wordsmith25@hotmail.com.

This article provided by the Marketing-Seek Archives at: http://www.Marketing-Seek.com
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>RESOURCES FOR YOU

If you have a professional service business and you want to attract more clients Action Plan Marketing is a site to visit. Robert Middleton is the InfoGuru consultant on marketing. His site is filled with valuable information. He provides all the marketing information you need to take your business to the next level. I have his InfoGuru Manual and I've attended his teleclasses. If you really want to improve your marketing efforts check out http://www.1shoppingcart.com/app/aftrack.asp?afid=19003.

Are you interested in teambuilding techniques for your company? For articles, book reviews and lots of links go to http://www.teambuildinginc.com. It's a good resource for information on building teams.