What's Up Doc?

I live in a fairly small city with a population of about 40,000.  The nearest large city is 90 miles away, a 90 minute drive.  Between my city and that large city, it is mostly wide open spaces. 

We have many doctors, but not many specialists.  We have one hospital – or as they call it, a Regional Medical Center.  As I and thousands of others in the “baby boomer” generation grow older, we will likely have more need for Cardiologists, Gastroenterologists, Orthopedic Surgeons, and more.

I just learned that my Pulmonologist, the only one in the city, is leaving the state next month.  My OB/GYN left the city a couple years ago.  Now we have only one remaining.  We have two gastroenterologists, one of whom is near retirement age.       

Many physicians do not want to practice in cities with a poor economy.  While many rural areas are in economic decline, because we have a large military base, our city has not suffered quite as much as most small cities or the rest of the nation.  So the economy is not really a factor here.

A survey conducted a few years ago revealed that only 4 percent of medical residents ranked communities with fewer than 25,000 residents as their top choice of where to practice. More than half chose to practice in areas less than 10 miles from their residency programs, which are overwhelmingly located in big cities.  While our population is higher than 25,000, it certainly cannot be called a big city.

I recently learned that in many specialties, the highest earners are found in towns of 50,000 to 250,000 in size, not in the largest metropolitan areas.  There is less competition; insurance company reimbursements are actually higher in small to mid-sized cities; and the cost of practicing is lower in these cities.  Fewer malpractice law suits are generally filed in smaller cities, making the cost of malpractice insurance lower as well.

Sub-specialized physicians – those who need to be part of a major medical center with advanced equipment and every specialty at their fingertips – do not fit into this higher-income category.  With those specialists, their patients travel to them, and income and competition are not affected the same as most primary specialties.

I have taken that 90-mile drive to the “big city” to see various specialists over the years I have lived here.  As I get older, I have become more concerned about this lack of specialists.   Since they could actually earn more, or at least spend less to practice here, why do we have fewer physician specialists?  From everything I have read, it may be less about money, and more about proximity to family, fine dining, cultural availability (the arts) and various other reasons unrelated to the economy.

So for those of us living in my city and many other rural communities, we have a choice of moving to a bigger city or continuing to drive great distances for medical care.  For many, neither option is possible, making it a frightening situation for many poor and elderly residents.

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To learn more about Julie Klein and Xpress Healthcare, please visit http://LearnMoreAndApply.com

Join the Party!

It seems all we see on television and on the Internet these days are political ads and posts.  I have seen way too many “discussions” about politics online.

Like most people, I have my opinion about politics and my preference about who I hope will win the Presidential, Congressional and Senatorial races, but I keep it mostly to myself.  Most people I know belong to the opposing party.  What possible reason would there be for me to discuss politics with them?  I will never change their opinion nor will they change mine.

Working in Internet marketing as I do, discussing politics publicly could be detrimental to my business.  Some people feel so strongly about their political beliefs, they may not want to do business with me if I do not agree with them.

I am even a member of a group that represents my party.  So, yes, I have strong political beliefs.  I share them with other group members, but not with those who disagree.  I believe that it simply serves no purpose.

With my Xpress Healthcare business, I have a large team.  I believe only one person on my team knows to which party I belong, and that person is a member of the other party.  We simply do not discuss politics.  We have a great deal in common, and we are close friends.  Why ruin our relationship by arguing about politics.   

Many people in business feel very differently about the matter.  Brick and mortar business often have signs announcing their endorsement for a particular person or bumper stickers all over their cars.  (I would never put any bumper stickers on my car – political or otherwise, because they can be very difficult to remove.)

I see people that I know are Internet marketers post about their favorite candidate all the time, often saying rather ugly things about their opponent. It is their right to do so, just as it is my right not to advertise my political affiliation.

Every Presidential election has negative ads.  This year I am seeing far more negative, obnoxious posts made by individuals.  Of course, with each passing year, the Internet becomes more widespread and more people participate on it.  So, I guess that is to be expected.

I will continue to keep my political views mostly to myself.  Others can do as I do or publicize to the world what they believe.  That is one of the many benefits, privileges and rights of living in the United States of America.    

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To learn about Julie Klein and Xpress Healthcare

visit http://joinxpresshealthcare.com

I Am NOT an Advertising Guru

I am far from being an advertising guru.  I believe that participating on forums, writing blogs and social networking sites are the best way to promote your network marketing business.  However, I also think that using online ads can reach a very different audience, and those ads may bring you a different group of prospects.  So, I will share some tips I have learned about advertising along the way.

Nearly everyone has heard of craigslist.org, the largest free classified ad site available.  It can be challenging for network marketers to use the site since it discourages MLM ads.  There are thousands of other advertising sites.  Some charge a fee, while many are free to post.  (There are also advertising agencies that you can pay to place your ads, which I will not address here.)  Which ad sites to use is pretty much trial and error for your particular business. 

The first thing you should do is define who your target market is.  If you are advertising a business opportunity, you have a very different market than if you’re advertising a product or service.  Every website has different categories from which to choose, so find one that best fits your type of ad.

Many network marketers write ads that sound good to themselves.  You are not selling the ads to yourself.  Your ads have to work for the people to whom you are selling.  What are their problems, fears and desires? This will help you target your ads.

Next you need a headline that will catch attention.  People will move on to the next ad if the headline doesn’t interest them.  Your headline should arouse curiosity or grab attention.  You can use questions, intrigue, or an announcement.  Some examples could be:  Are You a Motivated Team Leader?  - Are you Tired of Selling Baskets, Lotions and Potions?  - I am building a team of leaders?  Do you qualify?  - Now Offering a FREE Trial! - Announcing New $30 Recruiting Bonus! - Everyone needs this product!  (Readers will wonder what the product is.)

When writing effective ads, write down several headlines, and then pick the one you like the best.  If you use the first one you come up with, odds are it won’t be the best one you could have used.

Write your ad concisely, but truthfully. Don’t exaggerate your business opportunity or your products, but you can use adjectives such as "best," "great," "excellent," and "effective."

According to an article I recently read, it seems the more hoops people have to jump through to get to you, the more serious they will be. The article suggested that you let your copy do the funneling for you, and you will spend less time weeding through people who aren't serious.  The way I interpret this is to NOT include a phone number, for instance. If you include a number, the prospect will just pick up the phone without going to your website and expect you to provide a full presentation.  I only include a website on my ads. 

Another thing I read in that same article is that they recommend that we keep the price out of our copy. The author suggests that you will receive fewer responses if you include the price.  Focus instead on the problem your prospect has that will make them want to contact you to try your product. Create a picture of how it will make their life easier and more enjoyable. Marketing is about solving specific consumer problems.

What are the benefits of your business opportunity or products?  The more specific you are in the ad, the better.  Your ad should make it clear how your target audience is going to benefit from joining your business or purchasing your products.  All the reader wants to know is "what's in it for me?"  Your goal is to make customers feel they "NEED" your product!  If possible, offer something for FREE!  A sample of your product, an e-book or coupon may attract additional prospects.  

Always include a plan of action.  Studies have shown that when people are told what they need to do in an ad, they are more likely to do it than if you just leave it up to them.  You can put something as simple as writing, “Click Here”

I have written ads for my Xpress Healthcare business that bring no responses whatsoever, and I have posted ads that drove many people to my websites.  I change my ads frequently, always testing new and different ads to see which are the most effective.  There is really only one way to be certain that you have a good ad.  Run an ad for a week, then change the headline and run that one for a week, and see which does better.  Then change the body and let that run for a week.  There is no way to know exactly how well your ad will do until you test it.

To learn more about Julie Klein and Xpress Healthcare, visit http://joinxpresshealthcare.com

Bizarre and Unique Holidays

I have always known that there are some odd holidays and days of “observation” of a person, place or thing.  I decided to learn more about those that occur during the month of October.  What I found was both amusing and interesting.

If you’re wondering how one goes about creating a “day” or “month,” it varies.  Those days that are actually recognized throughout the country requires an act of Congress and is a long process and takes a great deal of work. Other “Days,”  were created by special interest groups, sports teams, companies, local government agencies. For some “days,” someone simply declares it so.  Greeting card and ecard companies sometimes do this. 

Nearly every day has been designated a day, so there are far too many to put on a single page. There are also many full-month and week-long observances, which I will not address here. 

World Vegetarian Day was observed on October 1st.  On the 2nd, you may have missed a great opportunity on Name Your Car Day.

Virus Appreciation Day was recognized on the 3rd of October.  I guess we should have shown some respect for nasty viruses. Instead, I’d rather give them a dose of penicillin.

World Teacher’s Day was on the 5th, but I think we should be praising and acknowledging teachers every day. 

On October 6th, I hope you were silly and celebrated silliness on Mad Hatter Day.  October 7th was the last day of Oktoberfest in Germany and World Smile Day.

Tag, you’re it!  I am certain many people played outside on American Touch Tag Day.  Did you know that Columbus Day was created by Franklin Delano Roosevelt to capture the Italian vote?

What do you suppose we were supposed to do on Moldy Cheese Day? I may have just waited to eat until the following day, since October 10th was National Angel Food Cake Day.  Prepare yourself for Evaluate Your Life Day on October 19th.

What’s all the chatter about Babbling Day on the 21st of this month? You quiet types better stay away from the party. On the last Friday in October, we can have fun on Frankenstein Friday, a holiday created by Ron MacCloskey so he could award “The Franky” to someone who made a significant contribution to the promotion of the lovely Frankenstein.

You just may want to stay home on the 29th, since it is Hermit Day.  Or, look into the future on the 31st for Increase Your Psychic Powers Day. 

There are far more “days” than I have shared with you here, but this is a pretty good sampling.  I find it rather amusing to think people actually took time to think up these “days.”  They don’t need a day, they really need a life!  Then again, I took the time to look them up.

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For information about Julie Klein and Xpress Healthcare, visit http://joinxpresshealthcare.com

The Last Presidential Campaign is Always the Worst

I read this very interesting article on the Internet and want to share it with you.  This includes a couple of sentences that expose the author’s political leanings.  I do not want to start a political debate here.  Please do NOT post any comments as to whom you support in the upcoming election.  I am not even saying whether I agree or disagree with the author.  Removing the sentence, however, would take away from the article.

You can read the article in its entirety here:  http://www.usnews.com/debate-club/has-the-dishonesty-in-the-2012-campaign-reached-unprecedented-lows/the-last-presidential-campaign-is-always-the-worst

By BRAD BANNON

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As the natives of a relatively young nation, Americans don't have an especially strong sense of history. Recently I saw a list of players that baseball fans considered the best of all time. Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Cal Ripken, Mickey Mantle, Sandy Koufax, and Bob Gibson deservedly made the list. The recent steroid all stars were also well represented. Conspicuous by their absence were stars like Walter "Big Train" Johnson, Hank Greenberg, Satchel Page, Josh Gibson, and other luminaries from the golden age of baseball. They are gone and forgotten by current fans.

The same lack of historical perspective extends to politics. The last presidential campaign is always the worst presidential campaign. The President Obama's and Mitt Romney's campaigns and their surrogates have given Americans many good reasons to be unhappy about the tone of the 2012 campaign. But is the 2012 presidential campaign any worse than the mud fest in 1800 between John Adams and Thomas Jefferson? Probably not.

Jefferson's allies suggested that Adams, who was the political leader of our War of Independence, was a "monarchist," which was a fighting word in those days. Adams was arrogant and pretentious, but he certainly wasn't a "royalist." Describing Adams as a "monarchist" was as stupid as calling Barack Obama a socialist. A friend of mind once said to me, "I am a socialist, and believe me, Barack Obama is no socialist."

The allies of Adams weren't much better. They apparently missed the many references to God in the Declaration of Independence and branded Jefferson an atheist, which he clearly wasn't. Jefferson believed in God, he just didn't believe in churches. Adams's supporters went even further than that to say that Jefferson would close churches and burn Bibles if he became president. Well Jefferson served as president for eight years and there is no record of Jefferson or any member of his administration shutting down a place of worship or burning any book, much less the Bible.

Get a grip. The 2012 contest for the White House is a nasty and negative campaign. But it certainly isn't the worst. But you can bet, people will say that the 2016 race is.

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To learn more about Julie Klein and Xpress Healthcare, visit http://joinxpresshealthcare 

Don’t Judge a Book by its Cover

“The English idiom ‘don't judge a book by its cover’ is a metaphorical phrase which means "you shouldn't prejudge the worth or value of something, by its outward appearance alone’.”  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don't_judge_a_book_by_its_cover#Origin

My niece, Jenn, joined the Goth subculture as a teenager.  She began dying her hair black, wearing very dramatic makeup, wearing black nail polish and all black clothing.  To fully understand, here is the explanation from Wikipedia:  

“The Goth subculture is a contemporary subculture found in many countries. It began in England during the early 1980s in the Gothic rock scene, an offshoot of the post-punk genre. The Goth subculture has survived much longer than others of the same era, and has continued to diversify. Its imagery and cultural proclivities indicate influences from the 19th century Gothic literature…

"The Goth subculture has associated tastes in music, aesthetics, and fashion. The music of the Goth subculture encompasses a number of different styles including Gothic rock, deathrock, post-punk, darkwave, Ethereal, and neoclassical. Styles of dress within the subculture range from deathrock, punk and Victorian style attire, or combinations of the above, most often with dark attire, makeup and hair.”  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goth_subculture

My mother was very close with Jenn, and she found it disturbing at first to see her dressed the way she did.  She always said, “She’ll grow out of it.”

Jenn is now 40 years old, and still a Goth.  In fact, she is well known throughout the world among other Goths.  She goes to a Goth “gathering” in Germany every year.

She has been with Dave for 17 years, a terrific guy, also a Goth, who holds a good job making decent money.  Jenn is an assistant manager at a retail clothing store.  She takes a bus to work, because she never learned or wanted to drive.

Jenn is absolutely beautiful!  Truly, even with the “interesting” makeup and hair, she is gorgeous.  On top of her physical beauty, however, she is a lovely, kind and warm woman.  Jenn is very family-oriented.  When my mother was near death, Jenn went to her house and climbed fully clothed (including her black boots) into bed with her.  They held one another for about 30 minutes, both crying softly.  They didn’t speak (my mother could not at that point), and yet they said so much to one another.  (As I write this part, I too am crying.)

This is my niece Jenn.  I love her not in spite of her appearance, but because of it.  She is who she is, and will not change to please others.  The outside is what others see, and I am sure some think poorly of her because of her style. 

The next time you see someone dressing differently than most, wearing unique makeup, perhaps even someone living on the street, please remember Jenn.  What you see doesn’t tell the whole story.  Like Jenn, there is likely great beauty inside.  

To learn more about Julie Klein and Xpress Healthcare, please visit http://ibourl.netJoinXpressHealthcare

Genetic Mutations

We hear it all the time.  We should all have our teeth cleaned and examined a couple times a year.  Colonoscopies are recommended to catch any cancers early.  Women should get regular mammograms after the age of 40. 

I try to follow the suggested medical guidelines, which led me to my annual mammogram last year.  When my doctor discovered a “spot” that did not appear on earlier mammograms, he ordered a biopsy.  The test was benign, and I was relieved.  My grandmother and an aunt died of breast cancer, so I have reason to adhere to the regular checkups. 

I saw my doctor again this week and received a good report on my latest mammogram.  He pointed out that I have two more “spots” that he will be watching, but for now, no biopsy is necessary.  He then proceeded to ask me about my ancestry.  When I responded that I am of Eastern European descent, he asked whether the family was of Ashkenazi Jewish descent, to which I responded “yes.”

He went on to explain that those of Ashkenazi Jewish descent had a higher incidence of breast and ovarian cancer than the general population.  He suggested that I have BracAnalysis Testing for the mutated gene that is sometimes inherited by those in this group, both women and men.

Those who test positive for the mutated gene have an 88% chance of getting breast and/or ovarian cancer at some time in their lives.  So knowing whether I carry that gene will determine my current and future treatment.  For instance, he said if I test positive, he would perform a biopsy on those two suspicious abnormalities that appeared on my most recent mammogram.

I had never heard of this type of testing, nor did I realize that Ashkenazi Jews had a greater risk of breast and ovarian cancer.  This made me wonder what other diseases or disorders were common in certain ethnic or racial groups.

A brief Internet search informed me that Tay-Sachs disease is also more likely to occur among people of Ashkenazi (eastern and central European) Jewish descent and those of French Canadian ancestry. 

Sickle cell anemia is another genetic condition that is more common in particular groups, people of African, African-American or Mediterranean heritage.  I knew more African-Americans had sickle cell anemia, but I did not know that people of Mediterranean heritage also are more likely to develop the condition.

About one in 2500 Europeans develop cystic fibrosis, but only in one in 90,000 Asians do. I had no idea that disease was more common in a certain group than others.

Common diseases and conditions not connected to gene mutation also vary in frequency among certain populations.  Although millions suffer from hypertension, it occurs more frequently in African-Americans than European-Americans; and type 2 diabetes is especially common in Hispanic and Native-American populations.

I imagine further research would reveal far more medical conditions affecting one group more than others.  My lack of time to perform the research outweighs my curiosity to know about them.  I did, however, find it interesting to learn about the BracAnalysis Testing and about how various groups are more prone to specific health issues than others.

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To learn more about Julie Klein and Xpress Healthcare, visit http://joinxpresshealthcare.com.