Did You Hear the News?

Rather than writing my own blog today, I want to share interesting news about Microsoft.  http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-08-23/ballmer-exit-leaves-microsoft-searching-for-hero-in-slump.html  Ballmer Exit Leaves Microsoft Searching for Hero in Slump  By Ian King & Sarah Frier - Aug 23, 2013 9:45 AM MT  Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) Chief Executive Officer Steve Ballmer’s retirement leaves the world’s largest software company in a succession crisis amid the worst slump in history for the industry it helped create.  Ballmer’s planned departure, announced today, follows a management reshuffle, the company’s biggest earnings disappointment in a decade and the fifth consecutive quarterly drop in personal-computer shipments. Meanwhile, Microsoft remains an outsider in a burgeoning mobile-computing market led by Apple Inc. (AAPL) and Google Inc.  “It would be a difficult job, but if you could turn around Microsoft you’d be seen as a hero,” said Brendan Barnicle, an analyst with Pacific Crest Securities LLC, in Portland, Oregon. He has the equivalent of a hold rating on the stock. “He’s not really leaving the company in the best financial position.”  Ballmer, who took the helm from co-founder Bill Gates in 2000, said he will leave within the next 12 months. Microsoft is looking at both internal and external candidates in a search led by independent director John Thompson and including input from Gates, the Redmond, Washington-based company said today in a statement.  There are no obvious choices. Last month, Microsoft reduced the number of business units to four and said Windows Chief Julie Larson-Green would oversee all hardware, including the Surface tablet and Xbox console and related games. Windows Phone software head Terry Myerson gained added responsibility for the Windows and Xbox operating systems.  Outside Options  If Microsoft decides to bring in a leader from the outside, it might consider EBay Inc. (EBAY) CEO John Donahoe or try to recruit Facebook Inc. Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg, Pacific Crest’s Barnicle said.  “There’s not a clear internal successor, as some of the potential successors have left in recent years,” said David Cearley, an analyst at Gartner Inc. in Stamford, Connecticut. “It’ll be difficult for an outsider to come in and change a very strong culture that exists at Microsoft.”  Steven Sinofsky, former head of the Windows division, left the company last year after clashes with executives including Ballmer, people familiar with the situation said at the time. Gates is not being considered, according to people with knowledge of the matter.  Also among contenders may be Tony Bates, who leads the company’s business development organization. Bates, a former Cisco Systems Inc. executive, joined Microsoft when the company bought Skype Technologies SA in 2011.  Many Challenges  Whoever gets the job will face a list of challenges that recently has grown longer. Last month the company reported profit that missed analysts’ estimates by the biggest margin in at least a decade amid weakening demand for PCs running its Windows software.  Microsoft’s attempt to crack the growing market for tablet computers with the Surface device led to a $900 million write down of inventory as consumers continued to buy rival products like Apple’s iPad. Surface, Microsoft’s first-ever homegrown computer, shipped just 900,000 units in each of the December and March quarters, according to IDC.  At the same time, Microsoft’s flagship business is struggling. PC shipments fell 11 percent last quarter, according to Framingham, Massachusetts-based IDC. For some investors, the most important thing is replacing Ballmer with a leader who will help the company reemerge as a technology pioneer rather than just a follower. “You need someone who doesn’t need to be as much of an operations person as Steve Ballmer, who can say where Microsoft needs to be five years from now,” said Microsoft investor Michael Obuchowski, a fund manager at North Shore Asset Management LLC in Cold Spring Harbor, New York.  Microsoft shares rose 6.6 percent to $34.53 at 12:42 p.m. in New York after earlier climbing as high as $35.20. The stock had gained 21 percent this year before today.  ************************ Learn how to reduce your Health and Dental expenses AND reduce costs on Hearing, Vision, Prescriptions, Roadside Assistance, Lifelock™ and even more at http://ibourl.net/XpressSavings (NOT insurance).   Please visit my Facebook Page at http://www.facebook.com/XpressHealthcareTheWinnersCircle   To learn about Julie Klein and how you can be successful in network marketing, look at the Xpress Healthcare™ Business Opportunity at http://joinxpresshealthcare.com.

Working at Home… Is it as great as you think it will be?

I think nearly everyone dreams about the freedom of working for themselves, having their own home business.  For most, it remains a dream.  Over the past several years, however, there has been a dramatic increase in home-based businesses. 

More people want to raise their own children, instead of placing them in day care and missing out on all the milestones.    The cost of day care, gasoline and maintaining a vehicle can take a huge chunk out of their paycheck.  For those with a low to medium-sized income, they may not even take home enough to make it worthwhile to have a job. 

Those who are seriously considering working from home have a lot to consider before quitting their job.  There are pros and cons that come with owning a home business. 

Self-discipline can be the difference between success and failure in a home business.  Some people are not self-disciplined enough to “be their own boss.” 

Entrepreneurs must determine a work schedule, and stick to it; and they must be able to balance work and home life.  If they have young children, will they be able to focus on work at home?  Will the family support their efforts and respect their work time?  Or, will they think that they should be available at all times?

For most people, a job offers a stable income, and receiving a paycheck on a regular basis.  Those who work at home may be giving up health insurance or a retirement plan.  With a home business, income is not predictable.  Although there is a potential to earn far more than with most jobs, it is just that – potential, not a given.

For households with a single wage earner, it will be difficult at the beginning.  Nearly all home businesses must be built over time.  If the business is successful, their income will grow, but the road will be a bumpy one, with challenges along the way.  Obstacles will appear requiring changes in marketing strategy.  There will be slow periods when it seems the business is going nowhere. 

Many people believe they will work less when they have their own business.  Those who are serious about growing a business, however, may end up working longer hours, not fewer.  Many work harder than they did on any job they ever had.  Success, after all, is dependant entirely on the home business owner. 

Will they be able to cope with the isolation of working at home, or will they go stir crazy without another adult with whom to chat?  Operating a home business requires goal, plans, flexibility, focus, organization, self-motivation and creativity. 

We often hear that most home businesses fail.  In reality, most home business owners quit.  They must prepare themselves for the many challenges that will arise along their path to success.  They must be patient, but persistent.  The road to success will be just a bit smoother for those whose mantra is “Quitting is Not an Option.”

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Learn how to reduce your Health and Dental expenses AND reduce costs on Hearing, Vision, Prescriptions, Roadside Assistance, Lifelock™ and even more at http://ibourl.net/XpressSavings (NOT insurance).

 

Please visit my Facebook Page at http://www.facebook.com/XpressHealthcareTheWinnersCircle

 

To learn about Julie Klein and how you can be successful in network marketing, look at the Xpress Healthcare™ Business Opportunity at http://joinxpresshealthcare.com.  

Why Doesn't Anyone Read My Ads?

When we write ads, our goal is to get the very best response we can, right?  There are several factors involved in grabbing the attention of readers to help you achieve results. You’ll notice that some of these tips also apply to writing and posting blogs.

Writing an attention-grabbing headline is the most important tip I can give you.  Most of us are pressed for time and on information overload.  So we just skim over the page to find something that looks interesting.  If your headline doesn't get their attention your ad likely won’t even be read. 

Write a list of all the features of your products, service or business opportunity.  Then, ask yourself, how each feature will benefit your potential customers.  Put yourself in your customers’ shoes and ask, “How will this help me?” or simply, “So what?”  Do not simply provide a list of good features; explain how the features will help your customer.

I’ll use one of my company’s products as an example.  We offer a discount dental program. What makes our service better than our competitors’ and what purpose will it serve our customers?  By using our program, our members often save hundreds of dollars on their dental care expenses.  We are better than our competition, because our network of dentists is the largest in the country. 

Start with your strongest selling points. Use the first lines to create a desire for your product or service by briefly touching on the major benefits it will bring the customer. Do not provide too much detail. Your ad should pique their interest enough that they will go to your website where they can learn all the details. 

The end of your ad should be a “call to action.”  Tell the reader what to do.  For instance, "Click here to learn more!"

Do not “hype” your readers in your ad.  By doing so, you can ruin your reputation or worse.  Be persuasive, but not too much so. 

Finally, be sure you know your company’s policies regarding use of their name, logos, etc.  Some company’s require you to submit your ads for approval prior to publishing them.

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Learn how to reduce your Health and Dental expenses AND reduce costs on Hearing, Vision, Prescriptions, Roadside Assistance, Lifelock™ and even more athttp://ibourl.net/XpressSavings (NOT insurance).

Please visit my Facebook Page athttp://www.facebook.com/XpressHealthcareTheWinnersCircle

To learn about Julie Klein and how you can be successful in network marketing, look at the Xpress Healthcare™ Business Opportunity at http://joinxpresshealthcare.com. 

As Baby Boomers Age

Information for the press release was acquired at http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/05/28/senior-citizens-health-care-report/2354635/.  (“Senior health care crisis looms; report ranks states”)

Baby Boomers are now becoming senior citizens.  As they do, a strain is going to be placed on the health care system.  On average, they may live longer than previous generations, however, they are also more likely to be obese and have diabetes and other chronic diseases. 

A few months ago, the United Health Foundation released, “America’s Health Rankings Senior Report.”  Based on 34 measures of senior health, including obesity, drug coverage, physical inactivity and more, the report analyzed seniors’ health status.

This report states that one in eight Americans is now 65 or older (about 40.3 million people).  By 2030, the year by which all Baby Boomers will have turned at least 65, those numbers will increase to one in five (72.1 million people).  By 2030, it is anticipated that 8.7 million Americans will be 85 or older.

Out of every 10 seniors, about eight have one or more chronic health issues.  Fifty-percent have two or more conditions.  Obesity, diabetes, heart disease and arthritis will bring about huge numbers of disabled seniors.  Adults 65 and older spend two to five times more on healthcare than younger adults.

It is hoped that this report will serve as a warning about the impending economic consequences.  “The report offers ‘an important set of messages ... for personal focus, family and community focus, and a heads-up to the providers, and a real heads-up to policy makers,’ said Jennie Chin Hansen, CEO of the American Geriatrics Society and author of one of several commentaries in the report.”

The report revealed how each State is ranked based on a variety of issues, “including a large number of seniors who report being in very good or excellent health, high rates of creditable drug coverage, relatively high availability of home health care workers, as well as a low rate of seniors at risk of going hungry and a low rate of hospitalization for hip fractures…”

Using these factors, Minnesota has the best record while Mississippi has the worst.  However, these figures don’t provide the full picture, because Minnesota also has a high rate of chronic drinkers, and the State provides little assistance to older adults in poverty.  And while Mississippi ranked lowest on the factors in the previous paragraph, they also have a much smaller number of chronic drinking and a high rate of flu vaccination.

The senior population is expected to grow 46% between 2015 and 2030.  Arizona expects the largest increase in the number of seniors by 2030, with a whopping 101% anticipated increase of seniors.  The report covered each State’s obesity rates, the number of seniors living at or below the poverty level, the percentage of seniors with chronic diseases and much more.

If you’re interested in reading the entire report, visit the link at the top of this PR.  As a Baby Boomer myself, being over 65, I found this report to be both interesting and frightening.  What are your thoughts on this topic?

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I am glad that my business can help all Americans, but seniors in particular, to reduce many of their health-related expenses.  Medicare does not offer dental care, has limitations on prescriptions, and provides no assistance on vision or hearing costs.  My company offers discounts on all of these expenditures and much more.

Learn how to reduce your Health and Dental expenses AND reduce costs on Hearing, Vision, Prescriptions, Roadside Assistance, Lifelock™ and even more at http://ibourl.net/XpressSavings (NOT insurance).

To learn about Julie Klein and how you can be successful in network marketing, look at the Xpress Healthcare™ Business Opportunity at http://joinxpresshealthcare.com. 

Rules of Engagement

As long as people have engaged in commerce, they have generally done business with people they liked and trusted.  Today, with online social networking, we can become acquainted with people worldwide.  This has opened up a whole new mode of promoting our businesses.

A very powerful way to market businesses, especially home businesses is “relationship marketing.”  Using social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, IBOToolbox and others, we can connect with potential customers and business partners. 

With relationship marketing, we primarily focus on building and sustaining mutually beneficial associations.  We can also establish friendships with people who may never have any interest in our product or business.  We can learn from some of our contacts and educate others.

The most important thing to remember is that we are using social media.  The name is a clue as to how to behave on these sites.  Don’t just jump in and start promoting your product.  Remember that I began this post by saying that people do business with those they like and trust, and it can take time to develop a relationship. 

Participate on social media sites with relevant information.  Your posts can be educational, newsworthy, humorous, interesting or helpful.  Those with whom you are establishing a relationship want to know about you, so include your opinions, information about your background, perhaps a little about your family.  Always keep your posts positive, and avoid controversial topics.  It is very important to include photograph of yourself as part of your profile.  Your profile picture should not be your logo or an avatar.  People want to know that there is a real person writing to them.

Remember that it is not always about you. Ask questions and get to know your contacts.  We’re sowing seeds.  Any one of the relationship seeds we plant may turn out to know someone who needs your product or who is seeking a business just like yours.

As I said earlier, don’t begin selling too soon. Find a balance between sharing your information and sharing other people’s. Being social is the first step, and eventually people will begin asking questions about your business. 

Don’t be surprised if it takes a few months to establish enough relationships to benefit your business.  Be patient and get to know people.  I have built my business almost entirely through social media.  Your patience will prove worthwhile.

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Learn how to reduce your Health and Dental expenses AND reduce costs on Hearing, Vision, Prescriptions, Roadside Assistance, Lifelock™ and even more at http://ibourl.net/XpressSavings (NOT insurance).

       Please visit my Facebook Page at http://www.facebook.com/XpressHealthcareTheWinnersCircle

To learn about Julie Klein and how you can be successful in network marketing, look at the Xpress Healthcare™ Business Opportunity at http://joinxpresshealthcare.com. 

Goals are Dreams with a Deadline - Tony Robbins

It is fine to dream of owning an island in the Pacific, but what are your chances of ever actually doing it?  Dreaming is fun, but goal setting is actually serious business.

Your goals must be realistic, something you truly believe you can achieve.  As Tony Robbins says, our goals must have a deadline by which you plan to reach them.  Your goals also should be specific, measurable targets.  Instead of saying, “I want to be financially secure,” specify, “I will make 100 sales by this Christmas.” 

If you were a contractor using a blueprint to build an apartment building, you would have specific tasks that you would have to complete by a certain date.  You would complete one step and then move on to the next.  You would dig out the hole for the foundation, and then you would pour the foundation.  You would build the frame, and continue each task necessary until your building is complete.  Use your goals as a blueprint designed with the steps necessary to build your business. 

Going back to our friendly contractor, as he completes each task toward building the apartments, he is reaching another goal – completing the specific task. Your blueprint should also include short-term goals for which to strive and accomplish. 

Determine what steps you’ll have to reach to achieve your goals.  Let’s say, for example, your goal is to make 100 local sales by October 31^st.  To meet that goal, you’ll have to go out and start meeting people or setting up appointments with business owners or individuals (depending upon what product or service you are selling).  What other steps will be required to make those 100 sales?

Write down your goals!  Don’t keep them in your head!  Once written, share them with your spouse, your best friend or a co-worker.  Sharing them will help you feel accountable to them, and you’ll likely work harder to reach your goals.  Remember though that your goals are not written in stone.  As time passes and you gain more experience and learn more about your business, you can always change your goals, especially your long term goal.

In order to achieve your goals, you may have to learn some new skills, step out of your comfort zone or adapt new habits to replace old ones. You must be willing to do whatever it takes!

Never Give Up – If you are determined to succeed, if you KNOW that you can, nothing can stop you! 

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Learn how to reduce your Health and Dental expenses AND reduce costs on Hearing, Vision, Prescriptions, Roadside Assistance, Lifelock™ and even more at http://ibourl.net/XpressSavings (NOT insurance).

       Please visit my Facebook Page at http://www.facebook.com/XpressHealthcareTheWinnersCircle

To learn about Julie Klein and how you can be successful in network marketing, look at the Xpress Healthcare™ Business Opportunity at http://joinxpresshealthcare.com.  

Someone is Praying for the Blessings You Take for Granted

It is so easy to take people and things for granted.  I am spoiled, and I know it.  Although I’m not wealthy, we get our bills paid every month. I have a wonderful husband, two healthy sons and three beautiful grandchildren. 

I also have a brother and a sister, both of whom I love dearly.  I used to have two sisters. My “big” sister died a few years ago way too young, and I miss her every day.  I am so glad that while she was with us, I did not take her for granted.  We spoke every day, at least once, until the day she died.  Thank Heavens, the last words we spoke on the phone the night she died were, “I love you.”

I do take some things for granted though.  I seldom think about that fact that I know I will always have food to eat and a roof over my head.  I have never had to truly struggle to survive. 

Most people, Americans in particularly, don’t give much thought to what’s happening around the world. I am saying this as an American myself.  I KNOW there are people starving, who are in pain, who are suffering and living in unimaginable conditions.  But most of the time, I just go on living my life, taking it for granted.

Sure, I give my time and money, but not enough of either.  When I take the time to really think about all have, I am very grateful for where I was born, for the family that raised me, and for the good health that enabled me to work hard to be able to afford what I have today.

Today I am taking some time to be truly grateful for all the things I normally don’t give a moment’s thought.  I have to clean my house, but I have a house to clean!  I have to put expensive gas into my car, but I have a car and the money to fuel it.  I have to prepare dinner and clean the kitchen afterward, but I have the food to cook and a place to prepare it.

I have a business that I love working, and I earn a living with it.  Many of my co-workers have become friends about whom I care very much.  I work with a company with very high integrity and excellent products.  Although I am not brilliant with an amazing IQ, I am smart enough to operate my business and write this blog.

There are many people – friends and family – that love me, and I love them in return.  In so many ways, I am blessed, and I am very thankful for everyone in my life and for the blessings that have been bestowed upon me.

Perhaps you too would like to take just a little time today to be grateful for those people and things you normally take for granted.

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Learn how to reduce your Health and Dental expenses AND reduce costs on Hearing, Vision, Prescriptions, Roadside Assistance, Lifelock™ and even more at http://ibourl.net/XpressSavings (NOT insurance).

Please take a few minutes to visit and comment on my Facebook page:  http://www.facebook.com/XpressHealthcarTheWinnersCircle.