Archive for October, 2009

Free Think and Grow Rich Book

Tell us where to send it, and we’ll send you the number one
success book of all time.

My friends Vic and Lisa Johnson are doing this crazy marketing
test where they’re giving away Napoleon Hill’s “Think & Grow Rich.”

I’m helping them with their big giveaway and wanted to make sure
you got your copy before they take this offer down.

Get the details here:

http://www.FreeTGRbook.com/rapidsuccessnow

Feel free to pass this on to friends. They can get one too if they
act right away.

This is one of my favorite books.  I know you’ll love it!

Tina Ferguson

P.S. Vic and Lisa are actually shipping these so you need to give
them your address before they run out.

Details here:

http://www.FreeTGRbook.com/rapidsuccessnow

Integrating Talkshoe with WordPress Blog

So you have a show on talkshoe and would like to do more with your RSS feed by integrating it with your wordpress blog. It is easier than every with just a few tools.

Tina Ferguson has integrated her blog with talkshoe and here is how she did it. Well her husband and Troy at http://veluzarwebdesign.com/ design did it.

What  you need for talkshoe and wordpress before you get started.

• Feed wordpress Plugin – http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/feedwordpress/
• A self hosted wordpress blog – http://www.site5.com or some other host
• FTP access to your website or some way to get files into your blog directory
• A talk shoe show on http://www.talkshoe.com
• Ability to copy and past information and type at least 2 words a minute

Easy as 1 to 3.

Open note pad so you can have a place to copy some code you will be using.

Step 1 

Download feed wordpress and unzip to a directory on your desktop.

Step 2

Follow feed wordpress instructions

New Installations

1. Download the FeedWordPress archive and extract the files on your computer.

2. Create a new directory named feedwordpress in the wp-content/plugins directory of your WordPress installation. Use an FTP or SFTP client to upload the contents of your FeedWordPress archive to the new directory that you just created on your web host.

3. Upgrade the copy of MagpieRSS packaged with WordPress by installing the new copies of rss.php and rss-functions.php into the wp-includes directory of your FeedWordPress installation. These files are stored in the MagpieRSS-upgrade directory of your FeedWordPress archive. Strictly speaking, upgrading MagpieRSS is optional; FeedWordPress will run correctly without the upgrade. But if you hope to take advantage of numerous bug fixes, or support for Atom 1.0, multiple post categories, RSS enclosures, or multiple character encodings, then you need to install the upgrade.

4. Log in to the WordPress Dashboard and activate the FeedWordPress plugin.

Step 3

Get links for TalkShoe

1. Goto http://www.talkshoe.com
2. Login and click on my talkshoe button at top then proceed to your show page
3. Just below and to the right of your logo or show picture you should see some little feed buttons. Click in the one that says rss podcast
4. This will open the XML RSS Link. Copy this link and past it into notepad you will need it in just a bit.
5. In the wordpress admin section create a new category for posts called Whatever your radio show is called. Tina Fergusons is called Queen of Dreams Radio.

Step 4

Continue Feed WordPress Setup

1. Once the plugin is activated, you can go to Syndication –> Options and set (1) the link category that FeedWordPress will syndicate links from (by default, “Contributors”), and (2) whether FeedWordPress will use automatic updates or only manual updates.
2. Go to the main Syndication page to set up the list of sites that you want FeedWordPress to syndicate onto your blog.
3. Copy the link for your talkshoe feed you pasted into notepad and paste it into the box that says Add new source and click syndicate. The Main Syndication link will always be on your admin sidebar under the calendar section
4. After your feed is added you should see it at the bottom. Click on the title that comes over from talkshoe and we can then configure options.
5. The main settings on the feed page should all be set to automatic.
6. Now on the left menu goto syndication and then settings to set sitewide settings
7. Syndication Feeds should all be Syndicated Link category: = 292: Contributors 2: Resources : Check for updates: automatically only when I request Time limit on updates: no time limit on updates limit updates to no more than… seconds ALL other boxes should be checked and then Save settings
8. Now All we have to do is set the Categories to Don’t create new categories and then check all posts goto the new category you crated for your radio show.

Step 5

Past new code for your single page, archives page, and main index.php template by going to edit them. This may vary for different templates.

Here is the example of my new title tag that adds click here to listen to posts that are from your radio show. You will need to know the category ID for your wordpress radio show category for this to work.

Tina Ferguson Example:

<div class=”title”>
<?php  if (in_category(’293′)) { ?>                   
<h2><a href=”<?php the_permalink() ?>” rel=”bookmark” title=”Permanent Link to <?php the_title_attribute(); ?>”><?php the_title(); ?><font color=”#ea1a78″> – Click to Listen</a></font>  </h2>
<?php } else { ?>
<h2><a href=”<?php the_permalink() ?>” rel=”bookmark” title=”Permanent Link to <?php the_title_attribute(); ?>”><?php the_title(); ?></a></h2>
<?php } ?>

Last Step – Yeah

Goto the Syndication link on the wordpress left admin link and click syndication. Then click on update and you are finished.

Now when you look at your blog you should see an import of your Talkshoe radio show in your blog with description and direct link to the show mp3 that is in your talkshoe feed. Be sure to write good descriptions of your show in talkshoe because they will come over with the posts.

See Example code in action at http://www.tinaferguson.com you can click on Tina’s blog or the categories section on the left side bar etc and Queen of Dreams Radio.

Have a great one everyone.

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Former Champ Serves Up Volleyball Training Center

A Plano engineer and former beach volleyball champion spiked his old job to open up a volleyball training center in Allen.

Is the Letter of Intent a Worthless Document?

By Karl Benson

A Letter of Intent (LOI) is a common way to express your intentions to purchase a property without having to write a formal, legal binding contract. The Letter of Intent is presented to a seller in the very preliminary stages of a project. The intentions of a buyer are spelled out clearly and simply so the seller knows exactly how the buyer wants to purchase the property, and under what terms. Essentially a Letter of Intent is to open a dialogue and create a framework for that dialogue between buyers and sellers.

Definition of a Letter of Intent

“A Letter of Intent is basically a written statement expressing the sender’s intention, should certain circumstances arise, to take or forgo some action, like entering into a future agreement with the recipient, or, more generally, carrying out business activities mentioned in the Letter of Intent.”

I often submit a LOI right after I have found a building, quickly analyzed the operating numbers and recognized that a deal could be created. This whole process might be as a short of a time as 30 minutes. I want the seller to recognize me as having a serious interest in the building and not just a ‘tire-kicker”. The sooner he knows he potentially has a viable sale of his property, the sooner he may stop fielding calls and inquiries from others. In other words, his attention will be focused on the dialogue with me.

The letter of intent in the offer process

This Letter of Intent is not a traditional letter. You do not write it and forget it. It is a living document that should be updated and added to on a regular basis throughout the offer process. In the offer and purchase process, the letter of intent tells the property seller that you are interested not only in submitting a proposal to purchase, but in response also receiving all LOI updates and modifications. The LOI is an agreement to agree in the future. Once the Investor and the seller have come to the meeting of the minds via the LOI, a formal Purchase Contract would be written.

If the letter of intent is accepted, then the due diligence period will begin. It will continue until the time agreed upon by both parties in which, at the end of the term, a binding contract is constructed. Terms may change during this time if certain aspects of a property, previously not disclosed, are discovered. For example, there may be soil contamination in which the buyer will not want to purchase the property and will safely option out of the non-binding contract. Or, perhaps the property is in a lot worse condition than originally thought, causing the buyer to negotiate a decreased purchase price.

If not binding is the letter of intent is a worthless document?

A letter of intent is not an offer or a contract. It doesn’t commit you or the seller to the project. In other words, it cannot be enforced. Often in the LOI there is often times, at the bottom or, in the body a paragraph stating and reinforcing the non-binding character of the LOI.

This should be a basic understanding of the nature of the LOI. This language is
usually just re-enforcement inserted to let all who may read that it is not a binding document, nor an agreement to agree in the future, unless specifically written.

The Specific details of due diligence, cash flow and the buyers’ needs, how those terms will be carried out with sellers. In most of the initial presentations, the accommodation of the seller’s financial needs is what is addressed. As a result the focus becomes more about the seller’s than the buyer’s needs.

For this reason, the dialogue is broken off, and the proposed purchase falls by the way side.

When the needs of the buyer and seller are addressed up front, it helps insure a movement to contract. s are spelled out in the . Buyers are often disappointed when their deals die at the LOI stage, with emotion aside, the understanding of the nature of the LOI, it is only a tool to open dialogue to see if an acceptable deal can be created. This allows the buyer to focus on the next viable deal. So in the regard the LOI is a very worthwhile document.

Writing the Letter of Intent

Use a formal letterhead and do not handwrite the letter of intent. A letter of intent must have five basic elements in its content:

1. The Seller’s or the Seller’s Agent’s name
2. The buyer’s name
3. The property address and description
4. Your offer details, which includes:
a. Purchase price
b. Down payment
c. Financing
d. Terms
e. Due diligence conditions
5. Time frame.

The body of the LOI would address the following items;

Terms: We should spell out the offering price, and the specific terms and contingencies of the financing, the down payment, where and what kind of financing to be obtained.

Conditions: We will often use this portion of the LOI to request documentation regarding the performance of the property, such as financials or other items that may aid us in our Due Diligence.

Due diligence time: specific time frame for consummation-typically about 90 to 120 days-or a so-called “drop dead” date by which the deal must be finished and the Buyer should have its due diligence completed, financing in place and ready to close escrow.

Closing Date: The specific date by which you can complete all of the due diligence and arrange for funding and any other clauses or provisions. When a formal contract will be written up if the LOI is approved if elected, a clause that makes the LOI non-binding. State to the seller that you are, interested in being kept informed about any modification related to this property, i.e. the LOI document itself, essentially an invitation for response.

Conclusion: Your signature and a place for the seller’s signature: close the letter formally with “sincerely” or a similar polite expression. Sign your name and title. Be sure to provide correct, complete contact and reference information for future correspondence. Remember to consult your lawyer, Tax advisor and other counsel for further information before entering into the formal contract.

Karl Benson has over 18 years or personal real estate investment experience. Karl has been teaching, training, instructing, speaking, coaching and mentoring real estate investment for over 10 years. Karl is recognized as a premier provider of real estate education. He has coaching certificates from Franklin Covey and Legacy Learning.

“In addition to walking away with checks from the closing table, I also walk away with experiences and lessons from the transaction. Those experience last a lot longer than the proceeds of those closings.” It is through those real life experiences combined with his training, Karl maintains a unique perspective of creating Win/Win results based on an understanding of the needs of both the buyer and the seller.

Karl’s specialties include creative transactions, cash flow, re-positioning, asset protection and building real estate business models. Also, general or specific Commercial and Investment services. Karl CAN help you with your real estate and investment career. For more information see http://www.mycoachmentor.com. Your source for relevancy in today’s market.

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How to Start a Blog With Great Keywords

By Andrea R. M. Scott

You’ve decided to start a blog because you know that blogs are an important way to market your business. You’ve created a WordPress.org blog hosted on Hostgator. But you’re feeling frustrated because you’ve made several posts but you haven’t seen any increase in sales. You ask yourself, “What am I doing wrong?”

Don’t blame yourself. Recognize that you’re learning a new skill and it takes the time to master the skills you need to build a successful online business. Begin by evaluating your use of keywords in your blog. You may ask “What are keywords?”. The American Heritage Dictionary defines a keyword as a word used as a reference point for finding other words or information”. The search engines use keywords to find your blog post.

Keyword research will help you identify the keywords that your customers use. Google has an extensive free keyword tool that can help you find good keywords. It indicates the number of people who searched on a keyword the previous month. Use keywords with a search volume of several hundred people a day.

The Google keyword tool also indicates how much money is spent through Pay Per Click (PPC) on your keyword. The more money is spent on a keyword the more money is probably made from it. If little money is spent on a keyword, it won’t produce the results that you want.

The Google tool will also give you some ideas on similar keywords to use. For example, if you enter “start a blog” in the Google tool, it will indicate that “how to start a blog” and “starting a blog” are other options that you could use. So choose good keywords, keywords that pay.

Use your keywords in the title of your blog post and indicate the keywords in the tags on your post. You can also refer to a previous blog post on a similar topic. Use a hyperlink to the previous post with the keyword phrase as the anchor text. You can also use keyword phrases in the headlines in your post. Breaking up a long post with headlines will make it easier to read.

Finally you can turn your blog post into an article and submit it to the article directories. Put a link to your blog in the resource box. You would also put a hyperlink to the blog post on a similar topic. Use a hyperlink to the previous post with the keyword phrase as the anchor text.

You could also create a video from the content in your blog post and submit it to the video websites. Videos are ranked higher on Google and if you choose your keywords wisely, your video could be ranked on page one of Google.

Apply these tips to your posts so the search engines will find your blog posts, articles and videos. As more people find out about your products, the more sales you make. Know that you are creating a profitable online business that generates the income live your dreams.

Andrea Scott is a joyful internet marketing entrepreneur who loves to coach people on how to have a profitable online business. For more information on starting a blog, check her blog.

If you want to know how to have a successful online business and live the life of your dreams, go to http://www.ThisFreedom.com.

Ladies is it time for a New You.

New Year…New You

Ladies it’s hard to believe that the new year is just around the corner, but it is. And, the thought of a new year, a new energy inspired me to do something I’ve never, ever done before (and am not sure I’ll do again!)

I remember how my life changed forever just four years ago when I answered the call to go to a little workshop. I had no idea why I was going, I could just feel my heart pulling me toward it. Each day I went to the workshop, I had no idea what it would bring, but each day I began to see more and more of who I am. My heart whispered… On Thursday, you’ll know why you are here. And with that, I began to experience a part of me I had long forgotten. A part of me that was playful, fun… the True part of me who loved to love big. And from there life continues to open up to the promise I knew it had for me. The whisper was always…’there’s more than you are allowing…trust us.’ And I did… and I will never ever regret making the choice to be ‘me.’

I’m inviting you to be part of a small, intimate group that will come together in late January to create for the coming year. Imagine you are one of a small group of people who know that NOW is the time to go big, to stretch and be more of who you really are. We’ll sit by the fire, hear about your dreams, explore what is True for you and access higher wisdom. Each one of you will bring your own spiritual staff – just imagine how much support will envelop us! We’ll play with the art of intuitive living and how you can begin to feel and know the support of God’s amazing invisible world everyday.

If your heart is pulling you to live bigger, to reach out to be all that you are…then join us. The location is a small ranch just outside of Dallas, and lodging is bunk style (Think pajama party!). We will cook together, roast marshmallows, and celebrate together. I experienced the energy of this beautiful ranch several months ago and saw lots of wagon wheels and it had the feeling of healing mother earth. The owner told me that it used to be a wagon stop on the way to California. The can-do spirit and energy of these beautiful pioneers will also assist us with our leap into the new year!

January 23, 24 and 25 a very small group will join together to open up to greater possibility. Will you be one? By the new moon on January 26, you’ll be home and ready to ask for and create what you truly desire!

Because I was so inspired by this idea, I wanted to get it out quickly. My new site is about to go up, and I don’t even have a button for anyone to click yet.

The cost of this two and a half day leap into the True You is $777, including lodging and not including meals and transportation to and from Dallas. You can pay in a lump sum or spread it across three easy payments of $274. Can you say Happy Holidays to you?

Email Brandie@consideritalreadydone.com  or call 469-831-2450 to reserve your spot today. Only 19 spots available.

Tina Ferguson – CEO

Intuitive Business and Life Coach

Leadership Development & Talent Management – Coaching – The 8 Principles of Engagement

By Dr. Jim Sellner Ph.D.

1st Coaching Principle – A high Level of Emotional Intelligence is required of the coach so people will know, like, respect, value, risk, and trust her or him. Without a high level of Emotional Intelligence the coach’s attempted guidance will fall on deaf ears and closed minds.

The models – John Wooden, former UCLA basketball coach. Oprah, Phil Jackson, NBA coach. Herb Kelleher, former CEO of Southwest Airlines. Renee Sarata, owner, Reneevations Professional Development, Guy Kawasaki, managing director of Garage Technologies.

2nd – Prescription Without Diagnosis is Coaching Malpractice. Find out what’s going on with the person. Use the Socratic method to flesh out the details.

The Socratic Method — it works best in exploring complexities and uncertainty rather than in eliciting facts.

1. Set down conversational guidelines.
2. Learn to be comfortable with a prolonged silence after asking a question; silence can be productive. Sooner or later, a coach, growing too uncomfortable with the silence, will say something. That will lead to the next opening.
3. Aim to produce an atmosphere of “productive discomfort” in the dialogue. In the best of Socratic dialogues, there can be real tension in the dialogue.
4. Coaches must be open to learning something new, as well as being willing to acknowledge not-knowing or being stuck.
5. Welcome “the totally crazy idea” while discouraging ideas that are really just attempts to escape serious engagement.
6. Emphasize that brief remarks are preferred over lectures. Tell the coach if you are boring yourself over her or his narcissist monologue.
7. Discourage “obsequious deference” to your status as a coach. The fact that you are experienced should not, in a Socratic discussion, give the coach any advantage whatsoever.
8. Find a comfortable space. Vary it from time to time.
9. Always ask the coach at the beginning of the next session, “What did you learn?”, “What came up for you?”, “Is there anything you are confused about?”

3rd – Connect With the Platinum Rule – do onto others as they wish to have done onto them that is in their best interests. Ah, there’s the rub. The skilled coach helps the coach to discover her or his self-destructive behaviors while tapping into the new behaviors that will develop the person sense of self.

4th – Tell short, pithy stories — to engage and to make a point.

5th – Run the Communication Loop — listen using the Covey principle – first seek to understand.

6th – Hold people as able — do not take care of people. We are adults. Develop, yes. Enable, no. That means people are challenged to do what they say they will do, when they say they will do it and let others know if they can’t.

7th – Coaching is About Educating People. Animals get trained, people get educated. The role model here is the Dog Whisperer — Cesar Millan — trains dogs while educating people on how to relate to their dogs.

• Training’s Objective: Memorizing and regurgitating a certain way of doing things without question.
• Education’s Objective: Guiding, sometimes showing people how to find their own answers in a process of self-discovery and self-exploration.

8th – Coaching & being coached is a voluntary, participatory sport. The coach volunteers his or her time and wisdom with an attitude of no attachment to the outcome.

The assumption is that, as Marshall Goldsmith says,

“There is nothing wrong with you, that’s what right with you can’t fix.” Plus the coach follows nanny McPhee’s ethic, “When you need me, but don’t want me, I’ll be there. When you want me, but don’t need me, I’ll be gone.”

The coach engages in the relationship with a view to improving one’s self. The most intelligent and ambitious of coaches will have difficulty staying with the process because of their impatient, results-oriented attitude. Sometimes an engagement contract is required to keep them in the conversation.