What’s New

Must Be Present To Win – America’s Next Self Help Expert

If you are like many women, you may feel like you’ve lost your spark and your dream life is just that a dream. Each day, you go through the motions but have no passion, no excitement and no adventure. Most days come and go and you feel – NOTHING. Your world may even feel like a dull gray box.

Must Be Present To Win

Must Be Present To Win: How to Get Out of the Ditch & Plug Back In To Your Passion will literally transform your life. Packed with tools and stories to help you get out of the ditch and start building your dream life. Each chapter of this amazing book is designed to help you where ever you are get the things you want most in life.

‘Test Article’ for “Unique Article Wizard”

Congratulations on joining our community! The "Unique Article Wizard" is the best & easiest way to receive unique content for your site. Here is some important 'test' information:

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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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More than Business – Sak Narwal

Most entrepreneurs find out sooner or later that there is more to life than business. Such is the case with Sak Narwal, a successful businessman, entrepreneur and dedicated fisherman.

Sak Narwal like many business professionals transferred the characteristics that made him successful in business to fishing. He has been obsessed with fishing since he was a small boy. As he has grown and matured he has been able to follow his passion around the country and around the globe in search of the world’s greatest sports fish.

This passion for something outside of business can help a professional business owner stay grounded and rejuvenated for their next adventure. It is important to have a passion for something besides your work if you are going to stay successful for a sustained amount of time. So the next time you are sitting at your work going over the numbers for the 37th time, Think, “What would Sak Narwal be doing right now?”

• Sak Narwal fishes the Florida Keys
• Sakwinder Narwal fishes for Sharks
• Sak Narwal on the Delaware River

Incoming search terms for the article:

• sak narwal

Microsoft tries to make Windows 7 easier to open?

Maybe I am getting older now and see the world a lot differently than I did when I was playing pong as a child; but who cares about all the marketing hype today over Microsoft products and features. I haven’t seen one product that makes my life any better or easier. Especially not easy open packaging! Is this really a problem that needed to be fixed. Here is an idea get rid of the package and sell the dang thing on a USB drive or something. I think the computer industry is in for a really big wake-up call in the coming years. The games are boring for the most part, I don’t upgrade my computer hardware anymore because well Microsoft doesn’t have anything new I want.

• Video  – Done That – Have a WII now so who cares
• OS for Games – Did That – Can you say crash Windows Vista
• Audio – Done – Software gets better and laptop speakers get worse?
• Microsoft Office 2007 – Did and then Did away with. Crash Crash
• Outlook 2007 – Did and replaced with thunderbird.

So, good luck on the package. Here is an idea make a software program that will run on a 5 gig drive or something without crashing. That would be something new and worth Marketing about.

Ecost OUTRAGEOUS: 32in HDTV $139 . Jawbone II $9 . DeLL 1.7GHz Laptop $129

Buyer beware. Ecost today tried another ploy to get you to buy from their site that misleads people. They sent out an email a few minutes ago with the title OUTRAGEOUS: 32in HDTV $139 . Jawbone II $9 . DeLL 1.7GHz Laptop $129. Please.. Pay Attention. They will not be selling you any of those items for that price unless you join their crazy program and are one of the lucky people that get what is in the fine print ( ONLY 2 will be sold at the outrageous price). No thanks ecost.

To read more about my horror story and why ecost is horrible.

http://www.trueyoumarketing.com/lessons-in-bad-customer-service-ecostcom.htm 

Don’t be fooled OUTRAGEOUS: 32in HDTV $139 . Jawbone II $9 . DeLL 1.7GHz Laptop $129

Incoming search terms for the article:

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What Hardware and Software Does an Entrepreneur COO Use

The other day I received an email wondering what hardware and software I use to do all the testing and updating and other things that go along with running a virtual organization. Since our clients and participants in our Small Business Big Success program also do many things themselves or need to know what to look for when hiring someone else, I will put up a general list of what I use to run a virtual business.

Hardware

Computer System:

Dell Laptop

With 2 gig of ram, 160 gig hard-drive, USB, HDMI, Firewire, and 6 cell battery. I will probably never use a computer except a dell for 2 reasons. I have had no major problems over the last 9 years with computers from them and they have the best discounts and deals for small business owners. I LOVE DELL. *Dell if you are reading this please add JBL speakers or something to your laptops. My only complaint sound not so good.)

Operating System

Windows Vista Premium

Yes, I love Microsoft for the operating system. I have used windows since shoot think it was 3.0 or something and for a base it has always been my favorite. More programs, more business users. I have not had to many issues. Maybe because of my 17 years in technology or something.

Applications I can’t live without:

• Picasa 3
• Photoshop cs3
• Office 2007
• FTP Navigator
• Mozilla Thunderbird
• Google Chrome
• Firefox
• Jasc Paint Show Pro 9 – Don’t make anymore
• IE
• Nero
• Bulk Rename
• Panasonic SD Formatter
• Color 7 Video Studio
• Microsoft Expression Web
• Cool Mp3 Splitter
• AVG Free Antivirus
• Add-ins for Outlook Email Merge Pro
• and Camtasia Studio 6

Hosting

Domains – www.godaddy.com they are the best registrar on the planet and prices cannot be beat.

Sites -  www.site5.com best support and prices on the planet.

Email – www.aweber.com the emails always get through and the pricing is great.

Payments – LOVE LOVE LOVE PayPal, www.paypal.com we use them exclusively for our payments and use both web and virtual terminal products

Virtual administration. best virtual program to work with assistants and www.logmein.com with our counterparts across the globe.

Website is built in WordPress www.wordpress.org and theme by Brian Gardner. The best two combinations you will find anywhere and Brian has released his theme open source which is awesome. www.briangardner.com

Off the top of my head that is it. Everything I use to run a 10 year old virtual organization.

The Secret to Being Insanely Creative

Article by Zen Habits contributor Jonathan Mead; follow him on twitter.

What’s the secret to unleashing your creativity?

I’ll tell you, but it’s not what you think…

As an aspiring artist, I’ve spent a lot of time trying figure out how to be more creative. I’ve explored the traditional paths to creativity; painting, drawing, playing an instrument, creative writing, poetry, etc. I connected with creative souls; artists, and people living off the grid (away from the mainstream).

While I found this sparked my creative spirit, it only went so far. I was hacking at the branches rather than the root.

To truly tap into your creative nature, you only have to realize one thing…

You are already an artist.

You don’t have to create exquisite sculptures or breathtaking sonnets. You’re creating all the time simply by being alive. Every decision you make, every time you move, breathe, or speak you are creating. In fact, you couldn’t not create even if you wanted to. It’s simply impossible.

Just think about it: you’re the main character in your life story. Each day you develop and further the plot of your masterful performance. You interact with other secondary characters in your story that support your role. These are your friends, your lover, family and coworkers. They’re the supporting actors or actresses in your drama, and they also help mold your life’s narrative.

You can change the course of your story at any time by making new choices and walking down new paths. You can drop a secondary character and choose new ones, if they’re not supporting the story you’d like to create (except, perhaps, family members).

You constantly direct the play called your life; and that makes you a magnificent artist.  So if you’re creating your life all the time, wouldn’t it be more empowering to view yourself as an artist, rather than simply a passively living person?

I know you’re thinking, That really doesn’t help when I’m chopping celery or washing the cat… but it does. It makes all the difference.

See, when you know you’re creating artistically, you get more involved in your life. You start to live more deliberately. You wash your cat with love because deep down, you love him even if he smells terrible. You cut celery with joy, because you’re making the choice to put something healthy in your body.

So, enough foreplay; here are some practical ways to embrace your inner artist:

• Work. Are you making choices to further your deepest desires? Are you moving in the direction of your dreams? Much of our lives are spent working, so it makes sense to be conscious of the career we create. Find a career that pays you for being you. You may have to create one if it doesn’t exist.
• Money. Take a close look at where your money is going. Are you spending your money unconsciously? Are buying lattes and chasing trends keeping you from those yoga classes you’ve been meaning to take? Reevaluate how you spend to live by your own design.
• Goals. Are the goals you have ego driven, or heart centered? Are they furthering the life you’d love to create? See where you can simplify and remove the clutter to create room for authentic endeavors.
• Relationships. Are your relationships assisting you in your desires, or holding you back? Or perhaps YOU are holding yourself back. Be honest with yourself and make the necessary changes to fearlessly go with yourself (instead of against).
• Information. Are you addicted to info porn? Who’s dictating what you should think, you or the media? Consciously decide the input you accept and discard that which doesn’t serve you.
• Routine. Most of our days we’d consider normal. A random Tuesday spent watching TV game shows is more eventful than the day your spouse proposed to you. If most of our days are common, it makes sense to make the most out of them. Instead of focusing on how much you can accomplish, focus on how much you can absolutely love what you’re doing. Be there completely. While doing this, you’ll find that you naturally enjoy those seemingly tedious tasks much more (like washing the dishes). It’s amazing how much non-resistance and presence changes everything.

All life really is, after all, is a collection of stories. But you’re the only one that can create the story of your dreams. It’s your story.

So what do you want to create? A film noir or a fairytale? You can choose a daring adventure or a comedy. It’s up to you as long as you accept that you’re the artist. You’ve got the brush, it’s up to you to put down the colors you like best.

The question is: What will you create?

This article was written by Zen Habits contributor Jonathan Mead of Illuminated Mind. To learn more about how to reclaim your life, grab a subscription to Illuminated MInd

Updated Authority Black Book 2.0

For those of you who may be new to the blogging world, there are a few great ‘veterans’ who can share a wealth of information. We’ve found that you can become a veteran in short order by actually applying yourself to the blogging world. Still, if you are looking for a crash course, a quick hit to tap into the latest trends and best tips, then look no further than Jack Humphrey’s Authority Black Book 2.0 – all new and revised for 2008.

I heard about Jack when I listened to a recent interview Joe Vitale had with David LeDoux about all things blogging. Jack was the ‘expert’ blogger that helped David’s blog, DidYouSmellThat.com go from new blog to well on its way in about four months. Since that time, I’ve seen Jack in many places on the web, and am eager to recommend his updated Authority Black Book for those of you who want to tap into the power and benefits of social networking.

This report offers great tips about link baiting, developing a social maven strategy and much more. It’s not a 1-2-3 guide for those who are complete novices; however, it is definitely worth more than the price of admission – FR.EE.

Mashable.com is the #1 blog serving the social networking phenomenon. It also is a Technorati Top 100 blog. Mashable ranked the Authority Black Book the #1 FR.EE eBook for Bloggers last year. With more updates, it’s a must have.

Google.com and Goog411

Tired of paying a buck and a quarter for every information call? The planet’s greatest mover of information has an answer for you. I tried this out just a few days ago and was stunned at how easy it was to use, and how fast the voice recognition software worked. “Wow!” was all I could say.

Just dial 1-800-GOOG-411 (1-800-466-4411) from any phone, and Google411 takes it from there. Simply state the business name or type and location. Then choose your number from the list of numbers provided. Once you choose, Google connects the call for free. It’s super easy and it’s f r e e!