Miss Julia's Views

10 Ways to Help Nurses Improve Patient Satisfaction

2011-12-16T01:02:00.000-05:00

10 Ways to Help Nurses Improve Patient Satisfaction

Rebecca Hendren, for HealthLeaders Media , September 6, 2011

Improving patient satisfaction is a financial imperative. Nurses are on the frontline of patient interaction and can make or break the patient experience. So why do we make it so hard for them to have positive interactions with patients?

Here are 10 changes to nurse procedures and working conditions that would improve patient experience. Some are simple, others more complex, all are effective.

1. Scripting: Many fear that scripting means fast food restaurant–type rote responses. In fact, it’s a useful tool when handled correctly. Scripting empowers nurses with tools to make their communication with patients easier. Regular discussion and training about patient interactions ensures nurses know what is expected. A scripting example: the hospital expects that all nurses will introduce and identify themselves and their professional credentials to new patients, and explain the treatment regimen. Scripting gives nurses tools for handling issues such as delayed procedures and lost test results. It also gives them tools for difficult situations such as deescalating angry patients.

2. Supplies: Keep frequently needed supplies in patient rooms and restock regularly. Maintain a multitude of stockrooms and supply cupboards and don’t make nurses walk miles to track them down. It’s frustrating for patients and staff when nurses have to stop what they are doing to track down supplies.

3. Uniforms: In many hospitals, RNs are indistinguishable to patients from the people delivering their meal trays. Consider choosing a defined scrub color for RNs to ensure that patients know who they can talk to and who is looking out for them.

4. Hourly rounding: Make a commitment to hourly rounding, and you will see patient satisfaction go up and call bell usage go down. Patients feel better when they know someone will be in to check on them within an hour. Alternating visits between RNs and nursing assistants ensures that the time commitment is manageable – and helps both groups plan their workflows since they no longer will spend so much time running after constant call lights.

5. Sitting down: Something as simple as sitting down when talking with patients can make a huge difference in satisfaction scores. Sitting down at the bedside implies that the nurse has time for the patient and is actively interested in the conversation.

6. Patient education: Make time for patient education. Nurses are pulled in a thousand different ways and often feel obligated to complete patient education as quickly as possible. But this time spent one-on-one means so much to patients. We know that patients often are too overwhelmed or intimidated to process information provided by physicians during initial diagnosis or post-procedure, and they look to nurses for easy-to-understand translation of difficult or complicated news. Put a value on this time with patients so that nurses will prioritize it.

7. Bedside report: Instead of conducting report at the nurse’s station or break room, do it at the bedside. Patients should be empowered to take an active part in their care. Increase their autonomy by discussing report in their presence and encouraging their involvement.

8. Nurse-led initiatives: Don’t simply hand down service improvement programs from above and tell nurses what to do. Programs driven by nurses have ready-made support and are often much more effective. Nurses will be more engaged in improving patient satisfaction when they develop ideas themselves and are accountable for success or failure.

9. Nurse empowerment: Nurses with autonomy over their practices provide better patient care. Ensure that the nurse practice council is robust and able to make decisions about clinical practice. Empower a nurse staffing committee to make decisions about safe patient care.

10. Demonstrate caring: According to Gallup polls, nurses are the most trusted professionals in the country. People can relate to nurses, whereas physicians can be intimidating to ordinary patients. The best patient satisfaction scores happen when patients feel genuinely cared for and cared about. Most nurses do this automatically. They bring an extra blanket or sit down and hold a patient’s hand for a few short minutes to provide comfort. Value these small details and recognize them publicly so that nurses know these parts of their role are just as important as the rest.

All for The Patient ~ Miss Julia

JuliaGrayOnLine.com

Rebecca Hendren is a senior managing editor at HCPro, Inc. in Danvers, MA. She editswww.StrategiesForNurseManagers.com and manages The Leaders' Lounge blog for nurse managers. Email her at rhendren@hcpro.com.

Listen Up Administrators- Here are 5 Reasons Nurses Want to Leave Your Hospital

2011-12-01T12:01:00.001-05:00

5 Reasons Nurses Want to Leave Your Hospital

Your nurses have one eye on the door if you do any of the following.

Although economic woes abound, nurses are planning their exit strategies and will make a move when things improve. A recent survey from healthcare recruiters AMN Healthcare found that one-quarter of the 1,002 registered nurses surveyed say they will look for a new place to work as the economy recovers.

Are your nurses engaged, committed employees? Or are they biding their time until they can go somewhere better? To predict whether you face an exodus, take a look at the following five reasons why your nurses want out.

1. Mandatory overtime

Nurses work 12-hour shifts that always end up longer than 12 hours due to paperwork and proper handoffs. At the end, they are physically, mentally, and emotionally exhausted. Forcing them to stay longer is as bad for morale as it is for patient safety. Some overtime is acceptable. People get sick, take vacations, or have unexpected car trouble and holes in the shift must be filled to ensure safe staffing. Nurses are used to picking up the slack, taking overtime, and pitching in. In fact, overtime is an expected and appreciated part of being a nurse. Many use it to help make ends meet. Mandatory overtime, however, is a different matter. Routinely understaffed units that rely on mandatory overtime as the only way to provide safe patient care destroy motivation and morale. Take a look at the last couple of years' news stories about RN picket lines. Most include complaints about mandatory overtime.

2. Floating nurses to other units

One nurse is not the same as another. Plugging a hole in a geriatric med-surg unit by bringing in a nurse from the pediatric floor results in an experienced, competent nurse suddenly becoming an unskilled newbie. A quick orientation won't solve those problems. Forced floating is usually indicative of larger staffing problems, but even so, its routine use is dissatisfying and compromises patient safety. Instead, create a dedicated float pool staffed by nurses who volunteer and who can be prepared and cross-trained. Institute float pool guidelines that nurses float to like units. For example, critical care nurses find a step-down unit an easier transition than pediatrics. Float pool shifts open up options for nurses who need more flexibility and offering a higher rate means you'll never be short of volunteers.

3. Non-nursing tasks

Nurses are already understaffed and overworked. Hospitals with too few assistants rub salt on the wounds. RNs shouldn't have to take time from critical patient care activities to clean a room or collect supplies. Gary Sculli, RN, MSN, ATP, patient safety expert and crew resource management author, offers a vivid analogy. Imagine if half way through a flight you saw the pilot come down the aisle handing out drinks because the plane was short staffed. It just wouldn't happen.

Yes, cleaning a room is important, but don't force nurses' attention away from their patients. Distractions are dangerous and compromise patient safety.

4. Bullying and toxic behavior

Bored of hearing about this topic? So am I. So are nurses. Nothing makes nurses want to walk out the door more than toxic colleagues—whether physicians, nurses, or anyone else—who are allowed to behave badly. It's not enough to have a zero-tolerance policy. Enforce it. Preach it. Talk about the importance of respectful behavior. Explain expectations, not just at orientation but at multiple times through the year. Send information via emails, hold continuing education classes, and have the topic as a standing item on meeting agendas. Give managers the tools to confront problem employees and back them up when they do. Have a plan in place to educate offenders. If the behavior continues after that, fire them. Support managers through this work. Nurses would rather work a nurse short than keep a disruptive employee who sabotages the morale and cohesiveness of the others.

5. Bad managers

You've heard it before: People don't leave companies, they leave managers. Yet hospitals still don't pay enough attention to leadership skills for nurse managers. Bad nurse managers who don't know how to lead are retention nightmares. Skilled managers are retention magnets. Some hospitals have good managers who are stretched so thin they become bad ones. How can anyone focus on the professional development of their staff if they're overseeing several units with umpteen nurses across all shifts? Annual performance reviews shouldn't be the only time the manager and nurse engage in conversation. Nurse managers must help staff reflect on growth and plan for the future.

These five reasons affect every aspect of nursing workload and contribute to fatigue and burnout. Don't forget that nurses always know when their colleagues at the hospital across town are happier.

Take from a Nurse ~ Miss Julia

JuliaGrayOnLine.com

Top 12 Uncertainties Hovering Over Healthcare

2011-11-25T23:45:00.001-05:00

If ever there was a year in which "anything could happen" in healthcare, 2012 just might be it. Numerous major decisions, regulations, and policy rollouts loom, including how severely physicians' pay will be cut and whether the Affordable Care Act itself is a constitutional document. We look at a dozen potential game changers. Get ready for 2012. It's going to be a wild ride, for sure.

1.The Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, a.k.a. the Super Committee
This bipartisan panel has just hours – by Wednesday Nov. 23 – to come up with a plan to reduce all federal spending by $1.2 trillion over 10 years to avoid the "sequester," which would mean an automatic 2% across the board cut in payments to Medicare providers starting in 2013.

As of this morning (11/25/2011), reports indicated they were at an impasse defined by party lines. For some health leaders, this may be a good thing, as some proposals being aired behind the Super Committee's closed doors would target Medicare spending even more than the 2%.

Congress, of course, makes the rules, and Congress could decide to change the rules, as some elected officials hope.

2.The Sustainable Growth Rate
No story about healthcare in 2012 is complete without a mention of the 27.5% guillotine hovering over physician Medicare fees effective Jan. 1. The Medicare Payment AdvisoryCommission backs a plan to repeal the SGR at a cost of $200 billion. It would freeze pay for primary care physicians for 10 years. It would cut by 5.9% pay for specialists for three years, and freeze their pay for the remaining seven. This of course pours more gas on the flames of tension that already exist between primary care providers and their specialist partners, even as they attempt to form integrated delivery systems that streamline care and avoid unnecessary services. Many healthcare leaders suggest that if the Super Committee comes up with some plan, imbedded within it will be a remedy for the SGR.

3. The Supreme Court on the PPACA
The constitutionality of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is up for argument with five and a half hours of set aside for debate in March, and a decision expected in June, right in the middle of the presidential campaign. Justices are expected to consider a number of aspects of the 2010 law, not just the legality of the individual mandate, which requires most Americans purchase health insurance by 2014.

For starters, they're expected to decide four other key issues

• Whether the law is valid without the individual mandate.
• Whether other parts of the law, such as the one prohibiting health insurers from rejecting applicants based on pre-existing conditions, are valid.
• Whether the court is legally empowered to rule on the mandate before it takes effect in 2014 or must wait until after.
• Whether the new law's tremendous expansion of the Medicaid program to more beneficiaries – in which states must pay a gradually increasing portion of the cost of these enrollees – meets constitutional muster.

4. Hospital Readmissions
Hospital providers are anxiously awaiting several key decisions from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services over how the agency intends to interpret and apply penalties against hospitals that have higher than expected rates of 30-day readmissions in three disease categories: heart failure, heart attack and pneumonia.

Several providers and analysts we spoke with said the agency has failed to adequately address two issues: how it will deal with scheduled readmissions, which some hospitals have many more of than others (such as certain elective cardiovascular procedures), and how they will determine a formula to adjust for variation in risk in diverse patient populations across the country.

Several leaders we spoke with said they expect numerous refinements in coming months.

"Our concern is that they're not excluding planned scheduled readmissions," said Don May, Vice President for Policy at the American Hospital Association. "The re-admissions issue is a very messy area," says Paul Keckley, Executive Director of the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions. CMS has contracted with a team at Yale's Center for Outcomes Research and Evaluation to come up with risk adjustment formula. Keckley expects CMS will roll out some measure for applying these penalties sometime before March 30, probably for comment. Hospital executives, however, fear two other ramifications from the re-admissions penalty. One is that their emergency departments will be the subject of greater scrutiny from auditors to assure patients who need to be readmitted within 30 days are not put into observation categories or sent home simply to avoid a penalty. The second concern is how they will react to negative publicity if their hospital shows up as one with higher rates of avoidable 30-day readmissions on the federal website, HospitalCompare.

5. More Civil and Criminal Penalties
The Department of Justice is gearing up in an unprecedented way to punish and curtail fraud, waste, and abuse, which means imposing much more scrutiny on providers.

Armed with more new legal tools, hundreds more investigators, task force operations in more cities, and $350 million more to spend over the next 10 years, HHS is poised to broaden its pursuit of healthcare crooks, holding those it catches as a example of this enhanced national priority.

Concurrent with this, look to the Office of Inspector General to be more involved in quality issues, perhaps stemming from the agency's November, 2010 report that found that of nearly one million Medicare beneficiaries discharged from hospitals in just one month – October of 2008 – one in seven experienced an adverse event and nearly half of those were preventable medical errors, substandard care and inadequate patient monitoring and assessment.

Senators Tom Coburn and Tom Coburn, have been pushing their bill, called the FAST Act, (Fighting Fraud and Abuse to Save Taxpayer Dollars) which if passed, would strengthen and add new ammunition to fight fraud. For example, FAST would increase penalties, curb theft of physician identities that gives way to abuse, and establish more strategies to prevent the federal government from paying for suspected fraudulent claims when it has so much difficulty recovering the money later.

6. More Aggressive Health Plan Premium Rate Review

In 2011, the federal government gave away $100 million to help states develop expertise and oversight over health plan premium increases. And while some states are moving forward with such programs, even creating special new agencies, others have held back. HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius says her agency is "committed to fighting unreasonable premium increases," such as the 39% requested by Anthem Blue Cross of California last year for 800,000 customers.

The ACA, her agency says, requires health insurers that want to increase their rates by 10% or more in the individual and small group markets as of Sept. 1, 2011 "to submit their request to experts to determine whether the rates are unreasonable." How aggressively the states and the federal government choose to push back on those increases will be a trend that will become apparent next year. And if they are aggressive, health plans many push those costs on to the shoulders of hospitals and physicians with lower value contracts, limiting their ability of providers to continue the practice of shifting the cost of caring for the underinsured.

Nate Kaufman, of Kaufman Strategic Advisers, says the increased scrutiny states and federal agencies are giving on rate review of healthcare premiums, "is one of the biggest issues out there now."

7. Who Will Lead CMS?

With partisan politics apparently precluding the permanent appointment of Donald Berwick, MD, as CMS administrator, he is expected to leave the agency by year's end. The expected heir is his principal deputy, Marilyn B. Tavenner, former Virginia Secretary for Health and Human Services and former HCA Group President. Also unclear are the fates of HHS Deputy Administrator Steve Larsen, CMS Chief Medical Officer Patrick Conway, MD, and acting director of the new Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation, Richard Gilfillan, MD, who left his post as president and CEO of Geisinger Health Plan. These men helped Berwick steer the agency through some of its most controversial program launches.

8. The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute
Now well underway, this 21-member panel enabled by the Affordable Care Act and appointed by the General Accountability Office will make recommendations about the evidence of effectiveness medications, diagnostics, medical devices and even types of surgery and other "health practices." By 2014, PCORI's budget may grow to more than $500 million, according to an August commentary in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

The organization has already started the process of giving out money for research, and although it is precluded from using cost in its calculations or recommending that a treatment be covered, many health leaders are certain that will be the ultimate result. If, for example, PCORI says that a particular medication reduces symptoms only 3% of the time but causes nearly intolerable side-effects in most of those, such a conclusion will undoubtedly influence decisions about whether the drug should be covered. Keckley says that in talking with his clients, "PCORI is a stealth player in healthcare. But they're not getting nearly as much attention as you'd think."

9. Meaningful Use
CMS is expected to issue rules defining Stage 2 of Meaningful Use for electronic medical records for hospitals and doctors wanting incentive payments in the first quarter of 2012, with a final rule several months later, to be ready for implementation by Oct. 1. However hospitals hope that implementation will be delayed one year, says the AHA's Don May.

"Meaningful use is a very big deal for hospitals," May says, because there's $4 billion in incentive payments for doctors and hospitals. The Stage 2 criteria are feared because CMS is expected to significantly increase the percentage of clinicians who, for example, are using computerized physician order entry to meet the meaningful use requirements. Expanded criteria may include making sure, for example, that a certain percentage of a physician's patients actually see their electronic health records, rather than just making those records available to them, as well as thresholds for secure messaging between patients and physician. Protocols for having patients sign advance directives are expected as well. All of this costs money, and hospitals as well as physician groups have expressed concerns about where they'll find the money to implement EMR, and what other needed improvements they'll have to delay.

10. Accountable Care Organizations
Regardless whether large numbers of hospitals choose one of the approved options under the Medicare Shared Savings Plan, hospitals and providers throughout the country will eagerly want to know who becomes an approved ACO, a Pioneer ACO, or an Advance Payment ACO, and what their competitors do in response. Increasingly important will be ACOs as defined by private payers, how that impacts physician integration and employment, and how these organizations are ultimately defined. Will there be shared savings? Equally of interest will be how CMS, along with the Federal Trade Commission and the Anti-Trust Division of the Department of Justice, work together to assure that ACOs don't dominate their markets, don't skimp on services, and don't pressure enrollees to influence their choice of providers.

11. Physician Payments Sunshine Act
To limit influence of manufacturers of drugs and medical equipment and supplies on physician or hospital practice, the Affordable Care Act requires those manufacturers to report payments or "transfers of value" to physicians or academic medical centers and teaching hospitals by Jan. 1, 2012. However, the legislation gave little guidance on what information was to be provided and how. And both providers and industry leaders are worried about how it will all be interpreted by payers and the public. To clarify the intent, CMS was required to issue regulations specifying what was needed and in what format no later than Oct. 1, but it has yet to do so.

"Everyone is eagerly awaiting these details," said Richard Bankowitz, MD, chief medical officer for Premier Inc., a quality and purchasing cooperative for hospitals and healthcare systems.

The legislation defined such transfers of value as stocks and stock options, ownership interest, dividends, profits, consulting fees, honoraria, gifts, entertainment, food, travel, education, research, charitable contributions or royalties. The data collected is to be publicly viewable, according to the ACA by Sept. 30, 2013.

12. Value Based Purchasing Incentive Payments

Although the formula for rolling out incentive payments for hospital quality has been set through 2014, hospital providers are nervous about what CMS will add to the mix for 2015, allowing them to earn back a portion or all of the 1% that all will receive in cuts to fund the program.
"We'll be seeing the results in October," Bankowitz said. It dropped 30-day mortality rates for heart attack, congestive heart failure and pneumonia and some eight hospital acquired conditions such as falls and pressure ulcers for 2014. But those and several other measures are expected to creep back in or be added anew, such as all-cause readmission rates and the number of patients infected with hospital-acquired Clostridium difficile.

Another important decision coming from CMS anticipated in the coming year is how incentive payments will be allocated and to whom. Under the Affordable Care Act, any hospital that received CMS immediate jeopardy citation would be precluded from earning back any of the 1% of payments that are cut to hospitals across the board. That's 12, and that's enough for 2012. However, this is not a complete list. There are at least eight other influential rules and policies anticipated in 2012.

Stay tuned for more information on health care reform from Miss Julia.

JuliaGrayOnLine.com

Cheryl Clark is a senior editor and California correspondent for HealthLeaders Media Online. She can be reached at cclark@healthleadersmedia.com. Follow Cheryl Clark on Twitter.

WHY WHAT'S GOING ON IN IRAN, THE US ECONOMY AND THE GLOBAL ECONOMY ~~ HAS TO DO WITH ALL OF US!!

2011-02-27T00:26:00.000-05:00

For all of you who think that these events in Iran do not effect you. For all of you who think that the crisis on Wall Street, the Banking and Automobile crisis and everything else that is going on in our country and around the world does not affect us ~~~ THINK AGAIN!!. Everything, Everywhere affects all of us!

How to Stay Married for 37 Years ~ The Old-Fashioned Way - Tips for Newly Weds and Oldie Weds

2010-01-20T23:35:00.070-05:00

THE SPARK !
All rightttyyy then, you have found Mr. or Ms Right- Love of your Life. You think about them every waking moment, pick up their call on the first ring, can't wait until your next physical encounter (I mean lunch, dinner or a movie); gotta be everywhere they are; your heart just flip flops at the sound of their name. You are sprung and you feel that you cannot live without this person. OK, so you decide to seal this in the bonds of Holy Matrimony...... Believe me I do understand, been there, done that!

REALITY
OK, the wedding is over, all of the bridesmaids have gone back to Chicago, or Atlanta or Birmingham or where ever they came from. All the relatives, friends and co-workers have picked up their casserole dishes from the Bridal Shower and you are back from the Honeymoon ~~~ Now What?? You will soon learn that a big beautiful, expensive wedding does not equal a great marriage.

For the sake of this discussion, I will assume that you had ample time to get to know each other before the big day. However, let me say this - living with someone (as in marriage) is a lot different from having lunch or dinner with someone (as in dating).

During dating you generally have plenty of time to look your best and dress your best and always present well. But as some of you may already know, in marriage it does not always work that way. There are a lot of reasons why you may not be able to look your best (you may be ill, you may be stressed from a day at work, you may have been dealing with the kids all day) or what about just waking up in the morning ~ listen, believe me, people only look good in the morning on TV and in the movies.

Getting to Know Each Other Really
OK, let's see, some things that are starting to 'get on your nerves' (spending too much time watching TV ( especially sports, or playing video games, or bringing work home or spending too much money shopping, leaving stuff laying around, changing the channel on the car radio while you are driving, etc.- oh, the list goes on....)

Now, watch this, I can guarantee you that most of the things that get on 'your nerves' now, are things that attracted you in the first place. Just think about it; whatever your 'nerve' issue is, I invite you to rewind the tape and see how you were condoning that behavior in the beginning of your relationship. Do you remember how you used to sit and watch TV together or how you used to 'not' complain if his 'game is on', or favorite show was on. Remember when you bought him that video game for Christmas or his Birthday? Remember how you used to pick up behind him and just chalked it up to "guys are messy like that"? See what I mean?

But You Fell In Love ~ Really
So, here's the thing - you really fell in love with this person and you can look beyond behaviors and all of the things that really don't matter anyway, because beyond these things is the person you love. And really, your greatest desire is to please that person, make them happy and make them understand that they are needed and appreciated.

You Will Have Ups and Downs
Ups and Downs are a part of life. As you grow together, many things will influence your relationship such as children, jobs/careers, finances, relationships with family, friends and co-workers, JUST STUFF!! But through it all when you discover that you love this person no matter what, then you will understand what true love is all about. And if you have difficulties in your relationship you will always have a point of reference and that point of reference is the love that you truly have for this person.

Falling in Love All Over Again~Tips for Maintaining and/or Regaining that Spark!!
All of the following examples mentioned here are things that my husband and I implemented and maintained throughout our 37 years of marriage. I realize that everything may not be for your but that's OK; get ideas from the ones you can and then implement and maintain your own.....

Candlelight Dinner at Home~ This is truly my #1 favorite. Your dinner can be whatever you want; but we loved grilled steak with onions, mushrooms and green peppers, chilled Chardonnay, old school music in the background and candles burning all around.

Note: If you have young children at home your first step will be to arrange babysitting for them. If you have teenagers in this house, you may want to choose a night that they are staying over with friends or out to a movie (maybe you can create a 'night-out' for them).

Leave a Love Note ~ I did this all the time. If you haven't thought of this before or if you have not done it in a long time~ this can be one of the most romantic things that you can do for your spouse. I would leave notes under the pillow, stick a note inside of his lunch bag, stick a note right on top of his sock or underwear drawer; stick a note inside of a book that he was reading, stick a note in his favorite section of the Sunday paper (that would be the Sports section). I will tell you this is a great thing to do ~ so let your imagination run wild and stick notes wherever works best for you and your relationship.
Dinner at Your Favorite Restaurant~ Instead of a dinner at home, go out to your favorite restaurant. This is really great if you do not get out too often. The two of you can enjoy good food and good conversation (and no dishes). However, this also requires making arrangements for the kids.
Go to a Hotel or Bed and Breakfast (In town or Out-of-town). This was probably my #2 most favorite thing to do. When we were in Europe there were so many little cottages everywhere where you could spend a night and have a continental breakfast in the morning; these were fantastic and so very cozy. These days you can find wonderful cottages almost anywhere in this country (most states have them) where you can spend some great quality time together. On the other end of the spectrum hotels like the Embassy Suites, the Marriott, Ramada and Holiday Inns and Suites with all their amenities make for a fantastic weekend together.
Guys- Take Care of the Kids and/or Do a/or some Chores and Give your Spouse a Night Off~You should be sharing these responsibilities anyway. But if you feel that doing chores and taking care of the kids is not in your job description - Think Again...On the surface, this might not sound so romantic, but let me tell you it means more than you know. Sometimes just doing a few dishes could make all the difference in the world. Romance and intimacy happen when the two of you are together, alone. If you show your spouse that you understand that she is stressed out and exhausted from dealing with the house and the kids and that she really needs a break, this will indicate to her that how much you really care and how deeply you are connected to her.
Making Out in the Moonlight ~ Do you and your spouse spend time just 'making-out' anymore? I am not talking about a couple of long kisses that lead right into sex. I am talking about just spending time in each other's arms just kissing and holding each other-often without words- and just remembering why you love each other and remembering the times that you have shared together. When we were in Germany we lived on the 3rd floor and we had a balcony and many nights we would spend the whole night together in our lounge chair just talking and looking at the stars and the moon and really expressing our love for each other.
Guys~The Age-Old Classic: Flowers and Chocolates ~ Well, you say "who does that anymore"? Bringing flowers and chocolates is such a classic (old-fashioned) move that you don't see much of these days, except for maybe Valentine's Day or Mother's Day. However, it still works outside of these special days. Flowers and/or Chocolates show that you are thinking about your spouse and that in itself is romantic, and can open up an opportunity for a new kind of intimacy in your relationship.

Commitment is the Key. It will take careful thought and planning and a commitment from both of you to create a marriage that will sustain the test of time. You must work together everyday to build and maintain a strong, healthy, enduring relationship. I know, we did it for 37 years...

Click here for a Free 10- Part Course on Saving Your Marriage Now

To Your Continued Success and Well Being!
Miss Julia

JuliaGrayOnLine.com

Why the Earthquake in Haiti Affects You ~ Update on "What's Going on in the Rest of the World"...

2010-01-20T16:17:00.000-05:00

There seems to be the notion that if you don't have a lot of money, or if you don't have investments in the stock market, or if you don't own a home or a car and you just feel like ~ a plain old regular everyday person - this stuff just does not apply to you and it does not affect you ~ WRONG!!

Regardless of where you are on the economic level you are still a consumer and everything going on in this country and the rest of the world affects you either directly or indirectly.

Consider these very simple examples ~ Did you buy a jug of milk or orange juice lately, or sodas in plastic bottles? Do you realize that plastic is a petroleum based product? Do you realize that when the price of a barrel of oil goes up it affects the price of your milk, your orange juice your soda, because these plastic containers are made from by-products of petroleum. So when you complain that this or that has gone up by 20,30 or 40 cents, please understand it is not your local grocery store that raised the prices just because they wanted to ~~ They Had To!!

Haiti Affects You
If you think the earthquake in Haiti does not effect you- think again. I would be assured in saying that many of us have relatives, friends, co-workers, etc. that are involved in many of these rescue and life-saving missions. Many of us have friends and family in the military that have been deployed to this mission- are we not concerned about their safety? Even if you don't have family or friends involved, we are still connected to each other just by way of the Human Spirit. If you have sent up a Prayer or made a donation or just had empathy or compassion for these people, then the earthquake has affected you. Remember the old saying 'If not for the Grace of God~ there go I'.

What's going on on Wall Street is apparent, given the number of bank failures, job losses and home foreclosures. The impact of terrorism affects you; have you traveled by air lately or if you don't travel by air, have you tried to enter a government building?

We have had a significant number of catastrophic, life changing situations right here in this country; (911, Hurricane Katrina, the stock market crash, the housing meltdown, job losses. If you did not loose your home or your job~ you know people that did so it affects you whether you like it or not.

If you think what is going on in Iran and the treatment of their citizens and their women does not affect you? ~~ Think Again! Just seeing these images daily should remind you that not so long ago in this country there was marching in the streets and protests on various levels. In some areas of our country there were fire hoses and bulldogs to hold the people back. People in this country were beaten and hung; their homes and churches were bombed ; men were castrated. And This Does Not Affect You~~??

I am reminded about the story of a mouse (author unknown) who feared for his life and solicited help from the other farm animals who in turn did not feel that the mouse's plight would affect them at all.

When the mouse discovered that the farmer has put out a mousetrap he was terrified and immediately announced to the other animals "There is a mousetrap in the house"! When the chicken heard this she just clucked and scratched and advised the mouse that this was of no concern to her and she did not want to be bothered.

The mouse then approached the pig who sympathized with him but advised there was nothing he could do but pray. When the mouse turned to the cow ~ the cow just snubbed him and said "I am sorry for you, but it is no skin off my nose." Feeling said and rejected the mouse returned to the house to face his fate with the mousetrap.

That very night there was a sound in the farmer's house that sounded like a mouse had been caught it the trap. The farmer's wife ran to see what was going on. As it turns out, as she rushed in the darkness to see what was in the trap she did not notice that actually there was a venomous snake whose tale had been caught in the trap.

The snake bit the farmer's wife and she was rushed to the hospital. She later returned home with a fever. Well as we all know the best way to treat a fever is with "chicken soup". So the farmer took to the farm yard for the main ingredient. The farmer's wife's conditioned worsened and friends and neighbors came to visit with her around the clock. In order to feed all these people, the farmer had to butcher the "pig".

Unfortunately the farmer's wife did not get well and she died. So many people came to the funeral that the farmer had to slaughter the "cow" to provide enough meat for all of them.

The mouse now alone, looked on all the this with great sadness.

So the next time you hear that someone is having a problem or if you feel that what's going on in the world does not affect you (Remember the Mouse) and remember also----when one of us is threatened, we are all at risk.

To Your Continued Success and Well Being !
Miss Julia

MissJuliasGuidetoHealthyLiving.com

Why What’s Happening on Wall Street, in Iran, and the Rest of the World Should Concern You !

2009-06-23T00:01:00.006-04:00

There seems to be the notion that if you don't have a lot of money, or if you don't have investments in the stock market, or if you don't own a home or a car and you just feel like ~ a plain old regular everyday person - this stuff just does not apply to you and it does not affect you ~ WRONG!!

Regardless of where you are on the economic level you are still a consumer and everything going on in this country and the rest of the world affects you either directly or indirectly.

Consider these very simple examples ~ Did you buy a jug of milk or orange juice lately, or sodas in plastic bottles? Do you realize that plastic is a petroleum based product? Do you realize that when the price of a barrel of oil goes up it affects the price of your milk, your orange juice your soda, because these plastic containers are made from by-products of petroleum. So when you complain that this or that has gone up by 20,30 or 40 cents, please understand it is not your local grocery store that raised the prices just because they wanted to ~~ They Had To!!

If you think the earthquake in Haiti does not effect you- think again. I would be assured in saying that many of us have relatives, friends, co-workers, etc. that are involved in many of these rescue and life-saving missions. Many of us have friends and family in the military that have been deployed to this mission- are we not concerned about their safety? Even if you don't have family or friends involved, we are still connected to each other just by way of the Human Spirit. If you have sent up a Prayer or made a donation or just had empathy or compassion for these people, then the earthquake has affected you. Remember the old saying 'If not for the Grace of God~ there go I'.

What's going on on Wall Street is apparent, given the number of bank failures, job losses and home foreclosures. The impact of terrorism affects you; have you traveled by air lately or if you don't travel by air, have you tried to enter a government building?

We have had a significant number of catastrophic, life changing situations right here in this country; (911, Hurricane Katrina, the stock market crash, the housing meltdown, job losses. If you did not loose your home or your job~ you know people that did so it affects you whether you like it or not.

If you think what is going on in Iran and the treatment of their citizens and their women does not affect you? ~~ Think Again! Just seeing these images daily should remind you that not so long ago in this country there was marching in the streets and protests on various levels. In some areas of our country there were fire hoses and bulldogs to hold the people back. People in this country were beaten and hung; their homes and churches were bombed ; men were castrated. And This Does Not Affect You~~??

I am reminded about the story of a mouse (author unknown) who feared for his life and solicited help from the other farm animals who in turn did not feel that the mouse's plight would affect them at all.

When the mouse discovered that the farmer has put out a mousetrap he was terrified and immediately announced to the other animals "There is a mousetrap in the house"! When the chicken heard this she just clucked and scratched and advised the mouse that this was of no concern to her and she did not want to be bothered.

The mouse then approached the pig who sympathized with him but advised there was nothing he could do but pray. When the mouse turned to the cow ~ the cow just snubbed him and said "I am sorry for you, but it is no skin off my nose." Feeling said and rejected the mouse returned to the house to face his fate with the mousetrap.

That very night there was a sound in the farmer's house that sounded like a mouse had been caught it the trap. The farmer's wife ran to see what was going on. As it turns out, as she rushed in the darkness to see what was in the trap she did not notice that actually there was a venomous snake whose tale had been caught in the trap.

The snake bit the farmer's wife and she was rushed to the hospital. She later returned home with a fever. Well as we all know the best way to treat a fever is with "chicken soup". So the farmer took to the farm yard for the main ingredient. The farmer's wife's conditioned worsened and friends and neighbors came to visit with her around the clock. In order to feed all these people, the farmer had to butcher the "pig".

Unfortunately the farmer's wife did not get well and she died. So many people came to the funeral that the farmer had to slaughter the "cow" to provide enough meat for all of them.

The mouse now alone, looked on all the this with great sadness.

So the next time you hear that someone is having a problem or if you feel that what's going on in the world does not affect you (Remember the Mouse) and remember also----when one of us is threatened, we are all at risk.

To Your Continued Success and Well Being !
Miss Julia

MissJuliasGuidetoHealthyLiving.com

WHEN WE BECOMES ME (Surviving the Loss of a Spouse)

2009-05-26T16:25:00.009-04:00

If you take the word ‘WE’ and turn it upside down it becomes ‘ME’. That’s pretty cool within itself; but ME can be a very lonely place.

Til’ Death Do Us Part seems like a long time away when the vows are first said. Even as the years progress, we never really want to face the fact that one day one of us will go. I believe that from the very beginning we are all in a constant state of denial.

My reference point is 37 years of a very wonderful and fulfilling relationship. Certainly there were ups and downs and in’s and out’s but we know that things occur ~~ LIFE HAPPENS! And now in reflection, the in’s and out’s and ups and downs seem very insignificant.

Initially there is this ‘Grief Process’ that we have all learned about; Shock and Denial, Pain and Guilt, Anger, Depression and the list goes on. Well, I will tell you that I discovered that these feelings and emotions do not come in any chronological order. In fact, personally, I was determined not to entertain any of them -ever-at all. Why?, because I believed that I had it all together and I knew where my husband was (resting in the arms of the Master). So that being said, why should I be angry or depressed or feel pain or guilt? NOT SO!

In my determination of not allowing myself to go through this ‘so called’ Grief Process, I soon learned that I had done myself a great disservice. To my shock and dismay all of these emotions hit me like a ton of bricks.

I heard somewhere or read somewhere that grief is like a “Roller Coaster Ride”. SO TRUE. It pulls you up, then drops you down. It twists and twirls, leaving your heart in your throat and your mind in a fog.

The life I experienced with my husband ‘Was Not A Bad Ride”, but his passing put me on that ‘Roller Coaster'. There were times when it seemed that I could finally move forward and upward. Then all of a sudden out of nowhere would come a sight or a sound or a song or a smell or an image that would remind me of my husband ~~~and the roller coaster plunges downward, and I found myself falling back to where I was.

Back to ~ It Just Can’t Be....
Back to ~ I want everything back the way it used to be....
Back to ~ I am really not ready to let go.....

All around me people are going on as if life is normal. And here I am thinking how can all of you (in your now normal, perfect world) act as if nothing happened? My husband is dead! Life can never be normal again! Well, I soon came to realize that this was not everybody elses' world, this was my world.

You may have had a similar experience. People around you are living as if everything is normal ~~ but everything is not normal for you. Your world has been turned upside down and the pain may seem unbearable. But please know, you really will get through it. When? You may ask~~~ believe me, “when” is not a factor. We all progress at different levels.

Unlike I did, allow yourself to grieve and I mean grieve however you want to (holler, scream, cry, whatever). Just allow yourself to remember and reflect however is best for you.

Don’t rush yourself and don’t allow people to rush you. Share the pain of your grief with safe people who will really listen to you and who really appreciate what you have lost. Each time you open up and share with someone (who really understands) you are little by little letting go of the hurt. And as you let go of the hurt~~ you allow healing to take place.

I have come to see that grief goes away a little at a time ~~ moment by moment, day by day ~for as long as it takes. You must focus on all that was good about your spouse and about your marriage, because I will tell you right now, most of the stuff that I got angry and upset about with my husband, I could probably put in a thimble.

Please understand, there will always be a warm spot in your heart that you can never, ever replace. But please know that your heart is big enough to love again. You will get to a point when you really will want to 'and' need to move on.

After almost six years since the loss of my husband, I finally came to a turning point in my grieving. A very dear friend re-entered my life after almost 40 years. I found myself laughing again and I felt a glimpse of joy; I was coming to realize that yes, I can make it and I am going to make it! I am ready to Rebuild ~~

Rebuilding our lives really begins at the moment that we loose our loved one. However, rebuilding doesn’t really begin in earnest until we have sifted through the majority of the feeling, memories and issues that resulted from our loss. When we have sifted and sorted through all of these feelings and emotions, only then do we have the strength and footing to begin putting our whole self back into life and looking to the future.

If you are 50+ (nor not) and looking to rebuild and/or start new relationships please visit our Social Networking Site site (What's Age Got to Do With?)
http://www. Thefiftypluscrowd.ning.com

To Your Continued Happiness!
Miss Julia, Your Personal Success Coach

Google Me ~ JuliaGrayOnLine.com

Why a Lead/Capture Follow-Up System is the Best Option in Building your Contact Base or better known as your LIST….

2009-01-10T09:13:00.004-05:00

LEADS LET YOU DOWN??

Many Internet Marketers spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on Pre-packaged-Opt-In Leads. The average person starting out and many seasoned marketers find this to be an overwhelming expense; many times leading down a disappointing path of ‘cold calls’ that virtually ‘lead’ –nowhere.

It is understood that in order to build a successful online business you must develop a large and ever increasing Contact Base or List. The best way to do this is through a system that will allow you to recruit others into your business. In order to recruit effectively it will help to have a list of like minded people who are interested in what you have to offer. Ideally, this will not be some list that you buy off of the internet but rather one that has chosen to ‘opt-in’ to your Lead Capture Page and one that you have built an ongoing relationship through your ‘automatic follow-up system’.

People are more likely to act based on the recommendation of someone they –

- Know
- Like
- Trust

When you first contact a “normal” lead you do not meet ANY of these three criteria. Therefore, it’s always somewhat harder to ‘sell’ them on your opportunity. It is for this reason we must stop looking at people as “leads” and start looking at them as fellow entrepreneurs with whom we are looking to form a relationship.

Rather than constantly trying to get more leads and then close them on a particular opportunity- Instead, seek out like minded individuals, and form a relationship with them via e-mail and the Internet.

Consider these Lead Building Tips:

Utilize a Lead/Capture System

• Learn how to get the most out of Auto Responders and Traffic Exchangers etc.
• Find out where you can place ads that produce favorable responses.
• Develop relationship through Forums and online chat that are pertinent to your business or opportunity.

Now, when ANY opportunity arises you will have a group of like minded people who know, like and trust you and who are open to consider your opportunity. So remember, stop thinking of people as “leads” , instead, focus on forming a relationship with them regardless of whether they join your business or not.

Much Success !
Julia Gray

Google Me ~~Julia Gray Online

Confessions of an Internet (Home Biz) Program Junkie ~~

2008-07-20T11:10:00.016-04:00

OH MY, What Does This Mean??

This means joining every program that comes along -spending money on sign ups and monthly fees and expecting the thousands of dollars promised and the new BMW and the Great Big House and lounging on the Beach and all of the Dollars falling from the sky or oozing from your computer ~~~~ Been There -Done That!!

Let me say that yes, there is fantastic money to be made on the internet with home based businesses. Millions have been made and millions are still being made. And you are wondering like I did - ‘when will the big bucks start rolling in for me’? Well, let me tell you that they won’t as long as you stay trapped in the Home Biz Program World and not understanding what it really takes to be successful on the internet.

Let’s review what you and I both have been through and may still be going through……

THE ATTRACTION

$99 an hour just by hand-addressing these special invitations

Never Been Done Before $28,000 in days not weeks .. Simply returning phone calls.

Make $7,500 Every Week.

$450 a Day - Get $3 for every booklet you mail

$30k in 30 Days -Not MLM -No Explaining - No Selling

Retire Early- Generate Thousands Weekly.

Make $5,000 weekly - 100% Automated Business.

Invest 30 minutes of your time and $50 of your own money and Become a Millionaire in Months!

“I made $242,940 last year working from home - no selling, no explaining, no answering questions, no prospecting, no rejections”.

Earn a CEO’s Salary from Your Living Room.

THE ADDICTION

Free duplicated Website - all with your name and info -- Great for your Ego.

Daily e-mails with glowing accolades about the program.

Weekly meeting or teleconferences so that you can hear about how successful others in the program (generally your up-line) have been and how much money they are making.

Giving the illusion that you can be a Royal King or Queen and that your home is a magnificent castle high on a mountain top and you have a shiny new car in the driveway and that you have endless hours to spend with your family--- All of This and NO WORK~~ Right!

THE HOLD

You paid x-dollars to join these programs.

You are paying a monthly fee to stay in these programs.

You are paying money to advertise these programs.

Your are still hearing stories from your up-line about how great these programs are and about all the money they are making and all the money ‘you‘ can make..

Your are not making any money and you really don’t know what to do.

You still have the desire to have a successful home- based business.

If any of this sounds familiar, it’s ok you are not alone. So you may wonder now what to do? Well, let me tell you; the first thing that you must do is Focus. I was so frustrated after signing up for a number of programs, I found myself not really being able to promote any of them effectively. So I had to ask myself “what do you really want to do?”. I realized that I had to find one concrete thing that I could focus on and devote the majority of time and energy to. But, I also realized that I did not know what I was doing.

I found out the hard way that the 95% of those really making the big bucks - are really not telling you exactly what they are doing or they are trying to sell you their “so called Secrets” in some type of course or e-book. And yes, I bought in to all of that and still did not know what I was doing.

As it turned out one of the programs that I had signed up for indirectly led me to a Mentor. It was then that I was really able to focus. It was then that I began learning just what to do and how to do it. I was taught the in’s and out’s that the Big Guys use. I was taught the so-called secrets that the Big Guys or so called Gurus do not tell you - even in their e-books and courses. I also learned that there are many programs and businesses that you can join or sign up for free. I also learned that there are hundreds of sites that provide free advertising. I finally figured out what I needed to do.

THE STRATEGY

Figure out what your interests really are.

Find a Mentor that really has your best interest at heart.

Promote yourself - get involved in Social Networks and make yourself known.

Seek out no cost or low cost opportunities that coincide with your interests (and believe me there really is something for everyone - and you don’t have to lose your shirt -like I did).

Get in front of a Trend - find out where people are going and get there first.

Take advantage of free advertising to promote your program once you have found one that you can really focus on.

WHAT I DID
I took the advice of my Mentor. I began giving up programs that were draining me every month - $20 here, $47 there -$38 there etc. This adds up believe me; I was paying out all of this money and not making a dime! I began to promote and brand myself through Social Networking. I found a Primary Program that made sense to me, that I joined for free and that I can promote through free advertising. I started Blogging and writing Articles that would help others trying to get started with marketing on the internet. I sought out other no cost or low cost programs that I could introduce to others. I started to Focus.

THE SEVEN STEPS TO RECOVERY
Like any addiction - the road to recovery is a day-by-day process. Believe me I still get tempted by the flashy headlines with promises of overnight financial success. I still get tempted when I see the big houses and shiny cars -- and yes sometimes I even click those links or sign up for more info (really just to see what is going on out there). The difference now is that I have the sense to know “IF IT SOUNDS TO GOOD TO BE TRUE - IT MOSTLY LIKELY IS” ( How many times have we heard that?!)

Find a Mentor - My Mentor has been a God-send for me. I will attribute all that I have learned about having a successful internet business to my Mentor.
Build your Belief - Once you get your mental state on the right track and you have developed a plan, begin working on your internal belief and motivation. Building your internal belief is a matter of getting your mind to accept that you can thrive in a new home-based business.
Stay Focused - Sometimes you may get discouraged or struggle with the feeling that you are going one step forward and two steps back. But remember no matter how discouraged you get, keep doing what you are doing to grow your business.
Know Your Business - Know the in’s and out’s of how your business or program works so that you can confidently help those that will be signing up or joining you.
Keep An Open Mind - Be grateful for all of your successes and you will pave the way for even more to appear. Don’t moan and groan if things don’t always go the way that they should. Stay Focused, Stay Positive.
Let People Know Who You Are - Visibility is crucial. People need to know that you exist. They need to know who you are and where to find you. You could have the best lemonade stand in the world but if no one knows where to find you - you won’t be selling very many cups of lemonade - now will you?
Get Serious - Here it is- people have to know that you are serious. If you get all the information that you need but sit back and think that your brand new web site or that one or two free ads will bring you all the business that you want - you are fooling yourself. The more effort you put into reaching customers and letting people know who you are and what you have to offer - the more your business will grow.

Perseverance Is The Key - Conrad Hilton said “Successful People keep moving. They make mistakes, but they don’t quit.”

Finding Mentors
I have been very fortunate to find true Mentors at My VM Team
My VM Team is a group of like-minded individuals that work both collectively and independently for the success of the entire team. Under the leadership of Jim Cobb,
Stephanie Haile and Don Hill - My VM Team has become a trend- setter for how business is done on the internet today.

Get in Front of a Trend
With the price of gasoline at over $4 a gallon many people are opting to find alternative ways of getting things done. One thing that everyone does is shopping. The internet has become the alternative place to purchase just about everything that one would get at the local mall. Shopping on line not only saves gas - but it saves the frustration of driving to the mall, finding a parking spot and then having to stand in line to pay for your purchases.

So Come On, Sit Back and Shop 'Til You Drop at Miss Julias Online Shopping Mall - while there, learn how to get your own mall for FREE! This is a mall with a purpose - not only do you earn rebates on your purchases but this mall gives back to children in need around the world!

If you are really in shopping mode - you can head around the corner to
The Shops at Miss Julia's Place
You can sign up here for a FREE account and earn rebates on all of your purchases.

To Your Continued Success and Happy Shopping!
Miss Julia, Your Personal Success Coach
Proud Member of My VM Team ~ My VM TeamMajic

"YOU" ---> YOUR #1 ASSET - LIVE YOUR BRAND...PROMOTE YOURSELF

2008-05-24T00:46:00.010-04:00

Live Your Brand
Take a look at who you are and what you represent and what you stand for - this constitutes your brand and you must live it everyday in order to make 'you' -> your #1 Asset.

The Power of Brand Recognition
A lot of time and energy (what I call blood, sweat and tears) goes into creating a memorable 'brand' that adds value to a company's marketing strategies. This value generally manifests itself in the form of name recognition. We have all been exposed to name recognition forever - either consciously or sub-consciously.

Think of companies like McDonald's with the Golden Arches and that silly Clown with the big red nose, Think of Pizza Hut with the famous Red Roof, Think of Energizer and that crazy Pink Bunny-and did you ever think you would see the day when an insurance company would be marketing its product with a 'lizard'?-- the list goes on.

We carry around words and jingles and sayings and images all the time-and all of these sayings, jingles and images etc. are most likely associated with a product or service that we have used, seen, heard about or been exposed to in some way. Most of the time we can hear just the first bar of a jingle and we already know what the product is. This strategy is not by chance. As mentioned earlier a lot of time, energy and expense goes into creating a 'brand' that is easily recognizable and well received by that company's market.

See If You Recognize These:

Have a __________ and a smile.
You're in Good Hands with ______________ .
Like a Good Neighbor _______________ is there.
You deserve a break today- so get up and get away to _______________.
Have it your way at ____________________.
It's so easy even a ___________________ could do it.
These are the voyages of _____________________________.
You have just entered the _________________________ Zone.

SEE WHAT I MEAN !! I'll bet all of these came to you in a flash.... RIGHT?

SO, let's fast forward to YOU and how you can create your own Personal Brand... Consider the following steps ...

Define Who you Are -
The most important step to creating your personal brand is defining yourself. This means that you must take stock of your strengths, values, goals and personality to determine how people will relate to you and trust you. What will a person take away from an encounter with you either directly in person or by phone or through your website(s) profile? Are these encounters consistent?

When you consistently present yourself based on the attributes that you have identified, you will have created an effective Personal Brand. Those who interact with you now will have a strong sense of who you are and they will come to know, like and trust you.

The beauty of Personal Branding is its uniqueness. Components to consider for your Personal Brand include: your leadership abilities, your special strengths, talents or achievements; your personality traits, and distinctive qualities. Just remember, your Brand is Your Brand--
It doesn't ' mirror anyone else but you.

Getting the Message Out -
Once you have determined your personal brand message(s), you will need a strategy and a tool to help you reach your target market. Persistence and Visibility are key elements in ensuring that your personal brand is communicated to the people who need to know about you and who may be interested in your products and/or services. This means that you must live your personal brand at all times; if you find this challenging then perhaps you were not honest during the defining process and probably need to think a little harder about who you are and what you stand for.

How do People Learn About You?
There are endless options available for getting your personal brand message out. Certainly the most powerful and effective is face-to-face communication. It is agreed that personal interactions provide the greatest opportunities to create memorable impressions. However, if you have a very large client or customer base or if your business is primarily internet-based this method is not always possible or practical. Of course you can use other communication vehicles such as e-mail, direct mail and personalized letters. While these methods are all well and good, the advances in technology have taken communications to a whole new level.

New Technology, Innovative Tool
A cutting edge tool by the technological company QAlias makes it possible for you to have top ranking on Google, Yahoo, AIM, and other major search engines affiliated with Google. This technology is being called the "Google Me" Revolution. This tool allows you to create an online Profile, a Bulletin page where you can highlight your products and/or services or just discuss your particular areas of interests and ideas. You can also create a page to display your business cards(s). A professional online image will add credibility to your personal brand.

Now instead of sending hundreds of e-mails or personalized letters to introduce yourself or to let people know about you. You can now just say "Google Me" and they can go directly to your online profile.

When you are able to project the image you have defined for yourself through your online professional profile you will become your #1 Asset. And this is critically important for entrepreneurs who wish to differentiate themselves from the competition.

To View a sample Profile visit --> GoogleMe2Day.com

To Your Success !
"Miss Julia"
Proud Member of MyVMTeam

View my Online Profile @ ----> JuliaGrayonLine.com
or
"Google Me" --> Julia Gray

Google Me Talk Radio Jim Killeen

2008-04-22T01:08:00.008-04:00

Jim Killeen's adventure through the search engines of GOOGLE to the far corners of the Earth have given him a knowledge one can only obtain throughout the journey.

Computers are now a focus of our daily lives rather than an addition to the tasks we perform each day. Computers have become a very defining part of our existence. Strictly checking our occasional emails has become a thing of the past.

Bringing the computers out of the den and into the main living area of the home for researching information, watching videos and sometimes gathering advice on the many websites available through the world-wide web has added a whole new arena to the significance of computers in our daily existence.

GOOGLE has produced the greatest impression and has enabled web users to connect, seek, and ultimately locate each other. It's a Wonderful Thing!!

GOOGLE Me The Movie, Jim Killeen, and Blog Talk Radio are merging together for a one night event on GOOGLE Me Talk Radio! Thursday night April 24th at 8pm ET.

This will be an exciting evening with The Host of GOOGLE Me Talk Radio, Jim Cobb and 'The GOOGLE Me Man with the Plan', Jim Killeen.

Be sure to spend some time at http://www.GoogleMeTalkRadio.com for the entertaining evening.

Social Networking & Personal Branding ~Wave~ of the Future !

2008-03-30T10:16:00.005-04:00

Leaving the Corporate World - Coming Home...

As many people are leaving the corporate world and creating home businesses, the trend toward Social Networking has become a very popular way for people of like-minds to both communicate and share ideas and opportunities. It provides an avenue for people to establish a place within the Social Networking Community. There are many established Social Networks which means there is something to meet everyone's interests, desires and needs. Also there are some networks that allow you to profit from your relationship with them.... that's a good thing.

GIBLINK is one of the Social Networks that allows you to profit while being a part of the community. Global Internet Business Links (GibLink) provides its members an opportunity to invest in their Social Networking Community through their very innovative concept of Revenue Sharing.

Also on the cutting edge of Social Networking is a very unique group of individuals known as --
My Virtual Marketing Team. MyVMTeam is taking Social Networking to a whole new lever. Through mentoring, training and sharing this group makes it possible for all members to succeed regardless of what business or service a member may be involved in. No one is left behind.

Gerald Franklin from AskGeraldFranklin.com (also a MyVMTeam member) writes..

"A huge benefit of those utilizing social networking is connecting with others that have the same interests or are part of the same industry".

Social Networking also makes the internet experience more personal as well as exciting and fun. "Success in Social Networking through Branding Yourself" will provide an avenue for you to establish your place within the Social Network Community and also the ability to maintain your place by 'Branding' yourself.

Social Network Communities are Becoming Hometowns Online...

A Social Network Community can become your 'Hometown' online. People meet, greet and become friends; share joys and sorrows; participate in community events, volunteer to help others in the community who may be new and trying to find their way around. Dialog with community members is provided through forums and online chat; and just as in any other community there are business people who have products and services to offer, that people in the community need, desire or want; so they put up their 'store fronts' and let people know who they are. As they establish themselves over time they develop a 'name' or 'brand' for themselves, and now everyone in the community knows who they are.

So What Happens when You Venture from Your Hometown into the 'Larger' Community?

In small towns most people know each other quite well -but when small town people venture out into the 'larger' community they must establish themselves and make themselves known. This is generally done through some form of advertising via newspaper, brochures, radio-tv ads, handing out business cards etc. Please understand, the internet -is- the 'larger' community' for the Network Marketing World, so even if you are well known and have established relationships within a Social Network Community, you are a 'little fish in a big pond' in the 'larger' community of the internet, thus the need to 'Brand Yourself' and make yourself known.

The 'Google Me' system is the best way to do this - create your online Profile and Bio, publish a Blog-type Bulletin, display your business card(s), present yourself in a professional manner for whoever it is that needs to know Who You Are..

Jim Cobb from GoogleMeTalkRadio (How to Build your Business through Personal Branding) writes...

"As an independent professional, and a self employed online small business owner one of the most challenging tasks is marketing “YOU”. You know how to do what it is you do really well, you know you can offer value to people, you just don’t know how to locate people (prospects) and convince them to use your services or products (become customers)".

"The important thing to understand is that right now is the best time to start building an online marketing system using Google Me. Many online markets are not crowded and it is easy to find a niche you can dominate. I guarantee there are people out there searching the web for “YOU” and what you offer".

This industry is growing at a rate of 89% a year ........

If you are currently marketing online or if you are thinking about starting an online business consider adding Social Networking and Personal Branding as necessary Elements for your business success...

* Start Branding Yourself with the "Google Me Revolution"...
* Follow this link GoogleMe2Day.com

* Profit from Social Networking....
* Follow this link FriendsGlobalNetwork.

Grace & Peace
Julia Gray aka 'Miss Julia'
Visit me @ JuliaGrayOnLine.com