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Pinellas Life "On The Grow" Newsletter Friday August 17, 2007

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July 2007 PinellasLife Stats

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Inside This Issue

PinellasLife.com	New Members and Update
Feature Article	Two Heads Are Better than One!
Recipe	She Crab Soup
Book Club	Winning Nice
Marketing	Guerrilla Brochures And How To Produce Them
Business	How to Deal with a Dumb Customer
Health & Fitness	Do You Have What It Takes To Get The Body Of Your Dreams?
Feature Member	Rent A Hand (Senior Home Care Services)
Newsletter Sponsor	Florida Eye Center "All Laser Lasik"

PinellasLife.com New Members and Updates

Deirdre Cavener We would like to welcome the following Members to PinellasLife.com! Thank you for supporting PinellasLife.com, "The Portal with a Personality" ... We are on the grow!

Bonham Dental Arts - Largo Florida
Rejuvenesce Med Spa - Seminole Florida
Seminole Florist (Flowers & Gifts) - Seminole Florida

My Favorite Things! For all you photography lovers one of our media partners, Al Martino from Accent on Tampa Bay Magazine, turned me on to a tool that is so cool I have to share! The one thing that gets me really excited is saving time and getting organized! I am HOOKED ... I use Smug Mug every day to organize and share our personal photos, our city photo albums, our client photos (they can upload right to the site) no more waiting for big photos to go through the email process! Time is money and this service saves a lot of time. Click on the banner below for more information!

We did it again! Visit Bay Area Business Magazine's New Web Site by KISS Marketing (yes that's us)! Meet local businesses, read articles on Accounting, Chamber of Commerce, Franchising, Health and Wellness, Human Resources, Management, Marketing, Multi Media, Personal Finance, Sales, Sales Moves, Self Development, Strategic Planning, and Technology online today at www.babm.com. Mention PinellasLife.com and receive a discount on all advertising! If your target market is businesses in Tampa Bay this is one publication that is a must in your marketing mix! Look for our full page ad in the September issue!

Thank you! I would like to send out a special thank you to Jennifer Seaman of Seminole Life Magazine! Jennifer is a dynamic woman and an integral member of the PinellasLife.com team! Thanks Jennifer for you enthusiasm, dedication, innovation, and hard work!

Deirdre Cavener, MCP
PinellasLife.com, Creating Community in a Global World
KISS Marketing, Inc. - Keeping Internet Success Simple (Web Development, SEO, Internet Marketing)

Feature Article

Two Heads Are Better than One!
How to Accelerate Your Success with a Mastermind Group

By Jack Canfield, America’s Success Coach

We all know that two heads are better than one when it comes to solving a problem or creating a result. So imagine having a permanent group of five or six people who meet every week for the purpose of problem solving, brainstorming, networking, and encouraging and motivating each other!

This process is called masterminding and is one of the most effective success tools you can adopt! It is a powerful way to support your dreams and bring unlimited resources to your business and personal life.

Participating in a mastermind group has been critical to me. I can’t imagine achieving all I have without one, and it certainly made my goals happen much faster.

A Process for Accelerating Your Growth

The basic philosophy of a mastermind group is that more can be achieved in less time when people work together. Sometimes called a “dream team” your mastermind group is made up of two or more individuals who voluntarily come together on a regular basis – weekly, biweekly, or monthly – to share ideas, thoughts, information, feedback and resources.

Your group can be composed of people from your own industry or profession or people from all walks of life. You can focus on business, increasing each other’s income, building a business, raising better kids, or solving a social problem.

Within your mastermind group, you benefit from the other members who empower you and draw out your full talents, resources and abilities. They trigger you, stimulate and motivate you to become all you are capable of being.

Creating Your Dream Team

Regardless of its purpose, the key is to choose people who are already where you’d like to be in your life – or who are at least a level above you. In forming your mastermind group, start by carefully enrolling another friendly, on-purpose, like-minded individual. Start by meeting together and then adding other selected, unanimously agreed-upon individuals who will work in total harmony for the good of each other and for the good of the group.

1. Your Dream Team should consist of 4-8 people. Most people find that 6 is the ideal number.

2. Meet weekly, if possible, for an hour to an hour and a half. This meeting must be held sacred as a life-enhancing priority. The meetings should be upbeat, enriching, encouraging and beneficial to each individual and the group’s purposes. I always start our meetings with a prayer or an invocation. You could also start with an inspiring story.

3. Each member must agree to play all out — to openly share ideas, support, contacts, information, feedback, and anything else that will help advance the individual and group goals.

4. Start by having each member share something positive and good that happened since the last meeting.

5. Next, have each member share an opportunity or problem they have experienced since the last meeting and ask for whatever support they would like on it. Appoint a time-keeper to make sure that everyone gets the same amount of time. This is important if you want your group to last. Everyone must get value at each meeting.

6. End by sharing appreciations and acknowledgements.

You’ll find one of the real values of a mastermind group is the accountability factor – other members checking up on you to make sure you meet your stated commitments. It’s one way to ensure you’ll accomplish a lot more!

For more details about masterminding, read Success Principle #46 in The Success Principles book or utilize the mastermind worksheets found in The Success Principles 30-day Audio Course.

Jack Canfield, America’s Success Coach, is the founder and co-creator of the billion-dollar book brand Chicken Soup for the Soul and a leading authority on Peak Performance. If you're ready to jump-start your life, make more money, and have more fun and joy in all that you do, get your FREE success tips from Jack Canfield now at: www.FreeSuccessStrategies.com

Recipe - South Carolina She-Crab Soup

Original recipe yield: 8 servings

PREP TIME 15 Min
COOK TIME 45 Min
READY IN 1 Hr

SERVINGS 8

INGREDIENTS

5 tablespoons butter
5 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 small white onion, grated
1 stalk celery, grated
2 cloves garlic, minced
salt and pepper to taste
2 quarts half-and-half cream
1 pint heavy cream
1 cup chicken broth
1 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill
1 pound lump crabmeat
2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
1/2 cup sherry wine

DIRECTIONS

Melt butter in a large stockpot over medium heat. Stir in flour to make a smooth paste, and cook for about 3 minutes, stirring constantly. Mix in the onion, celery, and garlic; season with salt and pepper. Continue to cook and stir for about 4 minutes.

Gradually whisk in the half and half cream so that no lumps form. Stir in chicken broth and heavy cream. Bring to a simmer, and pour in half of the sherry. Season with dill, Worcestershire sauce and hot sauce. Cover, and simmer for about 30 minutes, until soup has reduced by 1/3. Add crabmeat, and simmer for another 10 minutes.

Ladle soup into bowls, and top off with a splash of the remaining sherry and a sprinkle of fresh chives.

SUBMITTED BY: SOWEN

Book of the Week

Mark your calendar for Wednesday, August 29th 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm and help us support a local author!

Dawna Stone Book Signing

Dawna Stone, publisher of Her Sports + Fitness Magazine, will be signing copies of her new book WINNING NICE: How to Succeed in Business and Life Without Waging War on Wednesday, August 29th. The signing will take place at the Barnes & Noble Bookstore located at 500 3rd Street South in St. Petersburg, FL from 7:00 PM EST until 9:00 PM EST. This special night will also include a Question-and-Answer session with Stone. This is the second time in the past few years that the St. Pete-based author and magazine executive has brought a national spotlight on the Tampa Bay area; the first time was in 2005 when she won NBC's The Apprentice: Martha Stewart. Read more >>

Marketing

GUERRILLA BROCHURES AND HOW TO PRODUCE THEM

Now that it's so easy to produce your own brochures right in your own office, and now that the World Wide Web just begs you to publish your brochure online, it's crucial that you don't make the ten big mistakes made by amateurs with their brochures.

1. Don't waste your cover panel or headline position with your company name. Instead, give them a reason to read the rest of your brochure.

2. Don't be unclear as to what your brochure should do for you. Is it to generate leads? Close sales? Prospects won't take the time to figure it out.

3. Don't fail to answer the big question: "What's in it for me?" Stress your benefits more than features using language your prospects understand.

4. Don't try to include too much in your brochure. If you have multiple offerings, open your mind to the idea of multiple brochures, not just one.

5. Don't be sloppy or unprofessional. Software enables you to do it yourself without having it look do-it-yourself. There's no room for even a trace of amateurishness, smudges, inconsistent inking or crooked printing.

6. Don't be guilty of poor grammar or spelling. One misspelled word or poor use of grammar can undermine even the most compelling offers.

7. Don't allow any typos, contradictions, or omissions. Be careful and be consistent. Let a proofreader go over your final brochure before printing.

8. Don't forget to include a call for action. Say what you offer, what it means to customers and what they should do next. Call you? Fax you? Visit you? E-mail you? Tell them exactly or they'll do zilch.

9. Don't have confusing order forms. Let someone who didn't produce your order form fill it out. Assume nothing and test everything.

10. Don't limit yourself to a paper brochure. Perhaps it should be on an audiotape, videotape, a floppy disk. The world is getting more paperless.

Jay Levinson and Amy Levinson

By Jay Conrad Levinson
Author, "Guerrilla Marketing" series of books
Over 14 million sold; now in 41 languages
The best-selling marketing series in history

Business

How to Deal With a Dumb Customer

By Suzanne Richardson

Customers can be dumb. Take me, for instance.

I recently had to call a company to find out why I hadn't yet received a replacement for the telephone I'd returned because it didn't work properly. In response to my questions, the customer service representative started using terms I didn't understand in the context she was using them. (CS Rep: "Oh, the paperwork you enclosed is a duplicate." Me: "A duplicate of what?" And later, CS Rep: "I'll send the claim to be reprocessed." Me: "Does that mean I'll get a new phone?")

Instead of being patient with me, the customer service rep got frustrated. She understood what she was talking about, why didn't I? She started raising her voice and making loud sighing noises into the phone. She obviously thought I was an idiot.

Now, thinking of a customer as "dumb" is a really bad idea. Even if you don't mean to make your frustration obvious to the customer, you probably will. That makes the customer uncomfortable, embarrassed, even angry. And an uncomfortable, embarrassed, angry customer is one who isn't likely to buy from your company again.

Problem is, customers can be dumb. Maybe "uninformed" is a better term. So how can you handle an uninformed customer without conveying your irritation?

Sharika Kellogg, ETR's new Customer Service Manager, suggests that you:

1. Take a deep breath and repeat what the customer is saying. That way, you can be sure to address everything they need. ("Okay, Mr./Mrs. Smith, let me make sure that I understand what you are asking. You want me to cancel your order but keep you on our mailing list?")

2. Put yourself in the customer's position. What questions would you have if you were the one with his particular problem?

3. Take your time when responding. And make sure you ask the customer if they understand your explanation.

4. If you feel yourself getting frustrated, put the call on a 30-second hold "to review the account." Take a few seconds to scream, take a deep breath, or laugh - then compose yourself and go back to the customer.

Whenever you speak to a customer who's a little "slow" to understand what you're trying to tell them, take Sharika's advice. You, your customer, and your profit margins will be very grateful.

[Ed. Note: Learn the keys to handling difficult situations in business, at home, and on the road. Just pick up your free copy of ETR's Unscrew Your Life e-book and get 223 pages of our most practical insider information.]

Health & Fitness

Do You Have What It Takes To Get The Body Of Your Dreams?

John Kent, Owner, Oxygen Personal Training

For many the summer months bring with them a harsh reminder of unmet fitness goals.

While the toned men and slender women of the world put on their skin-tastic summer gear and proudly put themselves on display, those with jiggles and dimples would rather opt for a cover up and hang out under an umbrella.

So why haven't you met your fitness goals?

Why must you go through another agonizing summer, turning your head as you pass by a dozen magazines showcasing skinny celebrities in bikinis? You should be enjoying your summer days without wondering which pair of shorts covers the most.

The truth is that anyone can get the body of their dreams...even you. And wouldn't it feel great to pull on your bathing suit without bracing yourself before looking in the mirror?

You can turn your fitness dreams into reality-read on for the three things you need to begin achieving amazing results.

1. Your Mind

You may be wondering what your mind has to do with getting your body into great shape. In a single word, your mind has everything to do with getting the body of your dreams. Your mind will single handedly make or break your success.

How? Well, your mind works hard to reinforce the beliefs that you hold about yourself. If you think of yourself as a fat person, or an out-of-shape person, or just an average person then your subconscious mind will do everything in its power to keep you that way.

It's like self-sabotage.

However, if you begin to think of yourself as fit, healthy and attractive, then your mind will do everything it can to make your belief a reality.

*Take time everyday to visualize your new body and to focus on your goals.

2. Your Plan

Everyone who successfully sets out to lose body fat and achieve results does so by implementing a plan. Your plan is crucial to your success, picture it as a guiding map needed to find a new destination. Without it you are lost.

Here are the 2 major parts to your plan:

1. Diet: They say you are what you eat, and that is never truer than while losing weight. Cut junk food from your diet and stick with fresh healthy foods instead. Eat small meals throughout the day containing protein, carbohydrates and minimal fat.

2. Exercise: Yes, you will have to break a sweat, but the good news is that once you make exercise a habit you will likely find it to be enjoyable - In fact, I know you will. It is important that you make exercise a part of your lifestyle, and not something that you do on random occasions. For maximal results exercise 3-5 times each week doing both cardiovascular and resistance training.

*Stick with your healthy eating plan and exercise routine-these are the building blocks to your success.

3. Your Determination

Determination is the one thing that will guarantee that you will lose weight, tone your body and feel better than ever. You have to want it-that's it. Thinking about it is not enough. Now it's time for action!

You have to want your dream body...more than you want that burger and fries.
more than you want to skip your workout.
more than you want that chocolate cookie.
more than you want to sit on the couch.

The shape and size of your body is in your hands, and your hands only. I believe that you possess the kind of determination that it takes to change your body-you simply need to dig down deep enough within yourself to find it.

Fuel your fire by building a network of support in your life. Enlist friends, family and loved ones to encourage your efforts and to keep tabs on your progress. In fact, I would love to be a key player in your network of support-don't hesitate to call me or reply to this email to get me onboard. Fitness is my passion and I can help make it yours too!

*Surround yourself with support and don't give up.

I get excited when talking about getting you the body of your dreams-this is what I do everyday for my clients. Making the decision to transform your body is something to celebrate.

Call me at 727-420-8139 or send me an email at john@johnkentfitness.com and let me know that you are ready to make it happen for yourself and together we'll create a fitness and fat loss program that will change your life!

John Kent is a writer, speaker and owner of Oxygen Personal Training, located in Clearwater, FL. With his fitness expertise, as well as warm, friendly, and approachable character, John has become a captivating and much sought after speaker on the topics of nutrition and health. He has contributed articles to various publications and has been featured on Bay News 9, Channel 10’s Life Around the Bay and in Tampa Bay’s Best Magazine where they named him “Tampa Bay’s Body Transformer”. He can be reached at 727-420-8139 or on the web at www.oxygenpersonaltraining.net

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