The Virtual Hammock

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I was chatting with my friend Gary on msn today and he asked me what I was up to…

Out poured a huge long list of things I was trying to do which made me realise why I was feeling so overwhelmed d’oh! That coupled with the worry that I may forget something (and of course add 10 more things) often paralyses me and I find that I get stuck on silly details and feel incapable of making decisions in case it’s the ‘wrong’ one.

I consider Gary to be a member of my Dream Team – people around me who I can talk to who will listen, encourage, challenge and inspire me. These special people make up for my weaknesses, put me in touch with others who can help and share their knowledge and wisdom – challenging me and pushing me through my blockages (my sister Nicola is relentless with me for this – I am SO lucky to have her on my team).

So where was I? Oh yes. Gary, is an internet marketer too (or information publisher is the new buzz phrase I hear) and runs LFConline.com so he listens to my mutterings then slips into the conversation something to help and/or distract me *lol*

Today he gave me two top tips:

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Ok, I’ve been diddling around refreshing my skills and learning new stuff and now I’m almost at the point where I can offer to do stuff for other people and get my business going. YEE HAR!

So I sat down today and thought what do I need to trade? A business bank account would be a good start! lol

Now I’m a simple creature and know that the people I already bank with, Abbey, are offering a great free business banking deal as long as I’m in credit. The only downside of this is that I won’t have a business bank manager and I know building a relationship in person is PRICELESS but I need to start somewhere and figure I can move when I’ve got a proven track record.

So I downloaded the application form off the website and started to fill it in… hmmm… my business address.

As a sole trader working from home, I’ve got four choices:

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Anyone who is looking for ways to generate traffic to their website or blog will eventually hear about pay per click (ppc) advertising – specifically Google Adwords ppc system.

You may want more traffic to sell your stuff, sell other people’s stuff (affiliate income), gather information for new product development or build a list via a squeeze page – whatever your reasons, ppc advertising, IF DONE RIGHT, can get you near instant, quality traffic.

I’ve long followed an amazing lady called Rosalind Gardner who makes a very nice income online via…

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Well here I am again, another reincarnation *grin* but this time I have a plan!  (thanks to my sister Nicola) and I have the desire (thanks to a failed marriage and HUGE credit card debt) I have create my life so i HAVE to take action.

So where to start?  I can:

a) get a crappy job earning crappy wages somewhere, if I’m lucky

b) get my finger out, update my skills and be brave and have a go at earning money online at hours to suit me and the kids and with no ceiling on my earning potential

hmmm…..

not much choice there then, although the thought of having a job (just over broke as many mentors describe it) does have it’s appeal at moments – especially when I look at my statements… haaahahah

So what am I doing?

I am filling my head with POSITIVE thoughts, surrounding myself with POSITIVE people, building a support network around me and am determined to not be overwhelmed this time.

On this blog I will be sharing my own personal journey and the best bits of online sales and marketing info i am reading or trying out.  So hopefully, you’ll be inspired too

I subscribe to some daily inspiration from Peggy McColl of www.destinies.com and would like to share with you, this week’s Friday story by Jaroldeen Asplund Edwards – it is certainly a perfectly timed reminder for me – I hope you enjoy it too

The Daffodil Principle

Several times my daughter had telephoned to say, “Mother, you must come and see the daffodils before they are over.” I wanted to go, but it was a two-hour drive from Laguna to Lake Arrowhead. Going and coming took most of a day – and I honestly did not have a free day until the following week.

“I will come next Tuesday,” I promised, a little reluctantly, on her third call. Next Tuesday dawned cold and rainy. Still, I had promised, and so I drove the length of Route 91, continued on I-215, and finally turned onto Route 18 and began to drive up the mountain highway. The tops of the mountains were sheathed in clouds, and I had gone only a few miles when the road was completely covered with a wet, gray blanket of fog. I slowed to a crawl, my heart pounding. The road becomes narrow and winding toward the top of the mountain.

As I executed the hazardous turns at a snail’s pace, I was praying to reach the turnoff at Blue Jay that would signify I had arrived. When I finally walked into Carolyn’s house and hugged and greeted my grandchildren I said, “Forget the daffodils, Carolyn! The road is invisible in the clouds and fog, and there is nothing in the world except you and these darling children that I want to see bad enough to drive another inch!”

My daughter smiled calmly, “We drive in this all the time, Mother.”

“Well, you won’t get me back on the road until it clears – and then I’m heading for home!” I assured her.

“I was hoping you’d take me over to the garage to pick up my car. The mechanic just called, and they’ve finished repairing the engine,” she answered.

“How far will we have to drive?” I asked cautiously.

“Just a few blocks,”Carolyn said cheerfully.

So we buckled up the children and went out to my car. “I’ll drive,” Carolyn offered. “I’m used to this.” We got into the car, and she began driving.

In a few minutes I was aware that we were back on the Rim-of-the-World Road heading over the top of the mountain… Read the rest of this entry »

I was going through my emails this morning – instead of ignoring them which has been my want for the past few months due to feelings of overwhelm – I deleted MASSES yesterday and now it is a pleasure to be able to look in my inbox instead of dreading it… anyway, one of them was from internet guru Joel Comm who is on holiday in Hawaii but obviously logs in despite it! He was talking about two guys I’ve heard of before – Tellman Knudson and Shawn Casey – so I thought ok, I’ll click the link… and I think you should too! Here’s an excerpt from Joel’s email:

****************************************************

As more people are finding success online, the methods they are using are becoming more public.

And every now and then someone just comes right out and spills the beans!

That is exactly what is happening right now with Tellman Knudson and Shawn Casey.

These guys have put together a series of training videos and a report that tell you every list-building strategy they know… and it’s all FREE!

It doen’t matter what your business model is. If you aren’t building a list, you are shooting yourself in the foot.

Take advantage of this free training now at:

http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=NOo6R&m=
1h6vhb2pMeADqb&b=SXh5kvkZhauy3f7f4sUcDQ

****************************************************

Today I woke up and decided to ‘get my shit in one sock’ – a delightful expression given to me by my soon-to-be-ex-husband which felt perfect for my mood.

So I was up and washed and dressed by 7.45am – take note Nicola (the woman who was still in her nightie at 2pm yesterday) – and ready for the garage to come pick up my Sedona that I’d scraped at Christmas time squeezing into my sister’s driveway… Yes, it had been something I’d been ignoring for months but last week, with a surge of energy from eating more raw food, I’d gotten it mot’d and serviced and the chewed up seatbelt (courtesy of my mutt Jasper) was replaced in readiness for being sold. The scrape is the final thing to sort, then bye bye fun bus …. she will soon be appearing on eBay *sniff*

Why am I selling? Cos I need the money basically – a wonderfully easy car to drive with enough room to swing a small child or 6 in, it is just too extravagant for my needs and I’ve got to pay the bills somehow until I get my affiliate marketing business off the ground (that’s another blog post alllllll together). I’ll post a photo and details on here too when I get it back in case you know someone who’d love to buy it.

So, with my new sense of getting on with things, I sat down and trawled through my email and actually DELETED stuff that I know I’ll never read which was actually a HUGE relief. I will start unsubscribing from things now as they come in, my criteria being – if I don’t want to read it straight away then it’s not good enough to get my attention, so LET IT GO.

Reading through I saw Nicola’s post about her new Google group to help people focus. WOO HOO I thought and signed up straight away! Then I thought ‘bugger’ I now have to think about what I want to do today and write it down and be ummmmm accountable… Here is what I sent in:

ok, i’m joining in!

1. Create spreadsheets for my personal finances

2. Move money around based on that info

3. Find the back up discs from my old computer and install files on my laptop ready for more sorting of finances

4. Write a blog entry on http://www.thevirtualhammock.com/blog (for Judith’s info *grin*) and not worry about how it looks or sorting it out first

5. Contact at least one mortgage company or broker about trying to get a mortgage for a flat over a restaurant…. will post on other group about this too

The idea is that you then have to report in every hour or so and update the group on what you’ve actually DONE to achieve your daily goals… WellI’ve actually been pretty good at doing that and this is the last one I sent in…

Ummmm well that didn’t go too well

Done

> phoned Virgin and downgraded tv package to save money

> received phone call from broker – he’s found one lender that will lend subject to valuers comments… 6.39% 2 yrs fixed £1200 fees plus the £8400 to move from my current lender
> did some quick research on cheaper cars as I’m about to sell my Kia Sedona to get a cheap run-a-round
> emailed ex requesting help with school fees…
> emailed buyers of my property to find out what’s happening and to see if they want to adopt my dog
> phoned solicitor and made appointment

> booked dog into kennels forFriday, ready for going to London for Alan Forrest Smith’s marketing workshop on Saturday!!!

Still to do

> paperwork to sort and file *sigh*
> take another look at Nicola’s spreadsheet, find discs, write blog

What have I learned?

> I get distracted easily
> I underestimate how long things take – especially with kids at home
> I need to close down Skype and MSN to help me focus I should do the
> stuff I REALLY don’t want to do first

But I HAVE done a load of stuff – and because I told the group I can see I’ve done stuff and don’t feel like a failure!!! YAY! I’ve also started tackling stuff I’ve been ignoring for ages, which has gotta be a good thing. And I have a new slogan..

I’m not perfect but… I’m having a go!

I’m currently searching for effective ways to make money from home as I do NOT want to get a job!

Some of you may know already, that I’ve been mainly laying around in a hammock enjoying the sunshine of Perth, Western Australia for the past two years and have now come back to reality with a bump, having landed in Worthing, West Sussex again.

Well the crunch is, I’ve promised my husband Nick, that I will start bringing in the bacon and I want to do this by using all my internet, web design skills and marketing knowledge to work from my pc at home.

Unfortunately, November is my deadline for generating an income and I’ve done diddly squat (as my Dad would say).  Merely swanning around ferrying the children about (they have a MUCH better social life than mine) and thinking about everything that I could do instead of taking some frickin’ action.

Well, my sisters will be pleased to hear that I’M heartily sick to death of myself now and I am taking action – writing on this blog is one of them!

I have started to bring in some dosh, by creating a weekly ezine for my sister Nicola Cairncross – you can subscribe for free at www.TheMoneyGym.com and admire my handywork!

But I need more!

Now there are 3 things I love – property, internet, reiki.   

So, as I’ve got to concentrate on ‘income now’ streams pdq, to avoid Nick marching me down to the nearest recruitment agency, my ‘pain’ point is building to a crescendo and I have decided that I’m going to try out other people’s products and services and recommend the ones I use myself.  Make myself a human guinea pig in fact! This should make me very popular with my niece and nephew whose passion for guinea pigs inspired their mother to create www.GuineaPigWhisperer.com

Anyway, back to my inspired action plan…

This morning, through following a link from a link in a newsletter, I came across a truly wonderful eBook called Grand Stage Selling: How I grew a $2.2 Million eBay business that sells 50,000 items per month on eBay with one full time employee.

I have promptly parted with my dosh ($29.95 which is about £15.65) as the guy whose story it is, gave away some fantastic…

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