With the holidays upon us, many are opening their hearts and their wallets, asking themselves, “what charity should I donate to?” I’m a huge advocate of giving money to charity, but I can tell you that I have been taken advantage of…..big time!

If you’d like to know how you can donate to charity without being ripped off, you’ll appreciate a few facts that I was never aware of, until now. If you feel compelled to give, and are looking for some ideas about where to best put your money, I’d also like to share with you some info about one of the charities I support – and why.

First, some Shocking Facts:

Up to 95% of Your Donations May Go to For-Profit Fundraising Companies

Imagine receiving a call from a sweet, polite lady or gentlemen who tells you about the tremendous need for donations to an organization that (for example) provides free health care to children with cancer. Can you say no? Well maybe….but some of us just don’t have the heart to say no to sick babies. I know, because I am one of them 

Well, the last time I received such a call, armed with this information, I asked what percentage of donations actually goes to the cause, and was told 5%. Yes, I’ll break that down for you….from a $100 donation, the charity itself will receive a measly $5. Oh and yes, this is legal!

Your Name May be Sold or Traded

Have you ever given to a charity, only to find yourself barraged with solicitations from other charities? It seems like all of a sudden, everybody’s “got your number”? I can tell you, there are weeks when I can receive 5 solicitations, all from different organizations that pull on my heart strings.

I always wondered how all these people had my information, until recently learning that when you donate to charity, your name may be sold or traded to other charities.

DNC List Does Not Pertain to Non-Profits

Fundraising organizations can legally call you, even if your name is on the Federal Do Not Call list – as long as they are raising money for a non-profit organization.

What Charity Should I Donate To?

Wow! So, am I telling you not to donate to charity? No, no, no – I repeat – NO! In fact I believe that one of the foundations of receiving is in giving. We are on this earth to help others, and in giving with happy hearts, we open the doors to blessings in our own lives.

My suggestion is that when considering which charities to donate to, use these practices:

• Learn what percentage goes to the cause. This information is readily accessible on the Better Business Bureau website http://www.bbb.org/us/charity.
• If you are solicited over the phone and feel that a cause is worthwhile, ask what percentage goes to the cause. By law, this information must be provided to you if you ask. If you are not satisfied with the answer, ask to be taken off their call list.
• Seek out charities that speak to your heart, use the money they collect for the most good, and are highly rated.
• If possible, set up an automatic monthly contribution for one or more causes or organizations that you truly want to support, and know that you’re doing your part to make the world a better place.

Still wondering, what charity should I donate to? There are many incredible charities to donate to, and I have a few favorites, but want to share one in particular with you. Feeding America addresses the growing epidemic of hunger in America. Why not start in your own backyard, where you can touch the lives of your neighbors? A few statistics on Feeding America:

• 96% of money donated is used towards programs
• Due to matching grants, every $1 donated provides 16 meals or more for hungry families
• 5.7 million hungry Americans are fed through the Feeding America network each week
• Feeding America meets all 20 Standards for Charity Accountability in accordance with the Better Business Bureau, and is a BBB seal holder

I could go on and on about the need, and about how this organization manages to do so much with so little. In the interest of keeping this post as short as possible I instead invite you to learn more about this worthy cause at http://www.feedingamerica.org

Feed your neighbors this holiday season (and throughout the coming year)….and feed your soul. Be Blessed!

Success in network marketing can be achieved by anybody, provided that you follow a proven recipe.

Chances are that you’ve heard time and time again that in order to create success in network marketing, you need to have the proper mindset. Yes, this is essential – and I would never encourage anybody to join a network marketing opportunity if they are not willing to develop a positive attitude. Once your head is in the right place, though, serious action is required.

This has proven to be one of the best network marketing tips I’ve ever received….and it’s plain, simple, and to the point. I’ve included an image below to help you visualize the concept. Hope it helps you to create tremendous success in your network marketing opportunity, and please let me know if there’s anything I can do to help you out

Recipe For Success In Network Marketing:

Talk Fusion has been on my radar screen for awhile.

Yes, it seemed like a cool idea, and there’s been a bunch of buzz from alot of my online friends – but I just didn’t want to put my focus on One More Thing. I’m sure you understand….

Until last night. Talk Fusion has beefed up their benefits and scaled down their price of entry. Gutta love that, right? What really caught my attention is the Live Broadcast and Video Conferencing that is being launched today.

What this means to every affiliate marketer, network marketer, traditional business owner, etc. etc. etc. is that for a very very low monthly price you can enjoy not only the fun and pizzaz of the services that Talk Fusion has been offering (video emails with cool templates), but now you’ll also benefit from the added bonus of real world, valuable tools that will help you to build your business.

Not just for kids anymore. This has taken it all to a whole new level, especially for anybody that’s already paying another service for video conferencing and webinar services – or has plans to do so in the near future. Let’s face it, Skype is awesome but it really has its limitations as a free conferencing tool.

Have you ever had one of those days? You know, the kind of day where you just can’t figure out how to overcome fear, doubt, and insecurity? Maybe it’s because of something that happened, or something that didn’t happen, or maybe it just blindsided you for no apparent reason at all. Whatever the culprit, you can’t help but ask yourself, “why do I even bother?”, and quitting seems like a great and very possible solution….

If you answered no to this question, you’re either very lucky or you’re lying to yourself. The truth is that most of us struggle at one point or another with feelings that we’re not good enough, we’re not worthy, or we’re not capable (does that make you feel less alone in your struggles?). These feelings are enough to stop some people dead in their tracks. But we’re different, right?

As students of personal development we know that we need to live in gratitude, make vision and belief the cornerstone of our lives, and always, always, always mind our minds.

Despite this knowledge, sometimes you just hit a brick wall that seems impossible to hurdle, which is especially difficult for those of us who understand what it is to be enlightened. In fact, some of us (myself included…) have even made the situation worse by feeling guilty for feeling bad.

The reason I bring this all up is, just last week I had one of those days.

Oddly enough (although I believe there are no coincidences in life….), that dark cloud of negativity was precipitated by an unusual event. Just 2 days earlier, one of the most self confident, successful, capable people I know broke down and shared feelings of self doubt. I was totally blown away that this person, who “so” has it all together, could even have these kinds of feelings, or struggle with the same issue that I sometimes think is only for the weak at heart: how to overcome fear, doubt, and insecurity. Yet their pain was a gift to me. It gave me clarity and strength.  I saw first-hand that this is a human condition, one that strikes even the best of us.

Just 2 days later, out of the clear blue, that self loathing, scared, overwhelming voice of defeat started singing its ugly tune inside my head. Hopelessness and helplessness started to take over and I felt unable to fight it. But thankfully, rather than sticking around for days – as it sometimes does – this came and went in a matter of hours. Maybe it’s because of the personal development work I’ve been doing, maybe my spiritual growth, maybe the fact that I actually know what I’m doing, maybe Divine Grace. Probably a combo deal.  Whatever the reason, I want to share two very significant changes in mindset that brought me back into the light.

The Enemy Is Cunning

My spiritual journey has taken me down a new path, one which brings the Word of God into a whole new light and meaning, making it much more real in my everyday life. One of the realities is that just as there is a God, there is an enemy. He is cunning, wishes to break and destroy us, and is willing to do whatever it takes to see us suffer and keep us in bondage.

As the darkness and despair began to fight for control in my mind, I recognized for the first time that these thoughts and feelings were not mine….they were not me. They were coming from the enemy, they were fighting to destroy my will, and I had the choice to allow that to happen – or to stand up and defend myself.

This evil enemy wants to keep me in bondage. He knows that I’m on a steady path towards freedom, and that I plan to take many along with me. He also knows that the easiest way to prevent this good from flowing into my life is to plant the seeds within my mind that will lead to self sabotage. After all, it ALL begins in the mind. Yes, very cunning indeed….use my own mind to create my own downfall!

I guess it’s just a part of my personality that I’m usually willing to fight for what I want. When I saw this as a fight against an evil enemy rather than a weakness that I couldn’t control I had one of those “ah-ha” moments and something clicked in my mind. I wasn’t going to lose this fight.

I am stronger than the enemy.

I WIN

Many of us, me included, have been taught that there is a great reward waiting for us beyond this lifetime. It’s been held out in front of me ever since I can remember, an elusive promise of something better in exchange for living a good life.

What I’m beginning to wake up to is the fact that this promised land is available to each and every one of us here on earth…..today. There’s a Divine plan for my life and if I play it out with faith and knowing, I will always win.

Within my own being I have everything I need

Rather than trying to explain it, I invite you to watch as Pastor James Wood delivers a message that practically brought me to tears. Yes, it’s long but I can guarantee you it will touch your soul and may even impact your life in a major way.

Not only is Pastor Wood my spiritual leader, but he’s also my business partner, friend, and mentor (for which I am tremendously grateful). If you’d like to experience more of his messages you can visit his youtube channel or Facebook page at His Greater Worx

Why am I sharing this story of my weakness with you? It was in hearing a friend do the same that helped me to realize that I am not alone in this, and that all I have to do is look to the Truth to set me free.  I’ve picked up some emotional and spiritual tools that have taught me how to overcome fear, doubt, and insecurity when they try to invade my soul. Maybe a day will come when you’ll be overcome by the pain of hopelessness and you’ll remember back to this post. Maybe one thing that helped me will help you.

Be Blessed!

Mike Dillard, world renowned Internet genius, has just broken out of his traditional role as an online marketing guru and created The Elevation Group. If you’ve seen the 90 minute video you’re probably having one of the following thoughts:

• Has Mike Dillard totally lost it? What’s with all the gloom and doom, he must be out of his mind.
• I’ve heard more and more predictions about the impending collapse of our economy, maybe I should take this seriously.
• OMG everything Mike Dillard says makes 100% sense. Time to take immediate action.

I have no desire to tell you what you should think about The Elevation Group or what actions you should take or not take. But I do want to tell you that my reaction has been a profound belief that Mike Dillard has stepped up to share information with you and me which could mean economic salvation for us. Let me tell you a little story that will help you to understand why I am taking the advice shared in The Elevation Group video to heart….

I have a neighbor named Brian. Brian is a high school history teacher, and he is very, very focused on world economics. Over the last several years, he has been talking to everyone who will listen to him – warning them that they will lose everything they have if they don’t take his financial advice.

His outlook is very bleak and depressing. Just one look at Brian, and you can see that he carries the worries of the world on his shoulders. He speaks of conspiracies, a future where our children will be literally starving, a world of total chaos and disorder.

If you know me you know that I’m a faith based person. I choose not to live in worry and fear (which, after all, is the opposite of faith). I tend to give my attention to ideas that resonate with me, and to trust the world. Herein has lied my problem.

Every single thing that Brian has told me has made complete sense. I know this man is very intelligent, and he spends a great deal of time researching the information he shares with others but honestly, but the methods he has used to get his message across have left me wondering if maybe he is just a bit of a paranoid lunatic. Even though my head has been telling me for years that I should follow his advice, the emotional turmoil that this has all created has left me in a state of inaction.

When I saw The Elevation Group video produced by Mike Dillard, I knew without a doubt that this information was not only NOT lunatic rantings, but quite possibly the most important, potentially life changing information that has been released to the public. Every single point that Mike Dillard goes over in his video is something that I have heard at one time or another from Brian. The only difference is that it is now coming from someone that I consider to be a more credible source.

The Elevation Group video is not an attempt to tell people what they should do and again, I would never try to advise you on what could be the most important decision you could ever make as to the future you will create. I do want to share with you, though, some of the advice that Brian has given me over the years. Every one of these tips made sense to me but required me to take actions that seemed much too drastic.

• 5 or 6 years ago he advised me to buy gold….we all know what has happened to gold prices since then
• 4 years ago he told me I should sell my house and rent…..soon after the housing market crashed
• over the last few years he has consistently advised me to take the penalties, pay the taxes, and cash in my 401Ks

Guess what his advice has been over the last 3 years? You guessed it….buy silver! Hmmm….I wonder if he knows Mike Dillard personally?

Brian, if you ever happen upon this blog post, please accept my apologies for being one of the naysayers who have refused to take your advice, as well as my humble appreciation for planting the seeds in my mind that will grow into a fruitful harvest.  And Mike, thank you for having the courage and compassion to share this with the world.

I would love to hear what you think about The Elevation Group, the potential of an economic collapse, and whether or not you plan to buy silver based on this information….lunatic ramblings, something to think about, or prophetic salvation????

P.S. If you haven’t checked out Mike Dillard’s video introducing The Elevation Group be sure to click here and take a look.

A new world economy is unfolding, one in which average people will have the chance to get a piece of the pie. The status quo, a system where wealth has been reserved for corporation owners and top management, is beginning to crumble.

None of us are oblivious to what’s happening in the corporate world today. The “Big C” has become overrun by greed, dishonesty, and arrogance. Loyalty to employees is a thing of the past, and millions of once safe employees have been left out in the cold, unemployed, hopeless, broke, and broken.

Many of us who choose to see challenges as opportunities for growth, and problems as God’s way of showing us what He wants us to improve, have come to believe that we are in the midst of a new world economy, one in which average people from every walk of life, in any country, will have the chance to get a piece of the pie.

In his book The Next Millionaires, Paul Zane Pilzer predicted that between the years of 2006 and 2016, over ten million new millionaires will be created. A great majority of these will build their fortunes not as CEOs of large corporations, entertainers, or professional athletes, but in the network marketing industry.

This is a paradigm shift that will bring about a redistribution of wealth, a new world economy in which goods and services will be sold from person to person, neighbor to neighbor – rather than from money hungry corporations to faceless consumers. The shift is happening. Network marketing, once looked upon by many with suspicion, is becoming more and more common and accepted. Most people are waking up to the fact that this marketing model is NOT a scam, a pyramid, or a Ponzi scheme.

Of course, as in any industry, there will always be a handful of people who will try to profit through deception, and those seeking to join a network marketing company are well advised to do their due diligence.

A few of the factors that have helped to popularize the network marketing industry include:

1. Well known financial experts, including Donald Trump, Robert Kiyosaki, and Paul Zane Pilzer are advocating network marketing as the best method for average people to get a piece of the pie and create wealth
2. Social media techniques and online marketing have made the world a much smaller place, helping to attract  potential business partners and customers from all areas of the world
3. Systems have begun to appear that are bringing many network marketers tremendous success

I truly believe we are not doomed or destined to live in fear and poverty. I believe we are on the brink of a new world economy, one that will be largely driven by the network marketing industry, one that will offer average people the opportunity to prosper and live in abundance. Nothing has been lost, and there is everything to gain.

Please share your thoughts by leaving a comment below, and as always…..keep the faith!

Facebook advertising, is it the answer to your dreams or just another smoke and mirror show? You may or may not be aware of it, but the concept of Facebook marketing has become somewhat controversial.

I must admit, when I first heard the buzz about Facebook ads, I was really excited. Those of us who were not fortunate enough to cash in on the golden years of Google can probably relate. I mean here we are, in the infancy stages of this social media giant, positioned to catch the wave and profit immeasurably. The little cash register in my mind was ca-chinging and overflowing with online profits.

It was all coming together in perfect synchronicity, a chance to take all of the Internet marketing knowledge I have, roll it up into an effective sales funnel, and capitalize on it Big Time through Facebook advertising, all at a fraction of the cost of Google advertising……sweet!!!

Until the proverbial slap in the face came along and wiped away that look of utter glee . No, not a Google slap, but the one that comes out of nowhere and presents a very convincing role as devil’s advocate. If you’re not aware of the argument that has been made against Facebook marketing, you’ll probably want to consider these thoughts before you quit your day job. If you have been reading the emails and watching the videos please do leave a comment and share your thoughts.

Will Facebook Advertising Run The Risk Of Being “Facebook Slapped”?

Have you read the Facebook advertising guidelines? If not, keep in mind that ignorance is not always bliss. Taken straight from the horse’s mouth:

“Facebook does not allow ads for “work from home”, get rich quick and other money making opportunities that offer compensation for little or no investment.

This includes pyramid schemes, easy money making ebooks, or other money making schemes positioned as alternatives to part-time or full-time employment.”

You and I know that the majority of network marketing businesses, affiliate marketing opportunities and Internet marketing techniques are not “get rich quick schemes” but apparently Facebook disagrees. Keeping this in mind, is there any doubt that the “Google slap” will ultimately and quickly be replaced by the “Facebook slap”?

Will Facebook Marketing Concepts Create Market Saturation?

For those who choose to go ahead and venture into Facebook advertising, you can be sure that you will not be alone. Chances are that you may be able to find techniques that will help you avoid the problems associated with noncompliance of the Facebook advertising guidelines…..at least for awhile.

You and about a million other online marketers!

How long do you think it will take before it all falls apart?

How long will it take before people begin to delete the mass Facebook messages they receive, much like we all do with the junk emails we get?

How long before Facebook gets wise and develops a fool proof barricade system?

How long before the rise is followed by a devastating fall, leaving marketers once again out in the cold?

Bottom line, is Facebook marketing a sustainable model for those of us who wish to promote affiliate products, information products, and network marketing businesses?

Yes, it may work for awhile. It may help you to bring in some serious cash. Many either have or will be taking out their wallets and handing over their hard earned cash, excited at the opportunity to finally catch a wave and ride it to financial freedom.

Whatever choice you make is yours alone and is neither right or wrong. Personally, I have chosen to stick with a more solid plan of action. Please share your thoughts with us in the comments box below; let’s see what the general consensus is here. As always, thanks for visiting!

I’m sure you’ve heard the term, “laughter is the best medicine”…..with that thought in mind just picture this…

You’ve been working for days on an important video series to promote your business, and you’re down to the very last video. OK, you’re a work from home kinda guy or gal and revel in the fact that no, you don’t have to get all gussied up to “go to work”.

But today is different, because that one last video is taunting you. So you ditch the glasses for your contacts, put that purple shirt back on, and break out the makeup (guys, this may or may not apply to you….just sayin’).

You’ve been doing your video series with the pool and waterfall in the background, and have mastered the skill of getting your chair as far away from the flip camera as possible – to reduce the risk of your wrinkles shocking the world…..(how old IS she, anyways???).

Camera rolling, you take your place at the seat of honor and for some reason have a momentary lapse of good judgement, choosing to reposition the chair. In the midst of this you have the sudden irrevokable awareness that one leg of the chair has NOT landed on solid ground – and backwards you go….drenching your purple shirt, smearing your mascara, and ruining what had started out to be a good hair day…….yikes!

Do you carry the chair out of the pool and throw it at the video camera, in turn tearing a gigantic hole in the screen just behind the camera…..or do you thank your lucky stars that your brand new smartphone was not in your pocket, cut a short but hilarious video, and put it out there for the world to see and enjoy, opening yourself up to whatever this public display of humility may bring?

When all else fails, just remember that laughter is the best medicine. Share not only your triumphs but your silly unproductive escapades with others, and put a smile on somebody’s face today.

I’m opening myself up here to your comments, the good, the bad, and the ugly. And enjoy the video!!!!!!!!

In 2011, the Susan G Komen Breast Cancer Walk will be graced with Evolving Divas from cities throughout the U.S. We’ve committed to raising $250,000.00 for this worthy cause – and we could use your help!

But let me back up a sec. First of all, it’s been awhile. My blog has been collecting cobwebs and for that I apologize. Thanks so much to all of you who’ve remained loyal followers and continued to interact here – you’re greatly appreciated and loved!

I’ve been totally wrapped up in a new project, which has blossomed into what my friends and I have lovingly termed “The Evolving Divas”. The Divas started out as a group of women (and a couple of guys…) who met online, partnered together in a business opportunity, and met personally for the first time after getting to know each other very well through the magic of Skype.

After our second trip together, where we spent a weekend in Dallas, it was obvious that the synergy we had created was meant for something much bigger than the purpose that had brought us together. We went into brainstorming mode, decided to put our energy into fundraising for health related charities, and committed to devoting our first year to raising money and awareness for the Susan G Komen Breast Cancer Walk.

Have you ever felt you were meant for something much bigger than yourself? Something that you could never do alone but with the power of love, the support of your friends, and the grace of God – it was nothing short of your destiny? Well, that’s what this has become. Our vision is clear:

We’ve committed to forming Evolving Diva teams in each of
the 15 cities that host the 2011 Susan G Komen Breast Cancer Walk,
and to raise $250,000.00 for this worthy cause

This may seem like a lofty goal, but then you haven’t seen us in action! In less than a month we’ve created an amazing blog, a Facebook business page, a YouTube channel, our first fundraising project, and have begun signing up for the 3 day, 60 mile breast cancer walk that will be hosted throughout the United States. Oh, and walking – walking – walking!

How Can You Help?

• Check out the Evolving Divas website.…my personal page is http://evolvingdivas.com/kathy-jodrey
  
• Your comments and interaction on our blog will mean a great deal to us
  
• Each of us will be required to raise a minimum of $2,300 – donations made through Susan G Komen links on our personal pages will be greatly appreciated
  
• Submit your favorite recipes for inclusion in our Diva-Licious Cookbook; profits will be donated to the Susan G Komen fund (details on http://evolvingdivas.com)
  
• Throughout the year we’ll have various items for sale (including the cookbook…); your purchases will help us to raise our goal of $250,000 for the Susan G Komen cause
  
• Join our Facebook business page, and keep up to date on what the Divas are doing for “the cause”
  
• Subscribe to our YouTube channel (brand new and very empty now, but great videos to come….)
  
• Follow the Evolving Divas on Twitter
  
• Join the Google Friend Connect on our blog http://evolvingdivas.com
  
• Our goal is to take our message viral and to attract others who would like to be part of the largest team to ever participate in the Susan G Komen Breast Cancer Walk – any and all forms of syndication would help tremendously!
  

And of course, the greatest thing you could do is to join us. Whether you choose to participate in our business ventures or not, we would love to have you along with us, walking for a cure. This is definitely not for everybody, but if you or someone you know may be up to the challenge I’d love to discuss! As a member of the Evolving Diva Susan G Komen team you’ll receive:

• A personal profile page on our blog, complete with your link to the Susan G Komen pledge site
  
• Assistance in raising the $2,300 required by the Susan G Koman foundation
  
• Publicity that will result from our knowledge of search engine optimization and internet marketing techniques
  
• Support, encouragement, training partners, friendship…..being a part of something incredibly huge
  
• Personal satisfaction of knowing you’ve made a difference
  
• Accomplishment of taking on a grueling challenge and conquering it
  
• Who knows….we may even end up on Oprah!
  

And just a side note here: anyone can participate in the Susan G Koman Breast Cancer Walk, provided that they raise the necessary funds. If you’re unable to walk the full 20 miles each day….it’s all good. You’ll be picked up after walking your maximum number of miles and brought to the designated campsite.

I know you have a million things competing for your attention – but please take a minute out of your busy day to consider what you could do to help this very worthy cause. Something as simple as a Facebook share could be incredibly helpful. I appreciate you and love you all!

Please feel free to contact me to discuss. My home phone is (813) 814-9769…..or you can contact me through the form on my personal Evolving Diva page.

Some of the team building ideas that are bonding my team:

• Skype group, where we get to know each other on a more personal level, discuss ideas, and hold meetings
• Private ning community which contains trainings, important information and links, and an opportunity to share photos, etc.
• Team trips, bringing us together from all over the country, in 1 place

And we have something exciting and huge in the works, as we speak. Stay tuned for a major announcement coming in the next week!