Dear ,

We took 3rd place at the go-kart races in DC! I've never been in a go-kart before and it was quite an experience. The most disconcerting was having immense blind spots with the helmet on, almost tunnel vision, and then having to use both feet for brake and gas, instead of the usual one foot on gas, then switch to braking. The guys on my team were very generous and great sports insisting I get out there regardless of the outcome. We got lucky with our wisest member being the fastest time on the track and made up for my slow poke performance. We did it! Got trophies and all, with some 13 randomly selected teams of 5 racers each.

Yanik Silver's Maverick Marketing rocked! The reason for the races was Maverick Marketer Yanik Silver's way to incorporate adventure in everyday business. I attended his one day event and got so much more than a day's worth from it. The connections alone were phenomenal and global. Yanik takes a group to Necker Island (yes, Sir Richard Branson's private retreat) annually for connecting, brainstorming, and adventure. I will be there in 2010!

Family ties! Wow, had a blast at my stepsister's 70th birthday bash. I lost touch with that part of family when her dad passed in '78 and my mom in '85. This was a truly joyous event. Mary Ellen looks a mere 55 and has more energy than I do! It was such a treat to catch up and look forward to future gatherings. Success is all about being able to spend time with precious family and friends and it has taken me many years to find this wonderful place.

Prospering by Design, Always!

Melissa

"To live exhilaratingly in and for the moment is deadly serious work,
fun of the most exhausting sort."

~ Barbara Grizzuty Harrison

Publishing Opportunity

Schiffer Publishing is requesting that Ashley Rooney create another winning compilation book on decorating entitled Shore Decor, which will be distributed by Amazon and Barnes & Noble.  

She is looking for 3-10 400 dpi images (high res) with paper thumbnails, captions, and text on the project and on you. You must include contact information and a signed photo release. The deadline is coming up quickly on August 20, 2009.  For further information, contact Ashley directly at earooney@rcn.com

5 Essentials to Attracting Perfect Prospects Every Time

I have talked with so many designers, stagers, redesigners, organizers, and other creativepreneurs in lifestyle design lately and the burning question is "how do I get prospects?" The second burning question is "how do I get good prospects?"

Well, I know that feeling really well and it took me awhile but I crafted a system that truly works every time and it will work for you to. It doesn't matter what the economy is doing, what your partner says, or what the media tells you. You can attract Perfect Prospects for your business now and tomorrow.

This is a FREE call! Please do head on over to the preview page and ask me your biggest "how do I attract perfect prospects" question today! I'll answer it on the call. Join me!

EVENT: 5 Essentials to Attracting Perfect Prospects Every Time
DATE & TIME: Wednesday, August 5th at 8:00pm Eastern
FORMAT: Simulcast! (Attend via Phone or Webcast -- it's your choice)

TO REGISTER FOR THIS EVENT, CLICK THIS LINK NOW...

http://melissagalt.com/teleseminars/register.html

How to Avoid Burnout (whether from success or failure!)

Do you ever find yourself working non-stop for either success or even for failure. Now when I say failure, I don't mean you are intentionally working to fail, but you find yourself caught in a spiral of activity that isn't producing the desired results yet you are unable to stop, reassess, refocus, and redirect your energies. Do you know what I mean?

There are four critical actions to take during this time. These actions will allow you the essential opportunity to relax, recharge, refocus, redirect, and remake your success plan. They will help you to avoid burnout or recover from it when you are already in the thick of it.

#1 Disconnect Completely

This is scary for many business owners but necessary. Whether you will brave it for a weekend or a week, literally turning off your cell phone, and closing the laptop completely ceasing business communications for 2 days to 14 days will make an enormous difference. Now, if you simply put an out of office message on both you will be inundated when you return and go through the anxiety of catching up. Instead I recommend your message share that you are out of reach and will not be checking messages left or emails delivered. Request that anyone who has a real need to contact you do so again once you are reconnected. This means you can delete (yes, I did actually say that!) all messages by voicemail and email that come in, knowing that when it is important enough whomever it is will be back in touch. Try it, it is very freeing.

#2 Focus on Your Successes

Too often as business owners we focus on what we didn't get done, what got left unfinished, loose ends and more. In my mentoring, I have created a progress report that starts with what my clients have accomplished in the last two weeks. This reinforces your sense of progress, direction, focus, and achievement. Every time you are tempted to be swallowed by the black hole of incompletes, look instead at your list of completes, your list of successes!

Read the Rest of the Article Here!

ID-DIGEST Editor's Choice Awards!

This is just one of the many benefits of being listed in www.ID-digest.com, the opportunity to have your work featured. Go check it out today, you could be on the cover next month! (Some of you may recognize my rustic stack stone fireplace from a model I did at Reynolds Plantation, Lake Oconee, GA)

Connecting with Value

It is fascinating to see the shift that is occurring on social media these days. As more and more climb aboard, Twitter is now over 40 million and doubling every ninety days, Facebook is over 250 million users and climbing, few seem to understand the purpose. There is a lot more spam and yet those of us who get it simply ignore it and continue to provide value content. People connect because you provide value, whether that value is in the form of:

The vehicle isn't important, what is vital is that people from all walks, industries, interests, and talents will always seek those who create value and connect with authenticity. Before you climb aboard, consider what you have to give, share, show, teach, provide. As Zig Ziglar so wisely said "You will get all you want in life if you help enough other people get what they want."

Want to use this article? You can, just include the text here completely. Get more great social media and new marketing tips at www.todaybydesign.com. And when you are ready to revolutionize your business marketing get your strategy session at www.sixfigureprofessionals.com.