Dear Melissa,

Sinkfest in Las Vegas! Well I have to say I had no idea that a toilet could do so much! They now have them designed to cleanse, dry, and even fluff the person on the seat, this is too crazy. I just returned from the Kitchen and Bath Business Show in Las Vegas. It was an amazing selection of the latest and greatest in sinks, toilets, tubs, showers and, of course, kitchen appliances and finishes.

Retro refrigeration! One of the latest crazes is smaller refrigerators for rec rooms, garages, and in law suites, the designs were eye opening and certainly statement making.

B'ham speaking and TV! I'm delighted to report that I'll be on Good Day Alabama with my book featured on Thursday this week. I'm also addressing The Women's Network at their monthly luncheon. I've redesigned my Celebrate Your Life presentation so it is loaded with memorable and entertaining stories that illustrate The Art of Celebrating Every Day.

Live well and beautifully,

Office Angels

In need of some part time office help recently, I took the recommendation of friend and business associate Peggy Parks, of the Parks Image Group. I hired an Office Angel to work with me on building a database for speaking contacts. Office Angels is a locally based agency that provides part time at home administrative assistance, marketing services, public relations, graphics expertise, copywriting and much more. I have been very pleased with my Angel, and encourage those of you who need temporary or even permanent part time help and don't have the office space to support a staff addition to consider using www.officeangels.us . Do tell Founder, Essie Escobedo, that I sent you! (No affiliate fee, just the knowledge that I've connected fellow business owners, designers, speakers for greater success.)

Michael Losier: The Law of Attraction

Yes, I know that there are a plethora of books on the market today with the subject of the law of attraction. This was recommended by a fellow coach and relationship expert. I was impressed and pleased to find that Losier addressed two significant questions that others do not. The first is how to deal with your doubts, and the success of “allowing statements.” The second quandary for me has always been putting what is not yet here in the present tense. Losier directs us to use the terminology “I am in the process of attracting.” This works well for me. While many prefer the power of present tense, I could apply that only if I adhere to the movie “What the Bleep Do We Know” which suggests that everything we desire is all right here, right now, just perhaps not on the plane we are operating on. (Yes, I know that is a big one to wrap your mind around!) You can check out Losier's book at www.lawofattractionbook.com . He also provides a wealth of work sheets and support online.
 

"I have noticed that folks are generally about as
happy as they make up their minds to be."
~ Abraham Lincoln
 

Relationship Resources

As discussed in the last issue, it is vital to ask, ask, ask to find the best and most appropriate resources and service providers to ensure your business success. But, getting the resources and providers is only half the equation, it is building the relationships that really matters now. How do you create a long term business connection? There are just five essentials:

• Craft a Letter of Engagement – This clearly states the terms of how you want to do business, including anticipated lead times for goods and services, professional behavior on both sides, an agreement to the number of changes accepted without additional fees, and payment terms and method.
   
• Stay in Touch - Even during slow times, I make an effort to stay in touch with regular vendors and service providers. Keeping in contact means that they will be ready to step in and be of service when you need it, rather than reopening the relationship after a long hiatus.
   
• Demonstrate Thank You – This is more than just a verbal thank you, but means that you send a note or email for a job well done. In some cases a gift of thanks is appropriate. I know that during my busy season, I keep my workroom supplied with random pizza and occasional flowers, and when it really gets tough, I send in Godiva chocolates! This helps my projects to get to the top of the heap when I need a rush job done.
   
• Pay promptly – Just because your clients might keep you waiting for your invoices doesn't mean you can keep your suppliers waiting for theirs. When you have a history of paying on time or even early you can garner extra time in the event of a cash crunch, or qualify for discounts on invoices.
   
• Refer, Refer, Refer – When you are pleased with a service or product refer it to business associates as a valued resource. Feature them in your newsletter or ezine. Or perhaps you want to provide a link to them on your website and if appropriate ask for a reciprocal link.
   

The Luxor In Las Vegas!

On my recent Vegas adventure I stayed at The Luxor Hotel. Accomodations were adequate, but nothing special. I enjoyed the Venetian better last September, but at least this time the elevators to the rooms were within easy distance of the front desk and I didn't find myself trekking through the entire casino as I had at the Venetian. I'm not a gambler, so Vegas is only if I need to attend a trade show or conference!

I have to say I got a kick out of the Egyptian motif, remembering Mom as Princess Nefertiti in “The Ten Commandments” with Charleton Heston and Yul Brynner.

Travel Well and Safely,

MG