Help us Gift Over One Million I Am The Earth eBooks around the world!

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Join us by helping us gift over one million beautifully illustrated, full-color I Am The Earth eBooks to children and adults worldwide. The I Am The Earth book, music album and curriculum were created to help all of us celebrate Earth Day every day. When we take care of the planet, we take care of ourselves and each other. So help us inspire people all over the globe to receive this eBook as a gift and begin to build further awareness of taking great care of our earth.

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Looking for a new joint venture partner, a new social circle, or expanding your business networking circle? Here are 9 proven steps to be more effective, make more sustainable connections and with less stress!
For some people, networking comes second nature, for others it can feel awkward and contrived, even down right exhausting. Even for folks who have been networking for years,hey feel there must be a more natural way to network. Well, after observing many pros over the years, though they all have their own style, here is the system that I have seen them all use. It is all based on an open heart, an open mind, and as a speech coach I know calls it, your authentic voice. The bottom line intention is to nurture and develop mutually beneficial relationships, over time, that reach across all areas of your life.

1) Successful networking is building relationships. You may have heard this before. Networking require and investment in time and effort to create long term relationships. Scope out the people you find interesting and then build the relationship over time. Remember the old adage of know, like and trust. Give it time.
2) Have a genuine interest in other people. People are intuitive. They see past your title, business suit, etc. and can sense who you truly are. Spend time getting to know the whole person. Ask about their interests outside of work. Ask about their family, the latest book or movie they liked. Meet the people they socialize with at that particular event.
3) Listen more than you talk. I know sometimes this can be a challenge. Sometimes it is a Godsend. Be curious and be an active listener. Listen and be amazes at the wealth of information people share.
4) Offer up value before asking for anything in return. They give without strings attached and are confident in their ability to give. They interact with others from a mindset of How can I help you? But also know their boundaries to avoid giving it all away for free.
5) The big one to remember, networking happens anywhere, anytime, any how. You can network in the supermarket, in yoga class, or your dentist. Pay attention and practice this one. For example, you may have noticed how many folks set up shop at your local Starbuck’s.
6) Successful networkers treat everyone equally. They don’t let egos get in the way of connecting with others. They are also very open to being approached by others. Everyone has some unique talent to share that you would never expect by just looking at them.
7) They create trust by being authentic and transparent. They keep their word, act with integrity, and treat relationships with care.
They are sensitive to the other person feelings. Make the other person feel comfortable. Never take things personally.
9) Have fun with it!
Networking is invaluable for business building, finding babysitters, a great dentist, your next date! Challenge yourself to how many different places and reasons you can practice these skills!

Letter from Carrie Strathman Jacobs:
Wow, I learned my lesson the hard way last night! It was 5:30 PM; I was just leaving the veterinarian after picking up dog food on my way home for our dear dog Frodo, a black and tan Cocker Spaniel. I get in my car, put the key in the ignition and push the button. Nothing! Then the steering wheel lock up and I get this little red steering wheel symbol on my dash with a red line through it! What the heck is that?! I cannot get my fabulous, reliable BMW xi with the special winter package to take me home! Long story short, after calling my boyfriend to get me out of the cold and moving around to various warm places to wait around for three hours, I am safe and sound in my warm homes! I am a bit rattled with a loaner car in my garage.

Is there a metaphor here for life!? I think there is! Deny your ego, don’t wait for to be stranded in your car when it to be 8* outside to learn to: ask the experts for help!!! I saw a yellow indicator light on earlier in the week that I didn’t recognize and I just thought I would figure it out eventually. Well, my eventually came sooner than I thought! In that temperature, there is no time for waiting, or much else for that matter besides pulling out (thank you God!) my cell phone and call my trusted customer service Expert #1, Jake at the dealership! He connects me with roadside service who sends out not one, but two different tow trucks! Since the steering was locked, they had to send out; you guessed it, Expert # 2, a towing specialist! There are only 3 tow trucks in town that can move a car that has locked steering. And of course only a few experts who know how to take the time and care to get my car rigged up and moving down the road behind the tow truck.

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Give yourself permission to redefine and reinvent yourself over and over and over again! Snowballing your resources until you are in so deep into your flow that your personal evolution is inevitable! One day you will wake up rich! You already have the passion and the power to be anyone or anything you wish to be! Now is the time to wake up to that fact!
Network with other business owners of companies large and small! Surround yourself with those you wish to be like! Spend quality and quantity time with people you aspire to be!
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Toolbox
One expert I recommend every entrepreneur partner with is Melanie Benson Strick! Are you looking to learn how to organize your business so it flows and hums in 2010? Join her Fastrack program today!
It’s a new year and a new decade and a new you! With Melanie on your side, you now can access the tools your need so your business rolls along on greased grooves everyday! Melanie helps entrepreneurs to systematize their entire operation so that it can run without them, yet not take any of the fun out of being an entrepreneur.
https://successcon.infusionsoft.com/go/ERFT/GIVE2/

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Quote
As you start the first full work week of the New

Year you should do no ‘work’ at all.

The point of your activities throughout the day is not to

make a living, but to make a life; This is a small twist on a Maya Angelo saying. not to ‘work’ but to

create joy. If you are doing what you are doing merely

to ‘pay the bills,’ you will have missed the major reason

for All of Life.

The purpose of life is to know and express Who You

Are. If you do other than that during

your life, you will have not used those days and times

in a way that profits your soul. It is soul profit we are

after here, not dollar profit.

This first week of the New Year is perfect time to

contemplate this. ~ Neale Donald Walsch
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As visionary entrepreneurs, we are always looking for fuller expression of ourselves through a deeper understanding and expression of our life’s purpose on this planet. Our personal evolution is ongoing. Become a part of this movement to leave the world a better place!
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Back From the Brink! Famous Entrepreneurial turnaround stories even at the age of 65 and beyond!
http://ow.ly/S5ZO

Now that is what I’m talking about! 2010 is the Year! Mehmet Oz, M.D.: It’s All in How You See It: The Resolution Revolution
http:bit.ly/6FngNy.com
http:GIVE-connect.com

“One of the greatest necessities in life is to discover creative solitude.”
~ Carl Sandburg ~

Happy Winter Solstice!
Welcome to the beginning of winter. As we roll into a new year, and a new decade, I want to encourage you to tap into the rhythms of nature and draw upon that hibernation instinct that makes it easier to go within.
As you celebrate the holidays, find a little quiet time to reflect back on the year and anchor all that you’ve accomplished and learned. Think about what more is possible. Decide what matters most to you. And commit to take action this year to create a life filled with meaning, happiness and success, love and Joy!

Are you working too hard?

We all know there’s no play without work. But are you working harder than you should during this time of year? Take time to breath, center your thoughts, go within and reconnect with true yourself. Others will thank you for it.

The joy of journaling

I love keeping a journal and my favorite time to write is when I am relaxed – first thing in the morning curled up in bed or on vacation. If you haven’t kept a journal since high school, give it a try! The holidays are a great time for reflection, and you may be surprised at some of the realizations and creative ideas that appear on the page.

During this busy time, remember to take care of yourself – mind, body and spirit, so you can fully experience the holidays in harmony with loved ones.
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Victor Hugo once said: “There is nothing like a dream to create the future.”

Featured Article:
If Not Now, When? Visioning Process for 2010!
What’s Your Dream! By Carrie Jacobs
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This Weeks Action Steps:

This week, give yourself the gift of time. Take the time to listen to yourself. This is not being selfish. This is what is important for you and those you surround yourself with. Remember, by acting on what is best for you, you are also creating what is also best for everyone around you.

Take out three sheets of paper.
Across the top of
Page # 1 write My Wins for 2009:
Notice Gratitude for what you have accomplished in 2009 in all areas of your life. Financial, Relationships, Mental, Physical, Spiritual.
Just write and journal all that comes to your mind. Fill the page! Ahhh, now look at all that you have accomplished! These are your wins for 2009!

Page # 2 Title: Letting Go Now! Let go of the past for it is just that, in the past. Easier said than done right? That is because our minds are created to look at history to project the present and future. *Let go of all memory and instead focus on the endless possibilities!

Now imagine letting go of what happened in the past and just focusing on what is possible? Focus on what you intend to create.
Ask yourself, if my world were perfect, what would I do?

Page #3 Title: My Preview of 2010!
Just let it all flow out on the page. All your ideas, Your Visions, without judgement! What words come up for you? What images? What actions will you take to create your dream 2010 for yourself, your family, your clients? Let go and see what shows up as you fill up your page.

Welcome feeling excitement for yourself and all the others you will effect! Allow recipes for success to download and spill out onto your page. Now look at how your unique talent, gift or blessing will affect and bless so many people. Feel the excitement, the knowing that only you can give this world this gift! Think of what you have done in your life that has brought you the most pleasure. What do you do without even thinking, but once you get started, you loose track of time and are “in the flow”? What is the common thread that has run through your entire life? That is your gift! This is the gift that brings you fame, and also the satisfying feeling of accomplishment!
This is you! This is your year! This is your life! Live it! If not now, When??

Once your page is full, call a trusted friend and share your ideas. Or post on our blog! We’d love to hear from you!

Continued Harmony and Success in 2010!
Carrie Jacobs

In this hustle bustle season, and fast-paced living, taking a minute to breath deeply, gather your thoughts and center yourself. You can achieve the most coveted calmness, peace of mind, and inner serenity on your own. In other words you can find your own inspiration through reading an inspirational article or book chapter in a mere moment.

What are some examples of readings that can inspire you? There are many books, as well as inspirational material written by visionary writers that can uplift your spirit and propel your forward. Here are some books for you to consider written by some of the greatest minds who dared to think differently!

“The Success Principles: How to Get from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be” by Jack Canfield. Even Harvey Mackay, author of the #1 bestseller, “Swim with the Sharks Without Being Eaten Alive” states
“If you could read only one book this year, you have it in your hands.”

“Think and Grow Rich, the original 1937 version by Napoleon Hill. “It is arguably the number one success book of all time. Ask virtually any well-known “success teacher” to cite the books that have influenced them and “Think and Grow Rich” is likely to be named. That includes the venerable Earl Nightingale of yesteryear and today’s success gurus like Tony Robbins, Bob Proctor and Harvey Mackay, just to name a few.”

These are just a of the many inspirational books available. Stop in at your local bookstore and browse the shelves and pick some books which you think can inspire you.

Check back often to our new site, http:GIVE-connect.com, you can search for inspiration, ideas and partnerships with our list of members! This is where some of the world’s greatest inspirational speakers and leaders can be found! This site allows you to participate in a community of forward thinking people, with the firm intention to maximize the future of your world!

There is a universal shift happening that we are all experiencing. We are all noticing, becoming aware of it, and responding at our own level. New players are stepping up (Obama) and old players are shifting their playing field (Oprah). But shift and change continues to be the norm, and should no longer be considered something that takes us by surprise as an unexpected occurrence. We now live in what is being called “the new normal” or “The Age of the Unthinkable” which is the title of a new book out by Joshua Cooper Ramos. Don’t just get used to it, Leverage It!!! I repeat, “Change: Don’t just get used to it, Leverage It!!!”

This, my friends, is where www.GIVE-connect.comcomes in! We are here not just to live in this new normal, but to show our stuff! To offer our Vision, Live our Purpose! In short, LIVE TO GIVE!!

Hence, I call on the past to bring to light the future! As Winston Churchill said, “We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we GIVE.” And from Lout Su “In order to take, you first must give.” What’s your vision, your life’s purpose that you have been waiting to GIVE to the world?

Announcements

Sign up now during our pre-launch and enjoy all the benefits at half the cost! Our pre-launch yearly membership is $97. Once we work out all the details and officially launch this association in early 2010, the price raises to $197. The universe loves speed! So be an early-responder and reap the rewards. Join Now! www.GIVE-connect.com

With all the buzz around health care right now, it’s surprising to me that no one’s really talking about personal responsibility or the prevention of sickness versus the treatment of sickness.

That’s why I’ve put together a this FREE 5-course video program designed to help you invest in your greatest wealth: Your health!

By enrolling in Taking Personal Responsibility, I’ll show you what it takes to be truly healthy…

Don’t wait for the Administration or anyone else to take care of your health…

Sign up for this FREE program today, and every few days, I’ll teach you specific, simple things that will create profound impacts in your life, your health and vitality, and your overall well-being…

To your continued wealth and fulfillment,

James Arthur Ray
President/CEO
James Ray International, Inc.

The Joy of Getting Back in the Swim of Things – Sam Horne

It’s never too late to be who you might have been.” – George Elliot

Who are those happy people on the right? My sons Andrew and Tom, 20-year friend Tracey Bennett and me.

Why are we beaming? Andrew and I just finished the 2.4 mile Waikiki Rough Water Swim.

What motivated me to sign up for this grueling race? After all, they don’t call it the rough water swim for nothing.

I used to be an athlete. I competed in 10K’s, organized running groups, rode horses (I taught the Disney grandkids how to ride) and coached swim teams.

I played on my college tennis team and in a 4.0 league, and had the privilege of working with 2-time Grand Slam champion Rod Laver at his tennis resort on Hilton Head Island, SC.

From there I was recruited by WCT to help open the Regency Racquet Club in McLean, VA, the first country club for racquet sports. I even had a chance to play tennis at the White House where we had the distinct honor of having a tennis ball stolen by Liberty, President Ford’s Golden Lab.

But then life intervened. I got busy raising my sons, writing books and speaking around the country. I haven’t played tennis or gotten back on a horse since I moved to the Mainland from Hawaii (gulp) 9 years ago.

I miss being physically fit. For the first 4 decades of my life, it was a major part of my identity.

Then, one pivotal morning this summer, I got up early to watch the annual Jim McDonnell Swim which takes place in my “backyard” on Lake Audobon.

I marveled at the gutsy competitors in the 80-85 (!) age group and noted ruefully that I always thought I’d remain physically active into my dotage, if I could.

I realized, “There is nothing keeping me from getting back in the water. I could do it right now if I chose.”

So, that’s what I chose.

I jumped online before I could second-guess this impulse and signed up for the Waikiki Rough Water Swim. I had competed in this race in the early 90’s, but hadn’t done so for the past 16 years since the race is traditionally held on Labor Day, the last day of the Hawaii Writers Conference.

This year, I shared my goal with HWC Co-founders John and Shannon Tullius. They graciously agreed to take over Emcee duties so I could participate in the race.

One of the many things I quickly learned from training is there is no substitute for putting an event on the calendar to hold us accountable for our good intentions.

There were many days it was time to swim yet there were emails to answer, appointments to prepare for and calls to return. However, I wasn’t going to finish that race unless I put in some serious pool time so off I went to swim.

It all paid off on September 7. Andrew and I dove into the water a little after 9 am with almost 1000 other swimmers from around the world. Andrew emerged 1 hour and 40 minutes later, and I, well let’s just I came in after that. (I didn’t say I was fast; I just said I’d finish.)

What are some of the many take-aways from this experience?

That self esteem resides in the three words, “I did it.”

Completing that race was one of the most satisfying things I’ve done in a long time. It was testimony to what we can do if we put our mind to it. Proof that there’s still time to be all we used to be and what we still can be.

What could do that for you this year?

Something meaningful that gives you something to look forward to? Some achievement that, when you look back at this year, puts a Mona Lisa smile on your face and a satisfying “I did it” in your heart.