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For the past several days I’ve been advising readers of The Morning Nudge to take a few chances.

But that’s because the audience chose the comfy padded chairs and sofas scattered throughout the room rather than sit in the straight chairs arranged for them. Oh, well…at least some people were safe in their comfort zones that evening. But I think everyone had a lot of fun.

Did you ever receive one of those chain letters in the mail that promised to make you rich if you just put your name on the list and sent $1.00 plus the same letter to 3 people (or however many it requested) on the list?

Nowadays, when I sign up to attend online marketing teleseminars, so many of them seem to be saying the same kind of thing - “attend this teleseminar and I’ll show you how to do a teleseminar like this one so you can make money.”

Now…I realize that it’s wise to duplicate marketing strategies and methods that have been show to work effectively.

Yet, do we all have to follow these same models to make money?

Does anyone else feel like the Internet is just one big chain letter - or is it just me?

What do YOU think?

Share your opinions here, please.

I’m really, really curious about other views on this.

Thanks.

If you want to make a GREAT living for yourself as a freelance writer, you have to CREATE new opportunities as well as seize opportunities that come your way.

Subscribe to Writers on Call right now, so you won’t miss this exciting teleclass!

As the organizer for the Kansas City Writers Meetup group, part of my job is to arrange for speakers at our monthly meetings. And sometimes those speakers are our very own members. I love it when we have someone in our own group who can share something about writing with the rest of us.

Last night, Amanda Walter, one of our Meetup members, gave an absorbing presentation about appreciating poetry.

Now…I have to admit, I don’t often read poetry for entertainment. I’d much rather read a novel or a great nonfiction book. But I think that’s because I don’t feel comfortable with poetry. I’m just not sure I understand it. And, therefore, I KNOW I don’t appreciate it as much as I should - or could - if I had a better understanding.

Amanda gave us these tips for reading a poem. I’m going to try them and see if I can develop a better understanding, and therefore a deeper appreciation for poetry.

Tips for Reading a Poem:

1. Read aloud or at least move your lips - much of a poem’s experience is in its sounds.

2. Read an annotated edition or read with a dictionary.

3. Read it several times, trying to focus on some different aspect each time.

4. Though sound is important, be attentive to meaning, always.

Title: Make Your Contacts Count - Second Edition
Authors: Anne Baber and Lynne Waymon
Publisher: AMACOM/American Management Association
Release Date: February 28, 2007
ISBN-10: 0814474020
ISBN-13: 978-0814474020

In business it’s not so much WHAT you know as WHO you know that counts.

So it’s no wonder networking is one of the best ways to develop a successful business of any kind.

But did you know that only 15% of business professionals have the network they need?

If you’re in that other 85% of business professionals, with a not-so-great network, then you need this new book from networking experts and co-authors, Anne Baber and Lynne Waymon.

Make Your Contacts Count tells you everything you need to know about networking but were either too afraid to ask, or you didn’t even know you should ASK.

First, you’ll learn the proper mindset for networking. By that I mean, you’ll find out that networking is not so much about what others can do for you as it is what you can do for others.

You’ll also learn how to introduce yourself to new contacts so you no longer dread introductions, wondering if you’re saying too much or not enough.

Baber and Waymon will tell you exactly what, when, and how to say what you need to say in order to make the most of any introduction.

Then you’ll learn how to follow up with new and current contacts - which is one of the most difficult (and often neglected) networking activities for many busy professionals.

Whether you read the book cover to cover or simply pick out chapters of particular interest, you’ll find helpful tips on every single page of this second edition. Either way, it probably won’t be long before effective networking is something you do almost without thinking about it.

Just imagine how great it will feel (and how successful you’ll be) when you’re among the 15% of business professionals with the network you need.

Gee. Can any of us really afford NOT to read this book?

Quick. Buy it Here

One of the tricks I use to help me stay focused and motivated to do so many different projects is I constantly surround myself with other creative, optimistic people.

Everywhere you turn today there’s some mention of The Secret - the DVD and book by Rhonda Byrnes.

It’s the real secret that motivates us to do what we need to do in order to attract the opportunities and contacts we need in order to get what we really, really want out of life.

It’s easy to think about what we want.

But it’s often much harder to truly believe we should get it.

Today, examine your thoughts and beliefs.

Do you KNOW what you want?

Do you truly BELIEVE you can (and should) get it?

I tend to think of myself as a typical “working” freelance writer. As such, I’m good at balancing a variety of assignments, along with coaching clients, hosting a daily Internet radio show, and teaching a weekly teleclass for other freelance writers.